From the House, by Pesi Fonua

Tonga's parliament has agreed today for a nine-members select committee to preside over a motion to dismiss the auditor general for misconduct, after four and a half days deliberation in an emergency session.

After hours of thrashing out over the details of what kind of parliamentary committee they should have, the number of members, its spirit and the terms of reference, and before the House broke for lunch, they agreed that a nine-members select committee would study the motion and the response from the auditor general, Pohiva Tu'I'onetoa, and then report back to the House.

The motion by Lord Tu'i'afitu went through the Whole House Committee and the Legislature in such record time that parliament did not even have to vote for it. So it was because either the House was so exhausted after four and a half days of haggling and insulting each other, or they were just blinded by the light that the Deputy Speaker, Lord Tu'i'afitu shone on them.

With regards to members of the Parliamentary Committee, the Speaker called for three representatives each from Cabinet, the Nobles' Representatives and the People's Representatives. The Cabinet's representatives are Hon. Samiu Vaipulu, Lord Vaea and Hon. Clive Edwards.

Hon Samiu Vaipulu moved for the Speaker not to be a member because he had openly given his personal support for the auditor general. The Speaker responded by withdrawing his right to be a member of all Parliamentary Committees.

The Nobles' Representatives are Lord Tu'ilakepa, Lord Tu'i'afitu and Lord Fusitu'a.

Hon Samiu Vaipulu also moved for 'Akilisi Pohiva not to be a member of the committee because it is publicly known that he has been in public gatherings with the auditor general, and they had been out dining a number of times. He said that it was a matter of integrity so that the committee could maintain its credibility. 'Akilisi did not withdraw his membership, so the People's Representatives members are 'Akilisi Pohiva, Sitiveni Halapua and 'Aisake Eke.

The road that the House has to traveled to get to where it reached today has been rather long and winding, simply because it was the first time ever for the House to deal with such a motion since the Public Audit Act was enacted in 2007, and the auditor general who has been under the jurisdiction of the Prime Minister then came under the jurisdiction of the Speaker of Parliament.

Under the Public Audit Act, the Auditor General is recruited by the Prime Minister, after consultation with the Speaker. To dismiss him from his position, a two third majority votes of the House is required.

The Tongan Parliament has been trying to decide how to deal with the motion since it was tabled into Parliament by the Prime Minister, Lord Tu'ivakano and the Minister of Finance, Hon. Sunia Fili on January 31. Before the House closed at the end of its working week, on Thursday, February 2 it agreed for a parliamentary committee to be formed to deliberate over the motion.

On the fourth day of the emergency session, yesterday, members could not agree on the terms of reference to form a Select Committee.

The House was divided. One group who included Lord Tu'ilakepa, Lord Lasike, 'Akilisi Pohiva and Sitiveni Halapua, were in favour for the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance and the auditor general to reconcile and then apologise to the New Zealand government.

Another group, including the Deputy PM, Hon. Samiu Vaipulu, Hon. Sunia Fili, Lord Vaea and Lord Ma'afu, wanted the committee to ascertain the credibility of the motion and the response of the auditor general; and any other relevant evidence from members of parliament. The committee would present its findings to the House, then the House would decide what to do next.

There was finger pointing about being undemocratic, and unwilling to find justice, by simply calling for compassionate reconciliation.

There was also a bit of mud-slinging between the Minister of Police, Hon Lisiate 'Akolo and the Speaker, Lord Lasike, after the Speaker expressed his full support of the auditor general. The Minister of Police, meanwhile, alluded to the Speaker flattering the auditor general not to audit the books of the House, particularly the expenses of a parliamentary trip of the Speaker, and four other members of parliament to Israel. The Speaker was supposed to go to Israel but instead he went to the USA.

In the end, the House closed yesterday with 'Akilisi Pohiva announcing that he would introduce five more terms of references the following day for the parliamentary committee.

Today, February 7, the House started with six motions for the House to vote on before lunch, but within about five minutes members agreed to vote only on one motion - that of Lord Tu'i'afitu for the committee to study the motion and the response of the auditor general and then report back to the House.

The House passed that motion in the Whole House Committee and in Legislature without even voting for it.