Big budget proposes higher salaries, bumps up airport tax, hits foreign exchange

Ko e taumu'a 'a e pule'anga koia 'oku ne taki 'a 'Amelika he taimini, ko e fakalahi honau mafai (more power), fakalahi tukuhau (more taxes), fakamole ta'e fakangatangata (more spending), fakalahi e vahenga (more wages) etc. Pea 'oku ngana pe ia, neongo 'ene fakavalevale ka 'oku malava (afford) pe ia 'ehe Pule'anga. Ko e me'a fakaoli, ko e me'akai koia kuo 'osi sivi pea paasi 'ehe FDA (tafa'aki 'oku nau tokanga'i me'akai), kuo hanga 'ehe kau politiki ia 'o faka-kalakalasi ki he me'akai 'healthy & unhealthy'. Ko hono 'uhinga ke hilifaki 'a e tukuhau ma'olunga (more money) ki he 'so called unhealthy foods', ka na'e fakangofua kehaa?. Hoko atu mo hono fakangofua ifi maliuana, he ko e laui piliona ia 'oku ma'u ai he ta'u. Kuo hilifaki ngaahi tukuhau kehekehe ki he'emau ngaahi me'alele koe'uhi ko e ngaue 'aki lolo, na'a faifai kuo 'auha mamani. Ko e kolo 'oku ou nofo ai, kuo tapui e ngaue 'aki pelesitiki he'ete 'shopping' he 'oku 'uli ai e 'ea ia, kanau ngaohi 'enautolu fanga ki'i kato 'oku malohi ange ia ke fakatau $1 ke fa'o ai 'ete fakatau. Nau 'amanaki tete fakatau fanga ki'i kato he'ete 'shopping' kotoape. Ko e me'a 'oku hoko ko 'ete 'uluaki 'shopping' pe, pea te 'save' 'e kita ki'i kato malohi 'o ngaue'aki pe he lolotonga e ta'u kae mahaia 'enau ki'i kato $1. 'Oku 'ikai ke mau tokanga atu ki he hiki vahenga & 'budget' 'a e pule'anga Tonga. Ka 'oku mau tokanga atu ki hono toe hiki 'a hono tukuhau'i 'ehe pule'anga Tonga 'a e ki'i seniti 'oku mau 'oatu ki homau ngaahi famili. 'Oku 'ikai ngata hono tapalasia'i kimautolu he ngaahi feinga pa'anga kotoape, ka ke toe fakalahi 'a hono to'o ki'i seniti 'oku mau tokoni atu 'aki ki homau ngaahi famili....SAIA

I have a much better idea. Make it a 5 million paʻanga salary decrease for civil servants, especially members of parliament, putting the difference into the games funds. So that they can show off their real commitment to the 2019 Pacific Games, instead of extorting it from air travellers who might not be interested in it at all.
Furthermore to enhance the economy, one should allow businesses to make profit, so a decrease in the charge for foreign currency exchange is more on its place. - Firitia

Those running the Government are contradicting themselves but clearly they don't know they are doing it. On the same week they proclaim how important Tourism to the Country they also slapped the would be tourists with additional $100 (total of $165) so call departure fee. This will effectively increase airfare and therefore deter tourist from visiting Tonga whilst further burdening our overseas relatives from visiting family in Tonga. This is a brain child of the SPG2019 Committee let by Sevele but it seems the Government just accepted it without doing their homework and consider the impact that would have on Tourism in Tonga. Its kinda like well its a good idea, lets do it. Why not consult with the industry or seek expert advise rather than just accepting an idea just because its sounds good. This is just one of many recent decisions that shows lack of strategic Vision from this Government and thus slowly loosing its credibility.