By Pesi Fonua

PEOPLE'S Representative 'Akilisi Pohiva has been suspended from the House for two weeks without pay in a disciplinary action on August 19 when the Speaker announced that the member is not allowed to set foot "on one inch of the parliament compound during his suspension" until September 3.

The suspension came after an inquiry by a parliamentary Privilege Committee established that 'Akilisi had been lying to parliament and abusing his special privilege as a member.

In the minutes of the August 19 session that were released to the media yesterday it was revealed that the Speaker of the Tongan Parliament, the Hon. Noble Tu'ilakepa, who appeared reluctant to make a decision on the matter, was finally pushed into punishing the member when other members objected to the amount of time being wasted.

Wasting time

The report of the Privilege Committee disclosed that 'Akilisi had lied to the House but during three days of haggling in the House, the Speaker admitted that he was having difficulties in deciding what to do.

The Minister of Environment, Noble Ma'afu moved for the Speaker to make a decision because they had been wasting too many working hours on the issue while there was other work for the House to deal with.

The Minister for Youth and Sports, Hon. Noble Tu'ivakano, a former Speaker, then moved a motion for 'Akilisi to be suspended for two weeks without pay, and said "This is to set a precedent not to lie to the House and not to defame people who are not in the House to defend themselves and so it will never happen again. . . . and worse in this case is [defamation] against His Majesty."

The Speaker called for votes on the motion and it was carried 16-4. For it were the Minister of Revenue, Minister of Environment, Minister of Labour, Commerce and Industries, Minister of Education, Minister of Finance, Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Youths and Sports, Minister of Works, Minister of Information, Minister of Justice, Noble Tangipa, Noble Fakafanua, Noble Tu'iha'ateiho, Nobel Fulivai and Noble Vaha'i.

Against the motion were four People's Representatives 'Isileli Pulu, Clive Edwards, 'Etuate Lavulavu and 'Uliti Uata.

Following the overwhelming decision by the House the Speaker announced that the suspended sentence would come into effect immediately and that 'Akilisi was not allowed into parliament until September 3.

Statement

The disciplinary action related to a statement that 'Akilisi made to the House on June 15. He told the House that the King in Council had ordered for government to spend $12 million in the renovation of the Royal Palace and that the money was to be taken from a $140 million government soft loan from China for the reconstruction of Nuku'alofa following the 16/11 riot.

But the statement by 'Akilisi was disputed on June 17 when Hon. Nuku raised the fact that he is a Privy Councilor and he could not recall such a decision being made by the Privy Council, and he asked 'Akilisi to provide a copy of the Privy Council decision that he referred to.

But 'Akilisi, instead, issued a Press Release which made no mention of a Privy Council decision.

A complaint was made in the House and it was decided for the Privilege Committee to investigate the matter and report back to the House.

The members of the Privilege Committee are the Minister of Communication and Information, Hon. 'Eseta Fusitu'a; the Minister of Justice, Hon. Samiu Vaipulu; the Governor of Ha'apai, Noble Tu'iha'angana; Nobles' Representatives Lord Fielakepa, Noble Tu'iha'ateiho and Noble Lasike; and People's Representatives, Clive Edwards, 'Etuate Lavulavu and Sunia Fili.