From the House by Pesi Fonua

A three-days Special Session of the Tonga Parliament to deliberate over five Bills ended on Tuesday evening, March 12, after the House passed four Bills and deferred one Bill to the House's Standing Committee on Legislation.

The urgency for the Tongan Parliament to enact these bills, and to go into overdrive and work over-time was clarified by the comments and debate.

Pacific Games Organization Bill 2013

When the Pacific Games Council awarded Tonga the right to host the Pacific Games 2019 on 19 October 2012, Tonga was obligated to establish an Organization Committee before 19 April 2013.

It will be the first time for Tonga to host the games.

The Pacific Games Organization Bill 2013 was to establish the organizational structure of the Tonga Pacific Games Organizing Committee (TPGOC) as a statutory corporation with separate legal entity, as required by the Pacific Games Council.

The Bill outlines the membership of the TPGOC, and sets out its purpose and function. It specifies the role of the authority, to oversee the work of the Organizing Committee.

The Bill also deals with the finance that will be available to prepare for, and run the games.

The Pacific Games Council requires that finances be independent of the government, but that as a last resort, the government is to ensure that there is sufficient money available for the TPGOC to host the games.

It was estimated that Tonga needs about $200 million pa'anga to host the games. The government has pledged a contribution of several millions, but it will be the responsibility of the TPGOC to raise most of the funds.

The House spent time debating the process of the appointment of a Chief Executive Officer to be in charge of carrying out the plans of the Organizing Committee; and the selection of the members of the Organizing Committee, which according to the Games Council, should not be less than nine people, and one of whom is to be a Council Nominee.

Salaries decided by selves

The other part of the Bill where the House spent a bit of time was the process of establishing the salaries of the CEO and the members of the TPGOC, which according to the Bill was to be decided by the members themselves.

The People's Representative No. 5 for Tongatapu, 'Aisake Eke moved for the Salary Competent Authority that set the salaries of government CEOs and Directors to be part of the group that set the salaries of members of the TPGOC.

Lord Nuku said that there was no need for such an authority to get involved since TPGOC was independent of government, though Cabinet has an authority over the Committee.

There were a few exchanges over the fact that it did not look good for the members to decide their own salaries, considering a substantial amount of their capital fund will come from government, and that government will endorse some of their efforts to raise funds.

In the end 'Aisake Eke backed off and reworded his proposal to read that the CEO could seek help from the Salary Competent Authority if it was needed.

The House worked over-time on Monday, 11 March, until 10:00 pm to pass the Pacific Games Organization Act 2013 with votes of 17-1. Against was 'Isileli Pulu.