Sense of urgency may lead to greater integrity [1]
Friday, February 24, 2012 - 19:59. Updated on Monday, September 9, 2013 - 18:40.
By Pesi Fonua
The Tonga government's current sense of urgency to introduce a Freedom of Information Policy and to activate an Anti-Corruption Commission, is a sign that it has come to terms with the need to take its reform program to another level, and to have a more transparent, and corruption-free administration.
After a year-long search for a more democratic system of government, the new government is still trying to find its feet as the Constitutional and Political Reform continues to unfold itself.
Newly restructured government ministries, with half of the number of chief executive officers that it had previously, will be introduced with the 2012-13 Budget in July.
But in the hierarchy of the new government there remain some gaps, including the key positions of Lord Chancellor, Police Commissioner, and Anti Corruption Commissioner.
In the midst of the reshuffling, there have been attempts to reinvent the wheel, particularly by parliament's formation of sub committees to carry out the tasks of government institutions that have been vacant or have not been formed.
During its first year in office, the new parliament has formed two parliamentary committees with members of parliament, to investigate two allegations of mismanagement of foreign funds by government.
The departure by members of parliament from their core responsibility of law making, to become amateur investigators, was a worry, as parliament was politicizing such sensitive services. The move ignored the fact that there are already government institutions in place, such as the Public Relations Commission, or the proposed Anti-Corruption Commission whose experts can or should be carrying out such tasks.
The new parliament's tendency of operating in standing committees and forming parliamentary committees to carry out investigative tasks has attracted public attention. People want to know what they are doing, and are questioning possible conflicts of interest.
An example is the fact that the Auditor General is a member of the parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance and Public Accounts. But is there a conflict of interest in this role, while he is the government's Auditor General and required to audit government and the parliament's books?
The move by government to pass a Freedom of Information Policy, and to appoint an Anti-Corruption Commissioner is definitely a wise decision, while the public are increasingly questioning the credibility of government, because far too many law makers and prominent figures are currently facing criminal charges in the courts.