Wake up Tonga [1]
Wednesday, August 26, 2009 - 11:15. Updated on Monday, April 28, 2014 - 09:24.
Editor,
Thank you for your tireless efforts in keeping us and the world updated with the news on MV Ashika and the still unrecovered passengers. Our hearts been weeping, yet hopeful for those who are still missing in the Ha'apai sea.
Difficult times call for courageous measures. And no matter who captained that ferry (leaked or not) we are all failures. On that very night in Ha'afeva, Tonga as a nation failed and so as every Tongan. From the captain with his crew members to the top of the ladder in Tonga all the way to the pauper in Nuku'alofa including myself - we have failed our mothers, our fathers, our children, uncles and aunts (in MV P. Ashika).
As of this moment there's still no answer to what really happened, is there? And as much as we are tempted to blame each other and crying to crucify those we assumed responsible, we now realize that in difficult times we learn lessons, that we could've learned in no other way. The saddest part is, it took 74 precious lives for Tonga to wake up and learn its lessons.
Please, if I may humbly extend here our love and deep condolences to all the families in Tonga whose lives are struck by this tragic loss, our prayers and thoughts are with you.
Faka'apa'apa atu mo e 'ofa
Cecil Taufa
taufacecil [at] yahoo [dot] com