Tonga faces hard choices for the future, says last British HC [1]
Saturday, June 11, 2005 - 13:45. Updated on Friday, May 9, 2014 - 15:49.
Tonga's leadership is committed to progress but Tonga faces hard choices for the future, and the real question is, "whether the People of Tonga will rise to the challenge and ride this wave of progress," said the British High Commissioner to Tonga, Mr Paul Nessling, on June 9.
As the British government prepares to shut its diplomatic mission in Tonga in March 2006, after 127 years, Mr Nessling also mentioned the growing impact of the Asian economies in the world.
Speaking at an historic last Queen...s Birthday Party to be celebrated by a British Resident High Commissioner to Tonga, he said, "Today the world faces a wave of high quality, low priced goods, services and hard working people flowing from Asia. HRH the Prince Regent got it just right "We all need look East Policies," he said, a reference to Tonga's new Look East Policy, announced last year by the Prince Regent Tupouto'a, in pursuit of Tonga's growing financial and technical relationship with China.
But Mr Nessling pointed out that Tonga had coped with change before. "In the 19th century HM King George Tupou 1... saw a growing tide of change combined with new freedoms. His 1875 constitution was timely. It served you well. With prudent management and good friends Tonga kept its independence."
He said that Europeans were also trying to come to terms with change. "Last week we saw the Peoples of France and Holland vote no to the EU Constitution. One of the reasons suggested was that they feared change. They wanted to keep their traditional old way of life. They did not want to see the introduction of progressive Anglo-Saxon business methods. But let me ask you - how can countries afford to pay for the hospitals, schools, the police, the roads and most of all the creation of the jobs that everyone wants? The answer is by having a vigorous and growing economy," Mr Nessling said.
"Today, Tonga, like so much of the World, faces hard choices. I believe that under the wise leadership of HM [the King], the Prime Minister and this current Cabinet are committed to progress. But the real question is whether the People of Tonga will rise to the challenge and ride this wave of progress," he said.
Regional diplomacy
There had been Resident British Representatives in Tonga since 1879, but today under a radical reorganisation of shutting or localising missions, Britain in the South Pacific was making a transition to a more regional style of diplomacy. It was hoped that in future a new British High Commissioner to Fiji and his deputy would be accredited to Tonga, said Mr Nessling.
British assistance to Tonga recently had included the development of parliamentary contacts and skills, educational scholarships in international diplomacy and other areas, and support for rehabilitation of prisoners and returnees. Mr Nessling said a visiting training team from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association would visit Tonga in September to promote gender equality and the role of women in public life, "and the advantages to Tonga of the early ratification of CEDAW. We will also offer Government help from a British training team specialising in Asian Organised Crime," said Mr Nessling.
"In May, in Washington, the British Foreign Secretary made it clear that Britain is committed to the development of wider freedoms. This includes supporting the development of appropriate democratic institutions and accountable governance. These underpin prosperity and stability and help to create confidence in the future," he said. Britain funded last year...s successful Youth Elections and Youth Parliament in Tonga, and would do so again this year.
Tonga and Britain were, "both island races and old friends. There are no good reasons why either of our nations should not prosper. I hope as the last British Resident High Commissioner to Tonga that I shall see Tonga start to renew itself."
Mr Nessling called on Tonga's churches to join with society and use their economic weight and experience "to help build a better future for everyone".
The last celebration in Tonga of HM Queen Elizabeth II's birthday at the British High Commission was attended by Tonga's Prince Regent Tupouto'a and over 400 people.