01-10-2008, 06:37 PM
PSA PRESS RELEASE NO. 02/08
Friday 11th January, 2008
PSA Office, Nuku’alofa, TONGA
PRIME MINISTER & GOVERNMENT OF TONGA SUED
FOR ILL TREATMENT, UNLAWFUL DISMISSAL & BANNING OF A PUBLIC SERVANT FROM WORK & HOME!
The PSA Legal Counsel, Clive Edwards, on Monday of this week 07th January served a writ of summons against the Prime Minister of Tonga, Dr. Feleti Sevele, and the Government of Tonga for unlawful banning of a public servant, Mele ‘Amanaki, from her home in December 2006 after the infamous riots in Nuku’alofa that burnt 80% of the town; and ill treatment at work since after the 6.5 weeks national strike of the public servants in July/Sept. 2005.
The PSA Legal Counsel also served on the same day another writ of summons against the Public Service Commissioners and the Government of Tonga for unlawful dismissal of Mele ‘Amanaki from the public service in August 2007. The Commissioners are Ms. Mishka Tu’ifua – General Manager of the Westpac Bank of Tonga; Ms. Tai’atu ‘Ata’ata – Marketing Manager for Tonga Telecommunication; and Mr. Ross Chapman – Shareholder of Office Equipment and Pacific Hardware Timber companies. Ms. ‘Amanaki was dismissed for signing 2 letters of the PSA to Government following up claims of breaching a Memorandum of Understanding signed between His Majesty’s Cabinet and the public servants who were on strike in 2005.
Ms. ‘Amanaki was the Principal Food Technologist in the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Forestry & Fisheries. Her main responsibilities included advising the Minister of Agriculture, Food, Forestry & Fisheries on policies relating to food safety, food industrial development and nutrition; drafting the food legislation and food standards for Tonga; setting of international food standards which are of interest to Tonga, etc. She was also one of the leaders in the national strike of the public servants in 2005 and has been the Interim Secretary for the PSA since its establishment in December 2005. Ms. ‘Amanaki is now employed by the PSA as Secretary General.
The Prime Minister, Public Service Commissioners and the Government of Tonga, as Defendants, are given 28 days to submit their defence to the Supreme Court of Tonga. The total damage claim for both cases is approximately $1.4m. All cost for the legal representation of Ms. ‘Amanaki is paid for by the PSA.
Since the matter is now in the Supreme Court of Tonga, no further information would be released relating to this case.
For more and/or clarification of any information, please kindly contact the PSA Secretary General on telephone: +(676) 870-6986 or email: psa_secretary@yahoo.co.nz
OR
P.O. BOX 2005
Fanga
Nuku’alofa
TONGA.
Friday 11th January, 2008
PSA Office, Nuku’alofa, TONGA
PRIME MINISTER & GOVERNMENT OF TONGA SUED
FOR ILL TREATMENT, UNLAWFUL DISMISSAL & BANNING OF A PUBLIC SERVANT FROM WORK & HOME!
The PSA Legal Counsel, Clive Edwards, on Monday of this week 07th January served a writ of summons against the Prime Minister of Tonga, Dr. Feleti Sevele, and the Government of Tonga for unlawful banning of a public servant, Mele ‘Amanaki, from her home in December 2006 after the infamous riots in Nuku’alofa that burnt 80% of the town; and ill treatment at work since after the 6.5 weeks national strike of the public servants in July/Sept. 2005.
The PSA Legal Counsel also served on the same day another writ of summons against the Public Service Commissioners and the Government of Tonga for unlawful dismissal of Mele ‘Amanaki from the public service in August 2007. The Commissioners are Ms. Mishka Tu’ifua – General Manager of the Westpac Bank of Tonga; Ms. Tai’atu ‘Ata’ata – Marketing Manager for Tonga Telecommunication; and Mr. Ross Chapman – Shareholder of Office Equipment and Pacific Hardware Timber companies. Ms. ‘Amanaki was dismissed for signing 2 letters of the PSA to Government following up claims of breaching a Memorandum of Understanding signed between His Majesty’s Cabinet and the public servants who were on strike in 2005.
Ms. ‘Amanaki was the Principal Food Technologist in the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Forestry & Fisheries. Her main responsibilities included advising the Minister of Agriculture, Food, Forestry & Fisheries on policies relating to food safety, food industrial development and nutrition; drafting the food legislation and food standards for Tonga; setting of international food standards which are of interest to Tonga, etc. She was also one of the leaders in the national strike of the public servants in 2005 and has been the Interim Secretary for the PSA since its establishment in December 2005. Ms. ‘Amanaki is now employed by the PSA as Secretary General.
The Prime Minister, Public Service Commissioners and the Government of Tonga, as Defendants, are given 28 days to submit their defence to the Supreme Court of Tonga. The total damage claim for both cases is approximately $1.4m. All cost for the legal representation of Ms. ‘Amanaki is paid for by the PSA.
Since the matter is now in the Supreme Court of Tonga, no further information would be released relating to this case.
For more and/or clarification of any information, please kindly contact the PSA Secretary General on telephone: +(676) 870-6986 or email: psa_secretary@yahoo.co.nz
OR
P.O. BOX 2005
Fanga
Nuku’alofa
TONGA.