From the House by Pesi Fonua

A Bill to terminate the government's contribution to the Retirement Fund Scheme for Public Servants was unanimously voted for by the Tongan Legislative Assembly 10-0 on Monday, 15 August.

The Retirement Fund Scheme for public servants was launched following the enactment of the Retirement Fund Act 1998. The Minister of Finance, Hon. Sunia Fili, a member of the Board that administers the Fund, said the Board had agreed to ask the House to terminate the government's annual lump-sum contribution to the fund since 1998.

He said that over the years the scheme had firmly established itself, and that at the moment the fund is worth $90 million. The Board had made profitable investments, which had been bringing in $4 to $5 million annually.

The government's lump-sum contribution to the Scheme was $300,000 annually since 1998.

Hon. Sunia Fili said that the termination of the Government's contribution to the scheme would mean that government had extra funds to spend on community projects such the repairing of public roads.