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Results for Letters

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.
Wednesday 14 November 2012
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Monūafe a little islands north of Tongatapu, between Makahaʻa and ʻOnevai. A photograph in 2002, showed the island was a few hundred meters in size. A 2009 photograph showed how waves were rinsing the sand and soil away, leaving dying roots exposed. By 2010 the island had become much smaller. In December 2011, smaller still. By March 2012, almost nothing was left over, and somewhere during the last month, the island has disappeared forever. Who or what did it? Hurricanes? Sea level rise? Sand mining? I think that is the one. – Firitia Velt.
Thursday 8 November 2012
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Wednesday 14 November will be a day to mark in your calendar as solar eclipse watch day. The moon will shift in front of the sun, blocking out part of its light. For Tonga it will be only a partial eclipse, not so interesting, but we will not get anything better than that for a long time, so you better watch. - Firitia Velt.
Sunday 21 October 2012
Australia
Tonga is a jewel in the Pacific and is greatly loved by God. Because God loves Tonga, He wants to prosper and bless the nation far above what we can imagine. - Pastor Brian Steele.
1 comment
Sunday 21 October 2012
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
While a food safe Act could benefit Tongans, the Bill as proposed has the potential to cripple the domestic economy, especially small and informal businesses, and open new pathways for intimidation and corruption. Heavy-handed regulations may make sense for the European Union, but for Tonga this is potentially a deeply destabilizing Act. – Samisoni Tuloa.
Saturday 20 October 2012
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
I am writing concerning a set of new bills that are to be introduced into the House for enactment into Law. I have noted a few points. 1. Consolidate a huge amount of legal power in the hands of very few and possibly unelected officials, and 2. Provide the platform for more such bills by precedence, creating a highly corrosive and corruptible government and legal environment. – Samisoni Tuloa.
Wednesday 10 October 2012
Auckland, New Zealand
I've got no personal axe to grind with PTOA leader 'Akilisi Pohiva but I think he has forgotten, to the detriment of his party and to himself, that politics is the art of being practical. Although he is paying dearly for this oversight, the rest of the country are also footing the bill for the absence of any effective opposition in the House - and denying us the fruits of an effective democracy. - Sefita Hao'uli.
1 comment
Sunday 30 September 2012
Lafayette Ca., USA
I had the pleasure of knowing Taufa Talakai (63) from Tonga, over many years when she worked in and around San Francisco, CA. Taufa was such a wonderful caregiver and she became an important person to all in our family. We have lost touch with Taufa, I would be very grateful if you can help me find her again. - Martha P. Harris
Tuesday 28 August 2012
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
This letter is an expression of my thoughts and feeling about the death of a fellow Tongan, a hero and our pride in the New Zealand Police Force, whose beautiful life was cruelly snuffed out of this world. – Naomi Fakauka.
Saturday 25 August 2012
New Zealand
We migrated from Tonga to NZ, and pick up the difference of policing service. We feel safe/secured in NZ, not fear. – Tasi 'Ahio.
Saturday 25 August 2012
Auckland, New Zealand
I write with regret at receiving the news of fallen hero and family member, Kali Fungavaka. Now, Tonga, so-called Friendly Islands, needs to deal with the reality that they are harbouring bigger problems than it imagined. We are not only
 facing an economic crisis in the Kingdom but a crisis of greater proportion. - Justice Fonua, Papatoetoe, New Zealand.
1 comment
Friday 24 August 2012
Dunedin, New Zealand
I was shocked and saddened to read the news that a New Zealand Police Officer has died after an incident in the Police cells at Nuku'alofa Police Station. I cannot comment on the specific facts of the case but it does raise real concerns about progress within the law and justice sector in Tonga. - Chris Kelley, Tonga's Former Police Commissioner.
Friday 17 August 2012
Vaini, Tongatapu, Tonga
My house was robbed last year in November with goods worth over $20,000 stolen. Three months later (this year), a further break-in occurred. With utter frustration and annoyance, I arrived at the Police station angrily demanding a response. - 'Amelia 'Ofakineiafu.
Friday 29 June 2012
England, United Kingdom
The letter submitted to Parliament by the Democratic Party asking for a ‘vote of no confidence’ in the performance of the PM contains the following points: 1. That the PM reshuffled his ministers once, twice or thrice; 2. That he was not chosen by the people; and 3. That he was unreliable. What? Is that it? - Senolita Swan
Thursday 28 June 2012
Honolulu, Hawai'i
Just when Tongans around the world are comfortable with Prime Minister Tu'ivakano's new democratically elected government, the opposition dropped this bomb in Parliament House with the filing of a no confidence vote, on the first democratically elected Prime Minister in the history of Tonga. - MT Tuaileva,
Monday 18 June 2012
Salt Lake City, Utah
Late Island's coastline is rugged for landing by large boats, but a dinghy could find a suitable landing place on the northern shorelines. I was stranded on Late Island for a week with two Vava'u strangers as guides when I was 18 years old. - Sione Ake-mei-hakau Mokofisi.
Saturday 3 March 2012
Ma'ufanga, Tonga
To those of us here in Tonga who have been affected by redevelopment contract administration, the whole episode reeks of a cover up and manipulated contract awards, so Dr [Teena] Brown Pulu's claim of unsubstantiated allegations is likely to be challenged on several fronts. - Henry Garrahy.

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