From the House, by Pesi Fonua

Tonga Legislative Assembly, Minute No. 13, Wednesday June 22, 2005.

- After Clive Edwards's proposal for a deduction of $6 million from the total government budget for the next financial year to be set aside "to do something for the people" was supported by the Minister of Finance, other People's Representatives tried to extract funds for public relations handouts and support in various sectors.

- The Budget Statement of the Minister of Finance was passed the day before. It then became evident that any hope by the People's Representatives that they would be able to stop the Consumption Tax, despite the protests and the rhetoric that the CT was unconstitutional, was as one PR had said, "like coming up against a brick wall."

- The next best thing that the People's Representatives could do was to try and squeeze some money from government for some public relations work. First 'Akilisi Pohiva moved for an extraction of $200,000 from the House's vote, to be given to members of parliament for handouts to people and in support of community projects when they go on their annual national tour, starting the following week. It was passed by the House.

- Following the success of Clive and 'Akilisi, 'Uliti Uata proposed for $4.5 million to be extracted from all the votes of government ministries to be given to various sector of the Tongan economy for their development, but withdrew his motion in face of opposition from the Finance minister.

- There was a big increase in the Palace Office vote from $1.9 million to $3.4 million.

- A motion by 'Isileli Pulu to cancel the $45,000 scholarship allocation and the $1.5 million for the building of a new Royal Chapel was rejected.

- The Minister of Finance explained why there was an increase of $5 million in the revenues of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Palace Office

With only seven working days left before the end of June, and the beginning of the new financial year, the Speaker, Hon. Veikune, dissolved the Legislature into the Whole House Committee and the debate continued with Vote No. 1, the Palace Office.

The Chairman, was eager for the committee to vote on a motion by 'Isileli Pulu for a $45,000 scholarship allocation and the $1.5 million allocation for the building of a new Royal Chapel but members still wanted to debate on the issue.

The Ha'apai no. 2 People's Representative, Fineasi Funaki, supported the building of the new Royal Chapel, but also supported the move by Clive Edwards for $6 million to be given to the Ministry of Commerce for market research.

The Tongatapu no. 3 People's Representative, Clive Edwards, corrected that his motion was for market research and other programs to improve our export products, such as a Blast Freezing for the preparation of manioke for export.

The 'Eua People's Representative, Sunia Fili, expressed his concern over a big increase in the vote of the Palace Office from $1.9 million last year to $3.4 million this year. He said that on top of that government needed $7.1 million for the salary rise of the public service. He said that the allocation for the building of the Royal Chapel was a risky venture, taking into account of the unstable state of the health of the king, and if Jehovah said it was his turn then the building of the new chapel would be in vain.

The Chairman called for vote on 'Isileli's first motion, to terminate the scholarship allocation in the Palace Office's vote. It was rejected 19-2. For it were 'Isileli Pulu and 'Akilisi Pohiva.

The Chairman called for vote on 'Isileli's second motion for the suspension of the $1.5 million Royal Chapel's allocation. It was also rejected with a vote of 21-5. For it were 'Akilisi Pohiva, 'Isileli Pulu, Sunia Fili, Lepolo Mahe Taunisila and 'Uliti Uata.

The chairman called for votes on Vote No. 1 of the Palace Office. It was carried 20-0.

Tongan Parliament

The committee proceeded to Vote No. 2 of the Tongan Parliament.

Noble Veikune reminded the House of Clause 175 of the Regulation of proceedings in the House, which said that it was not allowed for the House to debate on matters that directly involved members.

The Vava'u no. 1 People's Representative, Samiu Vaipulu, and the Minister of Labour, Hon. Dr Feleti Sevele, convinced the noble that they were debating a piece of legislation and not on individual personal matters.

The Tongatapu no. 1 People's Representative, 'Akilisi Pohiva, raised the fact that the House's Vote went up from $2 million to $2.9 million. He said that 20 per cent would go on the pensions of the members. He said that there would be a sum of $300,000 left after deducting all the regular expenditure of the House. He moved for a sum of $200,000 to be set aside.

The Minister of Finance, Hon. Siosiua 'Utoikamanu, gave a break down of the vote of the House. He said that the amount of $521,317 was for the salaries and the allowances of the four new cabinet ministers, including their contribution to the Retirement Fund of $189,016. There was also an increase in the allowance for maintenance and operations, of $20,000. For Pensions there was an increase of $370,302, and then for the allocation No. 20 there was a decrease of $999. He said that that was how they reached the increase of $910,620.

'Akilisi Pohiva said that the Speaker and the Clerk needed to keep a detailed account of how the Vote of the House was spent. He gave two examples of over spending. First was a trip overseas by the Clerk, which amounted to $16,000, and that was despite the fact that she was travelling economy class. The second example of extravagant spending by the House was the decoration of the House for its closure, which came to $14,000.

The Minister of Works, Hon. Tu'ivakano, who had been the Speaker of the House during the time that 'Akilisi was referring to, said that with regard to the cost for the decoration of the House before its closure, he was just following the routine. The overseas travelling of the Clerk, the minister reminded the House that the Commonwealth Parliamentary Union paid for all the expenses, so even though the Tongan Parliament paid but it was refunded.

Hon. Tu'ivakano also said that he faced a lot of difficulties when he was a Speaker with members asking for favours. He said that 'Akilisi begged him for his pension in advance before July 1 and he gave it to him in the spirit of cooperation. He said that he could be blamed for wrong doing, but it was because of the member begging.

'Akilisi said that the minister was wrong and that he had not drawn his voucher, but the minister said that according to the Bank he had drawn his pension.

'Akilisi went on with his claim that the House was not very thrifty with its spending and questioned the salary of the Tea Lady, which was over $10,000, which he said was more than the normal for tea ladies.

The Minister of Police, Hon. Nuku, reminded the member that he had approved the salary of the Tea Lady in the Finance Committee.

The Chairman called for vote on 'Akilisi's motion to set aside $200,000 from the Vote of the House for members to give as contribution to village projects when they would be on their national tour in early July. It was carried 23-0.

Vote No. 2 of the Tongan Legislative Assembly was also passed with a vote of 23-0.

Prime Minister's Office

The Committee proceeded with Vote No. 3 of the Prime Minister's Office.

'Isileli Pulu queried why the salary of the Chief Secretary was higher than that of other Heads of Departments at $42,800. The Minister of Finance said that it was higher because she was the Chief Secretary.

Vote No. 3 was passed 23-0.

Foreign Affairs

The proceeding continued with Vote No. 4 - Foreign Affairs.

The Ha'apai no. 1 People's Representative, 'Uliti Uata, wanted to know the source of the ministry's estimated revenue of $5 million.

The Minister of Finance explained that $3.4 million came from the EU to the Minister who was the National Authorising Officer. There was also revenue from the sales of passports and visas plus other immigration penalty fees.

Vote No. 4 was passed 25-0.

Vote No. 5 for the Governor of Ha'apai was also passed 24-0.

Vote No. 6 for the Governor of Vava'u.

Proposed deductions

'Uliti Uata on a completely different issue, moved for government to deduct from all vote allocations to different government ministries $4.5 million, and the amount would be to help different sectors of the Tongan economy to grow. He said that the difference between his motion and that of Clive's was because Clive was proposing for government to find the $6 million from somewhere else.

The Minister of Finance disagreed with 'Uliti's motion, he said that it would disrupt the working programs of government ministries which had already been set.

'Uliti responded that if the Minister included elected members of parliament in the drafting of his budget he would not have made such a motion, but it was his only chance to push for something for the people.

The Minister reminded the member that the Governor of Ha'apai had asked for $150,000 for the Ha'apai Trade show and he had accepted that request because it came to him at the right time, but his motion was wrongly timed.

'Uliti agreed to withdraw his motion and that he would take it to the Minister before he drafted his budget for the next financial year.

Samiu Vaipulu pleaded with the Minister of Finance to increase the budget of the Governor of Vava'u because he had a bigger jurisdiction, including Vava'u and the two Niuas.

The vote No. 6 of the Governor of Vava'u was passed without any amendments, 23-0.

Vote No. 7 of the Ministry of Land was passed 20-0.

Vote No. 8 of the Ministry of Forestry.

'Akilisi proposed for the Ministry of Forestry to be terminated after this year and replaced it with a Ministry of Sports or Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Vote No. 8 was passed 24-0.

Complaints Commission

Vote No. 9 of the Complaint Commission.

'Isileli Pulu said that the Commissioner was over-paid with a salary of $41,720 per annum.

The Minister of Justice, Hon. Siaosi 'Aho, who was the former Commissioner, said that the salary was the same when he was the Commissioner and it was not a new salary for the person who took over from him.

Vote No. 9 was carried 23-0.

Vote No. 10 of the Ministry of Justice was passed 23-0.

Vote No. 11 of the Ministry of Police.

'Isileli Pulu queried why a drop in the Police's budget by about $200,000, taking into account that there was a concern expressed about the rising crime rate.

Vote No. 11 was passed 23-0.