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Sovaleni Lavemaau Senituli Tu’ivakano, right,was upset with Pohiva’s rule and advised the king Lavulavu ... Pohiva failed to discipline him
royal ascent to a parliamentary resolution Lord Tu’ivakano said that following re- ership always.
for Tongans overseas lose their entitle- cent debates in Parliament it was revealed King George I said that Tonga’s future
ments to land here in Tonga. that Pohiva did not in fact penalise Lavu- depended on the Legislative Assembly
• Lord Tu’ivakano pointed to the lavu, who has been one of his advisors and the decisions made within the noble
Pohiva-led government’s decision to ratify and member of the inner circle of friends house.
CEDAW in 2015, which prompted a public he keeps.
outcry against the decision resulting in a Lavulavu is currently the leading man Senituli’s view
march through Nuku’alofa by members of in the construction of the golf course at
the Christian faith and the presentation of the Popua site. Senituli is not a stranger to politics in
a petition to Lord Tu’ivakano at the Parlia- Lord Tu’ivakano revealed in his state- Tonga and the region as well.
ment complex. ment that other motions of impeachment Having been the lead figure at the Pa-
• Opposition against the PACER against Pohiva and his Cabinet Ministers cific Concerns Resource Centre in Suva
PLUS – the trade agreement pushed had been tabled with the Legislative As- for some years, he returned home to lend
through by New Zealand and Australia sembly but he believed these would face his expertise to governments in the past,
for the Pacific Island Countries – was dis- similar fate to that of Lavulavu in 2015. including a stint as adviser to then Prime
regarded by Mr Pohiva and his Cabinet, • One of the major issue also Minister Lord Sevele.
who hosted the signing of the agreement highlighted by Lord Tu’ivakano was the He also served as Chief Executive Officer
here in June. cancellation of the 2019 Pacific Games. for the Ministry of Internal Affairs and
A petition was also sent to Parliament by He said the Games Act was passed in stood as a candidate at the 2010 General
local businesses and concerned members 2013 with subsequent Acts passed since Elections here.
of the public. to help raise revenue for the Games’ Having considered the King’s decision
• Cabinet is attempting to wean funding. he published his opinion, openly calling
away the King and Privy Council’s powers “Since the government came into office for PM Pohiva and his team to challenge
to appoint the Police Commissioner and they have given assurances that Tonga the decision in court.
place that with Cabinet. will host the 2019 Pacific Games,” he said. His statement received a response from
The push was already with the Office “However, in May they announced Acting Attorney General Aminiasi Kefu,
of the Legislative Assembly, who had they were withdrawing from hosting the who stated that Senituli’s claims were
received Government’s motion for that to Games, deceiving and misleading the wrong and “mistaken”.
be effected in Parliament. Parliament and members of the public.” But having also conceded that he might
Lord Tu’ivakano said it was important Lord Tu’ivakano said one of the worry- have made some errors in his statement,
that the Offices of the Attorney General ing things is the fact that Government has Senituli has continued the call for a chal-
and the Police Commissioner remained not waived the collection of taxes that were lenge on the King’s decision.
free and independent and not be politi- approved in earlier Bills since the Games “From the outset I must state that I
cised. has been cancelled. have the utmost respect for the Acting
• Lord Tu’ivakano said another is- “I am concerned with the legality of the Attorney General as a professional and
sue was the fact that the imporant purpose revenue still being collected,” he said. as a gentleman and that I continue to
of the 2010 reforms to have the Legisla- • The approval of a 5 per cent treasure his legal advice today as I had in
tive Assembly working together to direct COLA for Cabinet Ministers was also an- the past, and I pray that he will continue
Tonga’s growth and development was not other issue pinpointed by the Speaker. to respond positively to my requests for
happening. He said that on July 1, 2017 a new in- advice in the future, present disagreement
This democratic purpose has not been come tax threshold was announced. notwithstanding!,” Senituli said.
applied in the legislative assembly, he said. On August 4 Government announced “I concur with (him) that, “any legal
• Another case highlighted by Lord a 5 per cent COLA for Cabinet Ministers. action that will be taken against the dis-
Tu’ivakano was the case against then “I found this unsatisfactory because the solution of the Legislative Assembly will
Minister for Tourism and Infrastructure, Ministers are not the only ones affected be dismissed summarily by the courts”.
Etuate Lavulavu, who had faced impeach- by the tax threshold,” Lord Tu’ivakano “But that will not necessarily be a bad
ment charges for corruption in 2015. added. He said he had advised His Majesty thing. How so? Because the whole purpose
Despite calls for the impeachment to be on the issues to the best of his knowledge of the proposed legal challenge is to find
effected Pohiva used Clause 75 of the Con- and ability. out exactly whether the dissolution was
stitution and requested that he be allowed He also noted the statements made by justiciable and if it was justiciable, was
to discipline the then Minister. the late King George Tupou 1, who stated the dissolution done legally.
Cabinet Ministers supported the move on November 4, 1875 that Members of
and Mr Lavulavu escaped being im- Parliament should not take pride in their Continued overleaf
peached. achievements but thank God for his lead- web link:
www.islandsbusiness.com

Islands Business, October 2017 25