With regards to the recent letter from Senolita Swan UK. This is the type of response Tonga desperately needs, not pointing fingers at any one. Recovery comes with positive ideas and thinking. -Cliff
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Results for Letters
Monday 30 April 2007
Portland-Oregon,USA
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Sunday 29 April 2007
London, United Kingdom
Many thanks to David Tapiaka for his letter on 27/04 "A call for Overseas Tongans to invest in Tonga" publicly supporting my letter published last month calling for Tongans abroad to invest in Tonga and help re-build our little Kingdom. I am pleased to report that the feedback from Tongans at home and abroad has been overall amazingly positive. - Senolita Swan
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Friday 27 April 2007
Denmark
As someone living in Europe I could not but help laugh when I read that Sheikh Imam Abdul Fader, the spiritual leader of the local Tongan Muslim community, tried to portray Islam as a peace loving religion. It was the same here in Europe in the 60's, 70's and 80's while the Muslims were still few in numbers in many European countries. They portrayed their religion as one seeking peace and harmony with other religions. But now that they are large in numbers it is quite clear what many of them want. They want Europe to become Islamic. - Smike Kaszner
Friday 27 April 2007
Pago Pago, American Samoa
When the representatives win elections, they are the people's top choices to represent them in government. If these top choices are taken out so to speak to fill the post of a minister, they are removed from the very responsibility and the reasons why they were voted for in the first place. - Sione Lousiale Kava
Thursday 26 April 2007
Pago Pago, American Samoa
Let's first determine the number of People's Representatives (PR) to the house in terms of their responsibilities to their constituent. It seems to me that the emphasis and the discretionary behind the number 17 recommended by the people is based on getting even or the upper hand on votes in the house. - Sione Lousiale Kava
Thursday 26 April 2007
USA
Please allow me to whine for a few seconds regarding this potential fiscal crisis that is looming over the kingdom. No, it is not the crisis that I am bellyaching about. I cannot say if it is the oath of loyalty and the veil of confusion and apathy that governs Governmental Operations or the incompetence at the helm that is grinding my last nerve. Norman Schwarzkopf once said, "When placed in command, take charge." I may be wrong like I always have been, but I do not think there is a whole lot of taking charges in our government. - Tama Foa
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Thursday 26 April 2007
Sydney, Australia
I am somewhat disturbed reading about the commitment of the Tongan Muslim community to set up a boarding school in the country. It is amusingly predictable that the leader of this group assured the rest of the Tongan community that Islam is a religion of peace. - Rev. Ma‘afu Palu
Sunday 22 April 2007
Sydney, Australia
I simply wish to thank you for your continuous coverage of the cases involving those PRs who by all means sought to identify themselves with the destruction of Nuku'alofa on 16/11. There is a sense in which the PRs directly involved with the events of 16/11 ought to be extremely thankful that their rights as Tongan citizens have been apparently upheld throughout the current situation in our country. I would think that if the claim that the Tongan government has been dictatorial and oppressive was to be substantiated in any way, that their treatment could have been altogether different from what they are given up to now. - Rev Dr Ma'afu'otu'itonga Palu
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Wednesday 18 April 2007
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
I humbly request the following correction to your report entitled, "Economic Summit sets the pace for Tonga development" that appeared on 17 April. - Lopeti Senituli
Friday 13 April 2007
UK
Would you please tell me what is going on with our National Rugby Union team? Have team members been selected yet for this year's Rugby World Cup in France? Is there a coach in place? Is the rugby committee formed with their main objective for the year: to win the world cup in France 2007 or thereabouts? - Vain Maka
Friday 13 April 2007
Pago Pago, American Samoa
Immediately after the terrorist attack on September 11, the Nation was told to expect that in the life is not going to be same anymore especially in the security area. To day, anyone who travels anywhere in the US will complain about the extra security measures at airports. But the majority will say, it is an necessary inconvenient to assure that there is not going to be a duplication of September 11. We all assume responsibilities in some capacities. - Sione Lousiale Kava
Tuesday 10 April 2007
Pago Pago, American Samoa
In my "Soifua from Amerika Samoa", I allowed my personal feeling to over ride my better judgment, thus insulting close friends and embarassing myself and my family. - Sione Lousiale Kava
Wednesday 4 April 2007
Pago Pago, American Samoa
I was not going to dignify your last letter to the editor with a response. But I must apologize for waisting your time. I am now convinced that you have no idea what you are talking about. - Sione Lousiale Kava
Monday 2 April 2007
San Mateo, California, USA
It seems by Mr. Kava's post-response to my rebuttal struck a nerve. His point of Tonga's economic priority, and "reform is worthless" is quite shortsighted and misses the mark for Tonga's economic problems today and for the future. Reform for Tonga will have far more impact to Tonga's economy than a robust economy to Tongan reform. In a robust economy the people that stand to benefit most is the king and royal family. I don't think there's an argument there. - ‘Alipate Sanft
Saturday 31 March 2007
Pago Pago, American Samoa
For what it is worth, my point on my last letter to the editor is that at this time in Tonga's development, the priority is economic. Reform is worthless if people are not being able to meet their basic needs.
Thursday 29 March 2007
Pago Pago, American Samoa
You got it right Mr. Sanft, the Tonga's budget is pretty much dry. What you and your Demo friends do not seems to see is that regardless of the form of government you insisted of installing in Tonga, it will have to deal with a budget that is pretty much dry. I am not too sure because you and your friends have never been definitive on the type of system you insist on Tonga. But the early indication your Demo system is not going to solve Tonga's problem either. As a matter of fact, the Demo System created Tonga's current problem by forcing the 60%, 70%, and 80% pay raise. And then apply the last straw to break the camel's back when turn around and burn down the businesses that were going to finance this pay raise. -Sione Lousiale Kava
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Sunday 25 March 2007
London, United Kingdom
It has been four months now since 16/11 and, as predicted, the consequential effects on Tonga political reform and the economy have been as deadly as sin. We have gone through a period of soul-searching about why it happened, how it happened and who were responsible for this blunder. As a people, I suppose we all feel emotionally gutted - angry and frustrated that our own brothers and sisters at home were actually capable of delivering such evil. Now of course the reality has hit home - the main business area of Nuku'alofa resembled that of an unfinished Hollywood Western film studio. - Senolita Swan
Friday 23 March 2007
San Mateo, California
As many may deny it, or the faint of heart may not admit it - Tonga's reform may be its only hope for economic recovery (and future). - Alipate Sanft
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Monday 12 March 2007
Phoenix, Arizona,USA
I was overwhelmed with what Paul Fifita had to express about William Edwards re Tonga Rugby League TRL, and as a former employee of HRH Princess Salote Mafile'o Pilolevu Tuita myself, I was assigned at the time of my employment as an Administrator of TRL and I can fully understand what Mr. Edwards justified, warranted and vindicated. - James Fa‘asolo
Sunday 11 March 2007
Bendigo, Australia
I have not forgotten the message of the struggle that Tongan women face in their daily lives, explained to us by the wonderful women at the National Centre for Women and Children during our visit in July 2006. - Rob Stephenson