By Pesi Fonua

From the House, Minute no. 31, Thursday September 29.

Although Tonga's Legislative Assembly discussed and criticized the practice of campaigning by members during their annual parliamentary tour to their constituencies, which is paid for by the House, no action was taken to curb the practice.

This long-established habit is considered by many to be unfair campaigning for the next election because incumbent members set their own allowances for the tour and are using parliamentary funds.

On Thursday, 22 September, the issue caused a stir in the House when the People's Representative 'Akilisi Pohiva presented his 14-pages report on his recent parliamentary tour of constituency no. 1.

'Akilisi's report not only used the tour as a propaganda vehicle, but he was up front in admitting that if the House thought he was campaigning then let it be, he was campaigning.

This year's parliamentary tour was supposed to allow members of parliament to identify the needs of their constituencies so that they could formulate a community project to be funded with the $100,000 allocation that has been allocated by the House for each constituency in this year's budget.

But the member for Constituency no. 1 had a different approach. "I did not go there to report on their needs. I went there to tell them about the needs of the House and of government . . .", 'Akilisi Pohiva ended up telling the House.

He reported that in the three locations where he spoke he had told the people about the state of the economy and the government's vision as it was stated in the budget. He also talked to them about fair distribution and justice.

He said that during question time the people he spoke to had expressed their concern about moral issues and leadership. There was a discussion about the Sabbath and how they wanted to amend the Land Act to stop "fakavalevale" or misuse of power by the nobles.

But the Minister of Justice, Clive Edwards challenged 'Akilisi, "You were going there to report on what is going on, not to campaign and lecture them. Who raised these issues you or them?"

'Akilisi said those were the issues.

The Minister read to the House an extract from the member's report when 'Akilisi referred to the loan from China and how it was to be repaid; and how the loan was used to rebuild Vuna Wharf and to renovate the Palace. He accused the member of using the opportunity to campaign, by giving people incomplete information about the budget and the loan.

But 'Akilisi questioned what was wrong with that?

The Minister of Justice replied, "You were campaigning."

'Akilisi later admitted that there were not many people at the meeting, there were usually four people but this time there were five.

Burning of Nuku'alofa

The Acting Prime Minister Hon Samiu Vaipulu asked if 'Akilisi had told the meetings who had encouraged the people to burn down Nuku'alofa.

The question baffled 'Akilisi. The Chairman of the Whole House Committee was also uncertain of the relevancy of the question.

The Acting Prime Minister explained that if the member raised the Chinese loan as an issue, he should also tell the people that the reason why government had to borrow from China was because some people went out and burned down Nuku'alofa.

'Akilisi said that the Acting Prime Minister was blaming him for the burning down of Nuku'alofa, and he said that he was not one of the people who had encouraged the burning. He said he was among those who had been accused, including Clive Edwards, and they had been through the Magistrate's Court and the Supreme Court and they had been discharged.

('Akilisi was referring to the charges of sedition that were brought against a group of Representatives following the burning of Nuku'alofa. Five of the People's Representatives, on appeal against indictment, were acquitted of indictments of joint seditious conspiracy to incite lawlessness or violence because the Appeal Court found inadequate evidence by the Crown to establish a prima facie case, excepting for the sedition charge against Clive Edwards.)

'Akilisi admitted that he was shocked by the Acting Prime Minister's question.

The Chairman said that nobody was blaming him but that it was the reason for the rebuilding of Nuku'alofa.

Revision

Lord Tu'ilakepa who had strong connection with the people of Kolomotu'a expressed his disbelief that that people in Kolomotu'a could say that nobles were fakavalevale, abusing their authority with regards to land. He said that 'Akilisi appeared to be very uncertain about it, and he questioned whether the people were saying it or whether 'Akilisi said it himself.

Lord Tu'ilakepa moved for the report from Constituency no.1 to be sent back for revision.

'Akilisi objected to it.

But then, as it has become a common practice in the House, the discussion suddenly changed to another subject in mid-air.

Changed the subject

The Acting Prime Minister proposed that they should move on and debate on the Annual Report of the Ministry of Health because the Director of Health and his assistant were present, and that they had also requested for Dr Mapa Puloka (a psychiatrist) to come.

In fact, Dr Puloka was not coming but the reference might be interpreted that his services were needed in the House.

Debate in the House then continued with the Annual Report of the Ministry of Health.