Results for Opinion

It should not take a rocket-scientist to see that in vain we claim to build a Pacific Nation's economy when the biggest chunk of the budget goes into payroll. Investment is where we should spend most of our budget instead. - Desert WarLord

We are concerned at a few levels about illicit trade of cigarettes being imported into Tonga without health warnings and certificates of origin. - John Paul Chapman.

‘Oku ‘iai ‘a e hoha’a ‘a e Women and Children Crisis Centre ki he fakamatala fekau’aki mo e tohi tangi kuo tufaki holo ‘i Tonga ni ‘i he fanauako ke nau fakamo’oni ki ai ke fakaha ‘aki ‘enau ta’eloto ke fakamo’oni ‘a e Pule’anga Tonga ki he CEDAW. - 'Ofa Guttenbeil, WCCC.

‘Oku faka’apa’apa ‘a e Pule’anga kihe vakai ‘a e Hou’eiki Taki Lotu, ka ‘oku ne kei tui ta’etoeveiveiua, ko e faingamlie mahu’inga eni ke fakaha mo fakapapau’i ai ‘e Tonga ki mamani lahi ‘a ‘ene taumu’a ngaue faka-molale, mo e loto mo e faka’amu, ke ta’ofi ‘a e ngaahi founga ‘oku fakafaikehekehe’i’aki ‘a e hou’eiki fefine ‘i Tonga ni, tukukehe pe ‘a e ngaahi faka-ngatangata kuo ‘osi fakaha mahino, felave’i mo e totonu ki he Taloni, ngaahi hingoa mo e tofi’a faka-nopele tukufakaholo, pea mo e hohoko kihe kelekele tukufakaholo, pea ‘e ‘ikai ke ngaue’aki ‘a e Konivesio ke faka-ngofua ‘a e fakato-tama mo e mali ‘a fefine mo e fefine, pe mali ‘a tangata mo tangata. - Hon Sosefo Fe'aomoeata.

Kuo tukumai ‘e he kau Taki Lotu ‘ae ‘ikai kenau loto ke tali ‘e Tonga ‘ae CEDAW. Ko e makatu’unga tefito ‘I he’enau lau, koe’uhi pe koe ngaahi faka’uhinga ‘oku fepaki ‘ae ngaahi kupu ‘e ni’ihi ‘oe CEDAW mo e tokateline ‘oe Lotu. Ko e Kupu 10(h) mo e 12(1) ‘oku faka’uhinga’I ki he fakatotama pea pehe ki he Kupu 16 ‘oku faka’uhinga’I ‘oku fekau’aki mo e mali tatau. -Tito Kivalu

The current incessant pressure applied by proponents to ratify CEDAW takes me back to Mary Fonua’s account (Feb. 12, 2015). She wrote that CEO Lōpeti Senituli assembled a group of educated and prominent ladies, as “relevant stakeholders” to decide the fate of CEDAW. - Sione Ake-mei-hakau Mokofisi.

The misconception around abortion and same-sex marriage is just a cover-up for attacks against CEDAW. We need to start talking about the real fears in people, particularly men who are in high positions of power and use these powers to control the masses - the real fear is about women and women's rights overall. The real fear is about giving up male privileges. If we want to talk open and honestly let's get down to business and stop using CEDAW as an excuse. - 'Ofa-Ki-Levuka Guttenbeil-Likiliki

Australia’s protest at the execution of two of its citizens in Indonesia is futile, only symbolic and definitely hypocritical, by any standard.

‘Oku lahilahi ‘a e ta’efiemalie ‘i he anaga hono fakalele ‘o e ngaahi pisinisi ‘a e Pule’angaa ‘ehe kau Talekita kuo hilifaki kia kinautolu ‘a e fatongia ko hono tokanga’i ‘a e koloa ‘a e kakaii. – Sione Tu’itupou Fotu.