What merit in ignoring Complaints Commissioner? [1]
Tuesday, March 15, 2005 - 13:00. Updated on Thursday, May 8, 2014 - 16:56.
Dear Editor
Re.: A view toward good governance [2]
I note with incredulity, in reading the Press Release from the Prime Minister's Office today, that Government proclaims that an, "elevated sensitivity to public sentiments was formalized in the establishment of the Commission for Public Relations".
To call this a "meritorious trend" is simply hogwash in light of the fact that the Prime Minister's Office and its Chief Secretary have led the way in ignoring the decisions and recommendations of the Commissioner for Public Relations.
In early 2004 Pesi Fonua, the publisher of the Matangi Tonga, lodged a complaint to the Commissioner for Public Relations that the Media Laws gazetted on 27 November 2003 had not been made public until after 24 December 2003.
After a thorough investigation, that looked deeply into the systemic problems within the Prime Minister's Office, the Commissioner declared that the Information Unit did not address the serious issue Pesi Fonua had raised, of withholding legislation from the public.
The Commissioner for Public Relations found that Pesi's complaint was very genuine and could be sustained. The Commissioner then recommended to the Chief Secretary on 21 April 2004 that, "a letter of apology was in order for the failure of your office staff in their duty as public servants to be responsive and accountable for their action in performing their service delivery to the public".
However, to this date, the Chief Secretary has not recognised the findings of the Commissioner and has made no attempt to apologise to Pesi Fonua.
The Commissioner took a difficult inquiry to its conclusion, and it could have started a "meritorious trend" - had it not been for the indifference of the Prime Minister's Office in the matter.
Sincerely
Mary L. Fonua
Matangi Tonga Online
mfonua [at] matangitonga [dot] to
See also: Tonga's Chief Secretary should apologise for failures, says Complaints Commissioner [3]