THE Tongan public responding to a call for submissions on constitutional and electoral reform have come forward with their ideas for reforms.

When the deadline for public submissions closed yesterday, February 23, the Constitutional and Electoral Commission had received 29 written submissions.

Many more individual submissions are expected to be presented at nationwide public forums at the end of March.

The Director of the Secretariat for the Constitutional and Electoral Commission, Rosamond Bing said today that submissions were from the public sector, civil societies, outer-island communities, overseas Tongans and other interest groups.

"This is an encouraging sign that the public is willing to share their views with the Commission," she said.

The Commission will also be holding fono throughout Tongatapu and the outer islands starting in Vava'u, Niuafo'ou and Niuatoputapu on March 30-31, followed by Ha'apai on April 1-3, 'Eua on April 2, and Tongatapu from April 6-8.

Rosamond said the Commission is calling for public participation and inviting members of the public to the fono where Commissioners will be present to provide an update on the progression of their work and to hear oral submissions.

November

The Tongan parliament passed the Bill for the Constitution and Electoral Commission Act 2008 on July 22 last year, where the Commission is given 10 months from the date of its formation to submit a report and recommendations to the Privy Council and the Legislative Assembly.

It is then up to the Privy Council to reject or accept recommendations.

In the meantime the Commissioners' next meeting is scheduled for May with a third meeting planned for October, then they will draft their final report and recommendation to be presented to the Privy Council and the Legislative Assembly on November 5.