Editor,

Mr. Heinz Koester in his letter to the editor "Vava‘u Lahi is not part of Fiji" which was dated November 8, 2007 stated "I wish to convey my concern over TV Tonga broadcasting only TV Fiji 1 programs in Vava'u, and have written therefore this open letter to the people responsible for it. Please be advised that contrary to your belief, Vava'u is part of the Kingdom of Tonga and not an Island Group belonging to Fiji."

Koester in his article stated that TBC Directors and Management ordered the broadcast of Fiji 1 TV program on TV-Vava'u and he also stated the reasons why he does not like TBC's airing Fiji One in Vava'u.

First of all, I must thank Mr. Koester for his concern which shows how desperate he is to watch Television Tonga in Vava'u.

But I would like to enlighten Mr. Koester that the live transmission of Fiji One in Vava'u is part of an ongoing testing program that will lead to the official launching of Television Tonga in Vava'u next month or early January 2007. Once Television Tonga-Vava'u is launched, Mr. Koester and people of Vava'u will have free access to what the people here in Tongatapu and 'Eua are enjoying.

Work should have been faster but we do not want to rush something and ended up having to broadcast for only a few months and then close down. So there are people who are doing the work and installing of equipment to make it possible for the broadcasting of Tongan and other programs.

Mr. Koester should know and understand that Television Tonga is the Agent for Fiji One Television here in Tonga. The testing program determines the coverage or how far Television Tonga could broadcast as far as reception is concerned. Apart from running the testing program, we are also advertising Sky Pacific for those who would like to buy one.

I do not want to respond to the other comments made by Mr. Koester about Fiji but I would like to remind Koester that the relationship between Tonga and Fiji is still intact and Tonga still respects Fiji and any other island in the Pacific and worldwide no matter what. Fiji's political turmoil is not something to mock about but it is something that Tonga should try and help through praying for we have our own problems to deal with.

Fiji's cultures and traditions are their most valuable possessions and no one has the right to make fun of as we ourselves have our own customs and traditional values.

I would like to ask Mr. Koester to have some patience or at least buy a Sky Pacific to watch BBC, ABC, movies and many other programs. But at the end of the day Mr. Koester still holds the power in his hands to turn off his television set if he does not want to watch the testing program on Television Tonga - Vava'u.

Malo

Katalina Tohi

Television Tonga

ktohi [at] tonga-broadcasting [dot] com