27 Nov 2008

Tonga names members of political reform commission

2:56 pm on 27 November 2008

The Tongan Government has named the members of the Constitutional and Electoral Commission, whose job it will be to determine the nature of political reforms to be put in place by 2010.

The Commission's five members have been put forward by the People's Representatives, the Nobles' representatives, the Cabinet and the Judicial Services Commission.

Don Wiseman has the details.

"The five commissioners are former Chief Justice, Gordon Ward, who is nominated by the Cabinet and will chair the body. The others are Honourable Tu'ivanuavou Vaea was nominated by the Nobles Representatives in Parliament. Hawaii based academic Dr. Sitiveni Halapua was nominated by the People's Representatives. The Judicial Services Commission is to be represented by educationalist Dr. 'Ana Taufe'ulungaki, and Sione Fonua. Five alternates have also been named. The Commission is due to meet in January and has ten months to develop reforms that will then be put to Parliament, with the intention that an early election is held in 2010 under the new system."

The decision to establish the Commission was announced by the Government in July just before the coronation of King George Tupou 5th. It was widely welcomed by the international community.