Results for Opinion

'Oku tau pehe kuo laui senituli e lotu nai 'i Tonga, pea tau pehe kuo mahino kihe kau lau tohitapu 'a e 'uhinga hono lau e tohitapu, ka 'oku toki mahino kiate au pea mo 'eku 'ilo 'oku 'ikai ke mahino kia Dr Sevele hono lau e tohitapu, pea mo e me'a 'oku 'uhinga ki ai e tohitapu, 'oku pehe 'e Sevele (Kole-pea 'e foaki Tukiuki-Pea 'e to'o 'a e matapa kiate koe, Ko e 'uhinga 'a e tohitapu ke ke 'alu 'o kole ha me'a 'oku lelei, kae 'oua te ke 'alu 'o kole e me'a 'oku kovi, $60 miliona fu'u lahi faufau ki Tonga ke totongi fakafoki, te tau ma'u meife ha pa'anga ke totongi fakafoki 'a e tupu faka ta'u 'a e pa'anga 'a China. - S. Tupola

The loan is only a consideration as any wise government must have a Plan B in place in the event that Plan A (private sector / govt-private partnership) does not work. It may enlighten some to appreciate that Price Waterhouse Coopers is currently being engaged to assist in the process of appraising the company...’s assets to assist in setting the appropriate and fair figure for the transfer from Shoreline and subsequently the loan amount only if that option will be taken. - Sailosi Finau

The willingness of the government to put the nation at great risk without any legitimate documentation to substantiate the deal is just plain stupid. A quick calculation of this $60M loan equates to $500 per man, woman and child to pay off the loan. This is in addition to what is already too high a price for electricity. Why are the people tolerating such contemptible practice? - Mele Payne Lynch

For "politicians" (and decision makers) to espouse putting HIV positive people on an island ."where we can show them love and compassion..." is an indictment on the "awareness" programmes that have been conducted over the years by the UN, the SPC and at the national level, the Ministries of Health and all those working on HIV. Where have we gone wrong? - Steven Vete

Kuo tau a'u foki 'eni ki ha ngahi tu'unga 'o e fakalakalaka 'o e fefakatau'aki mo e ngahi pule'anga muli, pea lava foki ke tau ala atu ke tau no ha ngahi pa'anga 'e laui miliona mei he ngahi fonua muli ke lava ke tokoni ki he ngahi langa fakalakalaka hotau ki'i pule'anga, pehe foki ki hotau ngaahi uafu, hotele, mala'evakapuna mo e ha fua 'o 'etau fiema'u ke langa ke lato 'a e ngaahi fiema'u 'a e pule'anga, pea pehe foki ki he kakai 'o Tonga. - Sione Tupola

It is enlightening to hear the expressed views of overseas Tongans as highlighted in Mangisi's article, (Education for export, a new perspective, 26/4). Mangisi is expressing a very real concern against the plight of Tonga and the unpredictability in its current economic and political stagnation. Let me therefore offer a different perspective to what Mangisi have already stated. - Jason Faletau

With the wretched economic climate in Tonga, the people can ill afford to ignore the malfeasance and graft typically exercised by those in power to potentially manipulate the terms of acquisition of Shoreline. Both Government and Shoreline should not exercise complete autonomy in this venture because the interest of the consumers is at stake. Therefore, the process and result need to exist in symbiosis with the community. Shoreline has not provided much financial, operational & maintenance details to suggest a compelling economic proposition thus this creates ample opportunity for critical errors exacerbated by various factors. - Mele Payne Lynch

The call for the return of the power generation from Shoreline to government or the private sector should focus on the anticipation that Tonga will have a fairer, more transparent and just power industry. Perhaps service deliveries may improve too. Cheaper electricity is something else and I am afraid it won...’t help to mislead people now that the electricity will be cheaper only by taking it away from Shoreline. - Sailosi Finau

FROM OUR ARCHIVES: At this junction of our quest for social, economic and political reform in Tonga, the one entity that is obviously missing is a credible opposition to form some sort of Shadow Government responsible for the drafting, presenting of demands and reform proposals, and the monitoring of their progress. Editor's Comment, by Pesi Fonua.