Parliament approves $4.1 million extra spending [1]
Tuesday, October 16, 2012 - 21:54. Updated on Monday, September 9, 2013 - 18:40.
From the House by Pesi Fonua
A Bill to increase the government expenditure for the 2012-13 financial year by more than $4.1 million pa'anga was passed by the Tongan parliament this afternoon.
This morning, the Speaker moved for an extra $305,000 to be approved, to meet increased expenditure of the House, including a $185,000 invoice from the Parliamentary Select Committee that produced the Report on the Nuku'alofa Development Corporation NDC; another $50,000 to meet the health bills of MP 'Uliti Uata who was sent overseas for medical treatment for a stroke.
They also needed $70,000 to meet the expenses of members of parliament who would be visiting China soon. The House wanted to include the Speaker and the Clerk in the delegation. The Chinese had invited seven but the House wanted nine. The Speaker confirmed that the Chinese said they would not increase their invitation from seven to nine.
Fua'amotu Leases
The Bill to increase government expenditure was a hot topic for debate when it became clear that about $4 million would go toward paying the leases of the land for the Fua'amotu International Airport to three estate owners, Prince Tu'ipelehake, Prince Tungi and Lord Kalaniuvalu Fotofili.
There was a claim by 'Akilisi Pohiva, Sione Taione and 'Isileli Pulu that an initial payment by government to land owners of several millions was illegal and that to continue with the lease agreement would remain an illegal agreement.
The Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Samiu Vaipulu explained that the former government had initiated the negotiatiions to secure a 99 year lease of the land for the airports in Tongatapu and Vava'u so that they could be upgraded with about $TOP50 million grant from the World Bank. He said that it became known to the current government in February that a lease payment of several million was overdue. There was no allocation in the government budget for such a payment, and the current budget was already drafted. The first payment was made out in June from the government's Constituency Fund, but the advice from the Attorney General was that even though the first payment was legally right, but subsequent lease payments should be presented to the House for its approval.
He told the House that government has only two weeks left to complete its agreement with the World Bank, and if they fail to finalize the lease agreement the Bank will not release the fund, and the airports will be closed down.
The agreement with the World Bank, was for the Tongan government to be responsible for securing the land, and the bank would provide the funding, a $TOP50 million grant.
The debate in the House drifted into what the Chairman, Siosifa Tu'utafaiva described as members running along two parallel lines with not a chance of ever running together in one line; agreeing on something.
The chairman called for votes and the Bill to increase government expenditure was carried 12-9.
The Speaker, who voted for the Bill thanked the People's Representatives for their support, to increase the budget of the House. 'Isileli Pulu responded that they did voted against the Bill because of the lease payment.