From the House, by Pesi Fonua.

Three days after a motion to dismiss the auditor general was tabled into the Tongan Parliament by the Prime Minister, Lord Tu'ivakano and the Minister of Finance, Hon. Sunia Fili, the House still could not figure out how to deal with the motion.

From January 31 to February 2 the House appeared to have made one step forward to make a decision, and then two steps backward to where it ended up.

According to the Public Audit Act 2007, the Legislative Assembly can remove the auditor general from office with a two thirds majority vote, which is 17 or 18 votes out of the 26 members parliament.

However, in trying to secure a two thirds majority vote in the House turned out to be the devil in the detail, which sent members wandering all over the House all day Wednesday without making any decision.

Yesterday morning, February 2, the Speaker Lord Lasike, who with the Prime Minister Lord Tu'ivakano had appointed the auditor general, decided to bite the bullet and appointed stand-by members of a committee, which he anticipated might be formed later. 

Lord Lasike appointed three People's Representatives, 'Akilisi Pohiva, Sitiveni Halapua and 'Aisake Eke; and three Nobles' Representatives, Lord Lasike, Lord Fusitu'a and Lord Tu'ilakepa; and three cabinet members to be appointed by the cabinet.  

However, Lord Lasike's select committee selection was short-lived, when a short while later, the Minister of Labour, Commerce and Industries, Hon. 'Isileli Pulu, objected that he did not think it was proper for Lasike (whom he said was like the chief justice) to preside over the trial of the auditor general. 

Lord Lasike immediately declared his selection of committee members void.   

But just before the House broke for lunch, the Chairman of the Whole House Committee called for votes on some kind of a committee to be formed, and it was carried 15-6. 

Apology             

After lunch, the Speaker Lord Lasike bit the bullet again and moved for the committee to write and apologise to the New Zealand government for the "insulting behavior" of Tonga's auditor general. He reminded the House that the day before the Prime Minister (who was not present) had suggested compassion and forgiveness. 

This was almost a turning point on the whole emergency session, which was called to pass a decision on a motion by the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance for the House to dismiss the auditor general. The Speaker and the Prime Minister were responsible for recruiting the auditor general, and for a moment it appeared that they favoured to just drop the motion in mid-air.

The Minister of Police, Hon. Lisiate 'Akolo, however, made a proposal for terms of reference for the committee, which the House had agreed to, but had not formed.

His three proposals were, firstly, for the committee to study the allegations in the motion and the response by the auditor general; secondly, to confirm some of the claims made by the auditor general, that he did not speak to TVNZ One News, because the minister of Police had evidence that the auditor general spoke to a girl in the newsroom of TVNZ One News; and thirdly, to write and apologise to the New Zealand government.

There was fierce opposition to Lisiate's proposed terms of reference, particularly from Sitiveni Halapua and 'Akilisi Pohiva, who had suddenly changed their position. Initially, they were in favour of the House establishing terms of reference first, before a committee was formed; but now, Sitiveni argued that they should agree on the spirit of the committee first, before they decided on its terms of reference. As for 'Akilisi, he suggested for a committee to be formed, and if it was tasked with writing a letter of apology to the New Zealand government, then its terms of reference should be set out accordingly, but not to go out and do any investigation as was suggested by the Minister of Police.

The Speaker called for the House to close until 10:00am Monday, February 6.