It seems like the people of Tonga are divided in whether or not to change the system of rule. The old ailing monarchy system is the only system that Tongans have known for nearly four generations of Tupou's. - William Mariner
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Results for Letters
Wednesday 14 December 2005
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Auckland, New Zealand
I wish to extend my gratitude to the Hon. Minister of Finance for his courageous sharing with the public the economic outlook for Tonga and the serious situation that the government is facing, especially in rectifying the budget hole for the next financial year, more tendency to higher inflation and fighting the trade balance to ensure acceptable level of foreign reserve and local money supply. - Henry Alexanda Tonga
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Monday 12 December 2005
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Auckland, New Zealand
I spent time in Tonga to harvest my squash plantation. For our deteriorating economy cannot be revived by just writing letters to the editor, but by boosting exports. Then I planted watermelon on the same plot, and Fa'one Hefa's farm tour composition for Tonga College is true: "Ngaahi fu'u fo'i meleni. 'Ikai ke fa'ahi!!" 'Oku lea'aki foki e Kolotau 'o Hule e!! - Sailosi Finau
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Wednesday 7 December 2005
Auckland, New Zealand
It's official. Marching is the new national hobby. If the strolling-down-main-street variety can pull off three big ones in one day, marching is well ahead of soccer, netball, volleyball and you can hold on to your marbles! Cricket is so passe and rugby didn't do itself any favours by limping home with a sorry looking record against Italy and France last week. - Sefita Hao'uli
Wednesday 7 December 2005
USA
Tonga's system of government is good, but the system by itself is insufficient to bring about continued order, prosperity, and progress. What is needed is a common foundation of a moral and cultural absolute to 'undergird' our political system. - Malini V. Tukutau
Monday 5 December 2005
Auckland, New Zealand
Can I for the time being park the discussion on the alleged shortcomings of today's reformists for now and ask if my learned friend is able to put the current regime under the same scrutiny? - Sefita Hao'uli
Friday 2 December 2005
Australia
It is Democrazier than I thought. Although my mention of King George Tupou I was for a different purpose, it is great that Hao'uli has taken us through the missionary position or version of Taufa'ahau's history and thus we come to our first point of disagreement. - Inoke Fotu Huakau
Friday 2 December 2005
Moss Beach, Ca.,USA
The post strike leaves politicians and reformers seducing the public while introducing the monarchy to a new vulnerability with explosive demands for a new civilization and revolutionary change. This government reform can be profound yet superficially stimulating depending on the moral, wisdom, logic, clarity, reasons and honest common sense of the political and government leaders. - Mele Payne Lynch
Thursday 24 November 2005
UK
Pina Media Freedom Award 2005. thank you once again to a good journalist and for freedom of press you have given Tonga and overseas Tongans around the world. -William Mariner
Thursday 24 November 2005
Auckland, New Zealand
PINA Media Freedom Award. Congratulations Pesi on a well-earned honour for your tireless efforts against the odds. My personal acknowledgement of your wife's contribution and on-going support. - Sef Hao'uli & Tapu Misa
Thursday 24 November 2005
Apia, Samoa
Congratulations to Pesi Fonua (editor of Matangi Tonga and chair of the Tonga Media Council) and John Lamani (publisher of the Solomon Star and trustee for Media Association of Solomon Islands). -Peter Lomas
Thursday 24 November 2005
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Anybody who stands up and fights for press freedom and freedom of information deserves to be recognised, respected and honoured though I dare say that press freedom is sometimes abused and becomes a convenient tool. - Neville de Silva
Thursday 24 November 2005
Queensland, Australia
Hearty congratulations to both Pesi Fonua and John Lamani from (despite our new anti-terrorism laws, suppression orders and contempt charges) the relative safety of Australia. You have both been brave soldiers for press freedom in the face of oppression. -Professor Mark Pearson
Thursday 24 November 2005
St George, Grenada
I have not had the pleasure of meeting Pesi Fonua, but I did have the privilege of being at the Thomson Foundation together with John Lamani in 1986. I have great pleasure in sending them both by sincerest congratulations on what I am certain are richly deserved awards. Keep up the good work guys! -Leslie Pierre
Thursday 24 November 2005
Hamilton, Ontario Canada
Congratulations to Pesi Fonua and John Lamani for an honour that makes other journalism awards pale by comparison: recognition for risking their own wellbeing to defend freedom of expression.
Wednesday 23 November 2005
Auckland, New Zealand
While I appreciate the reply of Mr William Mariner (The world has moved on!) to my latest correspondence (Defining sustainable development), given that he is free to express his views, I think he went over the mark by not responding fairly to both the form and substance of my communication and by contradicting himself and his own thinking through and through. - Dr ‘Okusitino Mahina
Thursday 17 November 2005
USA
I read about other's urgency to change the kingdom before the new king is crowned. Whether it is sooner or later, it will be the day history will judge us by how well we take care of the kingdom during our watch. Long term peace is never an accident. - TamaFoa
Thursday 17 November 2005
UK
The success of the Strike will go down in History for all of Tonga to be proud of. A combined effort from all Ministries and non-civil servants was impressive. To stay focused and to halt a nation and bring the Government to their knees was decisive and clinical. - William Mariner
Tuesday 8 November 2005
UK
Dr 'Okusitino Mahina's political and economical insight seems way beyond his field of anthropology, which is basically analysing and comparing fossils and artifacts from the past Pacific history. His insight in Tongan politics today is irrelevant, he studies Past history! not present! Maybe soon, once the Monarchy will end, he can pick up the fossils and analyze them and give his students a lecture on post-Monarchy rule in the Pacific. - William Mariner
Thursday 3 November 2005
Auckland, New Zealand
Please do not get me wrong. I am all for both preservation and conservation of resources, both material and human. Not only is it a necessity that we preserve and conserve both material and human resources, it is in doing so that provides us with the very foundation of our co-existence (and of our common survival). My criticism of sustainable development is to do basically with its sense of human one-sidedness or social biasness, as it centres merely on people rather than both people and environment. The human resources, it must be pointed out, constitute but a very minute part of planet Earth. - Dr ‘Okusitino Mahina
