Editor,

The argument in Parliament at present centres around the size of the electricity price hike - which is the short-term issue. But alongside should be a more sustained discussion on the long-term solution to power supply. Tonga is not on its own on this issue as many countries are just as vulnerable as we are. But it's time like this that size does matter and for once - small is beautiful. Oil is a non-renewable source and as it dwindles at source, the price will continue to climb. There are alternatives abound which we should now consider seriously.

The solution is not just to seek a personalised discount at source from the Middle-East suppliers. The government would do well to consider urgently the other renewable sources that is already in use around the world. Whilst whirring wind-turbines may not be a good look above the palm-trees, they may be a more welcoming sight than the silent oil-fed village-owned generators. Overseas aid has introduced us to solar power and why our street-lighting is still fed from our oil generators is difficult to imagine. Nuku'alofa is about to be the 4WD capital of the Pacific with the government leading the fray.

The current power-supply debacle should not cloud a more rational and urgent look at the future. The visionaries are already planning for a world without airtravel as we know it. International trade which relies on shipping will be curtailed and travelling by car will be exclusive to the wealthy who can afford the $100+ asking price for a litre of gas. The list is long but is instructional.

While government is talking to potential partners interested in running our power utilities, it might pay to raise the issue of sustainability and future-proofing around the negotiating table so that we're buying a power generating thinker and not just a tinker.

A Tongatapu Shorelined with wind-turbines anyone?

Sefita Hao'uli

sef [dot] haouli [at] ihug [dot] co [dot] nz