From the House, an English translation summary from the Tongan vernacular, by Pesi Fonua.

Tonga Legislative Assembly, Minute No. 26, September 11, 2008.

Highlights:

- Chief Secretary 'Eseta Fusitu'a wrote and asked for the house to close from September 18 to October 1 because ministers were going overseas.

- People's Representative 'Etuate Lavulavu claimed that the operation of the Ministry of Transport was illegal, and he threatened to impeach the Minister.

- There has been no Regulation to activate the Education Act of 1974.

- The House filed a Private Bill to adjust the 20% Income Tax on the members' salaries.

- The chairman questioned the right of the House to charge fees on people who fish Jehovah's fish.

- The Speaker closed the House for more than two weeks without the approval of the House.

High drama

It was high drama again in parliament on Thursday, September 11, the last day of parliamentary proceedings before the House closed until October 2.

The closure of the House was in response to a letter from the Chief Secretary and the Secretary to Cabinet, Mrs 'Eseta Fusitu'a, requesting for the House to close from September 18 to October 1, because the Prime Minister and some Cabinet Ministers would be travelling overseas. 'Eseta also invited the Speaker and a People's Representative to visit New York and San Francisco to check on Tonga's diplomatic missions in these two USA cities and to meet the Tongan community in San Francisco. She suggested for the House to pay the travel expenses of these two members.

PR 'Isi Pulu was furious with 'Eseta's letter, and queried who was 'Eseta to request that the House to close. Only members of parliament could move a motion for the House to close, and it should have been done by the Prime Minister, not 'Eseta. He told the PM to tell 'Eseta never to write again to the House.

The Prime Minister Hon. Dr Feleti Sevele, said that the letter was from government and that letters of invitation for trips overseas were signed by secretaries. He apologised and said that he would sign the letter and for the proceedings to continue.

Noble Ma'afu queried why close the House because Cabinet Ministers were travelling overseas. That was why there were acting positions so that there would be no disruption in the work of government.

The Speaker called for votes on the trips overseas by Cabinet Ministers. It was carried 18-0. The Speaker said that he would be going with Teisina Fuko on the trip to New York and San Francisco.

Prince Tu'ipelehake wanted to know if their vote included the closure of the House, and the answer from the Speaker was, no.

Workers money missing

After lunch it was question time, and PRs 'Isileli Pulu and 'Etuate Lavulavu had the inquiring minds during this session.

'Isileli Pulu asked the Minister of Labour if it was true that money paid by seasonal workers to the ministry went missing. He also wanted to know the total amount that the ministry had paid out so far on the work scheme.

The Minister said that the amount of $6,880 was collected from seasonal workers for their visas and medical check ups. On Saturday the staff had worked at the office until late at night, but when they returned the following morning the money, which was not locked away, was missing. It was reported to the police but to this day had not been found. he said the staff had refunded the loss from their own pocket.

Paid agents

The Minister of Labour said that the Ministry has three agents in New Zealand. Sefita Hao'uli the Chief Agent was based in Auckland with a salary of $NZD6,000 a month. Another Agent, Tevita Niu Lata was based in Napier and Hastings and his salary of $NZD800 a month was paid for by the New Zealand government until June. Since then they had approached the World Bank to pay Tevita's salary. The third agent, Pita 'Akau'ola was based in Nelson in the South Island and his salary was paid for by a co-operative society in the area.

The Minister said that the main task of these agents was to find new Zealand farmers who might be interested in employing Tongan workers.

Stinging questions

'Etuate Lavulavu threw two stinging questions at two Cabinet Ministers.

He argued that the Minister for Transport and Civil Aviation had been illegally using public funds allocated to him under the government budget, even though the House had not passed legislation legalising the existence of his ministry. His budget in 2007 was $3.1 million and in 2008 it was $3.8 million.

The Minister replied that he did not know if it was necessary for a government ministry to be legally established before it could receive a budget from government. He said that a Bill to legalise the establishment of the Ministry of Transport had been drafted but it had not been presented to the House.

'Etuate argued that Cabinet was very slow in legalising the existence of the new ministry, which has been in operation for two years. He said that he could impeach the minister for illegally using public funds.

The Speaker told the member to stop, his question has been answered and there was no need for him to carry on, impeachment was a different issue.

Education regulations not tabled

'Etuate's next question was for the Minister of Education. He wanted to know why the Education Act 1974 had not been updated to meet modern day requirements. In addition he wanted to know why a Regulation for the Act that was approved by Cabinet in 2002 had not been tabled into the House.

The Minister of Education said that with regard to the 1974 Act the need had been realised and they were trying to get some funding to amend the legislation.

With regards to the Regulation for the Education Act 1974, the Minister said he has no idea why the Regulation for the 1974 Act had never been presented to the House. He said he queried the Regulation in 2005 and they would work on it and present to the House.

'Etuate queried the number of years from 1974 to 2008 there has not been a Regulation for Education Act and therefore the act could not be activated. It also took 28 years from 1974 to 2002 for a Regulation to be drafted. He claimed that the increase in the inter-college fighting was due to an inactive Education Act.

Salaries taxed

The debate of the House then drifted into oblivion.

A letter from the House's Standing Committee on Finance was read. A copy of the letter was supposed to be attached to the minutes, but it was not, but from comments made after the letter was passed 20-0 it was obvious that it had something to do with the concern expressed in the House over how their salaries were taxed 20%.

PR Teisina Fuko raised the issue that there was a suggestion for the salary of one member of the staff to be increased because he has a BA. He said that the matter became complex because there were other staff members with BA and a Phd.

The Speaker moved for the concern over the salary of this one BA holder to be returned to the Finance Committee for further deliberation. The rest (of whatever was in the letter) was to be tabled into the Law Committee as a Private Bill from the House. He said that the issue was not a matter concerning solely the House but for the whole country. What do you think it achieves? he asked. There was a majority support.

Sunglasses

The Legislature was dissolved into Committee and the acting chairman of the committee Noble Lasike took his Chair.

Noble Luani asked the Chairman to please take off his sun glass. The Chairman objected that there was no clause in their Regulation that stopped him from wearing sunglasses in the House.

Noble Luani responded that he should use his conscience.

Jehovah's Fish

Debate then continued with a Regulation for a Fisheries Conservation Act that had been passed by the House.

The issue was that a fishing fee was to be imposed on those who used a fishnet for fishing. There was no difference between commercial fishing and for someone who went out fishing for the family's food.

There was an argument that a fee across the board would drive home the concept of conservation. In the height of the debate the Chairman threw a question at the Minister that was enough for everyone to agree that the Regulation should be returned to the Crown Law:

Chairman - "Who gave you the authority to demand that the people have to pay $8 pa'anga to fish Jehovah's fish? Who authorised you to demand this money from the people?"

The Acting Minister of Fisheries reminded the chairman that the House passed the Act, and he was then authorised to draft the Regulation.

The Chairman dissolved the Committee into Legislature and the Speaker called for the House to close until October 2.

PR 'Akilisi Pohiva expressed his concern that they would not work, but they would still be paid.

The Speaker responded that they still could work even if the House was not in session.