August 5, another sad day for Tonga [1]
Sunday, August 7, 2011 - 08:08. Updated on Wednesday, September 11, 2013 - 09:54.
Editor,
TWO years ago today, a floating coffin was sent out from Nuku'alofa, which resulted in the death of 74 of our kainga. Today again is a very sad day for the people of Tonga and its police force as Commissioner Kelley leaves the country under some controversial circumstances as challenged by the Lord Privy Seal.
Commissioner Kelley leaves because, unfortunately his boss doesn't like the many improvements that have happened to and within the force: the responsiveness, visibility, transparency, efficiency and of course the trust that people of Tonga have started to put in its Police Force. We all know what it was like pre-Kelley.
The people of Tonga since November 2010 thought that they had put in place a Government that would reform systems for the sake of the country and of its people. The question is: What is the Prime Minister and his government going to do about the conditions? In light of the challenge from the Lord Privy Seal that: "A proposal by Cabinet that would deprive the King in Council of certain powers . . . Cabinet is acting outside of the law . . . etc" it makes one wonder if, for a start Cabinet should have a real legal adviser for matters related to the laws of the country, assuming they did not seek advice from the Law Lords on this matter.
As for the Honourable Minister of Police, he should make the honourable move and resign from office. As a front-line defender of the Law of the country (including the Tonga Police Act 2010) as said upon Oath as a Member of Parliament and as a Minister of Cabinet. The Hon. Minister has broken that oath by publicly in a press conference stating his opposition to the Tonga Police Act (Matangi Tonga 3/8/11).
The Hon. Minister's assumption that the king wanted to relinquish all his executive powers to the new government which the Lord Privy Seal challenged, indicates a wrong assumption of His Majesty's thoughts (hufanga he tala-fakatapu) something that Tongans know as "fiematamu'a" of the highest order.
Please do the honourable move Mr. Minister.
Tu'a 'ofa atu
Pita Taufatofua