by Pesi Fonua

"We have been calling for transparency, accountability and honesty, now is our chance to show that we can do it. Our two Cabinet Ministers should be like our ambassadors in government. They must tell us and the press what is going on in Government.” - 'Akilisi Pohiva.
 

The Tonga Human Rights and Democracy Movement THRDM is counting on winning all nine People's Representatives seats in the March 17 Tongan Parliamentary Election.

'Akilisi Pohiva, the Secretary of the THRDM and the incumbent Tongatapu No. 1 People's Representative, after returning from a visit to Vava'’u on February 15, was optimistic that the THRDM or "Temos" would be able to take the two seats for Vava'u this year.

There are no political parties in the Tongan Legislative Assembly and candidates run as individuals, but in the last 2002 Parliamentary election seven of the nine People's Representatives were members of the THRDM, with the exception of the two Vava'u People'’s Representatives.

'Akilisi was confident that seven of the nine incumbents who are THRDM members will be able to regain their seats this year, but to also win the two Vava'u seats would be a landmark victory for the THRDM. If they win nine seats it will mean that two THRDM members will become Cabinet Ministers under the new commitment by the Prime Minister to appoint ministers from elected members of the House.

The two Vava'’u THRDM candidates for this year's election are Peau Afi Tatafu and Kauhenga Fusikata. Unlike Tongatapu, the several Temos of Vava'u who wanted to be candidates withdrew and gave their support to these two candidates, excepting for a long-standing Temo candidate from Vava'’u, Vili Helu Kaufusi, who has never been able to make it to the House, and this time decided to run alone.

'‘Akilisi said that after the election if they succeeded in taking the whole nine seats, they would take a tour of the country and build a strong relationship between the members and the people.

"Members must honour their commitment to the people and they are going to Cabinet with the support of the people behind them, and what they do in Cabinet is for the people.

"We have been calling for transparency, accountability and honesty, now is our chance to show that we can do it. Our two Cabinet Ministers should be like our ambassadors in government. They must tell us and the press what is going on in Government," he said.

With regards to the Tongatapu election ...‘Akilisi believed that the three incumbent members campaigning as a group presented a comprehensive team with one purpose, making it easier for voters.

"A candidate who is campaigning on his own will have a difficult time. The question that should be asked of such a candidate, is who is he going to work with if he is elected into the House?"

'‘Akilisi believed that it was very important for People's Representatives to be united and work together in the House.

He said that any candidates who campaigned in support of the status quo would not have a chance of entering the House. But with the two models of government that had been proposed by Clive Edwards and Lopeti Senituli, 'Akilisi said that their objectives were the same but they differed only in their approaches.

"We all want a fully elected parliament, and now the King offers for us to select two, then we should accept it. If we say no, the king may say you have been asking, and now you say no, so may be we should go back to the old style."

'‘Akilisi did not support Clive Edwards's proposal for the people to elect the 30 members of parliament, then the elected members to elect the Prime Minister, and the Prime Minister to appoint his Cabinet. "The king will not accept it, we have to do things in stages."

There remain a number of immediate challenges ahead for the THRDM. In Tongatapu there are some members of the THRDM who are running independently of the teams. For example, if Lopeti Senituli and Fuiva Kavaliku, who are members of the THRDM, happen to be elected as members of parliament for Tonga, would they be able to work together with THRDM teams who are aiming to take all the nine seats?

And would 'Akilisi Pohiva become a Cabinet Minister if the King appointed him?

"I will discuss it with the others before I make a decision," said 'Akilisi.