2nd Tonga Youth Parliament opens [1]
Wednesday, December 10, 2003 - 15:38. Updated on Thursday, May 1, 2014 - 16:23.
British High Commissioner to Tonga, Mr Paul Nessling: “It is great to have a degree in molecular biology but out there, we are desperate for nurses, teachers, youth workers, social workers, plumbers, carpenters, electricians, cooks, IT engineers and many others with skills.”
Said during the British High Commissioner's speech at the opening ceremony of the second Tonga Youth Parliament on November 24 at the Parliament house, Nuku'alofa. The session called "Tonga Youth Parliament on Employment" was held for three days.
Mr Nessling noted that, "all nations evolve in order to survive and naturally reach out to embrace new ideas and new technologies. This Youth Parliament is just one sign of Tonga's commitment to this path in the 21st Century."
He said that Britain believed that help should be given to the people of Tonga. "It is not only that we are old friends but it is also because we have shared interests and concerns. Tonga is part of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association whose members, irrespective of gender, race, religion or culture are united by community of interest, respect for the rule of law and individual rights and freedoms, and by pursuit of the positive ideals of parliamentary democracy, he said.
"Education and employment are critical components in your destiny and will shape the future nature of your society.
"Your views and your aspirations are important. You need not only to learn but, also as true parliamentarians, you must develop yourselves in order to communicate your thoughts, ideas and ideals. Second: there is an understandable tendency to value education for education's sake. Each of us is capable of developing skills. The real world of employment is joined up across continents and countries. It is great to have a degree in molecular biology but out there, we are desperate for nurses, teachers, youth workers, social workers, plumbers, carpenters, electricians, cooks, IT engineers and many others with skills. And in the world you inhabit, technicians and people who work with their hands can often earn far more money than a university professor and can have challenging and stimulating careers.
"My wish for you all is that you should value yourselves as individuals and know that your opinion really matters. I hope that you will enjoy your Parliament and recognise that your future is the future of Tonga," Mr Nessling said.