King appoints Lord Tu'ivakano as PM

Tau faka‘apa‘apa‘i aa ‘a e ola - Dr Fotu K. V. Fisi‘iahi:
Kuo tau fanongo kotoa pe ki he ola ‘o e fili Palemia hotau fonua ‘ofa’anga pea ‘oku ou faka’amu ke tau faka’apa’apa’i aa mu’a ‘a e ola ‘o hangee pe koia ne ‘osi fakahaa ‘e he taki mo e ni’ihi ‘o e Paati Temokalati ‘Otumotu Anga’ofa kimu’a he fili Palemia. ‘Oku lahi faufaua e ngaue ke fakahoko pea ko e faka’amu ke ala nima fakataha hotau kau Fakafofonga, Pule’anga pea mo e Hou’eiki Nopele kae lava ke ma’anu faka’ekonomika hotau vaka.

‘Oku ou tu’amelie ki ha ngaahi fa’ahita’u Falealea longomo’ui mo faifua foki, he ‘oku ‘ikai ngata pe he pau ke nau taliui ki he kakai ka ‘oku mahino ko e fa’ahi fakaangaa ‘e matu’aki fefeka fau. ‘I he’ene pehee, kuopau ke ngaue malohi mo maau ‘a e fa’ahi ‘a e Pule’anga he kuopau ke matu’aki siofi ‘ehe fa’ahi fakaanga ‘a e ‘inisi kotoa pe ‘o ‘enau ngaue. Ko hono melie’anga he kuo faka’ataa ‘ehe Lao ke fetongi kinautolu ‘oku ‘ikai taau ‘enau fakahoko fatongia, pea koia ‘a e malohinga ‘o e fa’unga Pule’anga ‘oku tau laka kiai ni.

‘Oku te tangane’ia he ‘ete lave’i hifo kuo me’a ‘a e Palemia ‘e fili e kakai totonu ki he ngaahi fatongia totonu ‘i he’ene Kapineti pea ko e hakeaki’i ‘o e tu’unga faka’ekonomika ‘o Tonga ‘a ‘ene kaveinga ngaue fika ‘uluaki. Talamonu atu ‘Eiki Nopele Tu’ivakano he fatongia kuo hilifaki kiate koe pea mo e fakatauange ‘e tokoni mai ‘a Langi ke fakaola ‘a e ngaahi visone ‘oku ‘amanaki kene tataki ho’o fokotu’utu’u ngaue. ‘Oku ou fie fakahoko atu foki ‘a e ‘ofa lahi kia ‘Akilis mo e toenga ‘o e kau fakafofonga he ngaue lahi kuo mou feia he ngaahi ta’u lahi kuo mou ngaue mai ai. ‘Oua na’a tau taku kuo fai ha ‘ulungia, he ko e fa’unga Pule’anga kuo tau a’u kiai ko e me’a ia na’a tau tangi kiai he ngaahi ta’u lahi kuohili. Toe hiki’i ‘a e ngaue ke lahi ange pea fakama’opo’opo e alafolau mo e kau kauvaka ke takanga ‘etau fohe ka tau ngaue fakataha mo e Pule’anga ke fakama’anu ‘a e vaka faka’ekonomika hotau fonua mei he hakau ‘oku lolotonga folau kiai.

Fakatauange ke mou ma’u ha Kilisimasi fonu fiefia pea pehee foki kiha Ta’u Fo’ou fonu kelesi’ia foki. ‘Ofa lahi atu - Dr Fotu K.V. Fisi’iahi

PM Lord Tu‘ivakano: People's wish for stability over chaos - Sione A. Mokofisi:
Since the People of Tonga have spoken in the recent Parliamentarians’ vote for Prime Minister, Tongans living in America’s democratic system can deductively conclude that the “Temokalati” party (PTOA) needs major overhauling if it wishes to be relevant again in the future of Modern Tonga (Tu’ivakano becomes PM … 21 Dec 2010).

After 38 years of shaking down the old system, a Temokalati landslide victory was considered a foregone conclusion by most of us in the U.S. We were hopeful of a more democratic leadership by People’s Representatives finally to lead government. Instead, the “independents” rallied for Lord Tu’ivakano, 54% to 46%, over PTOA leader Mr ‘Akilisi Pohiva. In the popular electoral contest, the Temos failed miserably to attract 40% of the votes cast by the people.

What Went Wrong For Temos?

Mr Pohiva’s charismatic leadership qualities first anointed him the people’s champion. He stood for ethical integrity, and for moral governance. People respected his temerity to challenge the status quo, and to cleanup corruptions in government.

But in the eyes of the public, associating himself and the party with the burning of Nuku’alofa in 2006, Mr Pohiva forfeited his charismatic leadership crown. A new leader in Mr Sitiveni Halapua emerged, and Mr Pohiva should have yielded to him the party leadership. Tongans in America are familiar with Mr Halapua’s academic leadership at the University of Hawai’i – East West Center institute. But Mr Pohiva gambled with his shadow from the past and lost.

Tu’ivakano: Progressive vs. Status Quo

Congratulations are in order for Lord Tu’ivakano on behalf of Tongans in America. His elevation to Prime Minister can be interpreted as the people’s wish for stability over chaos: the 2006 Nuku’alofa riots; Princess Ashika disaster; judiciary instability; disturbing growth of corruptions in government; and the growing pains of a Third World Country economy.

Lord Tu’ivakano can show true leadership qualities: By transforming an old 19th-century bureaucratic system to a more progressive 21st-century Modern Tonga; be courageous in cleaning up corruptions in government, and be innovative in transforming Tonga’s economy. Otherwise, he will remain a symbol for perpetuating the status quo under the authority of the nobility, while the economy deteriorates. - Sione A. Mokofisi