Editor's Comment

by Pesi Fonua

The resignation of the Prime Minister, Prince 'Ulukalala Lavaka Ata on February 11 offers myriad possibilities in popular speculation on what may be happening in government, but one thing that is certain is that it has further magnified the political reform processes that are currently taking place in Tonga.

A three-pronged approach to political reform in Tonga that has emerged during the past few years is becoming clearer with the resignation by Prince 'Ulukalala Lavaka Ata, and its acceptance by the Prince Regent, Crown Prince Tupouto'a.

In a way, the resignation of the royal Prime Minister has speeded up a reform program that was introduced by government late in 2004, prior to the 2005 Parliamentary Election when it announced that following the election the king would appoint four cabinet ministers ...— two from the elected People's Representatives and two from the Nobles' Representatives. It has also been said that in future elections more and more Cabinet Ministers would be appointed from elected members, until all Cabinet Ministers would be elected by the people (a move that has been unofficially credited to Crown Prince Tupouto'a).

There was some opposition to this reform program, and some elected members publicly vowed that they would never accept a ministerial post if they were to be appointed by the king. Well, the program went ahead and Tonga has today four Cabinet Ministers who were appointed from the elected representatives - from the nobles Hon. Tu'ivakano and Hon. Nuku, and from the People Hon. Dr Feleti Sevele and Hon. Peauafi Haukinima, all serving three year terms as ministers.

For Hon. Dr Feleti Sevele to be elected into the House, appointed as a Cabinet Minister and become the Acting Prime Minister of Tonga within 12 months, is definitely a reform program in action.

But the real test will come in the Parliamentary Election of 2008 when these new Cabinet Ministers will have to stand for re-election. Then the People will have a chance through the ballot box, at least, to show whether or not they like the performance of the new head of cabinet, Dr Sevele.

Remaining on the battle front of political reform, the other two prongs for change, the two National Committees for Political Reform are still grinding away. The committee that is chaired by 'Akilisi Pohiva is still waiting for a response from the King to a petition they presented on December 8, 2005. This committee is a merging of the Human Rights and Pro-democracy Movement ideals, Clive Edwards's proposals and Laki Niu's campaign for elected leadership.

Meanwhile, the committee that is chaired by Prince Tu'ipelehake is travelling around Tonga putting together a report on the aspirations of the people for political reform to be presented to parliament in May.

With the energy and the money that has been spent on these three different reform programs, Tonga's best hope is that they will soon converge so that Tonga can move forward in confidence as a united country.