New Parliamentary Select Committee meets on NDC Report [1]
Tuesday, April 2, 2013 - 19:35. Updated on Monday, September 9, 2013 - 18:40.
A new Parliamentary Select Committee that was established to further consider the Nuku'alofa Development Corporation Report, met today for the second time.
The report investigated how a multi-million pa'anga loan from China was spent on the reconstruction of Nuku'alofa.
Gloria Guttenbeil-Pole'o the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly said the new Select Committee held its first meeting on 23 November 2012 focusing on developing its guideline on how to address its Terms of Reference.
The committee's next meeting was expected to be held this afternoon.
She said the new Select Committee was given a mandate to consider further the Report, specifically the evidence that formed the basis for its findings and recommendations, and then report back to the Legislative Assembly.
The Select Committee was established by resolution (128/2012) of the Legislative Assembly on 9 October 2012 at the conclusion of the deliberation on the Report of the NDC Independent Select Committee, said Gloria.
Members of the Select Committee are:
1. ‘Aisake Eke (Chairman)
2. Lord Fakafanua
3. Lord Tu’iha’ateiho
4. Lord Vaea
5. Lord Tui’afitu
6. Lord Nuku
7. Hon. Lisiate ‘Akolo
8. Hon. Dr ‘Ana Taufe’ulungaki
9. ‘Isileli Pulu
10. Hon. Sifa Tu’utafaiva
11. Sione Taione
12. Semisi Tapueluelu
13. Mo’ale Finau
Meanwhile, on Thursday April 4 a hearing is set for an application by former Prime Minister Lord Sevele and Paul Karalus for a Judicial Review on the NDC Report to be heard at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court.
The hearing was adjourned from January 23. Six committee members are defendants in the case, namely 'Akilisi Pohiva, Lord Lasike, Lord Tu'i'afitu, Dr Sitiveni Halapua, the Auditor General, Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa and lawyer, Posesi Bloomfield.
Lord Sevele and Karalus in their application claim that the committee departed from the Terms of Reference that was given by parliament, and engaged in unwarranted criticism of the previous Government's actions, and their calling for criminal investigation and prosecution had seriously damaged their reputations.
They claim that the report infringed natural justice, the Constitution and the Rules and Procedures of Parliament. They are seeking for the court to quash the report and for a declaration that the committee had breached the natural justice of the plaintiffs.