By Pesi Fonua

A nine-members Standing Committee of the Tongan Legislative Assembly was formed on June 17 to investigate People's Representative 'Akilisi Pohiva for allegedly lying in parliament on June 15.

The Minister of Works, Hon. Noble Nuku, moved for the formation of the Standing Committee after expressing his disappointment that the Speaker did not stop 'Akilisi from making a false allegation before the closure of the House on Tuesday, June 15.

'Akilisi had claimed that the Privy Council had ordered a $12 million allocation for the renovation of the Royal Palace in Nuku'alofa.

Hon. Nuku, who is a member of the Privy Council, said he could not recall making such a decision, and he asked 'Akilisi to provide a copy of the Privy Council decision that he referred to.

'Akilisi, who arrived late, responded that he got the information from a Press Release from the office of the king. He handed over the Press Release to the Speaker to be translated into Tongan and distributed to members.

The Minister of Justice, Hon. Samiu Vaipulu, pointed out that there was no mention of Privy Council in the Press Release.

"I wish the people are listening, because you are telling too many lies to the people," he said.

People's Representative Clive Edwards warned the House, that though he supported the motion for the establishment of a Standing Committee, but such a move would inspire people to support 'Akilisi.

Hon. Nuku, however, insisted that his intention was not to make 'Akilisi more popular, but to address the fact that he had infringed the Rules of Proceeding of the House, and Clause 70 of the Constitution - Contempt of Assembly Punishable.

Campaigns

The Speaker, Noble Tu'ilakepa, expressed his disappointment that a member of parliament would use the House to influence the public with his political intention.

"Representative members, there is something else in your heart but you know it is very wrong to bring that into this House, for you to get up and try to influence or to convert the people. I hope that the people are listening that no-one in this country even myself should influence the people's political views by what we are saying in the House. A member is wrong-doing and yet you still continue to elect him.

"Let's have a 15 minutes break; you go and have your tea and give me an opportunity to go and speak to God. I am serious, that God will tell me whether I should continue as Speaker or not."

Following a short break the House elected members of the Standing Committee: 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.

False information

The House continued with its debate on the Government Annual Budget in Committee, and 'Akilisi again lashed out claiming that consultants on Tonga's Renewable Energy program were paid $2,500 a day, "four days $10,000."

When Clive Edwards asked where 'Akilisi got his figures from, he responded from his own newspaper, the Kele'a.

The Minister for Revenue Collection, Hon. Teisina Fuko, told 'Akilisi that he was bringing false information to the House and he pleaded for him to tell the House something that was true.

The Prime Minister, Dr Feleti Sevele called on the Speaker to stop 'Akilisi from spreading lies and defaming people. He pleaded with 'Akilisi to stop poisoning the public's mind.

"The salary of $2,500 a day is not true, and I know," said the Prime Minister.

He asked for 'Akilisi to leave outsiders out of the debate of the House, because they were not in the House to defend themselves.

The Speaker, eventually, asked the Chairman of the Whole House Committee to stop 'Akilisi from talking, and for the House to talk about something else other than the salaries of consultants.

Capital loans

The People's Representative for the Niuas, Sione Feingatau 'Iloa, called on the government to offer capital loans to private businesses and individuals.

He expressed his concern over the difficulty for private businesses and individuals to raise capital funds. He proposed for government to sell $30-$40 million worth of Bonds, and for this financial resources to be made available for Private Businesses and individual to borrow from.

The Minister of Finance, Hon. Afu'alo Matoto, however, explained that government had deliberately refrained from the business of money lending and left it for the Private Sector.

People's Representative 'Uliti Uata proposed that government could make borrowing from banks easier by introducing funds into commercial banks and then pressuring the banks to lend to the public.

The Minister of Finance reminded the House that the business of banks is to lend money, and they would be eager to talk to anyone who was interested in borrowing.

Burning of Nuku'alofa

He said that government was very conscious of the need for capital funds, and he reminded the House that if it were not for the burning of Nuku'alofa on November 2006, there would not have been any need for Tonga to borrow huge amounts of money to reconstruct the town.

The Minister of Finance reminded the House that despite the financial difficulties that the country was facing, a major concern of the government in this year's budget was to ascertain that the most vulnerable are taken care of so that they do not plunge into a hopeless situation.