Jenny Salesa motivates women's candidacy

Thanks Jennifer . . . . There was a time here in Tonga when some prominent women were convincingly trustworthy and therefore won the support of voters to get them into Parliament. . . . Nowadays, there are no longer women of such noble character and merit. Most women who try to run for Parliament these days do so out of selfish ambitions and motives and therefore have a tendency to motivate voters in the opposite direction.

Now, there is even a desperate effort to set up a particular seat in Parliament for women. This should be seen as an attempt to tip the scale in favour of gender-based discrimination against men. Both men and women candidates should be seen to have equal rights for all the seats in Parliament and to have equal rights to contend for voters. As Jennifer says, women who wish to be candidates should just work hard to convince voters in general, that they are good enough to be voted into Parliament.

Ma'afu Palu

Gender based discrimination doesn't only exist in Tonga but it thrives. So my question to you Ma'afu why does such behaviour exist in a supposed Christian nation? Some people think that the women place is only at home. What's your thoughts?

I could be wrong but I believe that there have been only four female parliamentary representatives. The first was Princess Siulikutapu followed by Foliaki, Fusitu'a and Taunisila. Unfortunately, I don't see any females getting elected soon. I believe Fuiva stood for election a few years ago but was not successful. Jennifer has some valid points.