Editor,

I would like to thank Lord Tu’ilakepa for taking the fight against nepotism to Parliament on 08/09/2015 as reported by Tonga media a couple of days ago. I noted that the Noble's side of the House made an attempt to bring back democratic rule to the nation, in particular, to restore respectability and fair play to the Government led by Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva. Sadly, most of the People’s Representatives (most from the Tonga Democratic Party) voted against the motion thereby closing the door on democratic development in Tonga in favour of the undemocratic, unconstitutional, uncivilized nepotistic leadership style created by 'Akilisi Pohiva in order to accommodate his son.

During the debate in Parliament, the Finance Minister Dr Eke explained that the PM’s PA comes under a special recruitment process that has been approved by the Crown Law.  But what he conveniently forgot to mention, is that no Prime Minister in the past had ever abused this position before by employing their own sons/daughters/wives to be their PAs. The only person who has abused this trust is PM ‘Akilisi Pohiva.

It is a sad day for Tonga, a day where ordinary folks woke up to the realization that members of the People’s Representatives in parliament failed completely to see the significant link between Lord Tu’ilakepa’s motion and democracy itself. These parliamentarians were given a golden opportunity on a plate to right the wrong that Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva had done at the beginning of his term in office; a golden opportunity to clear the Prime Minister’s Office from suspicions that favouritism is rife amongst their ranks, an opportunity to restore some faith back to the leadership, which has so far failed miserably to provide Tonga with anything which they had promised during the general election. They failed to see the fact that stopping the act of nepotism at the Prime Minister’s Office, would automatically propel forward the democratic process in Tonga, faster than ever before. They failed to see that their very act is a short term vision but in the long term, nepotism will be part of the establishment in Tonga forever! They failed to see that it is their duty to the nation and to the people who voted them into parliament to leap frog democracy in Tonga into the future. And with this failure, the People’s Representatives scored an own goal, thus giving legitimacy to the nepotistic leadership style PM ‘Akilisi Pohiva has created for himself, something which democratic values are so gravely against.

According to Lavulavu, Po’oi Pohiva works like a Peace Corps at the Prime Minister’s Office!  And on that note, he must be the most powerful unelected Prime Minister Peace Corps Tonga never realized existed. Dare I suggest that the PA title is a cloak of convenience, of which the only function is to divert attention away from reality.  Since the PM and his son share the same salary, work at the same office, have the same power to access all the secret files etc., travel together everywhere, it is reasonable to suggest that they also share the Prime Ministerial power to govern Tonga, thus making Po’oi Pohiva the most powerful unelected Prime Minister of Tonga.

And what happens to democracy in Tonga? Right now, democracy is dead!  Fortunately for Tonga, the Monarchy is well versed and well grounded. Whatever happens, the King will always come through for his people.

Faka'apa'apa atu
Senolita Swan