Prime Minister’s Concession Allows For Reform

“Prime Minister’s Concession Allows For Smooth Passage Of Political Reform Legislations”

The Prime Minister, Dr. the Hon Feleti Vaka’uta Sevele, on Tuesday (20 April) evening, conceded by withdrawing the Cabinet’s submission on constituency boundaries in order to allow for the smooth passage through the Legislative Assembly of the enabling legislations to allow the general elections to take place in November this year.

The Royal Constituency Boundaries Commission was appointed by His Majesty in Privy Council in December 2009, and its broad mandate was to inquire into and recommend constituency boundaries to His Majesty. In its Report, the Commission recommended three options for consideration, indicating Option 2 as its preference.

The Commission’s Report was tabled in the House on Monday (19 April) and the Hon Prime Minister had requested that Cabinet be given an opportunity to present its own option to the House on Tuesday (20 April) morning. Cabinet’s Option incorporated the best features of all the three options of the Commission.

On Monday (19 April) evening, the Committee of the Whole House voted to adopt Option 2 as recommended by the Commission, in spite of the fact that Cabinet’s Option had not been tabled yet.

In addressing the Committee of the Whole House on Tuesday evening, the Hon Prime Minister said, “Although I am disappointed that the ballot had been taken without consideration of the Cabinet’s option, the Government must respect the result of that vote. That vote is a classical example of democracy at work, where the two tables of the Nobles’ Representatives and the People’s Representatives combined to outvote Government. That vote is a tribute to the vision of the Architect of Tonga’s parliamentary system, King George Tupou I, who devised a tripartite legislature that ensured that the Government, on its own, will not be able to outvote the rest of Parliament. I hope that we will continue to cherish and support that important feature of our Parliament and our history. Government therefore accepts the results of the ballot taken last night”

The Hon Prime Minister also said, “It is the responsibility of any Government to insist on what it considers the best option for the country. But there are also times when it is necessary for us, as a Government, to concede on matters so that the country can move forward in harmony. This is such a time and I believe we owe it to His Late Majesty, King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV and His Majesty, King George Tupou V, for their momentous decision to cede their executive authority to a democratically elected Parliament and Government.”

The Hon Prime Minister went on to outline the distribution of the 17 People’s Representatives to the Legislative Assembly that will be elected in November this year as: the two Niuas – 1 Rep, Vava’u -3 Reps, Ha’apai – 2 Reps, ‘Eua – 1 Rep, and Tongatapu -10 Reps. The constituency boundaries for Tongatapu, Ha’apai and Vava’u, will be along those identified by the Royal Constituency Boundaries Commission in their Option 2.

After the Hon Prime Minister’s intervention, the Legislative Assembly passed the Constitutional Amendment Act and the Constituency Boundaries Act in a matter of minutes – a record for the House and a clear tribute to the Hon Prime Minister’s visionary compromise.

Ends

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