Editor,

I wish to suggest that we must slow down the current process, which is aimed at bringing about a radical change to the political system in Tonga by the year 2010. For two main reasons:

Allegations

1. Allegations of corruption amongst the PRs during the 2009 Parliament session (Matangi Tonga Editorial, February 23 and March 18) [2] are not new, of course, but they once again show that those amongst the PRs who are currently proposing for change, cannot and should not be entrusted with running our country. Corruption has become the norm for our PRs for a long time now. To say nothing against it would, in effect, be the same as endorsing it. It seems to me that the PRs have hardened their foreheads in corruption that they will and can never listen to anyone who speaks out against it. If these men are serious about setting up a democratic system in Tonga that will deal successfully with corruption and hold our leaders responsible for their actions, they must practice what they preach. They must listen to the people they represent - at least to some of them. But then, of course, the trouble with the democratic ideal is that the voice of the majority always over rules those, like myself and the minority, who are thoroughly embarrassed with what these guys are doing in Parliament.

Hold accountable

2. The proposed political system seems to be far worse than the one we currently have. If my recollections serve me right, the pro-democracy movement emerged out of the desire to make the King more accountable to his decisions in running the country. If the current proposal is to be endorsed, in which 26 Representatives are elected into government, from which a PM, 15 Cabinet Ministers and 2 Governors are taken (Matangi Tonga Editorial, March 18) [3], then we are back to square one. How on earth can such a government be held accountable for their actions (more precisely, their corruptions)? Even politically illiterate people like myself know that a democratically-elected government works by placing against itself an opposition party, which assesses its performance to make sure that it delivers what it promises during the election campaign. Without any such measures in place, I think the proposed political system will be far worse than the current system. At least in the current system the King is accountable to the Constitution, which means that even I could take him to court for his actions. As far as I am concerned, I do not see how we can hold accountable our leaders in the proposed government system of 26 elected members.

Reflect carefully

Other reasons could be mentioned such as, for example, the financial burden such an increase in PR numbers will impose upon our economy, but these two are sufficient to slow down, if not put on complete halt the current attempt at setting up a new political system by 2010.

There is a pressing need to reflect carefully and critically on what is in-store for our people in the current proposal for political change. I am not too confident that the current proposal has the best interest of the Tongan people in view. It certainly does not set out to deal with the alleged problem with our current political system ...– corruption.

'Ofa atu mo e lotu,

Rev Dr Ma'afu Palu

maafu_palu [at] hotmail [dot] com