Editor,
I would like to thank Mr Eliesa Fifita for bringing to the attention of the public the undemocratic failings of the Prime Minister of Tonga, Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva (letter to the PM dated 14th January 2015). I would also like to thank Sione Mokofisi and many others at home and around the world for speaking out against nepotism on Matangi Tonga and on the social media networks.
The reason why we are debating this issue is because Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva criticised nepotism when he was not the Prime Minister but, now he is in power, he has appointed his son to be his PA!
Consequences of nepotism:
1) The Prime Minister has weakened his own stance on this moral issue by employing his son as his PA. Right across the public services, employees will say ‘if the Prime Minister can do it, so can we!’
2) Nepotism is a form of discrimination against the non-related employees who are trustworthy and capable of serving a Prime Minister of Tonga.
3) Nepotism breeds mistrust amongst the employees in the workplace. It breeds suspicions, low morale and conflicts of interest and it paves the shortest pathway to corruption.
4) Nepotism gives out a negative image of Tonga to the rest of the world, particularly when it turns out that the person who preached against it in the past, is now publicly endorsing it.
5) Nepotism has won a great victory in Tonga and now the people once again will have to fight on, in the hope that one day, nepotism will be eliminated from the workplace.
So what can Tonga do to bring back full democratic practices to the public services in the Kingdom? The answer lies with the Parliament of Tonga.
Fortunately we still have great gentlemen who I have no doubt will raise this issue once Parliament is reconvened in March. Anti-nepotism Law would be great for Tonga. It is time that the Law spelled out explicitly the dos and don'ts when it comes to nepotism. It is time that the legal guidelines and frameworks of what a Prime Minister can and can't do be reviewed and it is time that laws be established to curtail the powers given to the current and future Prime Ministers, in order to prevent this type of event from happening again.
On reflection, had Hon.Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva chosen a non-relative to be his PA, everyone would have been united in singing his praises and commenting on what a good democratic leader he is. But as it happens, his action has left most of us up in arms at the blatant abuse of trust and many around the world are rendered speechless!
Faka’apa’apa atu
Senolita Swan
United Kingdom
Comments
'Oku ngaue'aki 'ehe kau
'Oku ngaue'aki 'ehe kau polisi 'a e fo'ilea 'homicide' ki hono fakatotolo'i 'a e ngaahi hia tamate tangata kotoape. Pea ko hono 'uhinga, ko hono fakatotolo'i 'a hono hanga 'eha tokotaha (human being) 'o tamate'i ha tokotaha kehe (another human being). 'Oku 'i ai leva 'a e ngaahi tautea kehekehe ki he hia ko'eni 'homicde'. Ko e tautea mamafa taha ko e tautea mate (capital punishment) sea 'uhila etc., hoko ai ko e ngaue popula ki he mate 'ikai ngofua ke 'parole', hoko ai ko e ngaue popula ki he mate kae ngofua ke 'parole', hoko ai ko e ngaue popula meihe ta'u 1 ki he ta'u 100 etc, hoko ai ko e malu'i angalelei pe, hoko ai ko e 'ikai ke fai ha faka'ilo ia 'self defense'. 'Oku 'ikai ko e fo'i hia 'homicide' kotoape ke hilifaki kiai 'a e taute mate. 'Oku pehe pe 'a e 'nepotism'. 'Oku 'alu pe meihe mamafa taha ki he 'nepotism' ko'eni 'oku tau felauaki ai 'oku 'ikai te tau 'ilo pe koeha hono 'aonga. Ko e 'nepotism' koia 'oku tau fiema'u ke tuku, hange koia na'e hoko 'i he pule'anga kimu'a atu. Ke fokotu'u pe 'ehe pule'anga ia 'enau palemia, tokoni palemia, kau minisita 'oku nau loto kiai. Ke fokotu'u pe honau ngaahi tokoua, fanau, kainga ngaahi kaume'a etc ke palemia, minisita etc. Kapau he 'ikai te u 'ilo 'e au 'a e me'a 'oku ui ko e veve, ko e me'a pe 'e hoko ko e vevea hoku lotofale kau pehe pe 'e au 'oku 'ikai vevea....SAIA
Etita
Neongo 'a e pauni kehekehe 'a e loi lahi mo e loi si'isi'i ('i he tu'unga fakatautea) ka tena malava pe ke fakahoko ha maumau pe fakatamaki tatau he 'oku na fakatou ma'u pe 'a e natula 'o e me'a 'oku ui koe "Loi".
Neongo ko e nepotism tatau pe 'eni mo e na'e hoko 'i he kuohili, ka 'oku fakamanatu mai 'e he fo'i nepotism ko'eni 'a e current PM 'a e lea Tonga 'oku pehe "Toe foki pe 'a e kuli 'o kai 'ene lua." (Tulou mo e ha'ofanga 'eikisia ni).
'Ikai ngata ai ka 'oku toe hoko 'a e ki'i nepotism si'isi'i ko'eni 'a etau Father of Democrat ko hono fakavaia'i (dissolve) 'a e hardcore pe ko e tefito'i tui na'e tangutu fefeka ai 'a e Temo 'i ha ngaahi ta'u lahi pea kuo ha sino mai 'i he taimi ni 'a e 'ulunga anga fo'ou 'oku nau heke ki ai 'aia ko e "Defensive mode". 'Ikai toe kehekehe 'eni mei he lotu mo e tui faka-Falesi (kumi ha 'uhiga malie ke fakalao'i pe fakatonu'i 'aki 'ete laka, to'onga mo e 'ete lea, etc - sounds familiar - the Temo just walk right in to the same shoe(s) vacated by previous governments) pea 'oku 'i ai 'a e manavasi'i na'a hoko 'a e ta'u 'e 4 ka hoko ko ha ta'u 'e tumu'aki ai 'a e to'onga faka-falesi 'i hotau ki'i fonua ni he kuo monuka e tefito ia 'o e tui faka-Temokalati 'i he ngaue pe 'akinautolu 'oku tau ui tokua ko e Pule'anga faka-Temokalati.
Malo
Faka'apa'apa atu
Low
Houma, Vava'u
Malo shekyna . Koe fakatotolo
Malo shekyna. Ko e fakatotolo koia 'oku ou lave kiai 'i 'olunga, 'oku 'ikai koha fo'i loi. Koha fo'i mo'oni 'oku a'usia kiai 'a e fakatotolo, pea 'oku makatu'unga mei ai ai 'a e tautea. Na'e akonaki 'aki 'e Sisu 'a e 'forgiveness'. Ko toe Sisu tatau pe 'eni na'ane to'o 'a e uipi 'o uipi'i 'aki tu'a 'o e kau kaiha'a. Ko e fe leva fakamolemole?. Tau fai pe me'a 'o fakatatau ki he tukunga 'o e me'a koia. He 'ikai tatau ho'o kaiha'asi 'a e seniti 'e 1 mo ho'o kaiha'asi 'a e $1 miliona. 'Oku ou malie'ia ho'o 'uhinga, ka 'oku tatau pe ia mo e hingoa ko'eni 'oku fakamo'oni 'i lalo 'low'. 'Oku fiema'u 'e Tukulalo ia ha 'uhinga 'oku 'High' .... SAIA
Malo Saia. Mole ke mama'o
Malo Saia. Mole ke mama'o hano tukuaki'i ho'o fakatotolo ko ha loi. Simply, you use "Homecide" to express your opinion and I use "Loi" to express mine. There was no crossover or personal attack but highly respect your comment. Please take my humble apologies for any confusion.
Ko 'ena ko e fo'i fakanafala 'ena 'e taha 'a hono fili 'a e Kovana 'o Ha'apai. Malo kuo to'o e lakanga ni mei he kau nopele (halleluiah) ka ko hono foaki 'oku 'ikai toe kehekehe mei he fokotu'u PA. "Ikai pe ko ha famili, ko e paati'. 'A ia ko hotau pule'anga ko e pule'anga faka-famili pe pule'anga faka-paati, 'ikai ko ha pule'anga 'a e kakai, ('a e na'e palomesi'i).
Neongo hono defend 'oku fakalao pe 'a e personal approval ki he ongo fo'i lakanga ni 'o fakatatau ki he Lao 'o e Pule'anga Tonga ka 'oku na fakatou fihia faka-molale 'aki pe 'a e 'uhinga ko e to'onga (fili fakapone) na'e kailangaki'i ke tuku 'i ha ngaahi ta'u lahi. Ko 'ena kuo nau fai pe me'a tatau pea 'oku totonu ke foaki a honau ngaahi fo'i tu'a ke fetaulaki mo e uipi 'a Sisu.
Ko e nunu'a 'o e nepotism 'i hono ngaue 'aki 'eha taha hono mafai ko hono unjustly deprive ha taha pe falukunga kakai mei he totonu pe faingamalie tatau na'a nau mei lave monu ai 'i he 'uhinga ko e favourtism. Ko e fakasaienisi'i 'eni 'a e founga 'e taha 'o e kaiha'a pea ko kinautolu 'eni na'e uipi'i 'e Sisu. Malie kau Satusi mo e kau Falesi mou tokanga atu kiho tau pule'anga na'a tau toe lolo'ia pe he kai vai lesi he ta'u 'e 4 ka hoko.
Kataki pe Saia he 'ikai ma'u ha 'uhiga ia 'oku High mei Tukulalo he 'oku mau lata pe 'iho mau malohinga ko e low low pe.
Malo
Faka'apa'apa atu
Low
Houma, Vava'u
Etita,
Ko e tu'u pe eni mei tu'a 'o fanogo ki he lavelave peau malie'ia peau pehe ke u kaunoa mai aipe. Ko e talanoa mo'oni eni 'oku tuku mai mei Houma, Vava'u, he ko e ta'u lahi 'aupito 'a hono malanga'i 'a e Temokalati mo e anga hono natula mo e haa fua, ka 'i he 'oange pe honau faingamalie kihe Sea, ko e 'uluaki me'a pe ne nau fai ko e fakahoko e me'a tatau na'a nau launga'i he ngaahi ta'u kuo maliu atu.
'Oku toe malie ko hono tukuaki'i 'o e pule'anga motu'a mo e ngaahi tonounou, pea ngalo ia he kau tama ko'eni na'a nau pole ke nau ma'u e faingamalie ki he Sea ke nau fakalelei'i e ngaahi maumau mo tonounou 'o e kuohili. Koeni kuo le'o lahi ange launga he lahi 'enau ngaue ke fai, hahaa! Tu'u ke ma'u kae 'oua 'e toe heke holo na'a tu'ulu ha taha, ko e me'a ke manatu'i 'e he Pule'anga fo'ou, ko e Fomula motu'a 'oku pule fakaleveleva pe kau tangata na'a nau fatu he ko 'enau palani ngaue ia 'anautolu, kapau 'oku fie 'ilo e Pule'anga fo'ou ki he founga ke solova ha me'a, ko e me'a ke fai ko 'enau kole kihe Pule'anga motu'a ke nau tokoni pe ko e fa'u ha palani fo'ou pea langa kae 'oua 'e toe sio takai holo he ko e me'a ia na'e ui he taimi ne mau kei GPS ai, ko e "Fakakainga" ..... kau ki'i tatau atu hee! Filimone Filimoemaka!
Malo ongo tama .Tau kole pe
Malo ongo tama. Tau kole pe mu'a ki he Matangitonga ke 'oua na'a tu'usi 'etau talanga, na'a ma'u ai ha ki'i lelei. Na'e 'i ai 'eku lave atu kimu'a ki he fonua temokalati fika 'uluaki 'i mamani, 'Amelika. Ko e 'democrat party' 'oku nau taki 'a e pule'anga 'Amelika, pea ko e meimei peseti 95% 'o e kau taki, mo fakalele 'a e ngaue faka'aho 'a e pule'anga 'Amelika meihe 'demograt party'. Meihe Palesiteni, tokoni palesiteni, speaker of the house, kau minisita (sekeletali) etc, mahalo koha tokoua pe meihe 'Republic party'. Kuo sifi e 'power' ki he 'demograt party' he ko hono 'uhinga ko e fili ia 'a e kakai. 'E fokotu'u leva 'ehe 'democrat party' 'a e lahi taha 'enau kakai ke fakalele 'a e pule'anga koe'uhi ke lava 'a e taumu'a mo e kaveinga ngaue 'a e 'demograt party'. Ko e laumalie 'eni 'o e 'nepotism' koe 95% 'democrat party - 5% 'republic party' 'oku nau fakalele 'a e pule'anga 'Amelika. Ka tau manatu'i na'e fili 'ehe kakai 'a e 'democrat party' ke taki 'a e fonua, ko hono 'uhinga ke fakahu mai 'enau tui, kaveinga ngaue ke fakalele'aki pule'anga. Ko e me'a pe 'e lava ai, ke fakanofo 'a e toko lahi taha 'o e 'democrat party' ke taki 'a e pule'anga kae lava 'o fakahoko ' 'enau taumu'a, mo e kaveinga ngaue. 'Oku mu'omu'a heni 'a e 'democracy pea toki hoko mai 'a e 'nepotism' ia ki mui'. 'I he ta'u kaha'u 'e fai ai 'a e fili palesiteni 'a 'Amelika ni, pea kapau 'e malohi 'a e 'Republic party' ko e me'a tatau. 'E mafuli leva 'a e pule'anga 'o fakalele 'ehe. Republic party' kae holomui kimui 'a e 'democrat party'. 'Oku tau sio kotoape ko e fakanofo 'o e kovana Ha'apai ko e fakakainga 'a e Temokalati. Kae toe fefe he ko e loto ia kakai 'o Tonga. Na'anau fili 'a e pule'anga faka-temokalati ke fakalele 'a e fonua fakatatau ki he'enau kaveinga ngaue. Pea tau nofo kitautolu na'e to he fili 'o hoka pule'anga na'e fili 'ehe kakai, 'Oku 'ikai ko e 'the end' 'eni. Tau o kitautolu 'o fokotu'utu'u ha ngaahi fo'i me'a ki he fili ka hoko, kapau te ta uini ai pea ta liliu 'e taua fakalele e pule'anga. (play democracy not nepotism). Kou 'ofa lahi atu kia 'Low', kapau ko ho'o me'a mai mei Houma Vava'u, ko 'eku lele mai mei Houmafaleono. Ta feinga'i ma'u pe 'a Tukulalo ke lele moe kuonga .... SAIA
'Ofa atu Saia. Ko 'eku hoko
'Ofa atu Saia. Ko 'eku hoko pe 'eni ki ho'o Tamai ko Holesi 'oku ou ma'u ai hoku hingoa ko Low (lol). Kai kehe 'amusia kimoutolu 'oku nofo 'i he fonua lahi na 'oku mou kai mahu 'i he malumalu 'o e pule faka-Temokalati. Koe anga pe 'eni ia 'a e faka'amu ke 'i ai ha taimi 'e kai mahu 'a Tonga 'i he founga pule tatau ka ko hono mele ko e Temokalati na'e fakahinohino 'aki 'a Tonga talu mei he late 80s ko e Temokalati tau hoka pe. Ko e me'a pe ia na'a nau fai ki he pule'anga ki mu'a pea kuo pau pe ke nau tali 'a e me'a na'a nau tufa. 'Oku 'ikai fiema'u ha pule'anga faka-Temokalati 'ata'ata pe ka 'oku tau fie ma'u 'a e Fonua (pule'anga, sosaieti, famili, etc) faka-Temokalati kae lava ke ikuna'i 'a e feinga faka-Temokalati 'i hotau fonua.
Ko 'Amelika mo e ngaahi fonua Temokalati 'oku kamata pe 'a e Temokalati 'i 'api. The father knows his boundries, mother knows her duties and the children know their rights pea 'oku 'oatu 'ehe pule'anga 'a e lao ko honau malu'i takitaha. In any family issues they talk, discuss and exercise their own right. Nothing call a "pule fakaaoao 'a e Tamai." This is a normal family affair in a democratic country pea koe fetokoni'aki ia 'a e pule'anga mo e famili to encourage the democratic aspect of life. Ko 'ene mavahe pe fanau mei 'api tenau walk, talk, vote and lead by the spirit of democrat because its in their blood.
'Oku kehe 'a Tonga. 'Oku kei pule fakaaoao pe 'a e Tamai, ka 'oku power lahi ange Fahu, pea toe pule ta'e toe fehu'ia ange 'a e Mehikitanga ka ko e faka'ofa taha 'a e Fa'etangata mo 'ene fanau,etc. This is a very very sensitive part of our culture and at the same time it is an extremely undemocratic way of life. Also, it is a very very very expansive exercise pea 'oku kapui atu ai pe 'a e sosaieti pea pehe atu ai pe ki he ngaahi Siasi 'a e to'onga mo'ui ko'eni. Ko e fo'i afo malohi 'eni 'i he mo'ui 'a e Tonga and it is a tough nut to break pea 'e anga fefe leva ke ma'u ha Tonga ko e fonua Temokalati.
'Oku mahino mei he ngaahi talanga faka-politikale 'o e kuohili 'a e ta'u lahi hono 'ohofi fakafo'i tuitui 'o huhu'i ta'e fakaongonoa pe a e pule'anga mo 'ene to nounou kae kuikui pe ki he palopalema tatau na'e/pea 'oku fekuki moe sosaieti pehe pe 'i he famili (as describe above). Tau manatu'i ma'u pe ko e pule'anga koe source of income to most people ka ko e cultural and social demands may cause a huge negative impact on family's economic. To fix this problem here is a challenge to the current government. We need a Democratic country not just a democratic government.
Mo'oni kuo pau ke kumi ha taha ke ne fakahoko ha fatongia 'o fakatatau ki he fiema'u ka ko 'eku tui koe pule'anga 'eni 'o e kakai ka 'oku 'ikai ko e pule'anga 'o e komiti Temokalati. Malo mo e timi tau'ataina ke ma'u faingamalie ai e komiti ni ki he tu'unga taki pea 'oku totonu faka-Temokalati ke vavahe tatau mai 'a e monu ki he kakai na'a nau fili 'a e timi tau'ataina.
'Ofa atu Saia mo e kau Tukulalo kotoa 'i fonua lahi na, fakaa'u atu 'eku 'ofa ki hoku tokoua ko 'Epeli, 'oku 'ikai te u 'ilo'i pe ko e fe 'a e lalo hala fakakavakava 'oku si'i mokosia atu ai.
Malo
Faka'apa'apa atu
Low
Houma, Vava'u