Editor,

LET me start by saying as our mortality becomes more fragile, with the passing of time, we sometimes reflect on decisions taken that seemed perfectly sensible at the time you made them. I refer in my case to my time as Chief Executive of Tonga Investments (1994-98) when I influenced the then Board of Directors to exit commodity exports by closing down Primary Produce Exports Limited (PPEL).

The reason for exit was simple, PPEL line of supply from its registered growers was being 'poached' by competitors of the day and as a result was carrying an unsustainable level of borrowings that threatened the sustainability and viability of the TIL group. I believed the only way to survive was to cut PPEL loose from the portfolio of investments that comprised Tonga Investments.

I now believe that deregulation of commodity exports, from Tonga, through an expanded licensing system with hindsight was perhaps not the best way to develop commodity exports from the kingdom and I regret that I lacked such insight then and the courage to fight harder for a similar model of success (Commodities Board) so brilliantly developed and fostered by the late King of Tonga and I feel I owe the growers and the people of Tonga an overdue apology.

When I took over TIL ( the Commodities Board broken down into separate companies) there was hope and optimism that deregulation of commodity exports would pave the way for sustainable growth in commodity exports. In fact I don't believe that works in the Tongan context and that a grower cooperative ownership model does and I was endeavouring to tease out with just over 2 weeks to go for elections as to whether commodity exports and its organisation of this activity is on the political agenda?

I think the ramblings of my reflection are not worthy of publication but what is, is robust debate on the 'hustings' on whether Tonga has got it right with respect to the way it organises its commodity exports.

Yours sincerely Wayne Madden

maddenaw [at] yahoo [dot] com