It is highly likely that Tupouto‘a and Sevele's next desperate act is to reshuffle ministers, fire and appoint new ministers and create new portfolios. The only rationale to this theory is Sevele and Tupouto‘a need the vote to go through parliament for the $60M royal power. - Mele Payne Lynch
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Results for Letters
Monday 15 May 2006
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Moss Beach-California, USA
While Tonga is still struggling with tension to rebuild herself from an economic earthquake, the $60M loan to buy back Shoreline is the overture to a tsunami. Prime Minister, Feleti Sevele equating religion to economy in his news release last week was a hopeful attempt to shape the people's frame of reference and soften the blow. - Mele Payne Lynch
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Monday 15 May 2006
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Salt Lake City-Utah, USA
Are the problems that plague Tonga rooted in the Polynesian concept of time? Worried about today, never mind tomorrow. -Joe Smith
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Thursday 11 May 2006
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USA
In the past couple of months, I went on a self-imposed sabbatical trying to find myself. Despite my honest effort to stay away, this twenty million dollar ransom demanded by the Crown Prince and his band of robbers begged that I return. In return for their demand, Shoreline will be returned to its rightful owner, the public. What a gutsy move for a daylight unarmed robbery. - Tama Foa
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Monday 8 May 2006
Melbourne, Australia
The Continuing Saga of the mess of the Electricity Supply in Tonga must not be allowed to continue. But we must also ensure that the govt and Shoreline do not drag us all to jump from the frypan and into the fire. -Sione Tapani Mangisi
Monday 8 May 2006
Auckland, New Zealand
The loan is only a consideration as any wise government must have a Plan B in place in the event that Plan A (private sector / govt-private partnership) does not work. It may enlighten some to appreciate that Price Waterhouse Coopers is currently being engaged to assist in the process of appraising the company...s assets to assist in setting the appropriate and fair figure for the transfer from Shoreline and subsequently the loan amount only if that option will be taken. - Sailosi Finau
Friday 5 May 2006
USA
The reason for this letter is the attention that I read regarding the Korean gentleman that was taken to Viola Hospital. I was so angry to hear that the poor man had to wait for hours to get a simple x-ray and the nurse attendant could not get off their lazy "Ass" and wheel him to the second floor!
Tuesday 2 May 2006
Moss Beach,California, USA
The willingness of the government to put the nation at great risk without any legitimate documentation to substantiate the deal is just plain stupid. A quick calculation of this $60M loan equates to $500 per man, woman and child to pay off the loan. This is in addition to what is already too high a price for electricity. Why are the people tolerating such contemptible practice? - Mele Payne Lynch
Tuesday 2 May 2006
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Auckland, New Zealand
When the dust settles spare a thought for the crushed dreams and ambition of the connections and staff of Fly Niu Ltd., (FNL) ... a little start-up airline forced into voluntary liquidation due to a patently flawed monopoly policy.- Wayne Madden
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Tuesday 2 May 2006
Suva, Fiji
For "politicians" (and decision makers) to espouse putting HIV positive people on an island ."where we can show them love and compassion..." is an indictment on the "awareness" programmes that have been conducted over the years by the UN, the SPC and at the national level, the Ministries of Health and all those working on HIV. Where have we gone wrong? - Steven Vete
Monday 1 May 2006
I would point out to him however, that my very point was that the result of a referendum should be the guide as to what should be done in terms of political reform in Tonga. - James Tapueluelu
Sunday 30 April 2006
Auckland, New Zealand
James Tapueluelu from Broome, Australia has made the point that a referendum would be a better indicator of whether Tongans are indeed seeking political change and I agree but great care must be taken to ensure that the referendum clearly asks questions that will not only reflect the wishes of the nation but in a logical order. - Sefita Hao‘uli
Saturday 29 April 2006
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Sydney, Australia
It is enlightening to hear the expressed views of overseas Tongans as highlighted in Mangisi's article, (Education for export, a new perspective, 26/4). Mangisi is expressing a very real concern against the plight of Tonga and the unpredictability in its current economic and political stagnation. Let me therefore offer a different perspective to what Mangisi have already stated. - Jason Faletau
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Friday 28 April 2006
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
It appears that in order to buy back the power generation at an outrageous asking price, the state is about to commit many future generations of Tongans to an unparalleled debt burden in order to repay a loan that will go straight into the pockets of an unscrupulous few. - Trebla Tonga
Thursday 27 April 2006
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Moss Beach, CA, USA
With the wretched economic climate in Tonga, the people can ill afford to ignore the malfeasance and graft typically exercised by those in power to potentially manipulate the terms of acquisition of Shoreline. Both Government and Shoreline should not exercise complete autonomy in this venture because the interest of the consumers is at stake. Therefore, the process and result need to exist in symbiosis with the community. Shoreline has not provided much financial, operational & maintenance details to suggest a compelling economic proposition thus this creates ample opportunity for critical errors exacerbated by various factors. - Mele Payne Lynch
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Wednesday 26 April 2006
Melbourne, Australia
The government should rethink its education and migration policy with a view to opening up and encouraging, even helping those with higher tertiary qualificatoins to migrate to places like NZ, Australia and the US. - Sione Tapani Mangisi
Wednesday 26 April 2006
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Auckland, New Zealand
The call for the return of the power generation from Shoreline to government or the private sector should focus on the anticipation that Tonga will have a fairer, more transparent and just power industry. Perhaps service deliveries may improve too. Cheaper electricity is something else and I am afraid it won...t help to mislead people now that the electricity will be cheaper only by taking it away from Shoreline. - Sailosi Finau
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Thursday 20 April 2006
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Executive Members of the Tonga Small Business Association (TSBA) are not happy with your article dated 8th April, 2006 titled: ...Tonga Chamber of Commerce stalls challenge by TSBA.... The Executive Members of TSBA have ordered me to inform you the fact that Mr. Tu...i Uata is not the president of TSBA. Mr. Uata and his followers are not members of TSBA. May be Mr. Tu'i Uata has his own organization, of which we highly respect, but we are sure it is not the TSBA. - Saia Moehau
Wednesday 19 April 2006
If we choose to say that Tonga belongs to the People of Tonga including the monarchy and the nobility, then why the devil is the Royal family and especially Tupouto'a is allowed to just do as they please with the nation, assets and all, Shoreline, Tonfon, Airlines, Tongasat, Passports etc.
So what do we do ? - Sione Tapani Mangisi
Wednesday 19 April 2006
Auckland, New Zealand
There is a Latin tag cui prodest? meaning “who stands to gain?” When it is not immediately apparent which political or social groups, forces or alignments advocate certain proposals, measures, etc., one should always ask: “Who stands to gain?”. - March Pulu
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