Results for Opinion

Under President Donald Trump’s leadership, the United States took another major step toward establishing itself as a rogue state on June 1, when it withdrew from the Paris climate agreement. For years, Trump has indulged the strange conspiracy theory that, as he put it in 2012, “The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make US manufacturing non-competitive.” But this was not the reason Trump advanced for withdrawing the US from the Paris accord. Rather, the agreement, he alleged, was bad for the US and implicitly unfair to it. - Joseph E. Stiglitz.

“As we commemorate World Environment Day, connecting with nature, we focus our periscope on our Ocean. We must remember that our actions affect the ocean, even if we don’t live by the beach or eat fish. Reducing our carbon dioxide emissions will support ocean health – and the alternative is grim," said Mr Kosi Latu, Director General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), this World Environment Day.

Emmanuel Macron’s victory in the French presidential election [May 7] could be mistaken for the plot of a novel that no publisher would accept. And then the one who finally does, finds himself with a runaway bestseller ... a young man, practically unknown a year ago, accedes to the presidency of France. ...Now begins the open combat between those who believe that freedom lives and those who have already buried it. Bernard-Henri Lévy

Tonga has numerous vibrant national resources that are fast asleep when they should be generating revenues and driving enterprise. Looking at the trade development of the small Pacific island countries one wonders whether Fiji is one of those that became birds, while Tonga remains among those still crawling.

The inaugural declaration by the UN General Assembly for 2017 as the first International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development is a great incentive for Tonga and a time for some serious reflection on why we are failing to build a more sustainable tourism industry - one that can prosper and create more jobs. Editor's Comment, by Pesi Fonua

The public has a right to know about MP ‘Akosita Lavulavu’s state of mind while her husband was misusing his authority. Was she just a silent partner who went along for the ride? – Sione Mokofisi.

Bakeries closure on Sundays takes us back to a 400 years old question of Church and State working hand in hand to control commerce, and people’s liberty. -Sione A. Mokofisi.

A claim by a new Public Enterprise director ‘Ahongalu Fusimalohi in a radio interview that there was $4-8 million pa'anga held in the Operational Account of the Tonga Broadcasting Commission when he and his father, the late Tavake Fusimalohi, left employment with TBC many years ago, has sent the accounting staff of TBC on a search for the alleged missing millions; while a former manager, 'Elenoa 'Amanaki has come out on national television and challenged the veracity of 'Ahongalu's statement.

All the preliminary works for the Teufaiva Stadium Upgrade Project have been ready for months, but the Prime Minister has not done his part in funding the necessary funding. This is what's delaying the start of the project. ...This is a National Project, not to be treated as a personal and political football. - Takitoa Taumoepeau