Australia will not dictate to Pacific Islands, says High Commissioner [1]
Wednesday, February 4, 2004 - 17:45. Updated on Saturday, April 26, 2014 - 22:36.
"We cannot and will not dictate solutions on national issues ... only point to outcomes we value as possible ways forward ... the rest is up to the Tongan community" |
Australia had no intention of dictating its will on the smaller island states of the Pacific, the Australian High Commissioner to Tonga, Colin Hill, said at an Australia Day celebration in Nuku'alofa of January 26.
Mr Hill told a gathering of about 400 people, including the Tongan Prime Minister, Prince Lavaka 'Ata Ulukalala, in the grounds of the Australian High Commissioner's residence, that the year ahead would offer the opportunity for people in their professional and public lives, and privately to make a difference and to contribute to Tonga going ahead in addressing its economic and other challenges.
"Like Australia, Tonga is most definitely a sovereign nation. We cannot and will not dictate solutions on national issues ... only point to outcomes we value as possible ways forward ... the rest is up to the Tongan community," he said.
"Our development and defence co-operation programs form two basic pillars of enduring bilateral support. These two pillars of co-operation have seen some special highlights during the past year ... the opening of the new Tonga Defence Service headquarters building, which Australia substantially funded, being one of these.We completed electrification projects on four islands in the Ha'apai group of islands."
The Australian aid to the Tongan Defence Service is a multi-million program over a number of years and included the provision of three patrol boats, the upgrading of the Masefield Naval Base, the upgrading of the Taliai Camp and most recently the construction of a $1.2m headquarters for TDS. The Australian Volunteers International Organisation also has volunteers working in the edcuation sector and the Tongan community.