27th February, 2019 TONGAN The Ombudsman of Tonga, Mr. ‘Aisea Taumoepeau, SC, has announced that he is carrying out an Own Motion Investigation (OMI) regarding a series of allegations of maladministration in the Boards of Public Enterprises (PEs).
These allegations were published in the “Kele’a” newspaper Vol 34 No. 52 of Monday, 24 December, 2018.
The allegations of maladministration in the Boards of PEs appeared in the Kele’a newspaper article under the heading “Pau’u ‘i he ngaahi Poate, Ngaahi pisinisi ‘a e Pule’anga” and may be summarized as follows:
a) PE Boards do not follow the same procurement process as Government ministries, and can spend in excess of $1 million without utilizing the procurement process;
b) Board members are taking loans from Board funds, eg. A member took out $800,000 ($8-hundred-thousand) loan from the Board (and is still paying it off);
c) Board members are paid tens of thousands (vahe lau mano), with some paid a bonus of $60-thousands each (Santa Claus had visited some Boards well before Xmas);
d) FISA purchased “Niuvakai” for $1 million although its real value was much less;
e) One Board had a Board meeting at Barcelona; and
f) Some Board members are being paid overtime
The Own Motion Investigation is being carried out as stipulated by section 11(2) of the Ombudsman Act 2001.
The Office of the Ombudsman and the Ministry of Public Enterprises (MPE) have agreed to work in partnership in this Own Motion Investigation and it should not in any way be taken as a negative reflection on the Ministry.
The Ombudsman has requested relevant information from the MPE
- Regarding the allegations including any relevant policies;
- The challenges and possible solutions; and
- Any other relevant information considered relevant to the investigation
“I see this as a query into whether these allegations are substantiated or otherwise,” the Ombudsman of Tonga, Mr. ‘Aisea Taumoepeau, SC, says.
“Either way, it will be for the benefit of the Ministry to remedy any shortfall in the Public Enterprises concerned, or be assured there are no undesirable maladministration in the operation of Public Enterprises.
“The investigation is also being carried out in the public interest,” according to the Ombudsman, Mr. ‘Aisea Taumoepeau, SC.
For further information, please contact the Chief Executive Officer of the Office of the Ombudsman, on telephone 26980 or 26982.
ENDS