New Members of Parliament sworn-in [1]
Friday, January 14, 2011 - 12:09. Updated on Friday, May 2, 2014 - 16:51.
TWENTY-five of the 26 new Members of Parliament were sworn in this morning at Parliament House, with the exception of Tongatapu People's Representative, Siosifa Tu'utafaiva (TT6) who was absent, and may be sworn-in later.
After an opening prayer by the Deputy Speaker Lord Tu'iafitu, the Speaker of the House Lord Lasike carried out the swearing in of Lord Tu'ivakano as the Prime Minister of Tonga and then as a member of parliament.
Following that all members including the Nobles' Representatives and the People's Representatives stood up together and read aloud their oath and kissed the bible.
Ten out of the 11 Cabinet Ministers were then sworn-in.
A new Minister of Health has yet to be appointed by the Prime Minister following yesterday's resignation of 'Akilisi Pohiva as Minister of Health.
Adjourned
After the Acting Clerk of the House Sione Tekiteki took the roll call,
the Speaker adjourned the House to 2:00pm when members will elect the Chairman of the Whole House Committee.