Transcript
LORD FUSITU'A: What government's asked is that rather than have a deadline, a motion was put forward from one of the other members that it gives no deadline and the committee work in conjunction with a body or committee to be set up from the Executive so that we can monitor its progress and the matter won't drag on and we can get an appointment as soon as is practical.
KORO VAKA'UTA: When could you envisage that happening? Is it something that you could or hope to see by the end of the year?
LF: Definitely. Most definitely. The current Minister of Justice intimated during the report debate that within this session, as soon as possible I am assuming, they will put forward any legislative amendments that are required for the appointment of this commissioner. It can be appointed under the current legislation, which was the committee's opinion. Government has asked that it be given the opportunity to provide legislative amendments that they feel may be required. The motion that was passed was for the committee to work with government towards appointment, so I am assuming these matters will be discussed in this joint working body, as to whether we can appoint immediately under the current legislation or there will be some legislative amendments that will be required but either way both myself and the committee will be advocating for the appointment of a commissioner as soon as possible
KV: How important is it to have such a commissioner within Tonga?
LF: I think it is vital. You would know corruption, although we would not like to admit it, is a matter that is throughout the Pacific so I think it is incumbent upon members of the Executive particularly, as well as the Legislative [Assembly], in its legislative and oversight role, for us to work in concert. And with its own NGO stakeholders as well as the public obviously who are most abjectly affected by this, towards stamping out corruption as well as we can and providing preventative measures rather than having to deal with the symptoms, to go the root cause and deal with that preventatively. I think that is the ideal solution.
KV: In terms of Tonga, it is a unique country in many ways, does that have to be taken into account when it comes to anti-corruption?
LF: Most definitely. I think there is Pacific contextualisation that is required as well as nation-specific contextualisation. I've been asked about this previously and the example we often give in the Pacific is gifts that are given to members of government, members of the legislative [assembly] which are considered traditional gifts, in the strict Western sense, may be considered corruption. So we have to make provision for these kinds of gifts so that they are recorded and they are put on record and they are disclosed so that we don't discount particular cultural practices that we have and we respect and honour them while still being as transparent as possible about the way we go about our job.
