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Tonga's former Prime Minister Lord Sevele is calling for a judicial review of the report of a parliamentary select committee, in an application to the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court that will be heard on 23 January 2013.

Tonga's democratic adventure during the past two years has been full of intrigues, revelations and challenges. Unfortunately, these goings on have distracted the attention of the Cabinet and the Parliament from the pressing issue of the day, which is to get the Tongan economy back on its feet, or we will become heavily relying on others for our livelihoods. Editor's Comment, by Pesi Fonua

Tonga's Attorney General, Neil Adsett, said that a Parliamentary Select Committee that investigated the use of a multi million loan from China for the restructuring of Nuku'alofa had done a good job, but its report had no real finding of any person taking money they should not have had, or using money for themselves or against the interest of Tonga. But the Attorney General's freely expressed opinion has upset the Select Committee's chairman, 'Akilisi Pohiva.

Communications costs in Tonga are under pressure as the Tonga Government aims to collect more than $10 million pa'anga revenue from the communications and public enterprises sector in the current financial year.

Eighteen months ago Tonga introduced its first majority-elected parliament in a move to establish a more democratic system of government. The democratization process has not been smooth and now, at the start of their second parliamentary session, it appears that our elected members are having a very difficult time trying to get the new system to work. . . . this raises another question: Is the motion for a Vote of No Confidence therefore, a Vote of No Confidence in themselves? Editor's Comment by Pesi Fonua.

Kaveinga Fa'anunu (59) the Tongatapu no. 9 People's Representative passed away last night, July 24, at Vaiola Hospital after a long illness.

'Parliamentary Process in a Democracy' was the subject of a three day workshop held in Tonga last week by a New Zealand parliamentary delegation.

It is disheartening to hear the more we are struggling for change, the more things remain the same in Parliament. It is also fair to say that I am grossly disgusted with the hard working members of our Parliament who lackadaisical join the House at their convenience, but rush to claim overtime pay when they are needed to do what they were elected to do in the first place. It stinks to high heaven, and it shows their greed and their love of power more than upholding the duties they campaigned for. -TamaFoa

Tonga's members of Cabinet will continue to receive two pay packets, one for their ministerial posts and the other from the House, the Minister of Finance Hon. Afu‘alo Matoto said on December 19.