Fireworks and Tupakapakanava light up the waterfront

The unnecessary excessive speeds taking place all around Tonga by drivers escorting the VIPs is shocking and dangerous to visitors. Shocking because in countries like NZ or Australia not even the Prime Ministers get siren high speed police escorts - to most visitors its seems pointless and immature as people would even notice who the occupants of the are if they just drove normally. Today I and others were forced off the road by a speeding vehicle escort, I decided to follow this highly important escorted vehicle, only to find they pulled into the Emerald for lunch. Totally unnecessary to drive at high speed bullying other road users off the road, just to go have lunch. This is disgraceful and laughable at the same time as this heavy handed practice is only usually called for in countries where self importance and and dictatorial attitudes are the norm from so called powerful people.

HM should be the only person in Tonga given an escort, when I have seen his escort at least the drivers are professional and not endangering others lives.

I have also seen many vehicles with the PM plates totally ignoring the village speed limits, it's like they are above the law. A vehicle passed my while I was doing 50k, this vehicle with a female driver and a number of children on board passed me and continued to speed away. To my surprise a police officer walked out on the road aiming the speed gun at her - but waived her on, I shook my head in disgust at him and he looked embarrassed, he was the same guy that stopped me doing 52 last week when I was heading to the airport.