Transcript
VUNA FA'OTUSIA: It has been long overdue. I guess in early 1910 we had a Tongan Supreme Court but after that it is such a long time for Tonga to have someone on the bench, especially on the Supreme Court and finally Tonga accepts that there is someone good enough to be on the Supreme Court. Laki is one of our long-standing solicitor-barristers here in Tonga. He used to work for government before running his own firm. He was a parliamentarian for some time before continuing with his private practice but now we want him to take his oath and then continue. This is what happened. They approved Mr Niu to be a Supreme Court judge for the next four years but that is not how judicial officers are being appointed. Their life tenure, of course, must be secured, not on a contractual basis but that is something we have to work on but first things first.
KORO VAKA'UTA: You mentioned in the early 1900s there was a whole bench and since then it has been few and far between, why do you think that is?
VF: Honestly, I hate to say this but I believe ministers cannot accept someone outside a ministerial post to have a better salary than them. I believe that back then people in government did not feel that there is a Tongan to be trusted, which is ridiculous to me, but I believe there is that feeling because of the close-knit family relations that we have here in Tonga. The thing that we have to do is to ensure that we have at least three Supreme Court judges on the bench, so that is something that we have to do, most probably after the contracts of our New Zealand Supreme Court judges which is next year. We may have another two more Supreme Court judges on the bench, Tongan.
KV: So having more Tongans would avoid the thing about family connections, if there is more Tongans on yeah?
VF: Yes because the family ties, if you have some relations with this particular case, give it to the other judges, that is why it's good to have at least three Supreme Court judges in Tonga. We may be assisted by a foreigner. Definitely we have the Court of Appeals which are all from New Zealand and Australia. We would try to maintain that and of course we can include some Tongans in our Court of Appeal but it is good to start with the Supreme Court.
KV: Laki Niu, what makes him fitting for this position?
VF: Laki is one of the long-standing experts here in Tonga. He started with the Crown Law many, many moons ago before running for parliament. After parliament then he continued on with his legal practice. I think he is one of the senior lawyers here in Tonga so it's good for him to wind up being a judge on the Supreme Court.
