From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 3, December 2001.

HRH Crown Prince Tupouto‘a was appointed as the Prince Regent for the first two weeks of December while HM King Taufa‘ahau Tupou IV was away in New Zealand for a medical check. During this time he answered questions on some controversial issues that were raised against government and the Monarch.

Pesi Fonua: There has been a recent attempt by Siosiua Liava‘a to blackmail HM King Taufa‘ahau Tupou IV to buy some secret information relating to an alleged $63 billion investment overseas. How do you think government should handle such a case?

HRH Tupouto‘a: I am sure that His Majesty is as interested as anyone to learn about this secret information and the only possible course of action would be to ask Liava‘a to reveal it. It would also be important to establish whether or not Liava‘a is mentally competent.

From your position as a businessman, looking at the recession that has hit the USA and most of the world’s big economies, and we are also being affected. Inflation has gone up, the value of Tongan pa‘anga continues to decline and our foreign reserve remains in a precarious position. What action you would recommend for government and the people of Tonga to take during this difficult time?

It should be pointed out that the decline of the value of the Tongan dollar began long before the events of September 11.

While the dollar was valued within the currency basket there existed within this mechanism an upper bench mark which it would not exceed, and another lower bench mark below which it would not sink. It now appears that the dollar is no longer kept within these bench marks and has been permitted to float. The trouble with this strategy is that there is no longer a bottom mark. It would appear that the overall objective is to make it more difficult to import and thereby save what is left of our depleted foreign reserves. There is a body of opinion which advocates the use of import restrictions to achieve this end and believes that permitting the value of the dollar to free fall only impoverishes the population but offers no guarantees that imports would be reduced. Indeed, I get the distinct impression that motor vehicle imports have actually increased. Yet another body of opinion maintains an unsubstantiated view that Tonga is not receiving all the receipts from its squash exports and that some exporters keep a substantial amount of their receipts abroad. Without solid evidence though I give little credence to this particular view. Another body of opinion advises that we merely make the US dollar legal tender in Tonga so that we might operate a two-currency economy.

The advice I offer is export or die.

So far the Trustees of the Tonga Trust Fund have not made a decision on whether to give Millennium Assets Management Services another five years to repay the investment or to take the $12 million they offered to repay. In real terms it seems too long for a decision to be made. What do you think should be done immediately?

I do not even know who the new trustees are and I am not informed about their latest grand strategy.

In late November 1997 you declared that the agency agreement between government and TongaSat was terminated because of serious breaches of contract by TongaSat. This termination was later annulled by the King and TongaSat continued. Some people have said that the termination has caused a rift between TongaSat and government. Tevita Tupou also cited this to be one of the reasons for a letter from the then Princess Regent HRH Princess Pilolevu to the former Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon. Clive Edwards, outlining why she refused to give her assent to three Bills that were tabled by the former Minister of Justice and were enacted by Parliament. My question is: why has this issue resurfaced again causing a rift within Cabinet and possibly within the Royal Family?

As far as I am aware there is no rift within the Royal Family. I have always maintained the view that withholding the Royal Assent is a right to be exercised only by the Sovereign and there is no precedent for a Regent, acting independently, so to do. Perhaps it might be more appropriate for you to address this part of your question to Princess Pilolevu.

I did not notice a rift within the Government during the last Privy Council Meeting I attended, although what was very noticeable was the number of Ministers who were out of the country. I have been assured though that their attendance at these vital overseas meetings is fundamental to the well being of the country as well as the planet.

When is Tonfön going to launch its wireless operation?

All being well, Tongatapu in February and the rest of the country by May 2002.

Has the Australian Government approached Tonga to be one of the refugees processing points in the Pacific islands for refugees who want to migrate to Australia?

Not to my knowledge, but perhaps Foreign Affairs might know for sure.

HM King Taufa‘ahau Tupou IV has yet to announce the two ministers to replace the two ministers who were forced to resign over the TTF affair. Would you return to government if you were to be asked?

After 28 years in harness I feel someone else should get a chance.

Our country has many talented young men and women who would only be too happy to serve the King in high office.