As long as we glue "monarchy" to whatever form of government we create, we should not be surprised whenever the King and the Privy Council manipulate or coerce the Judiciary. It happened in the past. It's happening now. And, it will happen again as long as Tonga's current "political sun" still shines. It is a logical consequence of being under a monarchy. - Senituli Penitani.
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Results for Government
Wednesday 19 May 2010
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Nomuka, Ha'apai
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Friday 14 May 2010
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Fiji
While is true that legal ideology is underpinned by various philosophy and values, the appointment of judicial offices must be seen as neutral and remain neutral. You cannot have appointments of judicial officers infested with politics and then later expect the judiciary to fully function without political interference especially in small developing nations in the Pacific. - F. Kavaha'apai.
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Wednesday 12 May 2010
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Nomuka, Ha'apai,Tonga
Proponents of "living constitutions" are progressive justices who believe that the meaning of the constitution evolves. No judicial or political puppeteer exists in American judiciary, only judicial oligarchy. How can we be sure that Tonga will be secured from what is happening in America as millions of babies are permitted by Judiciary to be executed through abortion in the name of liberty and personal freedoms? - Senituli Penitani.
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Wednesday 12 May 2010
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Hawaii,USA
Please allow me to respond to Soni Uatas letter, "Mr Cauchi: A captain abandoning ship."Did you really want him to stay and serve at the pleasure of the king, or as an independent prosecutor? How can anyone accomplish anything at all if he is blind folded with mouth taped and his hands are tied behind his back Mr. Uata? You can explain to me but only one type of people that can still perform well in the situation mentioned above . . . puppets. - 'Aisea T. Tu'ikolovatu.
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Tuesday 11 May 2010
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Suva, Fiji
Political problems have escalated to the extent where the independence of the judiciary is called into question and the AG resigning from his post. It is sad that even well qualified expatriates are leaving the Kingdom's shores. I really can't blame them. If our own scholars and well educated people are leaving because they are tired of hitting their heads against the brick wall, then don't expect other qualified expatriates to remain long. - F. Kavaha'apai.
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Tuesday 11 May 2010
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USA
Despite the high praises for Mr. Cauchi by many people, I see his departure as a captain abandoning ship when the seas get too rough. Now he is back in Australia in the comfort of his own home while injustice continues in Tonga's Judiciary. And what of the Ashika victims? They will continue live on with the memories of their loss without any real hope for justice. - Soni Uata.
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Sunday 9 May 2010
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USA
May all the leaders and people in Tonga including, royalty, political, religious, businesses and family, learn from Mr. Cauchi. - Fuai'api Sime.
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Wednesday 5 May 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
I wish everyone all the best for the future. I am happy to have helped during the year I have been Attorney General. - John Cauchi.
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Monday 3 May 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Government finds it incomprehensible that the former Attorney General, Mr John Cauchi, persists in claiming that the Attorney General and the Judicial Services Commission have a role in the appointment of Judges even though he knows for a fact that the appointment of Judges in Tonga, under the present Constitution, is the prerogative of His Majesty The King, with the consent of the Privy Council. - Lopeti Senituli.
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Thursday 22 April 2010
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Pangai, Ha'apai
Tonga has been wounded by the tragedy of the MV Ashika . . . deeply wounded. The doctor (the Royal Commission of Inquiry) has delivered a diagnosis. Now it's time to take the medicine, and heal the wound. - P. A. Langi.
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Friday 16 April 2010
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Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Scolding one's elders in public to attract attention to himself, Mr. Amerika Samoa exhibits the Ugly American attitude that he detests: arbitrary critiquing without logic, and ignoring cultural protocols. We owe it to each other as Tongans to be respectful even in heated debates. - Sione Akemeihakau Mokofisi.
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Tuesday 13 April 2010
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Pago Pago, American Samoa
Concerned Citizens: I suggest that Tonga has far too many fault finders, problem seekers and horn blowers; a whole bunch of whining rats. What Tonga needs are compassionate souls and intriguing minds with sensible solutions to its problems. - Mafi 'o Amerika Samoa.
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Monday 12 April 2010
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Suva, Fiji
The government and the economy look certain to sink to the bottom of the ocean just as the Ashika did. And as with the Ashika, it may never be recovered unless a sea change at the Cabinet level is brought about immediately. - Dr Saia Kami, Dr Lopini Havea, Dr Lia Maka, Mr Maletino Hola, Mr Kulu 'Anisi Bloomfield, Mr Tonga Finau, Mr Siaosi Sovaleni, Mr Edwin Liava'a, Mr. Soane Lolesio, Rev 'Ikani Taliai Tolu, Mr Piveni Piukala, Mr Siaosi O Vailahi Pohiva.
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Tuesday 9 March 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The distribution has begun of the $1.1 million pa'anga Ashika Relief Fund to the next of kin of the 74 people who were lost at sea, and the 54 survivors from the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika in Ha'apai waters on August 5, 2009.
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Tuesday 23 February 2010
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Scotland, United Kingdom
Thank you for providing a condensed version of the Ashika Inquiry testimonies. One thing struck me as I read Commander Lupeti Vi's statement on the incompetencies of some government officials that were involved in the Ashika incident.
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Thursday 14 January 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Long queues of drivers are waiting at Tonga's Ministry of Transport today in Nuku'alofa to get their new driver's licence cards for 2010 that are being issued under a computerised system launched by the Ministry of Transport in Nuku'alofa on January 12.
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Tuesday 10 November 2009
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Vava'u No. 2 People's Representative to the Tongan parliament, Samiu Vaipulu has been appointed as Tonga's new Minister of Justice.
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Friday 30 October 2009
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Prime Minister, Hon Dr Feleti Vaka'uta Sevele, officially opened the new administrative office for the Vaini District, Tongatapu yesterday evening, 29 October.
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Thursday 29 October 2009
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Ha'apai No. 2 People's Representative to the Tongan Parliament, Sione Teisina Fuko has been appointed as the new Minister for Revenue Services.
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Tuesday 25 August 2009
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Tonga Government has to date distributed over $100,000 pa'anga to help bereaved families of 67 persons in Tongatapu, Vava'u and Ha'apai whose lives were lost in the Princess Ashika sinking.
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