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2005
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Friday 26 August 2005 8:00pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Although the Tonga government this evening conceded to provide an interim salary scale and to provide a lump sum of money for independently adjudicated salary rises, the PSA has again refused to return to the negotiating table.
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Friday 26 August 2005 6:45pm
Auckland, New Zealand : I can't sit around and ignore what I believe is unfairness toward our beloved king. The king is nothing else but a socio-cultural and political father to the nation. It surely is not fun for him to maintain the highest degree of respectability, be a model and a leader and try to make everyone of his subjects happy.-Sailosi Finau -
Friday 26 August 2005 6:41pm
: My spirit has been moved by the situation that goes on in our island paradise Tonga. I am saddened by the fact that our Noble leaders and some of the royal family could take for granted what God had blessed them with. - Kia Fualalo Premium content -
Friday 26 August 2005 6:30pm
USA : Think of where will the government come up with the money for the 60, 70, 80% rise. Wake up and smell the coffee. All over the globe have you people ever heard of a country that tried to get a rise for that %, NO, only Tonga. - Angelica Lout -
Friday 26 August 2005 6:15pm
Los Angeles, USA : Before you begin to stand for what you think is "right," take a deep breath, consider the possibilities from every corner then make your statement. Years of neglect, struggles, oppression, and WRONG MOTIVES from dictatorship are some possibilities as to why OUR fellow Tongans are taking such actions. Dear editor, I am not agreeing that acts of violence is the solution but can you blame the PEOPLE? - M. ‘Aumoeualogo -
Friday 26 August 2005 6:00pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Over 100 public civil servants sailed from ‘Eua this morning and marched from the Tu'imatamoana Wharf to join the civil service strike at Pangai Si'i, in Nuku‘alofa. Premium content -
Friday 26 August 2005 5:50pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Leadership is based on inspiration, not Domination; on Co-operation, not Intimidation," the British High Commissioner to Tonga, Mr Paul Nessling, said today in presenting a $30,00 cheque in support of the Tonga's Youth Parliament for 2005-6. Premium content -
Friday 26 August 2005 12:15pm
London, UK : Let me refresh what was inevitable in the start of my letters. The shift now, from this strike has gone to a road where history has taught many nations, that were once ruled by powerful monarchs. Those soverign nations are now super powered nations. The lesson in the past with these nations are simple: Without the people, you do not have a government! and once you have lost the respect of the people, you do not have a nation. What you have; is a nation that wants change. - William Mariner -
Friday 26 August 2005 12:00pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : The PSA should accept the government's current wage offer for many reasons. - Sifa Citizen -
Friday 26 August 2005 12:00pm
Ontario, Canada : It seems that little had been said on the third parties to this national strike, which are the public (people in the outer towns, NGOs, foreigners and tourists alike) and also the business community. - Brian Sutton Premium content -
Friday 26 August 2005 11:30am
Las Vegas-Nevada, USA : They throw around the name of the World Bank to add credibility to this nonsense claim.It is especially appalling that they try to pin the already rising inflation on the PSA demands, when it is caused by their own misguided policies. The true cause of inflation according to economic principles and empirical facts show that inflation is directly proportional to money supply, which is governed by monetary policies traditionally controlled by Federal Reserve Banks, which I presume is under the Minister of Finance portfolio. - Thomas Monson Uata -
Friday 26 August 2005 11:15am
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : But allow me to inquire the following: Should the children go to school? What are they to learn that is more important than what is going on in their lives outside of school? What are the teachers 'teaching' by standing up for their cause? I believe the students can learn from this situation and develop character through support of a cause - whether it's for or against the strikers. Children are first taught in the home and supplemented by academics that supposedly educate a 'higher' education. The parents are not in question here. But, let me be clear - the 'higher' education appears to be occurring in Pangai Si'i. - Rick Siale -
Friday 26 August 2005 11:15am
Sydney, Australia : Also in the event of the PSA members receive this increase will they be subject to reviews and quality assurance or will they be left to perform as they have until now? What effect will it have on inflation, and those working in the private sector? - F. Auliola -
Thursday 25 August 2005 6:45pm
Auckland, New Zealand : In our adopted country we witnessed last night a mature Tongan male trying to head butt his way through a police barricade to seek the presence of the King. This thug who thinks himself a martyr or saviour of our Tongan brothers and sisters is nothing but a self-gratifying egotistical heat stirrer who is strangely enough the instigator for this disgraceful act of borderline tyranny of his own country. Burning our flag? Our flag that symbolises peace? My flag that was held up by Paea at the Olympics in Atlanta? - Lalo Kasia Crew -
Thursday 25 August 2005 5:32pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : The Princess Regent, Princess Salote Pilolevu Tuita brought tears and comfort to civil servants strikers today who applauded her after she delivered a heartfelt speech at Pangai Si'i. Story and pictures by Linny Folau Premium content -
Thursday 25 August 2005 1:30pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : I'm sorry to sound like the devil's advocate, but I'm not sympathetic with the strikers or the government. What I do agree with is the need for political reform. Personally, I'm not keen on having a King; on the other hand, I don't know enough about the leaders of this political/employment-related strike to make a sound decision. I know the need for reform is warranted; also, times have changed and the public appears to desire more representation in government. - Rick Siale -
Thursday 25 August 2005 1:15pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Ten Tonga Police officers travelled to Auckland yesterday morning to step up the guarding of HM King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV who is currently in New Zealand. Premium content -
Thursday 25 August 2005 1:00pm
San Jose,California, USA : I remark favorably on exceptional coverage of the recent affairs and episodes happening in Tonga well elucidated by Matangi Tonga. - James Faasolo -
Thursday 25 August 2005 1:00pm
Suva, Fiji : About what I learned from this chaos in Tonga, is that the majority of the people are with the strikers. And the reaction from the government to the people seems very faraway from what we expect to happen. Meaning that this is the worst government that Tonga has ever had. Or do we say that this is the worst public servants (hundreds of them) that Tonga has ever had? - Philli Qarase -
Thursday 25 August 2005 12:27pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Tonga's frustrated Public Service Association said last night that it will not negotiate with government to end the five weeks long civil servants strike, "until their conditions to return to work are met by government." Premium content
