Results for Parliament

Prince Tu'ipelehake returns to the Tonga Legislative Assembly after winning the Tongatapu no. 1 Nobles Representative seat in this week's nobles by-election.

Tongan members of parliament left for their annual national tour this month taking a hand-out of $200,000 from the House Vote to be given away for community projects. From the House, by Pesi Fonua

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. Tonga Legislative Assembly, Minute No. 13, Wednesday June 22, 2005. From the House, by Pesi Fonua

I fully realize that it takes a lot of work to summarize each daily Minutes and translate it from the Tongan language. Your balanced coverage of local news is also greatly appreciated.

Government could not sell shares in Sea Star because there had been no financial report during the past four years. 'Isileli Pulu said he had not seen a Public Account since he entered the House in 2002. Tonga Legislative Assembly, Minute No. 10, Wednesday June 16, 2005. From the House, by Pesi Fonua

'Akilisi Pohiva said that if they were talking about accountability, and taking it to the highest level then who was the chief executive of the Privy Council [the king] accountable to? The Prime Minister, HRH Prince ...‘Ulukalala Lavaka Ata asked would the people be more powerful than the constitution and the law? In the old days when there was no law and order, countries ended up in war, and it seemed that was what some of the PRs wanted, they did not want Law and Order. Tonga Legislative Assembly, Minute No. 8, Tuesday June 14, 2005. From the House, by Pesi Fonua

Following the Minister of Finance's presentation of his Budget Statement the day before, clarifying where he stood with regards to his Tax and Economic reform program, the Minister, Hon. Siosiua 'Utoikamanu, came under a relentless attack from the People's Representatives, picking holes in his Budget. The questioning was so intense that before lunch the Minister slipped out from the House, and after waiting 25 minutes for him to return, the House broke up for lunch. Tonga Legislative Assembly, Minute No. 6, Thursday June 9, 2005. From the House, by Pesi Fonua

The Vava'u No. 1 People's Representative, Samiu Vaipulu, called on the Deputy Prime Minister, Hon Cecil Cocker, to resign over alleged illegal handling of the Missing Trust Fund in 1994. While the Deputy Prime Minister was in a state of shock over the allegation, the House proceeded with what was to be its main agenda for the day, the electing of its staff. Once the staff were elected the House then settled down to do some real work, and the Minister of Finance presented his Budget Statement for 2005-06. Tonga Legislative Assembly, Minute No. 4 , Tuesday June 7, 2005. From the House by Pesi Fonua

On Monday, Tonga's former Speaker was refused an opportunity to rebut a claim by the House Finance Committee that about $108,000 was unaccounted for during the change over period to the new Speaker. Both the Chairman of the House and the Speaker denied a request by the former Speaker, Noble Tu'ivakano, to reply to what he said were damaging allegations made by the Finance Committee. Tonga Legislative Assembly, Minute no. 3, Monday June 6, 2005. From the House, by Pesi Fonua