Press Release, Government of Tonga.

Kingdom keeps moving forward on good governance

Good governance is what good governments do. And although "good" can be a subjective abstraction, an honest appraisal of Government procedures will show that within its legal, historical and cultural framework, the process of governing and implementing decisions have the required elements that characterize good governance. From the empowerment of the different levels of political dispensation, to the operation of the executive machinery, decisions and appointments by the Government has been carried out increasingly with a view towards inclusiveness, accountability, transparency and the rule of law.

The formulation of rules at the village and the district levels is an administrator...’s dream. It is decision making but without the bureaucracy. At the heart of this paperless miracle are the town and district officers, who, through a process of consensus building, toil tirelessly at the local level for the benefit of the community. Up until the mid sixties, the key grassroots positions of town and district officers were appointed at the sole discretion of the Prime Minster. But in a move to empower the people, giving them a say in matters that pertain directly to their welfare, this practice was rescinded to let the villages and the districts elect their own presiding officials.

Initial restrictions in political representation was not however, confined only to the village and district levels. The early sessions of the Tongan parliament consisted solely of the members of the nobility, without participation from the people. In the early nineteen hundreds, representatives of the people were allowed to become members of the House, and the people then had a direct input into the parliamentary proceedings. Since the nobles were all male, and were installed in the parliament by their peers, the opening up of the House to all Tongans had the additional intended effect of giving women the right to vote and run for office. Thus the country enjoyed universal suffrage from since the first day of its more inclusive Parliament.

New ministers

At the dawn of the twenty first century, the people are again given a voice at the highest level of Government, by the pending appointment to Ministerial level of two representatives of the people, and two representatives from the nobles after this March election. These appointments are unique, for it gives those so designated, membership in both the legislative and executive branches of the Government. And the country looks to these representatives as agents of dialogue and conciliation, to bridge the gaps between the different clusters of interest, and help to move the nation forward in a positive and constructive direction.

Whereas the new Ministerial positions emerge out of a more participatory political framework, appointments to Government positions follow a process that affirms good governance principles, including those of openness and transparency. The recent appointment of a Government Representative for the district of ...‘Eua for example, follows the tried and true mechanism of open advertisement, numerous announcements in various media outlets, and an interview process that is both fair and balanced. This is of course the mandated modus operandi for screening and selecting regular Government employees, the awarding of scholarships, Government contracts, and business licenses, where the emphasis is based strictly on merit, and not on some other criteria.

Commission for Public Relations

A meritorious trend that is occurring in Government services is its responsiveness to people...’s concerns, with a heightened sense of accountability. This elevated sensitivity to public sentiments was formalized in the establishment of the Commission for Public Relations in the year 2001, a channel of communication between the community and Government to discuss and resolve matters of public apprehension.

The Government continues to respond to public concerns and perceptions of official crimes and assertions of corruption. The recent media coverage of alleged misconduct in public affairs, including the operation of the Customs Department, and commercial transactions in leased land holdings have brought forth the necessary responses and explanations from the relevant Government departments and experts. The public is thus assured that all efforts are being expended to make certain that the interest of the nation is fully protected, and that, in the eyes of the law, an accountable and equitable system exists for all the people of the country.

Crowning glory

The crowning glory of good governance aspirations, is the primacy of the rule of law. And for all the infirmities and shortcomings inherent in any system, including the Tongan system of government, one can state with confidence, that in Tonga, the rule of law still reigns supreme. In the last few years, the Tongan government was party to some court actions that shook the system to its very core. But through it all, by the grace of God, the nation held together in its conviction that the law of the land must be obeyed, respected, and indeed, cherished.

Since His Majesty, King Tupou I laid the foundation of modern Tonga, the country...’s political evolution has always been towards a system imbued with the values of good governance. With empowerment at the village, district and now the national level, Tonga is moving in a positive direction for wider political participation and citizen involvement. A more accountable Executive branch, that has been working under conditions of transparency and the rule of law will ensure that the people...’s interest will continue to be served responsibly and expeditiously.

The changes introduced throughout the years is overlaid upon the strong and rich cultural processes and relationships that still govern the day to day lives of the people of Tonga. . The challenge for citizens in this day and age is the synergetic fusion of the old and the new, to give the country a system of governance that all be proud of, and that can bequeathed to future generations with good hope and great expectations.

- Prime Minister's Office, Government Information Unit.

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