Results for Opinion

As you said, a German-owned hotel. Guess what? German is not Tongan. Guess what too, it's Palangis who go to the Pacific and exploit our naivity in human nature that destroys us. Don't come to Tonga ever if that is your wish, coz your kind is not needed, your one minute visit gives you no insight into anything, so keep you rubbish to yourself. - Tei ‘Akaveka

I sense that the two issues, pay increases for PSA workers, and a move to change the country's political framework, are being driven to achieve the same purpose - equity in pay rights for workers, and a change to the country's political framework. - Jason Faletau

We holidayed in Tonga back in 1994 quite by chance - we had intended to holiday in the Soloman Islands - but we missed our flight due to a mix up with our travel agent and had to quickly choose another destination - and so we found ourselves in the glorious Vava'u Islands. The scenery and people were a delight but the poverty that surrounded us was truly shocking. What was more shocking was the obvious corruption that was practiced so openly, which effectively caused the poverty. - Brett Margison

In my earlier comments, I noted that the public servants strike in Tonga is laced with danger and perhaps one of disruption as much as optimism. The lack of resolution on the crisis in Tonga has put a cavity on the optimism but accelerated the level of danger and disruption to a potential conflagration...like a volcano that has been passively active but soon to have a devastating eruption. - Mele Payne Lynch

To imagine how these less fortunate civil servants survived all these years is astonishing. With power prices increasing, fuel prices in record high and inflation in Tonga, one tends to wonder how the average Tongan who can support 6 children will carry on like this. - William Mariner

I was so moved when I was reading about all the uncountable people who have worked as cleaners and rubbishmen for more than ten odds years and yet still earning as much as T$54.00 fortnightly or even less weekly. I have recently visited Tonga just to catch up with family and friends, and to my suprise the inflation is shocking. - Annette Dougal

His Majesty, the father of our nation, who is abroad while our household is on fire and we the people are in it, speaks volumes than his past history. To abandon your responsibility towards a nation who is currently suffering, indicates lack of conscience or moral emotion towards his subjects. -William Mariner

Think of where will the government come up with the money for the 60, 70, 80% rise. Wake up and smell the coffee. All over the globe have you people ever heard of a country that tried to get a rise for that %, NO, only Tonga. - Angelica Lout

Let me refresh what was inevitable in the start of my letters. The shift now, from this strike has gone to a road where history has taught many nations, that were once ruled by powerful monarchs. Those soverign nations are now super powered nations. The lesson in the past with these nations are simple: Without the people, you do not have a government! and once you have lost the respect of the people, you do not have a nation. What you have; is a nation that wants change. - William Mariner