Government

In this tough economic times, a country is to cut down on expenses. We are at a desperate time and it calls for desperate measures. – Mafi ‘o Amerika Samoa.

With all due respects, however, His Majesty is wrong on promoting another bureaucratic appointee called the Lord Chancellor. Borrowed from an old English practice, which has been abolished, the independence of the Judiciary Branch cannot be guaranteed by the office of the Lord Chancellor. Only parliament can be the guarantor of Judiciary Independence, as in the American political system. Unlike the British, Australian, nor the New Zealand political systems, Tonga has a head of state with Veto Power similar to the US President. – Sione Akemeihakau Mokofisi.

I read Hon. Edwards’s speech to the Public Enterprises Directors. Why didn’t we hear about the good news of the other five profit-makers in the program? Hon. Edward may learn that businesses are more productive when offered good economic news. When threatened with bad news, businesses will mitigate the risks, and downsize to avoid losses. - Sione Akemeihakau Mokofisi.

My point is that local business needs to be defended by government, and Revenue Services needs to stop using the legitimate business operators as their sole source of revenue. Inflating revenue totals by penalties is not helping the country and putting so much pressure on local businesses that they consider shutting down is not helping the country. - Harry Garrahy.

TONGA’S new Minister of Health ‘Akilisi Pohiva tendered his resignation today, less than two weeks after he was appointed as a Cabinet Minister on 29 December 2010. ‘Akilisi, who was himself nominated for Prime Minister but lost the vote in the second round, appeared to have finally come to terms with the fact that he cannot lead an opposition while holding a portfolio in the current government. Cabinet Ministers were to be sworn in today after parliament was officially opened by the Princess Regent, Princess Pilolevu Tuita. Instead, it was only the Speaker of the House, Lord Lasike who was sworn in, and the Cabinet Ministers and the new Members of Parliament will be sworn in tomorrow, Friday 14 January. The soft opening of parliament without the usual fanfare of brass bans and marching school children was marred by a heavy downpour rain. ‘Akilisi Pohiva’s letter of resignation, which was released by the Ministry of Information, outlined two reasons, that: - He disagreed with the decision of the Prime Minister to bring in two unelected Cabinet Ministers, because he believed there are capable elected members who could fill the posts; - He refused to sign an agreement that all Cabinet Ministers were required to sign. (This was, presumably, a pledge that they would not support a motion for a vote of no confidence against the Prime Minister.)