Editor,

I would like to correct, the false and malicious accusations in Kaveinga E. Folau Na'ati's letter

Introduction of the Expenditure Review Committee, a budgetary preparation mechanism, to appraise, evaluate, assess, analyze, and determine the allocation and usage of public funds by each Government Ministry or Department, is a leap forward for Tonga in terms of good governance, accountability and transparency.

Prior to the introduction and implementation of the Cabinet Expenditure Review Committee last year, the Minister of Finance had the sole discretion, the one and only power, at his whim, to determine, how much funding and provision in the

Government Budget, will be allocated for spending by each Ministry or Government Department. The sole discretion used by the Minister of Finance one can say was unlawful. The law states that the Government Annual Budget must be approved by Privy Council through Cabinet before it is tabled to Parliament for enactment,.

As a matter of fact and of record, the former Minister of Finance established an Exp Rev Committee in 2002, as part of the Public Sector Reform. It met once and the former Minister for his own reasons discontinued it as it would in his view take away some of his power.

This new Cabinet Expenditure Review Committee consisting of the; Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, Minister of Public Enterprises and PSC Commissioner takes over the sole discretion enjoyed by the former Minister of Finance.

The committee in its sitting provides the opportunity for each and all Ministers with its Head of Department including that of the Prime Minister with its Chief Secretary the opportunity to come before the committee to present and bid for appropriate funding from the public money to finance each department or portfolio.

The committee will then make recommendations to the Minister of Finance for the appropriate funding to be allocated in the annual budget, for each Ministry. The decision to cut or increase the budget of each ministry will be based on the presentation made by each Minister and HOD. Government priorities and general economic policy are collectively decided upon by the Review Committee.

The mandate and operations directive of the Expenditure Review Committee was passed unanimously by Cabinet of the Tonga Government and it was also consented to whole heartedly, by the Former Minister of Finance.

All the Ministers, including the Prime Minister have to face the Expenditure Review Committee, except yours truly the former Minister of Finance.

One would assume and predict that no Government or Prime Minister in the future of Tonga will ever reverse the decision in using the principles of Expenditure Review Committee, over and or to reinstate sole oversight by the Minister of Finance.

One can further assume and predict that no future Minister of Finance will, including the current MOF will ask to be weighted with such responsibility.

Notably, blunders have repeatedly been made in the past by former Ministers of Finance, due to its being vested with such sole discretionary power.

It should be mentioned that the principle of a Cabinet Expenditure Review Committee is practiced by the Prime Minister, Cabinet and Government of Australia and New Zealand.

It is quite shameful that the supporters or advisors to the former minister would still lament and cry over the implementation of the Expenditure Review Committee.

Much more shameful is to twist the facts, blatant untrue and unfounded allegation and lies which surprisingly are allowed to be printed.

Shame, to suggest that the expenditure review committee in the precinct of the Minister of Finance, which after how many years has never done anything is preferred by the Cabinet committee, and even more bizarre suggestion of an independent source to determine the allocation of the budget.

Shame on you to indicate, that the former Minister of Finance and its Ministry should not go before any committee, to verify its own budget allocation.

What a shame to dress and paint up the former minister (I am sure it is not his idea) as if he never made a mistake or done no wrong. Ko e faka'anaua nai eni ...‘a e taha ...‘o ...‘ene tamaiki fale'I na'e lolelole pe mei he ...‘ene vahe tahakilu tupu?

What a shame to forget so easily so much fiasco with the Ministry of Finance, including the strike. Much of the leaks in the past of confidential government documents emanate from Finance.

There is no envy, political or otherwise towards the former Minister of Finance. He chose to play the power politics over consensus and team work for the betterment of the government and country and knew exactly, come what may, whatever the end result would be, he would accept.

If ever in the future the former Minister of Finance, becomes a Prime Minister, and his MOF becomes insubordinate, arrogant and egotistical, I am sure he will face the same fate, as of late.

There is a Tongan axiom that expresses the situation; "We have lost a good man by his own choosing, but, stand before us, is even a better man as his replacement."

Thank you Prime Minister for implementing the "Expenditure Review Committee" It will be used by all Prime Ministers and the Government of Tonga in the future.

Malo

Taulea Pau