Tonga's Princess Regent offered striking civil servants their 60-70-80% wage increases and a new team of government negotiators, in an effort to encourage strikers to return to work today, and to bring the strike committee back to the negotiating table.

Following a Privy Council meeting this morning the Princess Regent walked from the Prime Minister...’s office and through the mud at Pangai Si'i, followed by her brother the Prime Minister, Prince ...‘Ulukalala Lavaka Ata, and several Cabinet Ministers. It was the first time the Prime Minister has met the strikers face to face at Pangai Si'i.

Princess Pilolevu announced that under a Royal Command, the Government will give the striking Civil Servants the 60,70 and 80% salary rise they demanded, but only over an interim period, starting when they return to work today.

She also announced a new government negotiation team, with Hon. Fielakepa the Minister of Land replacing Hon. Siaosi ...‘Aho as Chairman, and including Hon. Tu'a Taumoepeau, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Fred Sevele, Minister of Labour and Commerce as members, with Dr Sitiveni Halapua as the facilitator.

The Princess Regent stressed that the two negotiating teams should not abandon the negotiating table until a solution was reached.

Economic collapse

She reminded the people that Tonga was given to God. "There is nothing more important in this country than its people, not even money," she said.

She told the striking Civil Servants that if the salary rise they were demanding would make the country...’s economy collapse, "that is alright as long that we are all eating from the same plate," she said.

Celebrating

Fotu Fisi'iahi, the PSA Spokesperson thanked the Princess Regent and the Prime Minister for coming to Pangai Si'i today.

He asked her to please give him time to speak to strikers because their hearts are scarred and the only cure is for him to whisper into their ears before he gives her a response to her address today.

After the addresses was made prayers were read with hymns sang by Church Ministers from various denominations. The national anthem was sang by the strikers and when the Princess, the Prime Minister and the Cabinet left the Pangai Si'i, music was played and the crowd was celebrating.

Meanwhile, Fotu announced that the PSA Interim Committee would hold a meeting this afternoon before meeting with the Government...’s new negotiation team later this evening.