Tonga's King appoints Dr Sevele as first citizen Prime Minister

The royals steal the show - Sefita A Hao‘uli
Hold on a minute. This wasn'’t in the script. A Prime Minister elected by the people? That's supposed to come near the end isn'’t it? In fact it should be the end-game itself, the grand finale, the climax with the deafening crescendo. But here we are with the National Committee for Political Reform barely a meeting or two to canvas the communities' views on political reform and we have ourselves a Prime Minister who, history will show stood shoulder to shoulder with the the pro-democracy supporters.

Okay, so he wasn'’t exactly elected to be PM by the people but damn near close enough don't you think? If we hadn'’t elected a pig farmer from Ma'ufanga as one of the three Tongatapu MPs, he wouldn'’t have been a minister. Right? Then if he wasn'’t in Cabinet, he wouldn'’t have been noticed. And if Pangai Si'i hadn'’t been so full of pro-democracy supporters backing the striking public servants, the government may have taken a different view of the strikers and we would have remained with the same team in Cabinet today. Right? Then why the silence?

As a long-standing, although unticketed supporter of the pro-democracy movement, this latest development is a major achievement for both sides of the political divide. But I don'’t see or hear any enthusiasm from the supporters of either side. Am I missing something here? The ruling royals have demonstrated that they're prepared to replace one of their own with a squash member of Parliament to head Cabinet. And the pro-democracy movement should take credit for fanning the flames of political change over the last 20 years without which this event may not have taken place. Are we so cynical that we can't give credit where credit is due? - Sefita A Hao‘uli

Congratulations Hon. Prime Minister! - Sailosi Finau
Barely a day after my last posting wherein I asked fellow Tongans to be patient and appreciate government…’s commitment to the democratization process and the changes that are taking place, came the announcement of Hon. Sevele's appointment as PM. So appointed Acting PM by the son and then confirmed PM by the father. Do people see something in there?

But let us not forget that this is the very man who went against Pohiva'’s and his fellow Demo colleagues' view and accepted the ministerial appointment to begin with. Pohiva and Pulu publically declared that they won’t accept a ministerial appointment. Others claimed that the man himself is too close to the Crown Prince. Others claimed that the appointments is a government band-aid solution. But the man himself thought otherwise. He said, the 4 ministerial appointments from elected nobles and people'’s representatives is an indication that government has opened the door of change, and regardless of how small it may be, we have to use it. We asked for change and now government is giving a bit of it to us and isn'’t it irrational to pull out? Let us not forget that this is also the very man that Senituli and Tutone and his fellow Demo colleagues criticized for leading Tonga to the WTO. Let us not forget his reply too.“The critics are only good for bla, bla, bla…”. Let us not forget that this is the very man who also took part of the criticisms for government's handling of the PSA strike. And he is also the man that Hao‘uli interviewed on the radio in NZ during the height of the PSA strike wherein he said, if the 60-70-80 is the only way out of the ordeal then it is his personal view that government ought to go with it. A few days afterward, government agreed to the 60-70-80 and the strike ended. So the silence and the lack of enthusiasm from some are quite understandable.

We have not seen the grand finale nor the climax yet. Cabinet will all be elected by the people and this will materialize regardless of whether you, the royal family or I like it or not. People just need to be patient and to be more cooperative and more constructive in our criticisms. Less bla bla bla please!! It does not help the country when criticisms are blindly and aimlessly made just to sell a newspaper, a TV programme and to gain a political mile by confusing people's intelligence. Congratulations Hon. Prime Minister! Tonga needs more cool heads like yours and politicians who think with their heads and refuse to be treated like puppets by his own fellow colleagues. - Sailosi Finau

Congratulations! - Kau ngaue ‘a e Polokalama Letio ‘a e Hala Tuku-Tonga kainga Ma‘ufanga ‘o Fakafanua WOWFM 100.7
Many many Congratulations to Prime Minister Dr Feleti Vakaúta Sevele on your appointment to lead the kingdom. We have been so proud when you were appointed to the Acting PM role, and now your new appointment to be Prime Minister, we are all quietly ecstatic.

We pray that you will receive the Lord's grace in abundance, be strong and courageous and the best of health to carry out all your duties unreservedly, selflessly and with compassion. Ófa Atu Fau mo e Hufaki. - Kau ngaue ‘a e Polokalama Letio ‘a e Hala Tuku-Tonga kainga Ma‘ufanga ‘o Fakafanua WOWFM 100.7

Giving the benefit of the doubt vs. doubting the benefit - Mele Payne Lynch:
With Feleti Sevele as the newly appointed prime minister (PM), this may be the lucid revolution Tonga needs in order to retrench and take bold actions towards reconciliation, stabilizing the economy, tackling corruptions and bringing harmony and order to social, political and civic turmoil in the Kingdom. The people are anxiously and impatiently waiting for changes and the question now is whether Sevele is our modern leader that will restore measures in the best interest of the people and the nation. There is speculation that one of the contributing aspect to Lavaka’s resignation as PM was a dispute amongst the royal family on a huge loan from China so that the government can buy back Shoreline. This deal could and would have potentially benefited Tupouto’a and Shoreline’s executives greatly while adversely crippling the people.

While the people elected Sevele to parliament, his appointment as PM came from none other than the royal family. The supposition is that Topouto’a promised Sevele the PM position before the King made the appointment. Did the King appoint Sevele because Tupouto’a feels more secure with Sevele as PM for various surreptitious dealings? Is Sevele going to adhere to the rules and standards of the royal family? Is Sevele at a greater risk of political and ethical compromise?

There may be justifiable reasons to doubt the benefit of this appointment but the fact of the matter is, Tonga is limping along on the breakdown lane and with recent significant events (public servants strike and the demand for political reform), its economic hardship and ubiquitous corruption is totally exposed. The timing of the appointment is propitious and the people must decide whether to give Sevele their support and the benefit of the doubt. In Sevele’s case, I would like to quote Henry Kissinger…”There cannot be a crisis next week. My schedule is already full”.

“Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action.” . George Washington. Time will tell. - Mele Payne Lynch

Dr Sevele is not our PM - ‘Alani Taione:
On behalf of the people of Tonga of about 85% called The Taeiloa or Unknown Warriors. I would like to make this statement. That Dr Feleti Sevele is not the people's Prime Minister since he was selected from the people's election last year [2005-07]. Dr Feleti Sevele Promise the people of Tonga that he is going to challenge the Cabinet when or if he become a Cabinet Minister.

He promise to fight the corruptions in all the government departments. Dr Sevele also criticise strongly the former Police Minister. Hon Clive Edward for defending the Government of Tonga on Media Law that was challenge by Alani Taione and others at the Supreme Court in Tonga and the Media Law was thrown out completely.

Dr Sevele Promise to Fight to return the Shoreline [power station] back to the people and the government. Now he is the Minister of Labour and Commerce and he got the power to cancelled and returned the power station to the govt & the people of Tonga that voted him in to fulfil his Promise during the last election. This is what we called in the Tongan Proverb: Hau Pea Kui in English King and Blind or modern English A Fat Liar.

With all the evidence I provided. The people of Tonga loose hope of the new Prime Minster Dr F. Sevele. The whole structures must be overhaul before Justice & Freedom is achieve in the Island Kingdom of Tonga and also to benefit both rich and the poor, and once again for Tonga to be known as unknown Warriors. - ‘Alani Taione

Dr Sevele is our PM - Sevaniti Totongi Tukuhau: On behalf of myself and the people who live, work and bleed for Tonga. I would like to make this statement. That Dr Feleti Sevele is OUR Prime Minister or in other words the current Prime Minister of Tonga. For our brothers and sisters in foreign lands, who usually just get a glimpse of whats happening in Tonga via the available papers sold overseas, we are currently trying to at least save ourself from being another fail case for history to write about. Yes we need change, but “Slowly and 100% Certainty” we can’t afford to wake up tomorrow its the election day and some rich millionaire running around the villages throwing money to become PM (it has happened and is currently is and will be) Almost every part of Tonga is working for the better change mate… the villages, the churches, the political parties/movement, the NCPR, the GOV and the civil servants. They might be short term differences but the Long Term Goal is clear, and I think we all need everyone’s help to save Tonga or else… we’ll be the one suffering here, now and the future. Faka’apa’apa Lahi Atu - Sevaniti Totongi Tukuhau

Fale Alea fo‘ou ‘o Tonga mo hono kau memipa - ‘Ofa ki Tonga:
Kuo tau a`usia mai `eni ha `epoki mo ha peesi fo`ou `o e hisitolia `o Tongá, kuo hanga ai He`ene `Afió `o fakanofo `a e motu`a tu`a ko Dr Feleti Vaka`uta Sevele `o ne hoko ko e Palemia `o Tonga.

Ko e me`a ko ia `oku malié, ko e talu hono fili atu `a e motu`á ni `o ne hoko ko e Minisita mo e hange kuo movete `a e sikalamu `a e kau Temó. Ne tau fononga mai ia `o a`u mai ki hono fakahu `a Tonga ki he WTO, pea toe faka`ange`ange hono tuku hake mo tuku hifo `a e motu`á ni. Na`e a`u mai leva ki he fakafisi `a `Ulukalala Lavaka Atá, pea fakanofo ai `e he Pilinisi Pulé ke ne le`ole`o ko e Palemia `o Tonga, kuo toe hoko atu aip? `a e laú. Kuo mokoi `eni `a e Tama Tu`í pea fakakakala `aki ia `a e fatongiá, `oku `ikai pe `e tuku.

Ko e me`a `okú ou tokanga ki aí pe ko `etau feinga ko `eni ke tau fili kotoa `a e Fale Aleá mo e Palemiá mo e kotoa `a e kau Minisitaá pe te tau malava koa pe `ikai. Ko Feleti Sevelé kuo ako `o poto, maheni ngaue ta`u lahi `i he tapa kehekehe, kau he kau tangata lavame`a taha `o Tonga `i he pisinisi, mo Fale Alea ta`u lahi, kae `ikai pe ke tau fiemalie ki ai. Ko hai ha tu`a `e loto lelei ki ai kitautolu tu`á?

Kapau te tau vakai ki he kotoa `o e ngaahi hingoa na`e kanititeiti `i he Fili Fale Alea `o e 2005, pea tau to`o leva mei ai `a e tokolahi ke hu ki loto `o fakatatau ki he tokolahi fo`ou `o e Falé `oku fokotu`ú, `e malie mo`oni mo toto atu! Tau `ahi`ahi angé ke tau sio ki ai pe `e anga fefee. Ko e toko 20 `a Tongatapu, 7 `a Vava`u, 4 `a Ha`apai, 1 `a `Eua pea 1 `a Niua.

`O fakatatau mo e ola `o e fili `o e 2005, ko e fa`ahinga `eni `oku totonu ke nau lolotonga `i he Fale Aleá he taimi ní:

Vahe fonua Tongatapu: (1) S. `Akilisi Pohiva, (2) `Isileli Pulu, (3) Dr Feleti V. Sevele, (4) W. Clive Edwards, (5) Fuiva RA Kavaliku, (6) Mateitalo F. Mahu`inga, (7) Lopeti Senituli, (8) Semisi Kailahi, (9) Semisi PI Tapueluelu, (10) Simione K Silapelu, (11) Mateaki Heimuli, (12) `Alisi P. Fotu, (13) Muimui Tatola, (14) Sela L. Kaisinga, (15) Kamipeli Tofa`imala`e`aloa, (16) `Alani Taione, (17) Tupou Malohi, (18) Siosifa F. Sikuea, (19) Siale C. Kava, (20) `Aisake F. Filimoe.
Vahefonua Vava`u: (1) Samiu K. Vaipulu, (2) Viliami K. Helu, (3) Sangster Saulala, (4) `Etuate S. Lavulavu, (5) Masao Paasi, (6) Peauafi Tatafu, (7) S. Sosefo Mailangi.
Vahefonua Ha`apai: (1) `Uliti Uata, (2) Fineasi Funaki, (3) `Osaiasi Latu, (4) Mo`ale Finau.
Vahefonua `Eua: (1) Sunia Fili
Vahefonua Niua: (1) S. Peauafi Haukinima.

Ko e 33 ia na`á mou fili `i he fili `o e 2005 `o nau h? ki he Fale Alea `o Tongá. Tau fakakaukau ? ki he h? ko ia `a e toko 33 ko `eni ki he Fale Aleá, pea ko e me`a `e fuofua fai `e hotau kau fakafofonga ko `ení ko hano fili `a e Sea `o e Fale Aleá, fakataha mo ha Sea `o e Komiti Kakató koe`uhi kae lava `a e Fale Aleá ke hoko atu `ene ng?ué.

`Iuveeee! Kovi `eku loi, `okú ke lava nai `o fakakaukau loto atu ki he me`a `e hokó `i he kamata atu ko `ení. Fakakaukau atu ki he natula kotoa `o e kau m?mipa ko `eni `e toko 33 `okú nau tau`ataina hono kotoa, mo e me`a `e hoko. Ko e toko 11 `o kinautolu na`e `osi Fale Alea, ko e toenga ko e toko 22 ko `enau fuofua hu `eni, pea `i ai mo e kau fakafofonga fefine `e toko 3. Teu toki hoko atu `i he feme`a`aki `a e hou`eikí ni na`e hoko `i hono fili `a e ongo Sea! - ‘Ofa ki Tonga

Manatu‘i ‘a e Hou‘eiki Nopele - Sef Hao‘uli:
Kimu’a pea toki hoko atu ‘a ‘Ofa-ki-Tonga mei Long Beach mo e fokotu’utu’u fo’ou kuo ne fokotu’u mai …– kau ki’i tanaki atu mu’a ke toe kakato ange: ke ne fakakau mai ki he ‘ene lisi ‘o e toko 33 ‘a e ‘etau kau hou’eiki Nopele, he kuo pau foki ke nau kau mai mo kinautolu he fili …– pea ko’eni na’e toki ‘osi ‘a ‘enau ki’i fili si’i pea ‘oku kei
maloulau ‘a hono ola. Ko ‘ene toki kakato foki ia. Kaekehe ko ‘ene fakahoa foki ‘eni ‘e ‘Ofa-ki-Tonga ha fo’i ‘apele mo e fo’i kuava he ko e kakai ko’eni na’a ne tuku mai ko kinautolu ia na’a nau feinga fili he tu’utu’uni ‘o e kuonga ‘oku tau feinga ke situ’a mei ai. ‘E toe kehe ange ‘a e lisi ni ‘o kapau ‘e fakahoko ‘a e ngaahi liliu ‘oku fai ki ai ‘a e feinga.
‘Oku ou tui ka tali ke fai ‘a e ngaahi liliu ‘oku fa’a manuki’i ‘e he tokotaha ni, ‘e ‘ikai ngata pe he toe tokolahi ange ‘a e kakai te nau fie kanititeiti ki he fili, ka te tau toki mamata ai ki he kau mai ‘a kinautolu kau lavame’a mo mohu taleniti ke nau feinga ki Falealea. Pea
‘oku ou tui ‘e ‘i ai ‘a ‘etau kau nopele te nau kau mai he toko 33, pea ko hono fakamo’oni’i totonu ia ‘a hono fiema’u honau taleniti kae’uma’a ‘a hono poupou’i kinautolu ‘e he kakai tokolahi
‘Oku ‘osi mahino ‘a e taha ‘o e ngaahi ‘uhinga ‘oku ‘ikai ke ‘asi ai ‘a e kau tu’ukimu’a ‘oku totonu ke nau kau ‘i hono fakafofonga’i kitautolu he ‘aho ni: ko e mole noa ‘o e kakava ke feinga hu atu ki ha Falealea na’e fokotu’u ke fakangalingali pe ‘a hono fakakau atu ‘a e le’o ‘o e
kakai ki hono pule’i ‘o e fonua.
Faka’osi atu ‘aki ‘eni: Ko hono fakaanga’i ‘o e Palemia fo’ou he ngaahi me’a koia na’a ke ‘osi lave ki ai ‘oku ‘i ai hono ngaahi lelei pea me’atepuu ko e ‘ulungaanga totonu pe ia ‘o e Temokalati. Ko e vave ange ‘etau anga ki ai ko ‘ene vave ange ia ‘etau nga’unu atu ki mu’a. Na’e hoko ‘a hono tali ‘e he Palemia mo e kau taki he pule’anga ‘a e ngaahi fakaanga ni ke toe mahino ange ai ‘a hono ‘uhinga na’e fakahoko ai ‘enau ngaahi tu’utu’uni …– pe ‘oku tonu pe ‘ikai, te tau toki vakai ki ai ‘amui ange ka ko’eni kuo ‘osi tuku mai ‘a e ongo tafa’aki ke tau sio ki ai. ‘O
‘ikai hano faikehekehe ‘o ia pea mo hono fakaanga’i ‘e ‘Ofa-ki-Tonga ‘a hotau fanga tokoua he Temo! Faka’apa’apa atu - Sef Hao’uli

‘E kei Tonga pe a Tonga - Lopeti Nautapa:
Dr Feleti Sevele fakatauange ke fai tapuekina koe ‘e he ‘Otua kae ‘uma’a ho famili ‘i he fatongia mamafa mo mafatukituki kuo tuku falala atu ‘e Tupou kae ‘uma’a ‘a e fonua kia te koe.

Pea malie mo kei tonu pe ‘a e tukufua ‘a e Naite ‘o e ‘Otu Felenite te’eki ai ke maheikau. Te’eki ai ketau a’u ki ha taimi kuo tau fanongo atu ai ko e Palemia ‘o Tonga ko ‘Alani Taione he’e fu’u fakaoli ‘aupito ia.

Ko e ‘Eiki Palemia ko ‘eni pea mo hono poto faka’atamai ‘i he mala’e ‘o e ‘Ekonomika pea toe taukei ko e tangata pisinisi kuo ne ‘osi ngaue’i hono poto faka’atamai ‘o ola lelei.’Oku tau falala koia pe ‘a e tokotaha totonu tene fakaakeake ‘a e fonua mei he tu’unga lolotonga ki ha tu’unga ‘oku toe saiange.

Pea ke kataki ‘Alani Taione ‘o ‘oua teke fakafofonga’i hala kimautolu pea ko e taha. Ko hai na’ane fakanofo koe ke ke fakafofonga’i kimautolu ?

Manatu’i ‘Alani ko Tonga ‘e kei Tonga pe ‘a Tonga ‘o a’u ki he pa’angangalu ‘o taimi ‘e kei Tu’i pe ‘a ha’a Tu’i pea hou’eiki pe ‘a hou’eiki pea te ta kei tu’a pe kitaua ia ko e fo’i mo’oni koia he ‘ikai teke toe lava ‘e ko e ‘o liliu . Malo eni kuo a’u hota tokotaha ko e tu’a ki he lakanga ma’olunga taha ‘i hotau ki’i Pule’anga pea ‘oku totnu ketau fiefia ai. Faka’apa’apa atu. - Lopeti Nautapa