Results for Letters

I was first appalled and outraged by the very insensitive and disrespectful remarks by Mr. Laws concerning our beloved Monarch His Late Majesty King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV. However, I now find it rather amusing how Mr. Laws has exposed his ignorance and bigotry for all to see.

On the sad occasion of His Majesty's passing away I feel I really must express my and my wife's sincere condolences to Her Majesty Queen Halaevalu Mata'Aho, the Royal Family, and all of the Tongan people. D i r k T i l l e n.

Messers Mariner and Tuaileva are forgetting they're living in democratic countries; they don't want the same democratic principles applied in Tonga....Name one democratic government that allows "squatters" to take over public lands?

The allegation that China forces abortion on families so they will have one child only exposes the author's ignorance of real conditions in China. China has a population of 1.3 billion, over 1/5 of the world's population, which constitutes serious challenges to the well-being of Chinese people and sustained development between population on one hand, and the economy, society, resources and environment on the other. It is a natural choice for Chinese people to adopt the family planning policy. The combination of state guidance with voluntary participation together with both incentive and restrictive measures is an important principle China has always followed since the implementation of the family planning policy. - Zhang Edward

The argument in Parliament at present centres around the size of the electricity price hike - which is the short-term issue. But alongside should be a more sustained discussion on the long-term solution to power supply. Tonga is not on its own on this issue as many countries are just as vulnerable as we are. But it's time like this that size does matter and for once - small is beautiful. Oil is a non-renewable source and as it dwindles at source, the price will continue to climb. There are alternatives abound which we should now consider seriously.

The Ha‘afeva Health Clinic is currently facing a real problem with transportation of its emergency case patients to the Niu‘ui Hospital in Pangai. The problem is inappropriate, unreliable, and unsafe mode of transportation for the patients. I have observed and experienced this problem for many years now. I have been hoping that the Government of Tonga would do something about it, but what's the big deal, we are just little island people. - Siosaia Fatani

I have been observing the services provided by the Tonga Consul in the San Francisco Bay Area, and I have to admit that it is a great waste of time. I truly feel, and I am certain that I'm not the only one feeling this way, that the government of Tonga could find ways to spend their money, that maybe beneficial to the government and for the people of Tonga. - Concerned Citizen of Tonga

Together with Her Majesty Queen Halaevalu Mata'Aho, the Royal Family, and all of the Tongan people our thoughts are with His Majesty, the King of Tonga, and we wish Him - deeply from our hearts - the helping hand of the Good Lord. - Dirk Tillen

I have no intention of engaging the doyen of Tongan journalists in arguing over how long is a short work week, suffice to say that my original public statement of defence has successfully quelled the swelling wave of angry letters from irate taxpayers who were misled by your original article alleging, amongst other things, that, "Tonga's parliament has decided to work less for more pay...." - Lopeti Senituli