Editor,

NOT to be confused with the Oscar 2011 Best Picture: "The King's Speech," the story of King George VI's ascend to the British Throne; Tonga's King George Tupou V's Parliamentary Opener speech was one of the best in the last 40 years (Large scale reforms . . . 02 June 2011).

King George Tupou V spoke critically honest about the economy; completion of the political reformation; and guaranteeing the independence of the Judiciary Branch.

The "impoverished" state of the Tongan economy was due to missed "Opportunities" in the 20th Century to become a "prosperous one of the 21st Century." His Majesty correctly reminded Parliamentarians that they have wasted away great opportunities to bring prosperity to the Kingdom. Just like his late father Taufa'ahau Tupou IV who gave similar visionary speeches on how to improve the economy, I can now conclude those speeches fell on deaf ears.

Singapore Benchmark

To measure King George V's challenge for a "prosperous" economic miracle, the Tongan Parliament might want to benchmark the Republic of Singapore's rise to become a first-class world economy, without natural resources, and no water supply except for rain water.

Smaller than Tonga, Singapore rose from a struggling agrarian economy after gaining independence as a British Colony in 1965. Today, the tiny island state supports 5 million people, and their standard of living is on the same level as the US, UK, Canada and Australia.

Following their longtime socio-political architect Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore adopted the English language as their official business language. Meanwhile, the citizenry kept their own traditional languages: Chinese, Malay, and Indian. The nation adopted an economic reformation system to embrace global finance, investments, and electronics technology by mandating the educational system to follow suit.

Political Reform

With all due respect, however, His Majesty is wrong on promoting another bureaucratic appointee called the Lord Chancellor. Borrowed from an old English practice, which has been abolished, the independence of the Judiciary Branch cannot be guaranteed by the office of the Lord Chancellor.

Only parliament can be the guarantor of Judiciary Independence, as in the American political system. Unlike the British, Australian, nor the New Zealand political systems, Tonga has a head of state with Veto Power similar to the US President.

The King (like the President) can recommend judges, but Parliament (US Congress) confirms and can recall their tenure. Judges must be accountable to the "voice of the people" in Parliament; the people must be able to hire and fire their represented public servants including judges. Under the Lord Chancellor, the Judiciary is accountable only to His Majesty's Veto Power.

Sione Akemeihakau Mokofisi, MBA

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