Results for Opinion

As the founding Director of Ocean of Light International Schools I have been a close observer of Education in Tonga. I read with interest that Tonga High School shone brightly with the local examinations. They should shine even brighter because effectively they have the "Cream of the Crop" to work with. As Ocean of Light comes to its 30th Anniversary in February it also looks back on outstanding successes- Alan Cairns

A healthy democracy is often measured by how well it enables citizens to take part in the political process, with voter turnout and participation in civil-society groups serving as key indicators of public engagement. Yet as Tonga’s parliament elects its prime minister on 15 December 2025, democratic gains risk being diluted if executive power consolidates around nobility rather than the people’s representatives. By Ema Ivarature, ‘Akanesi Katoa, Henry Ivarature / EAF.

November 17 marked the first World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day – mandated by the World Health Assembly – a historic milestone in global efforts to end a preventable cancer. This day of action...highlights a critical opportunity: cervical cancer – the fourth most common cancer in women – claims over 350 000 lives each year, yet it is a disease that we have the tools to eliminate. -WHO

Looking ahead, it is important to identify the areas in our electoral system and constitutional arrangement that might need attention in the future. It is important that a way is found to ensure future constitution-makers are enabled to make changes to the Constitution and Electoral Laws, as they see fit. For instance, if a decision was made to further democratise the Constitution, how could that be done? What would be the scope and depth of such an exercise? Could the present system of electorate-based voting be improved so that there is a balance between partisan obligations and national priorities? Some mechanism, too, must be found so that overseas Tongans can vote. And is “first-past-the-post” the most suitable electoral system for Tonga? - By Malakai Koloamatangi

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Pesi Siale Fonua (78), well known Pacific Islands journalist, publisher of Matangi Tonga Online, and beloved husband, father and grandfather, who died on 12 October 2025, at Vaiola Hospital in Tonga. The funeral service will be held at the SDA Church Mangaia, Nuku'alofa 1:00pm Saturday 18 October 2025. The burial will take place at the cemetery "Mala'e ko Fala Oloveti 'o Nukuleva" at 3:00pm Saturday. A farewell viewing will be held on Friday afternoon.

While the demand for what the United Nations does is as great as ever, its ability to deliver has obviously been diminished. There is no way for it to survive without scaling back its ambitions and abilities, and that, in turn, may require a move to a more hospitable country. By any measure, the UN’s situation is dire.

A big test for the Paris agreement is taking place this week at the United Nations General Assembly, where all countries are to present their national climate plans, a process that ends in Belém, Brazil at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) later this year. Despite the depressing state of climate debates today, I am optimistic that the collective spirit built over the last decade is now quietly but deliberately working to consolidate and build upon the gains that have been made. The Paris agreement is one that all countries – whether fossil-fuel producers, island states, or the world’s wealthiest economies – negotiated and ratified in record time. It combines effective measurement and monitoring with flexibility for countries to determine and devise their own plans to confront climate change.

I write to raise my deep concern regarding the proposed bill by the Parliament, which seeks to incorporate Tongan customs into the Constitution of Tonga. Amending the Constitution to elevate custom into binding law raises troubling questions of gender equality, abuse of power, and fairness. For example, Tongan customs do not adequately recognize the role of women in positions of authority.... The Constitution of Tonga must remain a safeguard of equality and justice for all, not a tool to enshrine customs that may perpetuate inequality, abuse, or unfair treatment. - Keilani Peaua

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and OpenAI’s Sam Altman have been aggressively promoting the idea that everyone – children included – should form relationships with AI “friends” or “companions.” Meanwhile, multinational tech companies are pushing the concept of “AI agents” designed to assist us in our personal and professional lives, handle routine tasks, and guide decision-making. But the reality is that AI systems are not, and never will be, friends, companions, or agents. They are, and will always remain, machines. The most deceptive term of all is “artificial intelligence”. By Peter G. Kirchschläger