Tongan government appoints commoner MP to Cabinet

Updated November 2, 2009 18:15:09

The Tongan government intends to appoint more cabinet ministers from among the members of parliament in the run up to next year's elections. That's according to newly appointed Minister of Revenue, long-time pro-democracy activist, MP and President of the People's Democratic Party, Teisina Fuko. He says with elections for a parliament with the overwhelming majority of MPs elected by the people for the first time due at the end of next year, there is concern that the next cabinet may have few potential candidates with any experience to choose from. Mr Fuko tells Bruce Hill he's happy to accept the Revenue portfolio, which he describes as challenging but vital.

Presenter: Bruce Hill
Speaker: Teisina Fuko, Tonga's newly-appointed Minister of Revenue and President of the People's Democratic Party

FUKO: I have been offered several other portfolio and I turn it down, because it is not my line, not my league and also there is no challenge thereto prove what the people would do if taking over the government. But this particular one as the Minister of Revenue, I took it full heartedly the last few years the collection has been dropping dramatically and I feel we cannot go on like this. Someone has to help out, because if you don't, the government will start laying off people from work and which we do not want to see Tonga that way. Taking this post is a challenge and I like to do that instead of bystander. Also it would be good for the transitions next year to make sure the transitional or whatever transition the reform comes in, the government is still on its feet.

HILL: Does this mean the government is going to be doing more of getting other peoples representatives and other people in parliament and putting them into Cabinet to give them more experience ahead of next year's elections, which is expected to see quite a large turnover of members of parliament?

FUKO: Yes, we have passed that law, that you can always be a member of parliament at the same time you are member of the government. It would be hard to run a government next year with a whole bunch of new people with no experience and I think I am the first one, except for there is one from Nobels, and I am the first one in the People's Representatitve, but the prime minister has expressed a few would have to come through that way. But I have to remind you, we have passed the reform with the ministerial post of only 12, but now we have 16, so yes, by next year there will be less portfolios and then we need experienced people in government.

HILL: Now your a long time member of the pro-democracy movement. Have some of the people in the pro-democracy movement perhaps come to you and send, you've sold out, you've lost your principles, you've taken a cabinet position offered to the government, you have sold out?

FUKO: Well, they said that to me when we break off and started a People's Party ourself rather than them staying with pro-democracy, because we thought it was useful to start a party, I mean informally, so we call ourself People's Democratic Party and I am the president of it. What I want to see is to make sure that we are going hand-in-hand with government on this transition. By 2010, on November everybody has to go out and everybody has to run for the seat, so I hope what we have done now taking up the position as a cabinet minister would help take over the government jobs when reforms come in. I am a very optimistic person and I like to see the good side of that. Certainly, I will never sold out at all, because I have the privilege of if I have been sacked from the Privy Council or the cabinet, I still have my post as a member of parliament, as the peoples representative, so I cannot see why you were sold out. I think I can do better what I am doing now than what we have. The other thing is we will lose anyway, there is only nine of us. Why not taking this advantage as an advantage for our cause.