Taimi reports move to form political party, April 1-8

New Party of What? - Kisione Manu:
The latest revelation of the establishment of the new party with Professor Futa Helu as the key orchestrator is somewhat troubling, and the umbrella where all of the Temos were sheltering in are now battered with bad weather and it is only a matter of time before we see it collapsing altogether.

Tonga is a very small country to have fragmented parties with a few pushing their own little agendas and claimed they are the wishes of the people. The election is now over and the people had spoken loud and clear that they still want ‘Akilisi and his associates back into Parliament with a new comrade from the Vava’u Islands. Professor Lavulavu may pull in a few punches if he had openly support the Temos but it looks like he will shed his thick pro-monarchist skin and retire into a Temo robe, priming himself to contest in the next election as a freshman to the Temo camp (or at least Futa’s Party).

There is a need for the Temos to come together and seek to get an equal footing on issues they think it is important to tackle. If this party is created with the sole ambition of using it as a machinery in getting a few of their candidates into Parliament and it is utterly a lost cause. I still admire most of the people involved in this so-called new party but with Simote Vea, ‘Akilisi Pohiva, Fred Sevele, ‘Isileli Pulu and Lopeti Senituli on the other side it will be a fight for their money.

The only resolution is for the Temos to reunite and may be after one election the incumbents should stand aside and new candidates are selected to contest these seats. But one thing we should always remember we cannot all be People’s Representatives. If you are tired of losing in every election may be it is about time we just sit from the sideline and support the Movement and choose another career path where we could find ourselves useful. For instance, Professor Lavulavu although he had suffered a very strong defeat he may opt to take a position as a lecturer in any recognised University around the globe and with his curry business blooming he is pretty much satisfied with his current situation.

It is about time we start the healing process and let’s not create more avenues for disaster and disarray. It is time for reconciliation and I would like to leave you with this verse from the bible to ponder on:

“Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;

Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.”

Yours respectfully - Kisione Manu