Tonga's ministerial hopefuls need two hats

My vote goes to candidates who will work in harmony - Lose Taufa:
People’s Representatives to parliament as claimed by your article are being voted to go to the house “criticising and picking faults in government”. As a citizen of Tonga and a voter, I place my vote on candidates whom I believe will represent my interests in the house by providing productive input to the development of the nation in all spheres including economic, political, social and religious issues.

I place my vote in anticipating that the candidates will work in harmony and in close cooperation with other members of the house including Government ministers for a better kingdom for me, my family and my grand children and offsprings of tomorrow.

If I am to accept your view, I would rather remove my name from the register of voters and face the consequences–as your views mislead, confuse voters and the candidates prospectives. - Lose Taufa

Editor’s comment - Theoretically some Tongans would like to think that Parliament is like a family meeting, but in real life it isn’t. It is a Fale Alea, a house for debate, between opposing parties, and the winner is decided on with a show of hands. If you look through the profiles of People’s Representatives to the Tongan parliament during the past few years, a high percentage of them wave the opposition banner. Take the incumbent members of parliament, seven of the nine clearly identified themselves as the opposition. You are not alone in voting for a humble type of candidate, but I doubt if your selection has ever made it into the Tongan parliament during the past few years.

Candidates' strategy has been to destroy others - Lose Taufa:
Since we are approaching the Parliamentary People’s Representative Election next month, I share my views on some of the candidates who may appear to have influenced the general public with their campaigning strategy of running down government, civil servants, members of the royal family, and other fellow candidates.

The strategy has been to destroy others, thus gaining popularity and extra votes. A dirty strategy, which only works for ignorants! What I am going to say I do hope will throw some lights and perhaps may convince the mass to vote for real candidates with no background hiccups.

Do we want failures and potential convicts to run this Kingdom? We are all too familiar with the forces of good and evil in films, stories and in real life. Only this time the bandits are here in the Kingdom to run the country. Their lies and deceits have gained momentum…and all the nations prayers on Sundays seem the only avenue to provide the ultimate solution in the coming election. …

Semisi Tapueluelu, Fononga Tu’ipeatau, Clive Edwards, Lopeti Senituli and Akilisi Pohiva all worked for Governments at one time or another. They seem to share the common denominators of resigning. What was or rather were the reasons? Let them explain to the public, as they have the rights to know.

Candidates who have private sector business affilliations…the like of Isi Pulu, Kamipeli Tofa, Feleti Sevele, Lavulavu, Uliti Uata, who never really become muti-millionaires in businesses. What are the reasons?

And Sangster, Semisi Kailahi have nothing positive and productive to offer in their TV Programme but a lot of speculations and unfactual reportings, which could be challenged in court.

What about ‘Alani Taione who burned the country’s identity, the flag

Do we have a list of failures and potential convicts instead.

Do any of them have the requisite acedemic background to be politicians, let alone positive attitudes as those are the makings of developmental politicians? Never.

I believe the good ending in all stories, good will win over evil. - Lose Taufa

"Humble" is never a quality - Lose Taufa:
Being "Humble" is never a quality that influences my judgement in regard to candidates. Intellegent, exellent quality of leadership, knowlegeable, and God fearing candidates are top in my priorities. We have seen in the last couple of years how your “opposition members” have turned the house of parliament in to a boxing arena similar to what drunkens are normally up to.

Yes I do take your point that it is a house of debate and let’s keep the house that way. - Lose Taufa

Qualities for the Civil Servant.... Thanks Rosie! - Fehi Yan:

Hey Rosie - How's it blooming?

Anyways, perhaps those qualities that you refer to are also needed amongst your colleagues in the Prime Minister’s Office and the rest of the Civil Service. Such wonderful qualities rarely seen amongst your peers.

Good to see some participation in this Forum from the higher echelons of Government. Possibility we could use this opportunity to broaden our discussion topics a little more? So many controversies to touch on! And in oh! so many ways… - Fehi Yan

Election should not be any different - Sione A. Taufa:
We should not complicate the upcoming election. In fact, the journalists in Tonga must work hard to clarify and explain any concerns and confusions that may be lurking about. This is the journalists hence media’s obligation, to use the freedom they lost but regained, to inform the public, so the voters can make educated decisions on March 17.

This election should not be any different than any other election in that the voters must evaluate each candidate and determine which candidates will best serve the people’s interests then elect them. If anything should be different, we must have the best-informed voters of any election year, at the 2005 polls.

On another matter, if any of the elected candidates are offered, and they accept, a ministerial position then we know there is a good chance they will do the right thing; in terms of what is good for the country. And that could include actions that will not gain the people’s support, and hopefully some that will give their employer, i.e. government, heartburn.

Respectfully Sione A. Taufa

Editor’s Note: “Our job is not to make up anybody’s mind but to make the agony of decision-making so intense you can only escape by thinking” - the words of Fred Friendly, Columbia journalism professor, are worth bearing in mind when something appears to be complicated.

Debate and discord, but with humility - Kisione Manu:
Your editorial had sparked new insights into the circumstances the likely candidates for Ministers will encounter if they are to be designated with Ministerial posts.

The analogy is fitted particularly well when it comes to whom these ministers will owe loyalty to. To listen to two masters is a challenge that entails confusion and further complication. The former Minister of Police once ran a campaign for a democratic change in the Government. But when he was entrusted with the Ministerial role we saw an abrupt shift in his position to become one of the most fervent defender in every little piece of proposals by the Government. Was it a personal decision or were the responsibilities that come with the Ministerial role inevitably moulded him to become the prominent foot soldier for the Government policies?

We learn a quick lesson of his departure from his original stance that what we say may not always fit in well with our actions afterwards. Do we think this would not happen again? We are prone to making second thoughts and it will not surprise me if one changes his or her way of thinking in this process.

Now the Minister of Police is seeking refuge in the same ideals he once advocated in his early campaign and may be now he has made up his mind of what status quo is best for this nation. It would surely inject some intelligence of how the Government functions but credibility will be an issue he will learn to gain.

No one sees any possibility of Mr. Pohiva to lose his seat as Tongatapu’s number 1 MP. Lose Taufa should come up with any reason why is he unbeatable. What is it dirty politics or the values he represents that always get him into Parliament? For the 2nd and 3rd I would prefer any of Sevele, Pulu, Kavaliku, Senituli or Edwards to win. These people may disrupt the tune of harmony but if it is for a good cause then it is necessary break the chord of harmony and let the house debate and exchange ideas on issues that warranted immediate attention.

It is the main responsibility of the MPs to pick faults and make implementation in the plans made by the Government they see is a dead-end. That does not mean we should always be critical of the Government but we only criticise what we genuinely feel is not the best direction to follow through. I think Lose should realise that maybe the Government is not really hearing well what the people are saying and that is why harmony is not a favourite tune in Parliament - it is a debating chamber with the exception of brawl and fist fighting (not necessary, all ignorants behave in this way, and educated personnel are not free from it either).

I think you should review your list of qualities and in place of all the qualities you have outlined put down “humbleness” as a quality you need to have. If you could read your bible “Humbleness” is the pre-requisite of “Humility” and Humility is a character we all need to have!

Mother Teresa was to be honoured with a Noble life time achievement award and as she saw an icon of Jesus the people heard her utter these words: “Humility, humility, humility.” For someone to receive such an award always remind herself to be humble. I think it is about time we both remind ourselves to be humble. May the humble triumphs! - Kisione Manu