05-29-2007, 11:56 AM
After the Prime Minister, Dr. Feleti Sevele (or his representative), refusing the invitation by the PSA in the past two months to meet and discuss issues relating to the expiring Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the PSA submitted to the Prime Minister yesterday a report on the results of a survey undertaken early this year by the PSA. The main objective of the survey was to collect the views of the Public Servants on: (1) their salary pay rise agreed in the expiring MOU; and the (2) political reform in Tonga. About 30% of the Public Servants (866) in Tonga participated in the survey.
The results of the survey confirmed that almost all (99.9%) the Public Servants wanted their 60%, 70%, 80% pay rise to continue for another 2 years to allow Government to complete the Public Service Salary Review and about 98% wanted the MOU to be extended accordingly.
The survey also confirmed that around 98% of the Public Servants believed that there is a need for a political reform in Tonga and around 94% agreed with the political model recommended in the report of the Parliamentarian National Committee for Political Reform chaired by the late Tu’ipelehake to be used for the Political Reform in Tonga. Only about 6% of the Public Servants preferred the political model recommended by the Prime Minister. Approximately 92% of the Public Servants wanted the Political Reform to be implemented as soon as possible in the next General Election in 2008.
The overwhelming disagreement by the majority of the Pubic Servants with the recommendations of the Prime Minister relating to the political reform process (model & timing) is an indication that the Public Servants know that something is seriously wrong with the current Government’s administration. It is also a clear vote of no confidence to their Employers. This is, however, not the first time that the Public Servants have indicated their vote of no confidence in their Employers. They had submitted a petition in 2005 to the late King during the strike to sack the former PM and some Cabinet Members including the current Prime Minister whilst he was still a Minister.
The report on the survey contained therein recommendations of the PSA for consideration by His Majesty’s Cabinet (and Parliament and His Majesty King George Tupou V if necessary). The PSA has made these recommendations in the best interest of the country as a whole given that the Prime Minister and Government have refused to listen to the People’s Representatives to Parliament after the riots on the 16th November, 2006. The majority of the people in Tonga believed that the Prime Minister and Privy Council was responsible for initiating the riots when they introduced their own political model instead of considering the political model recommended in the report of the late Tu’ipelehake’s National Committee for Political Reform. The PSA believed that it is not too hard or would take too long to make the legal amendments required to revise the Constitution and relevant laws to allow the recommended political reform to be implemented next year. Most of these legal amendments have been drafted and submitted to Parliament by the People’s MPs.
The Prime Minster and His Majesty’s Cabinet are given the first opportunity to respond to the recommendations of the PSA by the 15th of June, 2007. The survey report has been distributed to all Members of Parliament, Ministers, Heads of Departments and all the Diplomatic Offices in Tonga.
The PSA call on the Prime Minister and Privy Council (i.e. including the King) to listen to what the majority of the People in Tonga wanted as reported in the late Tu’ipelehake’s Committee and the PSA survey report. It is PSA’s wish that another national strike would not eventuate in Tonga as it would cripple the Island Kingdom given the current economic situation. The PSA also call on the People in Tonga who support the movement for a more Democratic Political System for Tonga not to repeat what happened in 16/11 but to join them, in Unity & Solidarity, in resolving this national problem in a more civilize and peaceful way to highlight Tonga’s foundation as a Christian country.
PRESS RELEASE PREPARED BY THE PSA EXECUTIVE BOARD
For more information, please contact the Secretary General on the above-stated address.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Given the views of the majority (over 90%) of the Public Servants as per results confirmed in the survey, the PSA recommends the following to His Majesty’s Cabinet, Parliament and His Majesty King George Tupou V for serious consideration:
Regarding the Memorandum of Understanding:
That the Memorandum of Understanding be extended for another two(2) years whilst Government (PSC) completes Phases 2 & 3 of the Public Service Salary Review in close consultation with PSA on behalf of the dissatisfied Public Servants in 2005 to solve the anomalies;
That the revised Public Service Salary Structure be implemented on the 01st July, 2009 and ensure that it would not be less than the current 60%, 70%, 80% pay rise;
That the benefits of all employees paid from the Government purse (Public Servants, Heads of Departments, Army, Police, Ministers, Prime Minister, Nobles, Members of Parliament, King and Royal Family, etc.) be deferred if Government is in financial constraint and needed to save money;
That the 60%, 70%, 80% pay rise be confirmed as the basic salary structure if the Public Service Salary Review is not completed by the end of June 2009;
Regarding the Political Reform:
That Government withdraw its proposed model for political reform immediately without further discussion of same in Parliament;
That Parliament confirm the details on the proposed model for political reform, as recommended by the Parliamentary National Committee for Political Reform chaired by the late Tu’ipelehake, in July 2007 as soon as the discussion of the budget completes in June.
That the relevant legal amendments required to implement the political reform confirmed in No. 6 above be considered by Parliament for approval in this 2007 session.
That the political reform be implemented in the next General Election in 2008 to allow the establishment of a more democratic Government.
That any loans for the reconstruction of Nuku’alofa be deferred to be made and confirmed by the new democratically elected Government in 2008.
The Signatory on behalf of Government on the MOU signed with the majority of the Public Servants in 2005 which will expire at the end of June 2007.
In an attachment to the MOU, Cabinet has agreed to consider a serious concern from the Public Servants who were on strike in 2005 which stated “that a Royal Commission be established immediately to review the Constitution to allow a more democratic Government to be established and for the Royal Commission to report back to Government and the Interim Committee on the 31st December, 2005”. In following up the status of this serious concern on behalf of the Interim Committee and those who were on strike, the PSA was advised by Cabinet that their agreement in Parliament in late 2005 to establish the National Committee for Political Reform chaired by the late Tu’ipelehake was their respond to the referred serious concern.
It was the understanding that Public Service Salary Review would be completed by the end of June 2007 so that the revised Public Service Salary structure would be implemented on the 01st July, 2007.
It should be noted that Government, through the Chairperson of the Public Service Commission, has declined on the 10th May the request by the PSA for the MOU to be extended. The results of the survey and recommendations in the report allow Government another chance to reconsider their decision.
The report of the NCPR recommended for the “People to elect all the Members to Parliament”.
The Prime Minister with the endorsement of the King in Privy Council recommended for the “King to still elect 4 or 5 Members to Parliament”.
The Prime Minister has lobbied with some of the People’s MPs to defer the political reform to be implemented after 2008.
The recommendations are shown on page 3 of this Press Release.
P.O. BOX 2005
Fanga
Nuku’alofa
TONGA
Telephone: + (676) 28-838
Mobile: +(64)21157-3865
Email: psa_secretary@yahoo.co.nz
The results of the survey confirmed that almost all (99.9%) the Public Servants wanted their 60%, 70%, 80% pay rise to continue for another 2 years to allow Government to complete the Public Service Salary Review and about 98% wanted the MOU to be extended accordingly.
The survey also confirmed that around 98% of the Public Servants believed that there is a need for a political reform in Tonga and around 94% agreed with the political model recommended in the report of the Parliamentarian National Committee for Political Reform chaired by the late Tu’ipelehake to be used for the Political Reform in Tonga. Only about 6% of the Public Servants preferred the political model recommended by the Prime Minister. Approximately 92% of the Public Servants wanted the Political Reform to be implemented as soon as possible in the next General Election in 2008.
The overwhelming disagreement by the majority of the Pubic Servants with the recommendations of the Prime Minister relating to the political reform process (model & timing) is an indication that the Public Servants know that something is seriously wrong with the current Government’s administration. It is also a clear vote of no confidence to their Employers. This is, however, not the first time that the Public Servants have indicated their vote of no confidence in their Employers. They had submitted a petition in 2005 to the late King during the strike to sack the former PM and some Cabinet Members including the current Prime Minister whilst he was still a Minister.
The report on the survey contained therein recommendations of the PSA for consideration by His Majesty’s Cabinet (and Parliament and His Majesty King George Tupou V if necessary). The PSA has made these recommendations in the best interest of the country as a whole given that the Prime Minister and Government have refused to listen to the People’s Representatives to Parliament after the riots on the 16th November, 2006. The majority of the people in Tonga believed that the Prime Minister and Privy Council was responsible for initiating the riots when they introduced their own political model instead of considering the political model recommended in the report of the late Tu’ipelehake’s National Committee for Political Reform. The PSA believed that it is not too hard or would take too long to make the legal amendments required to revise the Constitution and relevant laws to allow the recommended political reform to be implemented next year. Most of these legal amendments have been drafted and submitted to Parliament by the People’s MPs.
The Prime Minster and His Majesty’s Cabinet are given the first opportunity to respond to the recommendations of the PSA by the 15th of June, 2007. The survey report has been distributed to all Members of Parliament, Ministers, Heads of Departments and all the Diplomatic Offices in Tonga.
The PSA call on the Prime Minister and Privy Council (i.e. including the King) to listen to what the majority of the People in Tonga wanted as reported in the late Tu’ipelehake’s Committee and the PSA survey report. It is PSA’s wish that another national strike would not eventuate in Tonga as it would cripple the Island Kingdom given the current economic situation. The PSA also call on the People in Tonga who support the movement for a more Democratic Political System for Tonga not to repeat what happened in 16/11 but to join them, in Unity & Solidarity, in resolving this national problem in a more civilize and peaceful way to highlight Tonga’s foundation as a Christian country.
PRESS RELEASE PREPARED BY THE PSA EXECUTIVE BOARD
For more information, please contact the Secretary General on the above-stated address.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Given the views of the majority (over 90%) of the Public Servants as per results confirmed in the survey, the PSA recommends the following to His Majesty’s Cabinet, Parliament and His Majesty King George Tupou V for serious consideration:
Regarding the Memorandum of Understanding:
That the Memorandum of Understanding be extended for another two(2) years whilst Government (PSC) completes Phases 2 & 3 of the Public Service Salary Review in close consultation with PSA on behalf of the dissatisfied Public Servants in 2005 to solve the anomalies;
That the revised Public Service Salary Structure be implemented on the 01st July, 2009 and ensure that it would not be less than the current 60%, 70%, 80% pay rise;
That the benefits of all employees paid from the Government purse (Public Servants, Heads of Departments, Army, Police, Ministers, Prime Minister, Nobles, Members of Parliament, King and Royal Family, etc.) be deferred if Government is in financial constraint and needed to save money;
That the 60%, 70%, 80% pay rise be confirmed as the basic salary structure if the Public Service Salary Review is not completed by the end of June 2009;
Regarding the Political Reform:
That Government withdraw its proposed model for political reform immediately without further discussion of same in Parliament;
That Parliament confirm the details on the proposed model for political reform, as recommended by the Parliamentary National Committee for Political Reform chaired by the late Tu’ipelehake, in July 2007 as soon as the discussion of the budget completes in June.
That the relevant legal amendments required to implement the political reform confirmed in No. 6 above be considered by Parliament for approval in this 2007 session.
That the political reform be implemented in the next General Election in 2008 to allow the establishment of a more democratic Government.
That any loans for the reconstruction of Nuku’alofa be deferred to be made and confirmed by the new democratically elected Government in 2008.
The Signatory on behalf of Government on the MOU signed with the majority of the Public Servants in 2005 which will expire at the end of June 2007.
In an attachment to the MOU, Cabinet has agreed to consider a serious concern from the Public Servants who were on strike in 2005 which stated “that a Royal Commission be established immediately to review the Constitution to allow a more democratic Government to be established and for the Royal Commission to report back to Government and the Interim Committee on the 31st December, 2005”. In following up the status of this serious concern on behalf of the Interim Committee and those who were on strike, the PSA was advised by Cabinet that their agreement in Parliament in late 2005 to establish the National Committee for Political Reform chaired by the late Tu’ipelehake was their respond to the referred serious concern.
It was the understanding that Public Service Salary Review would be completed by the end of June 2007 so that the revised Public Service Salary structure would be implemented on the 01st July, 2007.
It should be noted that Government, through the Chairperson of the Public Service Commission, has declined on the 10th May the request by the PSA for the MOU to be extended. The results of the survey and recommendations in the report allow Government another chance to reconsider their decision.
The report of the NCPR recommended for the “People to elect all the Members to Parliament”.
The Prime Minister with the endorsement of the King in Privy Council recommended for the “King to still elect 4 or 5 Members to Parliament”.
The Prime Minister has lobbied with some of the People’s MPs to defer the political reform to be implemented after 2008.
The recommendations are shown on page 3 of this Press Release.
P.O. BOX 2005
Fanga
Nuku’alofa
TONGA
Telephone: + (676) 28-838
Mobile: +(64)21157-3865
Email: psa_secretary@yahoo.co.nz