Editor,

Matangi published the story on Jan 31, "BP Oil refused critical fuel supply to Shoreline" quoting David Dunkley from Shoreline stating that, "immediately following the riots, BP Oil declined to deliver any further fuel supplies..." Our Minister of Transport, Paul Karalus, is already on record stating that the Government agreed to pay $2million to BP Oil after the riots so that BP would resume fuel delivery to Shoreline to restore power generation.


The next day, Feb 1, Isikeli Tuituku GM from BP South West Pacific (in Australia?), in his letter to Matangi, denies that BP refused to supply Shoreline. Tu'itupu wrote, "BP Oil worked with the Government to ensure that Tonga's fuel supply and electricity supply was secure," and that, "our effort's were critical to ensuring that Tonga's electricity was not interrupted."


So, Tuituku directly contradicts what David Dunkley and Paul Karalus have said. Tuituku basically says that David and Paul are liars.


Seems to me you now have all the ingredients for a very good international story showing how the multinational, BP Oil has already gouged Tonga by forcing our Government to pay $2million, and continues to gouge us by insisting on COD terms. Tuituku's version is that, "we (BP) stood by the community and we stood by Tonga." How does he figure this? BP thinks they can treat us with contempt and then add to that by treating us as fools.


Cheers,