Lead with inspiration and co-operation, a message for Tongan youth leaders [1]
Friday, August 26, 2005 - 17:50. Updated on Monday, May 12, 2014 - 11:05.
"Leadership is based on Inspiration, not Domination; on Co-operation, not Intimidation," the British High Commissioner to Tonga, Mr Paul Nessling, said today in presenting a $30,000 cheque in support of the Tonga's Youth Parliament for 2005-6.
Mr Nessling said he hoped that all Tonga National Youth Council members would remember this quotation by William Arthur Wood and that it would help them to become better citizens, better parents and good leaders.
He presented the cheque to the TNYC director, Ms Elaine Howard, in support of the next Youth Parliament to be held in early 2006.
This is the third year that the British Government has provided support for a Tonga Youth Parliament, and Mr Nessling said he hoped this year Australia and New Zealand would join with Britain in supporting it.
"I believe the Tonga National Youth Congress does a great job and its members are doing excellent work for the young people in Tonga. I believe that they have set very high standards and good examples, which are extremely important for future generations in Tonga."
Mr Nessling also said that the quotation he shared with them was from a man called William Arthur Wood who was born in 1844 and was a successful manufacturer of pottery, who also helped to look after poor people in his town for 44 years of his life. He said that the British Foreign Office in the interest of good management each week published a quotation on its website, and this was to help staff who worked for the British High Commission and Embassies throughout the world.
Election
The last Youth Parliament, held in November 2004, introduced an election component to the program, with youth given the opportunity to select who they want to represent them. The youth of Tonga will be given the same opportunity in Youth Parliament 2005-6.
The Youth Parliament program is an experiential program that educates youth about Tonga's Parliamentary system and provides a forum for expressing and debating their ideas.
Elected youth from throughout the Kingdom are brought to Tonga's Parliament House to debate and vote on recommendations, which are then submitted to Tonga's Parliament for consideration. The Youth Parliament positions mirror that of the real parliament, comprising a Prime Minister, Ministers, Nobles and People...s Representatives.