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Reform stalled in Tonga parliament
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Posted on Sep 20 2008
[B]NUKU΄ALOFA, Tonga [/B](Matangi Tonga/PIR)—Tonga’s political reform process is currently in a limbo until commissioners are appointed and parliament has agreed on a few issues, the Prime Minister Dr. Feleti Sevele confirmed while answering questions at a Press Conference in Nuku΄alofa.
The joint Press Conference with the New Zealand High Commissioner to Tonga, Christine Bogle and a representative of the Australia government was to outline highlights of a two-day Donor High Level Consultation between the governments of Tonga, New Zealand and Australia on the development cooperation programs with Tonga. The Asian Development Bank was also represented at the meeting as an observer.
Sevele praised the Australian and the New Zealand governments for their financial assistance to Tonga.
New Zealand bilateral assistance to Tonga has increased from NZ$4.6 million [US$3 million] in 2004 to 2005 to NZ$13.3 million [US$9 million] in 2008 to 2009. The Australian bilateral assistance to Tonga has also increased from AUD$9.6 to AUD$13.2 million over the same period.
The press conference was an opportunity to ask the Prime Minister about the commission, which has been entrusted with the task of producing the blue print of a new system of Government for Tonga before 2010.
Two months after the Tongan parliament passed the Constitutional and Electoral Commission Act on July 22, and King George Tupou V gave it his consent soon after, the Prime Minister said that the slow process of setting up the commission was because they were being very careful in their selection process, to ensure that they would select the right person. The Commission has been hailed as a major step forward in Tonga’s efforts to have a new system of government in place by 2010.
