Editor,

I must say I breathed a sigh of relief when I read the King's speech at the opening of parliament. I used to feel a mounting anxiety as 2010 drew closer and closer for the political reforms, and we had only just begun to see real changes to how things are run (e.g. great access to information with the new ministry web sites).

Now we know for sure that reforms will happen, and they will happen in a deliberate nature, mindful of the future and the people. Sounds good to me!

It's Tonga's big chance to revamp itself into a modern but unique entity. 2005 and 2006 were wake-up calls that a lot of Tongans can only take dissatisfaction so far, and well, it seems that government is responding.

We don't have to let go of our Tongan traditions - just maybe emphasize more of the anga 'ofa and fetokoni'aki an de-emphasize things like the siolalo and taimi faka-Tonga :)

So good luck to all those who begin work in parliament this week.

Tu'a 'ofa atu

Josephine Latu

Tofoa