07-09-2007, 11:26 AM
Monday 09nd July, 2007
PSA Office, Nuku’alofa, TONGA
The PSA submitted a petition to the King, George Tupou V, last Friday, 06th July 2007 for his consideration on issues given that the Prime Minister and Cabinet, as Signatory of the MOU with the Public Servants, have refused to talk to them since their requests in March 2006.
The PSA has also submitted a letter to the Prime Minister today demanding his resignation based on the grievances stated in the petition. Although we have recommended to the King to sack the Prime Minister, we would like the Prime Minister a chance to make his own decision using his own conscience given the damages his decisions, as the Head of Cabinet and the Public Service Commission, have done to our Members who are Public Servants; the Public Service in particular the Ministry of Education; the studies of our children; and the country as a whole when 80% of our beloved town of Nuku’alofa got burnt down on the 16th November, 2006.
These decisions/actions included (1) not solving the problems of discrimination actions by some Ministers, Heads of Department and senior officers as per MOU; (2) deferring and canceling some of the benefits in February 2006 of the Public Servants whilst at the same time granted the same benefits to the Army, Police and those in higher positions in Government; (3) conducting the Voluntary Redundancy Programme in 2006 not in accordance with the Voluntary Redundancy Policy causing the decline in the performance of the Public Service in particular the Ministry of Education affecting the studies of most students in Tonga. (4) insecurities of their pay rise approved in the now expired MOU (end of June).
Although the Cabinet has approved for our benefits to be granted in this financial year (July), some of our benefits from last year, i.e. overtime and acting appointment allowance, has been cancelled. A lot of our members have more than 12 months acting appointment, especially the teachers and also since most of the principal posts have been abolished during the redundant programme last year, Government did not abolish the responsibilities. Since there is no principal post, those who have been carrying out the responsibilities of the principal will not get any acting allowance as there are not posts so that they would be able get some acting allowance. The Director of Education this year requested close to 200 new posts for this financial year with the intension revive the principal posts but only 4 posts were granted. Majority of the new posts for this financial year was granted to the Army and the Police.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister had announced on TV early in June that our pay rise has been regarded permanent, but he omitted to inform the public that Cabinet had also decided to conduct the reviews of the salaries again in early 2008 hence our pay rise is not permanent as claimed.
The petition also included concerns of the members of the PSA over the $118m loan to be made by Government from China to rebuild of Nuku’alofa. The concerns raised were as follows:
Government has already committed overseas loans to the tune of $220m or close to it and is currently struggling to make up-to-date repayments on these loans.
The companies who were affected during the riots on the 16th November, 2006 and whom Government will grant soft loans to from the $118m had already experienced financial hardship before 16/11. Therefore, it is highly unlikely that they would be able to repay back the soft loans to Government hence the people of Tonga will end up paying these loans through increased taxes.
Government will not be able to monitor the soft loans it will grant to those affected on 16/11.
The financial hardship of Government from not being able to make the repayments on the loan will not only cause further increase in Government taxes for the people to pay including Public Servants, but Government may call for more benefits or job cuts for us Public Servants in the future.
The PSA appreciates the importance of the purpose of the $118m loan, i.e. rebuilding of Nuku’alofa. Therefore, the PSA has recommended to the King to cancel the $118m but has also proposed for his consideration to endorse and support the establishment a “Public Fund” for Tonga to be managed by a public company namely Tonga Investment & Economic Fund Corporation. This proposal for the public fund adopts the principles and method used by the Jews when they rebuilt Israel after the World War I. That is, all Jews from around the world willing committed to rebuilding their beloved country and collected money for same.
The Tongan people are commonly known for their unconditional donation of money, in thousands of dollars, for a good cause such as the church, sick or the poor. Most Tongan people every year donated thousands of dollars to the church seeking nothing in return. Therefore, the PSA proposed that we capitalize in this very important asset in the nature of the Tongan people and collect a public fund for the economic development of Tonga given Government’s current financial constraints.
The purchase of the electricity from the Shoreline Company and rebuilding of Nuku’alofa are good causes that are at the very heart of most Tongans. Thus, it is proposed for the public fund to be collected by all Tongans to finance economic development projects which cannot be funded by Government or the Private Sector. The purchase of the electricity and rebuilding of Nuku’alofa are proposed as the first 2 projects to be funded from the proposed public fund. The collection of the public fund is proposed as follows in a period of 12 months:
i. 80% of all households in Tonga (17,000 ) to invest a minimum of $2,000 = T$34m
ii. 30,000 Tongans living overseas to invest a minimum of $2,000 each = T$60m
iii. Tongan businesses and churches to invest = T$26m
TOTAL (rate: USD1.00 = T$2.00) = T$120m
The PSA also emphasized in the petition, that success of the proposed establishment the public fund and implementation of the first 2 projects will not be possible without a national reconciliation through solving the difference between Government and the People of Tonga with regard to the political reform as soon as possible. For this reconciliation to be successful, it is in the absolute power of the King of Tonga under the Constitution to make this possible through his consent and support for the political reform to take place in the next General Election in 2008 which is the main concern of majority of the people at this time.
The PSA noted that the two methods for rebuilding Nuku’alofa, i.e. overseas loan or the public fund, will be both funded by the People. However, the payment for the latter is short term, i.e. 12 months whereas the loan would be 20 years or more. The latter will also reap further benefits such as return on investment to the People and also opportunity to finance other projects which are conducive to the economic development of Tonga that cannot be funded by Government or the private sector. The initial benefit from this public fund proposal is the injection of around $60m or more from Tongan living overseas in only a period of 12 months hence would automatically boosted Tonga’s economy.
Given the grievances stated in the petition and damages that the Prime Minister, as Head of Cabinet and the Public Service Commission, the PSA has recommended the following for the King’s consideration:
That Dr. Feleti Sevele be relieved from his position as the Prime Minister of Tonga immediately;
That the Public Service Commissioners namely, Mrs. Mishka Tu’ifua, Mrs. Tai’atu ‘Ata’ata and Mr. Ross Chapman, be relieved from their positions in Government immediately.
That the attached Partnership for Quality Agreement & Collective Agreement between the PSA and Government be approved in an attempt to improve the Public Service delivery to the citizens of Tonga;
That 200 teachers be recruited over the next 3 years to improve the services of the Ministry of Education to our children;
That the expenses of the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Police be reduced to allow the recruitment of the new teachers;
That the political reform be implemented in the next General Election in 2008;
That Government cancel its proposed model for political reform and for the recommendations in the Report of the Parliamentarian National Committee for Political Reform to be used for the political reform after finalization in Parliament and relevant Acts and Constitution be amended accordingly;
That the proposed loan of $118m from China be cancelled and for the proposal for the establishment of the public fund as recommended be approved.
It should be noted that the proposed Partnership for Quality Agreement stated above is similar (but slightly amended in accordance with the Tongan context) with a Partnership for Quality Agreement recently signed by the New Zealand Prime Minister with the NZ PSA in May 2007. The Collective Agreement include request for full return of benefits and for the current salary including pay rise be made permanent for the next 5 years before any review is made.
The PSA has given until the 20th of July, 2007 for a reply from the King and also the Prime Minister. The PSA is prepared for another industrial action as the last resort if the recommendations are not approved. The PSA is also prepared to talk with Cabinet if they would open any door dialogue. The PSA believed that above recommendations will help Tonga’s efforts for economic development in the future; and that the current proposals made by Government are not only detrimental to the Public Servants but also to the country as a whole.
PRESS RELEASE PREPARED BY THE PSA EXECUTIVE BOARD
For more information, please contact the PSA Secretary General at the above-stated address.
P.O. BOX 2005
Fanga
Nuku’alofa
TONGA
Telephone: + (676) 28-838/52-899
Email: psa_secretary@yahoo.co.nz
PSA Office, Nuku’alofa, TONGA
The PSA submitted a petition to the King, George Tupou V, last Friday, 06th July 2007 for his consideration on issues given that the Prime Minister and Cabinet, as Signatory of the MOU with the Public Servants, have refused to talk to them since their requests in March 2006.
The PSA has also submitted a letter to the Prime Minister today demanding his resignation based on the grievances stated in the petition. Although we have recommended to the King to sack the Prime Minister, we would like the Prime Minister a chance to make his own decision using his own conscience given the damages his decisions, as the Head of Cabinet and the Public Service Commission, have done to our Members who are Public Servants; the Public Service in particular the Ministry of Education; the studies of our children; and the country as a whole when 80% of our beloved town of Nuku’alofa got burnt down on the 16th November, 2006.
These decisions/actions included (1) not solving the problems of discrimination actions by some Ministers, Heads of Department and senior officers as per MOU; (2) deferring and canceling some of the benefits in February 2006 of the Public Servants whilst at the same time granted the same benefits to the Army, Police and those in higher positions in Government; (3) conducting the Voluntary Redundancy Programme in 2006 not in accordance with the Voluntary Redundancy Policy causing the decline in the performance of the Public Service in particular the Ministry of Education affecting the studies of most students in Tonga. (4) insecurities of their pay rise approved in the now expired MOU (end of June).
Although the Cabinet has approved for our benefits to be granted in this financial year (July), some of our benefits from last year, i.e. overtime and acting appointment allowance, has been cancelled. A lot of our members have more than 12 months acting appointment, especially the teachers and also since most of the principal posts have been abolished during the redundant programme last year, Government did not abolish the responsibilities. Since there is no principal post, those who have been carrying out the responsibilities of the principal will not get any acting allowance as there are not posts so that they would be able get some acting allowance. The Director of Education this year requested close to 200 new posts for this financial year with the intension revive the principal posts but only 4 posts were granted. Majority of the new posts for this financial year was granted to the Army and the Police.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister had announced on TV early in June that our pay rise has been regarded permanent, but he omitted to inform the public that Cabinet had also decided to conduct the reviews of the salaries again in early 2008 hence our pay rise is not permanent as claimed.
The petition also included concerns of the members of the PSA over the $118m loan to be made by Government from China to rebuild of Nuku’alofa. The concerns raised were as follows:
Government has already committed overseas loans to the tune of $220m or close to it and is currently struggling to make up-to-date repayments on these loans.
The companies who were affected during the riots on the 16th November, 2006 and whom Government will grant soft loans to from the $118m had already experienced financial hardship before 16/11. Therefore, it is highly unlikely that they would be able to repay back the soft loans to Government hence the people of Tonga will end up paying these loans through increased taxes.
Government will not be able to monitor the soft loans it will grant to those affected on 16/11.
The financial hardship of Government from not being able to make the repayments on the loan will not only cause further increase in Government taxes for the people to pay including Public Servants, but Government may call for more benefits or job cuts for us Public Servants in the future.
The PSA appreciates the importance of the purpose of the $118m loan, i.e. rebuilding of Nuku’alofa. Therefore, the PSA has recommended to the King to cancel the $118m but has also proposed for his consideration to endorse and support the establishment a “Public Fund” for Tonga to be managed by a public company namely Tonga Investment & Economic Fund Corporation. This proposal for the public fund adopts the principles and method used by the Jews when they rebuilt Israel after the World War I. That is, all Jews from around the world willing committed to rebuilding their beloved country and collected money for same.
The Tongan people are commonly known for their unconditional donation of money, in thousands of dollars, for a good cause such as the church, sick or the poor. Most Tongan people every year donated thousands of dollars to the church seeking nothing in return. Therefore, the PSA proposed that we capitalize in this very important asset in the nature of the Tongan people and collect a public fund for the economic development of Tonga given Government’s current financial constraints.
The purchase of the electricity from the Shoreline Company and rebuilding of Nuku’alofa are good causes that are at the very heart of most Tongans. Thus, it is proposed for the public fund to be collected by all Tongans to finance economic development projects which cannot be funded by Government or the Private Sector. The purchase of the electricity and rebuilding of Nuku’alofa are proposed as the first 2 projects to be funded from the proposed public fund. The collection of the public fund is proposed as follows in a period of 12 months:
i. 80% of all households in Tonga (17,000 ) to invest a minimum of $2,000 = T$34m
ii. 30,000 Tongans living overseas to invest a minimum of $2,000 each = T$60m
iii. Tongan businesses and churches to invest = T$26m
TOTAL (rate: USD1.00 = T$2.00) = T$120m
The PSA also emphasized in the petition, that success of the proposed establishment the public fund and implementation of the first 2 projects will not be possible without a national reconciliation through solving the difference between Government and the People of Tonga with regard to the political reform as soon as possible. For this reconciliation to be successful, it is in the absolute power of the King of Tonga under the Constitution to make this possible through his consent and support for the political reform to take place in the next General Election in 2008 which is the main concern of majority of the people at this time.
The PSA noted that the two methods for rebuilding Nuku’alofa, i.e. overseas loan or the public fund, will be both funded by the People. However, the payment for the latter is short term, i.e. 12 months whereas the loan would be 20 years or more. The latter will also reap further benefits such as return on investment to the People and also opportunity to finance other projects which are conducive to the economic development of Tonga that cannot be funded by Government or the private sector. The initial benefit from this public fund proposal is the injection of around $60m or more from Tongan living overseas in only a period of 12 months hence would automatically boosted Tonga’s economy.
Given the grievances stated in the petition and damages that the Prime Minister, as Head of Cabinet and the Public Service Commission, the PSA has recommended the following for the King’s consideration:
That Dr. Feleti Sevele be relieved from his position as the Prime Minister of Tonga immediately;
That the Public Service Commissioners namely, Mrs. Mishka Tu’ifua, Mrs. Tai’atu ‘Ata’ata and Mr. Ross Chapman, be relieved from their positions in Government immediately.
That the attached Partnership for Quality Agreement & Collective Agreement between the PSA and Government be approved in an attempt to improve the Public Service delivery to the citizens of Tonga;
That 200 teachers be recruited over the next 3 years to improve the services of the Ministry of Education to our children;
That the expenses of the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Police be reduced to allow the recruitment of the new teachers;
That the political reform be implemented in the next General Election in 2008;
That Government cancel its proposed model for political reform and for the recommendations in the Report of the Parliamentarian National Committee for Political Reform to be used for the political reform after finalization in Parliament and relevant Acts and Constitution be amended accordingly;
That the proposed loan of $118m from China be cancelled and for the proposal for the establishment of the public fund as recommended be approved.
It should be noted that the proposed Partnership for Quality Agreement stated above is similar (but slightly amended in accordance with the Tongan context) with a Partnership for Quality Agreement recently signed by the New Zealand Prime Minister with the NZ PSA in May 2007. The Collective Agreement include request for full return of benefits and for the current salary including pay rise be made permanent for the next 5 years before any review is made.
The PSA has given until the 20th of July, 2007 for a reply from the King and also the Prime Minister. The PSA is prepared for another industrial action as the last resort if the recommendations are not approved. The PSA is also prepared to talk with Cabinet if they would open any door dialogue. The PSA believed that above recommendations will help Tonga’s efforts for economic development in the future; and that the current proposals made by Government are not only detrimental to the Public Servants but also to the country as a whole.
PRESS RELEASE PREPARED BY THE PSA EXECUTIVE BOARD
For more information, please contact the PSA Secretary General at the above-stated address.
P.O. BOX 2005
Fanga
Nuku’alofa
TONGA
Telephone: + (676) 28-838/52-899
Email: psa_secretary@yahoo.co.nz