Vote of no confidence against PM delay for one month

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Created on Tuesday, 28 August 2012 12:56

THE Legislative Assembly has approved to delay debate on the vote of no confidence against the Prime Minister for a month.

This comes into effect today.

It came about when the Hon. Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakano put forward a motion last Thursday with the intention to allow the House to continue its normal business.
It is also to allow Parliament to discuss other pending referral bills that have been approved for further scrutiny in the Whole House Committee.

To support the move, the Deputy Prime Minister, Hon Samiu Vaipulu said “paving the way for those bills to be discussed  would help to generate foreign aid of up to TOP$10 million, which in turn help the people of Tonga.

The PM’s motion prompted a robust and vigorous debate especially when MPs heard a rebuttal report from the People’s Representatives to the PM’s reply on the vote of no confidence motion.

Speaking on behalf of over 4000 petitioners that signed various petitions against the vote of no confidence,  the Minister of Health, Lord Tu’i’āfitu proposed to the House that ballot on the motion should take place.

The Niua’s Noble representative, Lord Fusitu’a also shared the same insight.
This however received strong opposition from the People’s Representatives’ table. Tongatapu 1 constituency MP, emphasized the need for government to reconsider letting their rebuttal report read in Parliament to the end.

He also maintained that the Prime Minister was given a right of reply to accusations made against him in the vote of no confidence motion. According to Mr. Pōhiva, their report was read non stop in the House for five days without their interference.

“Even though we wanted to respond and correct something in the report, we sat quietly and listen…today the Speaker has agreed for our reply to be read in full, yet another motion is put through to the House to delay reading our reply," said Mr. Pohiva. That task is not yet over and done with yet another motion is put through to the House to stop reading our reply to the end,” said Mr. Pohiva.
‘Akilisi Pohiva also queries the Cabinet’s vision they advocated in Parliament to build and promote a society based on justice, equity, peace and  harmony.

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