This problematic "school boys violence" is now a serious social problem. We can no longer treat these events with emotional feelings, and the old tired conclusions (peacemaking: fakamelino), which have not worked for over 50 years. - Sione Akemeihakau Mokofisi.
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Results for Letters
Wednesday 10 July 2013
3 comments
Auckland, New Zealand
I am surprised by the reaction from within Tonga and abroad regarding the MA60 and its "safety" record. It seems to be largely scaremongering and overstated comments by an under-informed public. While I agree there are better suited aircraft for Tonga ... I don't personally think the MA60 deserves its bad rap, and everyone needs to calm down. What people really need to worry about is not the aircraft but crew competency and airport safety. - Peter White
Tuesday 9 July 2013
1 comment
Australia
I have just googled the so called “safe” plane the Deputy Prime Minister has referred to and have found an interesting history of accidents, which I have cut and pasted from Wikipedia. What concerns me the most is the recent record from 2009 to well, last month – two accidents in one day. - Concerned Tongan.
Sunday 23 June 2013
2 comments
Tofoa, Tonga
Why the Bill is so Bad: The Bill, as written, is set in 19th century Industrial Europe or 20th century Plantation Africa. It needs to be written for 21st century Tonga. It presupposes antagonistic and predatory behavior by employers over downtrodden and enslaved employees. Tonga abolished slavery in 1863... - Paul Karalus.
Wednesday 5 June 2013
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
What's the use of passing Cabinet decisions if they do not implement them? The Cabinet Decision of 5 April removing Duty and CT for the fishery sector...cannot be effected until Fisheries confirms the administrative procedures... - Tricia Emberson, FIAT.
Monday 25 March 2013
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Regarding the editorial comment (Tonga Pacific Games Organising Committee to Set Own Salaries). The fact is that I moved to insert into the Bill the requirement to consult the Remuneration Authority on all issues relating to salaries and allowances before they are finalized by the Organizing Committee and the Audit and Governance Authority.
Monday 11 March 2013
Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Here we go again . . . tiptoeing around the sensitive issue of women's rights, and violence against women in Tonga. "Let's break the ignorance of women's God-given rights in Tonga." Women have the rights to all privileges bestowed upon men . . . by men. No government can grant or take away a human being's God-given rights. – Sione Akemeihakau Mokofisi.
Sunday 3 March 2013
Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Congratulations to Tonga for pursuing one of the most lucrative employment industries, Call Center remote services. Good luck ProComm and all the young employees. – Sione Akemeihakau Mokofisi.
Monday 21 January 2013
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Samiu Vaipulu follows the text book theory that competition will lower cost. In reality, that can be close to the truth if it is properly managed and monitored. Take for example the oil supply industry, there has been two oil suppliers to Tonga, and yet, there is no significant appearance or evidence of lower fuel cost from competition between these two companies. – Sione Lousiale Kava.
Monday 21 January 2013
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Auckland, New Zealand
I live in Auckland and my phone 027 5113568 was stolen in December. The person who now has my phone called numerous phone numbers in Tonga and the phone bill comes up to $5000 so far. The following phone numbers were called by the person who has my phone: 35031, 35133, 41957, 7512946, 7775228, 7776650, 8411895, 8417296, 8491101, 8632005, 8798732, 8882982, 8896191. I am offering a reward for information. - Jody Becerra

Monday 21 January 2013
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The planes Samiu wants to bring in, the Chinese made MA60, does not have the best reputation. They have been refused a certificate by the American Federal Aviation Department and have been involved in several accidents, one killing all the passengers on board. – Sione Taufa.
Sunday 20 January 2013
Pagopago, American Samoa
Just wondering who is negotiating Tonga's fuel price? Are the prices reasonable? I think the public would like to know what the other islands in the region are paying for their petrol (fuel). - Sione Lousiale Kava
Tuesday 15 January 2013
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The selling of fishing licenses with little or no obligation to the resource owners is not a smart fisheries management decision. PITIA appreciates the need for an influx of income to national budgets, but the sustainability of our resources and the ability to continue to earn from our ocean is our overarching economic goal.
Friday 4 January 2013
Sacramento-California, USA
There was a call for comments on the proposed Bills, I thought it my duty to address the Legal Aid Bill. The Legal Aid Bill sounds like a good idea, but there are several aspects of it that are big problems. – Samisoni Tuloa.
Thursday 27 December 2012
3 comments
Madrid, Spain
When Aids pandemic pounced on the African continent, the "condom industry" began to use the contagion to make a maneuver of marketing and get more subsidies for the production and delivery of condoms. The business of death had come. - Clement Ferrer.
Wednesday 19 December 2012
Kanokupolu, Tonga
A 400 metre fishing net left abandoned in the Kanokupolu Lagoon last week was a recipe for disaster. What was, not so many years back, a sustaining pristine lagoon environment, live with corals and teeming with tropical marine life has been broken up, over-fished and depleted. Fishing laws and their enforcement need to be reviewed. Shane Egan.
Wednesday 19 December 2012
London, United Kingdom
Climate change financing can unlock opportunities for small island states to help stem the tide of destruction through adaptation and mitigation. The problem is not the availability of finance but the ability of small states to access that finance. How does a country with a foreign ministry of eight staff cope with the demands of a climate change fund staffed by 80 or 800? - Kamalesh Sharma.
Monday 10 December 2012
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
I understand that there is a lot of pressure on unemployed youth in Tonga and through our business we are trying to help in some small way. The three youths that attacked me on November 26 are most likely disillusioned with their current station in life but . . . I hope that they will now try to find ways to add value to the community rather than take from it. I praise the Nuku'alofa police. Their professional police work delivered a result. Ian C. Jones, President, Vava'u Business Chamber.
Thursday 29 November 2012
Nukunuku, Tonga
The people of Nukunuku can finally breathe a pit of relief as a large part of the roads was upgraded yesterday – Nov. 27 to tar-sealed with small crushed gravel topping. However, the road will be much better and last longer if there is another spray of tar on top of the small gravel topping, rounded up with a pit of compaction. At least we will welcome Christmas in a brighter note. - Witcliffe TM.
Thursday 22 November 2012
Nukunuku, Tonga
Christmas is just around the corner. But, I bet the festive spirit in Nukunuku, will be ... gloomy I think. Dust, is now the order of our days twenty-four-seven for two months running...houses, drinking water and from new born to the elderly have their dose of dust every day. When will the road work complete? It left us to wonder what went wrong? Whether there was adequate funding for the project?- Witcliffe TM.