Law and order stronger than People power, claims PM

Current Debates in the House. The current debates in the House are getting very lively although the productiveness of these debates is a question to be debated. We are seeing a particular PR going head-on against everything that government is proposing. This may be a coincidence with the current meeting of the International Whaling Commission since the PR was bestowed with a “beached whale”…‚ kakala by HRH.

I do sympathize with the PRs that the budget statement is emphasizing more on tax collection and very little on economic recovery strategies. Improving revenue collection is necessary but not sufficient. What are needed are clear strategies on how the money collected will be used for the betterment of the economy. Funaki’s claim that there is very little to be done about the budget since it is already set with very minimal consultations is 105% true. I do find it appalling that widespread consultations on the budget, outside the normal inter-ministerial consultations, has not been done even though we are into the 5th year of the third millennium. However, this should not be taken as an excuse for the PRs’ failure to propose alternatives to the Minister of Finance’s. For instance, rather than the usual: “we need air service for the Niua’s, help with the youth of Vava’u, bottle the water in ‘Eua, etc, etc.”, why not propose where the money for these good ideas should come from and what would be the socio-economic contribution of these good ideas to the economic recovery effort. PRs should not continue to dump their political bla, bla, bla on government but suggest how their good ideas can be put into practice. Certainly if this was to be done then these suggestions are only good for political propaganda only.

The “Private sector will drive the economy” slogan is getting out of date. What about “Tonga ma’a Tonga, ‘Ofa ki Tonga, ‘Eva ki Tonga” drives? What are the incentive packages in the 2005/06 budget? These are not very clear and hence the queries by the PRs. The ingredients are all in the budget but it is only a presentation problem, to present the various socio and economic packages that the budget is offering. Farmers are getting their CT exemption. What is the value of this exemption and what benefits will it bring into the economy? These are not clear and government is being reactive rather than being proactive. On the other hand, what are the incentives to the tourism, fishing, building sector, sports, migration, etc? It is necessary to mention that the country’s most important resources are its people but what other incentives is the budget providing besides Health and Education? How much of the budget will go into the development of sports? How much will go to the promotion of tourism and what will be the impacts on the economy? Speaking of tourism, Fiji and Samoa are diverting their tourism promotion funds to support their rugby teams. A win in one international test is much more effective in promoting the Kingdom than the pamphlet distribution that our TVB promotional teams seem to be attending on a monthly basis overseas.

Most interesting in the current debates Mr Editor, is the question as to whether Law and Order is more powerful than the People. Obviously the People Power cannot be challenged anywhere. The Law and the Constitution are only meaningful when the people are supportive of them. They become rubbish when the people do not respect them. I am reminded of Saddam’s reaction to the call by Bush to leave Iraq. Saddam’s reaction was so strong that couple of months later Saddam decided to become a mouse and hide in an underground hole.

You can do better than that mate! - Sailosi Finau, Auckland, New Zealand