Étita,
Kataki kae fakakau atu mu’a ‘eku tohi ni ‘i ho’o pepa na’a ‘aonga ki he kakai ‘oe fonua lolotonga e ngaahi felafoaki fakapolitikale ‘a e Pule’anga kimu’a pea moe Pule’anga lolotonga. Kole pe keu hufanga he ngaahi fakatapu.
‘Oku mahu’inga ‘a e Kautaha Lulutai he na’e toutou fai hono fakafehu’i ‘e he kau fakafofonga ‘oe kakai ki he anga hono fakalele mo hono ola fakapa’anga mo e ‘ikai pe ke ma’u ha tali fakafiemalie mei he Palemia malolo (Hu’akavameiliku) mo hono kau Poate. Na’e kau e Lulutai he ngaahi makatu’unga ‘oe fokotu’u VONC ‘oe 2023 pea moe 2024 pea mo e tofolofola ‘a ‘ene ‘Afio he huufi ‘oe Falealea ki he ala atu e Pule’anga ‘o fakalele pisinisi. Ko e palopalema ‘oe fakalele kautaha vakapuna ‘a e Pule’anga ‘oku ‘ikai ko ha palopalema fo’ou he na’e ‘i ai e kautaha ko e Royal Tonga Airlines ‘a e Pule’anga na’e sea ai ‘a ‘ene ‘Afio lolotonga ‘ene kei Palemia kimu’a pea tapuni he 1990 tupu. Neu faitohi kia Palemia Tu’i’onetoa (RIP) he 2020 ‘o fakafou he Sekelitali ki he Kapineti (‘Etika Koka) ’o kole ke ‘oua mu’a tena fokotu’u kautaha vakapuna fo’ou kanau hoangaue (Joint venture) mo e Real Tonga koe’uhi pe ko ‘eku manatu ki he palopalema na’e fehangahangai moe Royal Tonga Airlines.
Neu sio he ngaahi fakataha ‘a e Pule’anga lolotonga pea mo e kau faiongoongo pea pehe ki he konifelenisi ‘a e kau fakafofonga Falealea na’e taki mai ‘ehe Palemia malolo (Hu’akavameiliku) mo e ongo memipa malolo ‘e ua ‘o e Poate ‘oe Lulutai pea kuo mahino mai ‘a e ngaahi me’a lalahi ‘e tolu ‘oku ou fie lave ki ai na’a ‘aonga ki he kakai ‘o e fonua.
1. ‘Oku ‘ikai ko ha pisinisi ‘oku tupu ‘a e Kautaha vakapuna fepuna’aki fakalotofonua.
Na’e fakamahino’i mai ‘ehe kau talekita malolo ‘oe Poate ‘oe Lulutai, lolotonga ‘enau fakataha moe kau faiongoongo he ‘aho 10 Ma’asi 2025 ‘a e mo’oni’ime’a ko ‘eni ‘oku ‘ikai koha pisinisi ‘oku tupu. Na’e ‘osi fakapapau’i pe me’a ni ia mei he ola ‘o ‘etau kautaha vakapuna na’e fakalele ‘e he Pule’anga koe Royal Tonga. Koe ola tatau pe mei he ngaahi kautaha vakapuna fepuna’aki fakalotofonua mei hotau ngaahi fonua kaunga’api – lahi taha kuo tapuni. Ne toutou fakamanatu mai ‘e he International Monetary Fund (IMF) lolotonga ‘enau toutou folau mai ‘o vakai’i e tu’unga faka’ekonomika hotau fonua he polokalama ‘oku ‘iloa fakavaha’apule’anga koe Article IV review. Ko e ‘uhinga na’e ‘omai mei he Sekelitali Pule ('Etika Koka) ‘a e mahu’inga ke fakapapau’i ‘oku fakalato e fiema’u fefononga’aki vakapuna ‘a e kakai ‘oe fonua. ‘Oku fakafiefia hono fakamahino’i mai ‘e Hu’akavameiliku mo ‘ene kautalekita malolo ‘a e mo’oni’ime’a ko ‘eni ke tau ako mei ai mo tokoni ki he ngaahi fokotu’utu’u ‘a e Pule’anga fo’ou ki ha kautaha kene fakalele ‘etau fepuna’aki fakalotofonua.
2. Koe palopalema lolotonga ‘oe Lulutai ko e fiema’u cashflow (Iiquidity problem).
Na’e fakamatala ‘a e Minisita Public Enterprises ‘o pehe kuo melemo e kautaha Lulutai pea ka ‘ikai tokoni e Pule’anga ‘aki ha $7 miliona pea ‘e tapuni e kautaha (liquidate) lolotonga e taha ‘o ‘enau fakataha mo e kau faiongoongo. ‘I he fakama’ala’ala ‘a e Palemia malolo mo e kau memipa malolo ‘oe Poate Lulutai ‘oku mahino mai ko e fiema’u cashflow pe Liquidity. Na’e fai ‘enau kole no ko e $7 miliona ke malui ‘e he Pule’anga (guarantee). Ko e me’a ke mahino ko e palopalema pe ‘e ala tapuni ai ha kautaha kuo lesisita he Lao ‘oe ngaahi kautaha (Companies Act) ko ha ma’olunga e ngaahi mo’ua (Liabilities) ‘oe kautaha ‘i he mahu’inga fakapa’anga ‘o ‘ene ngaahi koloa (Assets) pea ‘oku lau leva ia kuo insolvent ‘a e kautaha. ‘Oku te’eki lava hono ‘atita’i e ngaahi fakamatala pa’anga mei he 2021-2022 ‘o fai mai ki he 2024 kene fakapapau’i e tu’unga ‘oe solvency ‘a e kautaha Lulutai. Kaekehe ‘e lava pe ke tapuni ha kautaha tupu mei ha’ane nounou faka-cash flow (Liquidity) ‘i ha fiema’u ‘e kinautolu ‘oku mo’ua ki ai ‘a e kautaha (Creditors) ke totongi ‘e he kautaha Lulutai honau ngaahi mo’ua pea ‘ikai lava e kautaha Lulutai ‘o totongi. ‘Oku tu’utu’uni ‘e he kupu 296 moe 297 ‘oe Lao ki he ngaahi Kautaha (Companies Act) ‘a e founga ki he me’a ni pea ‘oku ‘ikai mahino mai ha fiema’u (demand) mei he fa’ahinga ‘oku mo’ua ki ai ‘a e Lulutai (Creditors) ke totongi fakafoki ange honau ngaahi mo’ua ke tu’unga ai ha ngaue ke tapuni ‘a e kautaha (liquidate).
3. Tomui hono fakakakato e ‘atita’i e fakamatala fakapa’anga fakata’u ‘oe kautaha Lulutai mei he 2021-2024.
Na’e fakamahino’i mai mei he fakataha ‘a e Palemia malolo mo e ongo Talekita malolo mei he Lulutai pea mo e kau faiongoongo he ‘aho 10 Ma’asi, 2025 ko e fakamatala fakapa’anga pe ‘oe 2020-2021 kuo kakato hono ‘atita’i. Na’a ku ‘ohovale lahi he me’a ni he ko e ta’u pe ‘eni na’e fakalele ai e Lulutai ‘e he Pule’anga ‘o Tu’i’onetoa pea ne ‘ikai toe fakafehu’i ‘eha taha ‘oe kau faiongoongo e ‘uhinga e tomui ‘oe ngaue ‘enau Poate ke fakakakato e ngaahi fakamatala pa’anga fakata’u 2021-2024. ‘I he kupu 217 ‘oe Lao ‘oe ngaahi kautaha (Companies Act) ‘oku fiema’u ke teuteu ‘e he Kau Talekita ‘a e fakamatala fakata’u (Annual Report) ‘a e kautaha ‘i loto he mahina ‘e 5 mei he ‘osi e ta’u fakapa’anga ‘a e kautaha. ‘I he kupu si’i (2) ‘o e kupu 217 aipe ‘oku tuku mai ai ‘a e tautea ‘e hilifaki ki he kau Talekita he’ikai tenau muimui ki he tu’utu’uni fakalao ko ‘eni. ‘Oku fakaikiiki mai e ngaahi tautea ko ‘eni he kupu 378 (2) ‘oe Companies Act ‘a Tonga. ‘I he kupu 220 (b) ‘o ‘etau Companies Act, ‘oku fakaikiiki mai ai ‘a e fiema’u ke kau he fakamatala fakata’u ‘a e Lulutai (Annual Report) ‘a e fakamatala pa’anga fakata’u ‘a e kautaha pea mo e lipooti ‘a e ‘Atita he kupu 220 (c). Ko e tomui ‘aki e ta’u hokohoko ‘e tolu ‘a e ‘ikai fakakakato ‘e he Palemia malolo mo ‘ene kau-Poate he kautaha Lulutai ‘a e fiema’u fakalao ko ‘eni, ‘oku ‘ikai ngata pe ‘i he’enau maumau lao ka ‘oku fakatupufifili lahi ‘aupito ki he ngaahi faitu’utu’uni na’a nau fakahoko lolotonga hono fakalele ‘o ‘etau kautaha vakapuna fakafonua. ‘Oku mahu’inga ‘aupito e fakamatala pa’anga falala’anga (‘atita’i) ki he ngaahi faitu’utu’uni ‘a e kau Talekita pea mo hono fakalele ha pisinisi, ‘o kau aipe hono fakalele ‘a e Pule’anga.
Ko e no moe ‘inivesi ($10 miliona) ‘a e kautaha Retirement Fund ‘a e kaungaue fakapule’anga ‘i he kautaha Lulutai he 2024 ko e tu’utu’uni mahu’inga ia mei he’enau Poate. ‘Oku ‘ikai ke mahino kiate au pe ko e ngaahi fakamatala pa’anga falala’anga mei fe pea mo e ta’u fe na’e fai’aki ‘enau vakavakai’i (due diligence) ‘oe ongo inivesi fakapa’anga ko ‘eni. Na’e fakamatala ‘a e Palemia malolo (Hu’akavameiliku) ki he ngaahi me’afua fakapa’anga (gearing ratio) na’e ngaue’aki ki he tu’utu’uni ‘a e Poate ‘oe Retirement Fund ‘a e Pule’anga. Ko e “gearing ratio” ko e fua ia ‘oe mafai fakapa’anga ‘oe kautaha Lulutai kene totongi fakafoki hono ngaahi mo’ua. ‘Oku lahi e ngaahi me’afua fakapa’anga na’e totonu ke siofi ‘ehe Poate Retirement Fund hange ko e liquidity ratio, profitability ratio, breakeven capacity, etc ka ‘okapau ko e fakamatala ‘atita pe kenau ngaue’aki ko e 2020-2021 pea ‘oku mole ‘a e ngaahi fakamatala pa’anga mahu’inga ia mo ofi mai ki he 2024, ke nau ngaue’aki.
Na’e ‘i ai e lave ‘a e Minisita ‘oe Public Enterprises lolotonga e taha ‘o ‘enau fakataha mo e kau faiongoongo ke fokotu’u ha Komisoni fakatotolo ki he fakatau vakapuna Twin-Otter na’e fai ‘e he kautaha Lulutai. Na’a ku fiefia ke fakahoko ka na’aku toe sio ki he kupu 9 ‘oe Lao ki he Royal Commission ‘oku ‘ikai fakangofua ‘e he kupu ko ‘eni ke fakahu ki he fakamaau’anga ha fa’ahinga fakamo’oni mei he ola ‘oe Komisoni fakatotolo. Ko e fakamole ki ha Komisoni fakatotolo ‘e lahi pea ko e ha hano ‘aonga kapau he’ikai ke lava ‘omai ‘akinautolu na’a nau fakahoko tu’utu’uni kenau taliui (accountable) ki he’enau ngaue. Mahalo ko e ‘aonga fakapolitikale pe. He’ikai ha’ane tokoni ‘a’ana ki he tu’utu’uni (pending decision) ‘oku hangaatu ki ai ‘a e Poate Lolotonga ‘oe Lulutai pea mo e Pule’anga – ke ma’u ha kautaha vakapuna ke hoangaue mo e Lulutai pea mo e kautaha Retirement Fund ‘a e kaungaue fakapule’anga ke hokohokoatu e fepuna’aki fakalotofonua. Ka lava ia pea tukuange mamalie atu ‘e he Pule’anga hono share he kautaha vakapuna kanau hanga taha pe ki hono tokanga’i (regulate) ke malu mo falala’anga e fepuna’aki fakalotofonua. ‘Oku ‘ikai teu tui ko ha koloa fakalukufua ‘a e sosaieti (common public good) ‘a e fefolau’aki vakapuna fakalotofonua ke kei hokohokoatu pe hono fakalele mole ‘e he Pule’anga. Ko e tokolahi hotau kakai masiva ‘oku nau si’i fefolau’aki vakatahi pe pea mahalo ko e kau faingamalie fakapa’anga pe, kau ngaue fakapule’anga ma’olunga mo e kau folau ‘eve’eva mei muli tenau ngaue’aki lahi e service ko ‘eni. ‘Oku mahu’inga ke fakalele fakakomesiale ia ‘i ha totongi ‘e lava ‘o fua mei ai e ngaahi fakamole ‘a e kautaha pea mo ma’u mo ha tupu. ‘Oku fu’u si’isi’i fau hotau ivi tanaki pa’anga ki hono fakalele hotau pule’anga pea ‘oku mahu’inga ke fai fakapotopoto ‘etau ngaahi tu’utu’uni ke fakasi’isi’i e fakamole tavale (wastage).
Óku ‘iai e ngaahi me’a lalahi ‘e tolu ‘oku tau ako mei ai he ngaahi felafoaki fakapolitikale ko eni ‘a e pule’anga toki malolo atu pea mo e pule’anga lolotonga:
- ko e lahi e ngaahi mo’oni’ime’a na’e totonu ke tuku mai kimu’a kuo maama mai;
- kuo lahi ‘etau ngaahi lao mo e tu’utu’uni (regulations) kuo fa’u ka ‘oku vaivai ‘aupito hono muimui’i mo fai talangofua ki ai, pea
- kuo hoko e toutou fakataha mo e kau faiongoongo ko ha me’a ke tokoni lahi ki hono fakalakalaka e ngaue ‘etau kau faiongoongo ki he’enau fekumi kimu’a pea toki fakahoko ‘enau ngaahi fehu’i.
‘Amanaki pe ‘e hokohoko lelei atu e fatongia mahu’inga ko ‘eni mei he’etau kau faiongoongo (fourth estate) ki he’etau fakalakalaka fakatemokalati fakamamani lahi. Tu’a ‘ofaatu.
Samiuela T. Tukuafu,
Fisi.
Samiuela Tukuafu served as the Deputy Governor of the National Reserve Bank of Tonga. He joined the Asian Development Bank in 2000 and retired in 2018 as ADB Country Director for Cambodia, with experience including the financial sector, infrastructure, and public sector management across Asia and the Pacific. He previously held positions as Deputy Accountant General for the Ministry of Finance in Tonga and Senior Auditor at Price Waterhouse (Fiji).
