The coverage of the local newspapers published in Tonga last week, from September 20-22, focused mainly on the aftermath of the national strike by the Civil Servants, and a proposal by politicians for political change.

Featured predominantly on the front pages of three of the four local newspapers was the election of Fotu Fisi'iahi and Manu 'Akau'ola as members of the Retirement Fund Board. Both Fotu and Manu were active members of the Public Servants Association during the seven-week long Civil Servants' strike.

Kalonikali

The government's Kalonikali featured on its front page the Victory Feast of the Civil Servants at the Queen Salote Memorial Hall on Saturday, September 17.

Taimi 'o Tonga

The exception was the Taimi 'o Tonga which featured in its front page Helen Clark, the leader of the New Zealand Labour Party with a victory smile after winning by one seat the New Zealand General Election.

The Taimi's main stories were a Question and Answer interview of Finau Tutone by Faka'osi Maama.

Following the success of the strike by the Civil Servants, Finau Tutone, the Chairman of the Public Servants Association, and a retired school teacher said that the national strike by the civil servants has ventilated and freshened up Tonga.

He said that the next step for the Civil Servants was to form the Friendly Island Workers' Association, to be followed later with the formation of a Union of Workers for all Tongan workers.

The other main story by the Taimi, again by Faka'osi Maama was a report on a presentation made by Clive Edwards on his proposal to amend the Tongan constitution, making it possible for the people to elected a 39 members parliament. From these 39 members a Prime Minister is elected, and so were Cabinet Ministers.

Talaki

The Talaki's main story for the week, was a claim that the Minister of Labour Dr Feleti Sevele sought refuge from 'Akilisi Pohiva and Sunia Filli, after 'Akilisi told a Press Conference that the two elected People's Representatives, who were appointed by the king as Cabinet Ministers in March, had done nothing for the people, apart from strengthening the opposition of Cabinet Ministers to the people's demands.

Feleti in a TV Tonga program a fortnight ago rebutted the report in the media, by saying that he had asked both 'Akilisi and Sunia Fili if it was true that 'Akilisi actually said what was reported, and both PRs denied that 'Aklisi ever said such a thing.

The Talaki insisted that their report of the comment made by 'Akilisi was correct and that Sunia Fili was not present when 'Akilisi made the remark. It also expressed its doubt if 'Akilisi could remember what he said.

Kele'a

The Front Page story of the Kele'a was an accusation of the Speaker of the House Noble Veikune that he recruited two staff without the approval of the House. He recruited his own son, Lekau Veikune as a second driver and also a close relative 'Ana, as a second tea lady of the House.

The Kalonkali focused on the visit to Tonga of the new American ambassador, Mr Larry Dinger. While Mr Larry Dinger was in Tonga during the second week of September he presented his credentials to King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV.

On Friday, September 16 he officially opened a warehouse that the US government helped refurbished costing $105,000. The warehouse is to be used for the storage of disaster relief goods such as food products and even construction material.

While in Tonga Mr Larry Dinger witnessed the swearing in of nine new Peace Corps volunteers, the 69th group of Peace Corps volunteers to work in Tonga.

Also in Tonga during the visit of the new ambassador were five US Marines to carry out repair work at Tonga College after it was smashed by Tonga College Students during the Civil Servants strike, and to also carry out repairing work at the Ngu Hospital, Vava'u.