From the House, Minute No. 19, (Monday night) 28 June 2004. MPs dismayed with a reduction in the allocation for road construction and repair, and point to desperate need by the people of Kanokupolu and Ha'atafu to stop their villages from eroding into the sea.

- Failure of the Ministry of Works to keep their part of the agreement to build community roads, leaving roads unsealed.

- Increase the allocation for road building by $800,000.

- $300,000 extra for road building in Vava'u only.

- Rising sea water levels has taken away homes in Kanokupolu.

- Waiting for Japanese aid to build foreshore to stop soil erosion in the Hihifo District.

- Proposal to subdivide the shallow water area that runs from Hofoa to Ha'atafu.

- The House will break from June 29 to July 19, giving members time to read bills, attend committee meetings and for People's Representatives to do some campaigning for the election early next year.

Proceedings started at 6pm, and the Whole House Committee...  continued with Vote No. 28 of the Ministry of Works.

Sunia Fili ...– expressed his dismay with a reduction in the allocation for road construction and repair. He said the allocation for last year was $810,000 but for the coming financial year it has dropped to about $540,000. He said that this amount is far too small compared to the needs of all the island groups to improve their roads.

He queried the minister on a road building scheme where the people will finance the clearing and the construction of the base of the road, using the road building equipment of the Ministry, and in return the Ministry tarsealed the roads....  He said that three villages in 'Eua had done their part of the deal and have been waiting since Christmas for the tar-sealing. He again stressed that the allocation of about $500,000 for road construction and repair is far too small.

Noble Tu'ivakano ...– also queried the Minister on the road construction scheme because roads on the village of Nukunuku in his estate have been waiting for tar-sealing for months. He said that the people had completed their part of the agreement, but the Ministry was not honouring the agreement. He said that the Ministry was holding back development in the villages.

Minister of Works ...– apologised...  and said that his budget had been reduced and the government had no money to honour its commitment for the tar-sealing of community roads. He admitted that the villages have done their parts and are waiting for the tar sealing.

'Akilisi Pohiva ...– queried the logic of the move by government for a salary rise for the top echelon of the public service while the people are waiting for their roads to be built so that they can go on with development in the villages.

Minister of Works ...– admitted that the villages were well ahead while government was lacking behind. He suggested there should be a co-ordinator to coordinate the community road building scheme because the villages were moving too fast ahead but the Ministry had not even ordered the tar-sealing.

Noble Tu'i'afitu ...– told the House that he waited in Vava'u for about a year for the tar-sealing of their community roads, but thankfully a visit to the village by the King made it possible for their road to be tar-sealed. He said that the problem was because the Ministry had only one tar-sealing machine and it breaks down...  most of the time, and it is discouraging for the people who were very enthusiastic to move on ahead with road construction and the development of their villages. He suggested for the Ministry to buy second hand machine, one to be stationed in Vava'u and to service Ha'apai and the two Niuas, and another one for Tongatapu and 'Eua.

'Akilisi Pohiva ...– said that he felt very uncomfortable in the House which he said is becoming a rubbish dump for some members who are bringing into the House a whole lot of rubbish.

'Etuate Lavulavu ...– told the member that their proposals were not rubbish, and for the member to get to know how the House works.

'Akilisi Pohiva ...– said that there is a desperate need by the people of Kanokupolu and Ha'atafu to stop their villages from eroding into the sea, and that there were two of three homes that had already disappeared into the sea.

'Etuate Lavulavu ...– called for a Point of Order. He told the House that the building of a foreshore at Kanokupolu to stop soil erosion was progressing well and the Ministry of Works had sent bulldozers and tractors to the area to clear the land, and a fund raising committee for Kanokupolu was doing fine, and that he had been there and made a contribution.

'Akilisi Pohiva ...– told the House that the need to stop soil erosion in the western part of Tongatapu is enormous and it is a $3 million project. He said that the $800,000 allocation that has been given by government is all that government can give at this point of time so it is a waste of time to try and increase this amount with projects because if there is an urgent need it is to stop the erosion of these villages.

Minister of Works ...– told the House that the need to build a foreshore in the west to stop erosion is very urgent and is a very costly project. He said that they had approached Japan for some assistance and they had not heard from them yet. He said that meanwhile the people wanted to do it themselves, but he has warned them that they may be just wasting their times because it is an enormous task and it has to be planned and executed properly.

Noble Nuku ...– expressed his concern over the problem in the western district and the desperate attempt by both government and the people in the area to find a solution. He suggested if it will be possible for the whole shallow area which runs west northward from the village of Hofoa all the way to Hihifo to be sub-divided and let people fill the land up themselves and then register it as their own. He believed that a lot of people will be keen to be part of such a project.

Noble Vaha'i ...– said that the marsh land of Hihifo has already been sub-divided for the growing of a sea weed.

Minister of Land ...– said that the leasing of shallow water areas in the eastern district was carried out to enable the farming of sea weed, but he said that the actual surveying and the sub-dividing of the land had not been completed. He said that nothing of that sort has been carried out in the western district. He said that the authority over the leasing of shallow water areas for fishing activities rested with the Minister of Fisheries.

Chairman ...– called for vote on the motion to increase the allocation for road construction by $800,000 from $544,457 to $1,344,457, and this allocation for road work for all of Tonga excepting Vava'u.

It was passed 12-1. Against was the Minister of Police.

Chairman ...– called for vote on a motion for a further increase by $300,000, and the $300,000 to be given for road construction in Vava'u only.

It was passed by 10-1. Against was the Minister of Police.

Chairman ...– called for vote on Vote No. 28 of the Ministry of Works. It was passed 18-0.

Vote No. 29 Ministry of Environment.

Vote No. 29 was passed 19-0.

Vote No. 30, Ministry of Civil Aviation.

Deputy Prime Minister ...– said that the budget for this ministry is $2.2 million, about half a million less than last year.

'Akilisi Pohiva ...– expressed his concern over how this ministry has been administered. He warned for government to take precaution over the administrator of this ministry, and how the budget of this ministry is being spent particularly on overseas travelling.

(Missing from the Minute is the rest of the debate on Vote No. 30 and the voting but, presumably, it was passed).

The proceeding went on to Vote No. 31 of the Ministry of Marine and Harbour.

It was passed 20-0.

The Committee dissolved into the Legislature and the Speaker of the House took his chair.

Chairman of the Whole House Committee ...– told the Speaker that the budget debate had been completed and the Appropriation Bill for 2004-05 and its amendments had been passed.

Speaker ...– called for the second reading of the Appropriation Bill for 2004-05. It was passed 21-0.

The Bill had its third reading and it was also passed 21-0.

Deputy Prime Minister ...– thanked the House for passing the government budget for 2004-05.

Speaker ...– thanked the members for their hard work and called for vote on his suggestion for the House to have a break starting on June 29 until July 19, giving members time to read bills and regulations, to attend committee meetings and for People's Representatives to go back to their constituencies.

It was passed 21-0....