Results for Opinion

Ne u pehe 'e au 'oku ninimo pe ta'e mahino e fokotu'u fakakaukau 'a S. Moehau, ko e mahino kiate au 'a e talanoa 'a Moehau 'oku ne tuku mai 'a e mo'oni 'oku takitaha pe 'a e fonua mo honau tukunga. Ko Siaina ko honau fe'unga pe 'o kinautolu e fa'ahinga Pule'anga koia'. Ko 'Amelika 'oku fe'unga pe kinautolu mo honau fa'unga pea pehe pe kihe ngaahi fonua kotoa pe 'o kau ai a Tonga. Ko 'Iulaki ko honau fe'unga pe 'o kinautolu a Sadam, he ko e tu'u he taimi ni kuo lahi ange e mate he taimi ni he mate 'oku tukuaki'i kihe tangata, pea 'oku tupu ia mei he fakaaoao 'a 'Amelika kae hili koia' 'oku fetaa'utu'i e masiva 'i 'Amelika he 'aho kotoa pe. -Siosaia Moimoiangaha

Of course, modern Tongans no longer hold that misconception (that palangis are selfish with their money), 200 years later. But I'm getting an ugly gut-feeling that Mr. Joe Smith still thinks that most Tongans "“are lazy and leach off one another".” -Sione A. Mokofisi

Tongan MPs should learn something from Tuvalu. I read on the Pacnews of 27 October that the Small island state of Tuvalu makes Big decisions like freeze on allowances and overseas travels of MPs until cash flow problems improve, said new Prime Minister, Apisai Ielemia. "When my government came to power, we put in place some measures that we think would improve our finances. "“These are allowances of all MPs, cabinet ministers and backbenchers have been frozen until such time our economy can cope with it. There is also a freeze on overseas travel for cabinet and civil servants." - Seini Pua Mafi

When Taufa'ahau Tupou IV came to the Tongan throne on July 4, 1967, for most Tongans it was the dawn of a new era. The new king, at 49, epitomised what Tongans of the 1960s perceived to be a perfect 20th century monarch. Editor's Comment, by Pesi Fonua.

This week's request by Shoreline Power for an electricity tariff increase to offset the rising cost of diesel fuel has brought into the limelight again the business of electricity generation and how Tonga is dealing with the complexity of a global economy where the price of a certain commodity is decided elsewhere. Editor' Comment, by Pesi Fonua.

The King is gravely ill and there is no doubt who will be the successor to the throne. Is it improper to ask, "“Should He (Crown Prince) be king?"” I wish it was like the early years of the Kanokupolu Dynasty where the king was selected by personal traits and leadership abilities, not birthright. I am sure the Crown Prince is a fine gentleman. My crystal ball does not predict what the future holds for him during his reign. - Tama Foa

I read with interest comments supporting the resumption of whaling in the Kingdom. If the Government did allow whaling to resume, the whale watching industry would collapse- Allan Bowe

Sailosi Finau's highlights of the chaotic Pacific neighbors (22nd Feb 2006) who were ones ruled or are still ruled by super-powers, cannot be gone unchallenged. -Saimone Tupou

Tonga prides itself as the only sovereign country in the South Pacific that was never colonised, and therefore in the 21st century we should have been able to claim the title of the most politically mature, vibrant and stable country in the region. But we are far from it. So what went wrong? Editor's Comment, by Pesi Fonua