From the House, by Pesi Fonua.

It's now official that Members of Parliament may receive generously funded trips for medical treatment overseas in addition to their full salaries.

A regulation that has been enforced since January, but was just passed by Parliament on Monday, 10 October, guarantees that a member who has to go overseas for specialised medical treatment, would be awarded free medical treatment, two return Business Class airline tickets, along with daily allowances, transport allowances and rent allowances for the first 14 days. A further extension of the allowances will be granted once the Speaker receives a letter from an overseas doctor. Meanwhile, the member would continue to receive his fortnightly pay-packets.

Sangster Saulala told the House that the amount of money a member would be getting while on a medical treatment overseas was phenomenal. In addition to a $400 a day per diem for the first 14 days the sick MP would continue to receive a $1,600 fortnight salary. "If one gets $7,200 a fortnight while lying in a hospital overseas, I think that is ridiculous." He said.

It means that a member would earn more in a sick bed overseas than in Tonga struggling with the issues of how to repay government loans, what to do with the rising unemployment, and a depleting government tax resource base as local industries are closing down.

The concern over the amendment to the regulation, was raised by 'Aisake Eke, the former Secretary of Finance who queried the addition of the daily allowances, transport allowances and rent allowances to the basic salary of members, when they are on a medical treatment overseas. He said that in the recent restructuring of the salaries of members of Parliament, allowances were added on to the basic salary, so it was wrong to add them on again.

The salaries of members of parliament were adjusted following the 60-70-80% salary rise of the civil servants in 2005. Prior to this salary adjustment, the basic salary of a Member of Parliament annually was $23,000 for the five to six months that the House is in session. This amount was paid in a lump sum at the opening of parliament in early June. In addition to the basic salary there were the allowances, which were paid to members of parliament on a monthly basis.

$55,000

The latest adjustment to the salaries of Members of Parliament added up altogether the basic salary and the allowances, to make up the total basic salary of $55,000 per parliamentary session, and this basic salary has been paid out fortnightly, and not in a lump sum as it was before.

Dr Sitiveni Halapua queried a reference to how the regulation came into force following the last session of parliament when the House was not in session. The last session of the new parliament was in January, then it was closed before it was officially opened again by the king in June.

The Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Samiu Vaipulu reminded the House that following the implementation of the political reform, the Privy Council no longer had the authority to draft and pass laws and regulations when parliament was not in session. That authority had been transferred to the Cabinet and the parliament, and the Cabinet could implement regulations when parliament was not in session, but it must be presented for its approval when the parliament reconvened.

The Minister of Finance, Hon Sunia Fili told the House that it would be better to leave the wording of the amended regulation as it was, which was for members to receive all the privileges given to him by the House for the first 14 days of his overseas medical treatment, but after 14 days if he had to stay on he needd a letter from his overseas doctor to enable the Speaker to extend his privileges. He said the Remuneration Authority was reviewing the salaries of government bodies that were outside the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission, such as the Parliament and the Palace Office. He pointed out that the payment of allowances to the salaries of Members of Parliament was normal overseas.

Hierarchy

'Akilisi Pohiva reminded the House that Tonga is a hierarchical society, and if a member of the Tongan Parliament was send overseas for medical treatment his wife would have to accompany him.

The Chairman of the Whole House Committee called for votes. It was carried 12-8. Against were 'Akilisi Pohiva, Semisi Sika, Sitiveni Halapua, 'Aisake Eke, Sangster Saulala, Sione Taione, Falisi Tupou and Mo'ale Finau.

Hon. Samiu Vaipulu, asked the Chairman if it was possible to note the names of those who voted against the regulation so they would be excluded if they would be sent overseas for medical treatment in the future. He stressed that though these special privileges for members of parliament may sound exorbitant but it rarely happened. He said he had been in parliament since 1987, and he had never been for overseas for medical treatment.

Sione Taione, queried what the Deputy PM was on about, since the result of their votes was the final decision of the House

The Deptuy PM responded that it was important for members to vote on what they really believe and not just to be with others.