Results for Opinion

Fakatapu kihe Hau ‘o e ‘Otu-Tonga mo e Fale ‘o Ha’amoheofo, Sea moe Fale Alea ‘o Tonga, Hou’eiki Nopele mo e Tauhi Fonua, Palēmia mo e Pule’anga pea ki he Tonga kotoa. Fakamolemole kae toe ‘oatu mu’a ha faka-talanoa ko e kapikapi pē kihe fakakaukau na’e ‘oatu kimu’aa, ‘o e fakalelei kuopau ke fakakakato ki he Fa’ungapule hotau  Fonua kae toki sia’a ha’atau ungangāue. - ‘Inoke Fotu Huakau

On 24 April 2025, the Trump administration issued Executive Order 14285 mandating federal agencies to expedite permits for seabed mining under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act of 1980. Trump wants to establish the United States as a global leader in seabed exploitation and loosen China’s grip on the critical minerals market. This helps explain why The Metals Company (TMC) recently announced plans to apply for seabed exploration and commercial recovery permits under this relatively old act. These developments could undermine international law, commitments to peaceful use of the Area Beyond National Jurisdiction and environmental protections. It could also sideline TMC’s Pacific partners. Nauru and Tonga are currently sponsoring TMC’s activities in the Area, but it’s not clear what it’s in it for them if TMC secures a permit for seabed mining under US law. By Nicholas Bainton and Philippa Louey

Ko e fakamole ki ha Komisoni fakatotolo ‘e lahi pea ko e ha hano ‘aonga kapau he’ikai ke lava ‘omai ‘akinautolu na’a nau fakahoko tu’utu’uni kenau taliui (accountable) ki he’enau ngaue. Mahalo ko e ‘aonga fakapolitikale pe. He’ikai ha’ane tokoni ‘a’ana ki he tu’utu’uni (pending decision) ‘oku hangaatu ki ai ‘a e Poate Lolotonga ‘oe Lulutai pea mo e Pule’anga – ke ma’u ha kautaha vakapuna ke hoangaue mo e Lulutai pea mo e kautaha Retirement Fund ‘a e kaungaue fakapule’anga ke hokohokoatu e fepuna’aki fakalotofonua. ... ‘Oku ‘ikai teu tui ko ha koloa fakalukufua ‘a e sosaieti (common public good) ‘a e fefolau ’aki vakapuna fakalotofonua ke kei hokohokoatu pe hono fakalele mole ‘e he Pule’anga. - Samiuela T. Tukuafu.

Although the Trump administration is now attempting to walk back some of the most obviously murderous aspects of its aid freeze, its ramifications remain: the damage already done, the effects on work still covered by the freeze, the apparent demise of USAID, the sheer capriciousness of the decision. While impacts on other parts of the world have dominated the headlines, the decision is going to be felt in the Pacific too. The region is the world’s most aid-dependent. - Terence Wood.

A street food environment has developed on Wellington Road and outside the Post Office in Nuku'alofa, where BBQs operating are creating noise and traffic conjestion. The health hazards must be ominous. The roads and footpaths are littered with rubbish and grease. Surely, there is a more appropriate place the government could investigate providing for these entrepreneurs? - Ian Skelton

Five years ago, a novel coronavirus was quietly spreading, already well on its way to causing a global pandemic that would expose deep vulnerabilities in the prevailing global economic model. Yet most of the lessons from that period have already been forgotten, leaving the world woefully unprepared for the next crisis. After two years of negotiations, the draft of a global pandemic treaty remains unsigned, and the seven million people killed directly by the virus have become mere statistics.

As the Tongan Parliament prepares to elect a new Prime Minister, our nation stands at a critical juncture. The political climate within the House is fraught with division, animosity, and mistrust — challenges that threaten not only the effectiveness of governance but also the hope of a united future for Tonga. In such turbulent times, what Tonga urgently needs is a leader with a clear and compelling vision — one that transcends individual differences and inspires collaboration. - Seni Penitani

The narrative of the Forum at the apex of Pacific regionalism is becoming more commonly used, particularly with increased geopolitical competition and the flurry of partner engagement with Pacific states. While it is important to reinforce the power of the region as one political bloc, it comes off as self-serving. Pacific islanders generally do not think in these terms. Our communal values are much stronger. Rather, it is Pacific people who are at the apex of Pacific regionalism. It is the Pacific people as a collective who remind us why we are pursuing regionalism in the first place. By Sione Tekiteki.

For years the whale watch industry in Vavau has fought to have better practices and less licenses due to an over-saturation of licenses, badly behaved skippers and, in recent years, clients who believe they can do whatever they want in the water with the whales. Why is there no list of operators, their boats, skippers and guides and passenger numbers? I and others in the industry ask: Why are more licenses being issued and to boats that are not suitable for the purpose of whale watching?  - Kirsty Bowe.