From the House, an English translation summary from the Tongan vernacular, by Pesi Fonua.

Tonga Legislative Assembly, Minute No. 10, Thursday Night, June 18, 2009.

Highlights:

- Some members were very critical of the high fees for Royal Land Commissioners, but the PM pointed that members should do something about their one day pay for one hour of overtime before criticizing other people.

- Noble Lasike pleaded with government to amend the law so that people can register plots of land less than 30 poles.

Did not answer their calls

The clerk said that the Ministers of Education and Labour were still on leave of absence and the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Governor of Ha'apai were away sick and those who did not answer their calls were presumed to be coming late.

The Speaker said that PR Sunia Fili would be leaving on Saturday for a CPA meeting in Brisbane, Australia.

PR 'Isileli Pulu wanted to comment on Vote No. 12 and No. 15 of the Ministers of Education and Labour but they were both away.

The Speaker said that if it was related to figures and numbers, the Minister of Finance could answer them.

Weapons and equipment

The Speaker dissolved the Legislature into Committee and Samiu Vaipulu took his Chair. He said they would start with Vote No. 8 of the Tonga Defence Services.

'Isileli wanted to know how a total amount of $2.6 million, in-kind and in cash was spent.

The Minister of Finance, Afu'alo Matoto, said that the $2.6 million was the value of trucks from China and weapons from France. He said that there were 650 soldiers in the TDS, and government had approved an increase to 750 but during the coming financial year there was no allocation to recruit more soldiers.

Noble Ma'afu Tuku'i'auilahi wanted to help with the interpretation of the vote because the member was interpretating ministry equipment to mean weapons, but it could just be a tele-radio.

The Chairman asked the House to consider Vote No. 8 passed so that they could proceed to Vote No. 9 of the Ministry of Lands.

Royal Land Commission

PR Clive Edwards wanted to know where the Royal Land Commission is funded from. He thought it was with the Ministry of Finance, but there was no allocation there, and there was no allocation in the Ministry of Land's vote either, so he wanted to know how they were being financed.

The Minister of Finance said that there was an allocation with the vote of the Crown Law Department but they did not want it there, so it was then transfered to the vote of the Ministry of Finance. He said that the allocations were half a million for the current financial and another half for the new financial year.

Clive wanted confirmation that commissioners were paid $1,800 per meeting. The Minister responded, "yes".

PR 'Akilisi Pohiva wanted to know if the Privy Council and Cabinet approved the rate.

The Minister of Finance said they tried to negotiate the rate but a Commission for Uoleva was already paid under the $1,800 rate so they had no option but to follow suit.

'Akilisi said that "these Palangis are setting up new things in the country", particularly who seemed to be the chairman in a number of commissions. He said that it was the work of foreign consultants. He wanted to know if Dalgety was involved.

PR 'Etuate Lavulavu thought that the amount was too much, but if they were qualified lawyers, that was their fees.

Land registration

On a different issue, Noble Lasike wanted to know if it was correct that no one could register a piece of land that is less than 30 poles.

The Minister of Lands, Hon. Tuita, said that less than 30 poles you could not register but one could lease.

Noble Lasike requested if government could amend the Constitution and make it possible for people to register plots of land of less than 30 poles.

Lawyer's fees

The Prime Minister Hon. Dr Feleti Sevele said he was surprised by comments made by some PRs about Palangis trying to establish things in the country, and the $1,800 per day salary of commissioners. He reminded the House that average daily fee for a good lawyer is $2,000. He said that the two commissioners in the Uoleva Commission were two lawyers, Tevita Tupou and Dalgety. The three lawyers in the Royal Land Commission, all lawyers are Noble Fielakepa, Tevita Tupou and Kahu Afeaki, all Tongans. He said that some members were too eager to point out that some of these fees were too high and unfair, and yet they do things in the House that is not done in any parliament or any company in Tonga, to work one hour and get paid for a full day. He called on members to watch what they are saying in the House about other people who are not in the House to defend themselves.

Stop protecting coastal areas

'Akilisi on a different issue said that government should amend a clause in the constitution which restricted construction in coastal areas. He said that this clause should be amended so that people can freely build on beaches.

On yet another issue Noble Luani wanted to know why the Minister of Lands was not a member of the Royal Land Commission.

The Chairman reminded the noble that the Royal Land Commission reported only to the king.

Renewable energy

PR Teisina Fuko expressed his concern over a big drop in the allocation for renewable energy from $100,000 to only $13,000. He said that this was an area that the country really needed at this point of time.

The Minister of Finance said that there is no reduction in the allocation, work is still moving forward, excepting that the person who headed this area has left for further study overseas, and the division has come under the Prime Minister's office.

The House was closed until 9.30 am Monday morning.