Leaving the comfort of my poor upbringing at Foa for a new land, I am still amazed at many things that have not changed. Juan de Mariana once said, - "Taxes are commonly a calamity for the people and a nightmare for the government. For the former they are always excessive; for the latter they are never enough, never too much." Tama Foa
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Monday 18 April 2005
Auckland, New Zealand
It is rather unfortunate that we still have people like Peter P Goldstern in the kingdom or put it this way, it is only in the kingdom that we still find people like Mr Goldstern. Yes, only in the kingdom can Mr Goldstern put his strings of B.Sc and M.Sc into perfect use! Have we forgotten Dr Wong, the court jester and the like? -Sailosi Finau
Friday 15 April 2005
San Francisco, USA
Tonga is caught between a rock and a hard place. Its poor economic status and its leaders drive to re-appropriate what is left for themselves, will be definitely the death of the kingdom as we know it. No, don...t push the panic Oh My God! button just yet. I am talking about 30 to 50 years from now. This seems to be a long time, but it is not. It may be sooner if the king fails to change how the island kingdom is governed.
Thursday 14 April 2005
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
FROM OUR ARCHIVES: The saying today in Tonga that some people can get away with million dollar day-light robberies, while others may be sent to jail for stealing the neighbour’s chicken, is very true if you look at what has been happening during the past few months. The March parliamentary election has stretched some people’s imaginations to the limit so that they do things that an ordinary bible-carrying, big ta'ovala wearing Tongan would not do, which is simply cheating in order to get a few votes. - Editor's Comment by Pesi Fonua
Tuesday 12 April 2005
USA
As I read the March 17th edition of The New Zealand Herald, I finally realized how close Tonga is getting to another "Civil War". Professor Futa Helu was quoted as saying, "The King is decrepit and the Crown Prince has no other interests but his own businesses. If the Prince continues to abuse his power, there will be a popular revolt, maybe bloodshed" These are strong predictions from Yoda, the wisest of the Jedis (masses of the Star Wars). -Tama Foa
Monday 11 April 2005
4 comments
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
You might be interested in the following issues with which I am assisting Shoreline - Peter P. Goldstern
Friday 8 April 2005
North Harbour, New Zealand
Tongan juries often bring in verdicts of manslaughter (killing by an unlawful act such as assault, without the intent to kill) rather than murder (intentional killing of another, or recklessness as to the outcome of a grievous assault) when the facts clearly support a finding of murder. -David Garrett
Monday 4 April 2005
USA
Though I vigorously believe that there is hardship poverty (but not extreme poverty) in Tonga, the important question remains why poverty exists at all on an island blessed and endowed with important assets and commercial resources like the latest technological tools, such as satellite transmissions and the internet dot to domain. These are communal resources should be shared by all, instead of being the privilege of the elite few in the country. -Dave Tonga
Monday 28 March 2005
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
As the latest Tongan Government political reform initiative begins to unfold, following the appointment of Cabinet ministers from elected members of Parliament on March 21, we are witnessing a number of interesting political happenings. At the same the Temo's position as an opposition to government has been weakened - they have lost their fighting edge with their acceptance of the government proposal for a piece-meal political reform program. Editor’s Comment
Friday 18 March 2005
Australia
Isn't it disappointing that none of these re-elected people's reps ever moved against such gross mismanagement of people's taxation money? It makes one wonder whether the pro-democracy conviction is really an objective that these gentlemen are living for or simply just another money-making rhetorical scheme. -Rev. Dr. Ma'afu Palu
Friday 18 March 2005
1 comment
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Now that the historical 2005 parliamentary general election is over, the next question is who will gain the Grace and Favour of the Royal Family to become Cabinet Ministers? Four ministers are to be selected this year from the new Nobles' and People's Representatives. Editor's Comment, by Pesi Fonua
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Friday 11 March 2005
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
As we discover this week that it is not viable for a New Zealander to invest in Tonga because of a restrictive New Zealand tax legislation, a number of questions spring to mind. It is definitely very unfair for these New Zealanders and Tongans who have made New Zealand their homes to find that investment in Tonga is made unprofitable by restrictive tax laws. Editor's Comment.
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Thursday 3 March 2005
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Ten years ago Tonga introduced its 15% Consumption Tax in April 2005. FROM OUR ARCHIVES: The timing of the rushed introduction of the new Tonga Consumption Tax or TCT, makes one wonder if government had deliberately chosen April 1 to give the parliamentary candidates and the public something to chew on while they work themselves up to a voting mood on March 17. Editor's Comment by Pesi Fonua.
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Friday 18 February 2005
USA
It was a tsunami like wave that was felt through out the land, the islands that is, when Mr. Edwards blasted the royals with accusations of misappropriations and misgivings during the time he was basking in the limelight and among the elites and the crème de la crème of the populace.
Friday 18 February 2005
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
As we are getting closer to Tonga's 2005 Parliamentary General Election on March 17 the idea of political change is still the popular campaign issue, and it is clearer now that we are looking at three different proposals, or models of government. - Editor's Comment by Pesi Fonua.
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Friday 18 February 2005
Auckland, New Zealand
We have observed an interesting trend in previous candidates competing for a place in parliament. They are as fierce as lions when campaigning with their out-spokenness, yet as soon as they get into parliament, it almost seems like someone had clipped their tongues like a wet bus ticket on the way in.
Tuesday 15 February 2005
1 comment
Auckland, New Zealand
Although once touted as the country having the most PhD graduates/tertiary graduates per capita in the world, it remains puzzling how the Kingdom of Tonga has been lagging behind in so many aspects of government, society, law, business, religion and economics etc., for so long now.
Thursday 10 February 2005
6 comments
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The approach by government to appoint four cabinet ministers from the 18 elected members of the House this year has given a new dimension to Tonga's 2005 parliamentary election. Now, in effect, an elected member of the "opposition" may cross the floor to become a member of the cabinet. Editor's Comment, by Pesi Fonua,
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Tuesday 8 February 2005
Honolulu, Hawaii
Congratulations on 14 million hits in 2004. It is quite exciting to read all letters to the Editor and all individual opinions. - M. T. Tuaileva
Monday 7 February 2005
California, USA
Clive Edwards was for eight years the most active and public critic of Tonga's pro-democracy movement even succeeding, at times, in jailing pro-democracy Members of Parliament. Now, however, he wants to join them as one of the nine Commoner MPs. How can someone who has spent close to a decade trying to keep the people out of Parliament suddenly claim that he is one of the commoners now? It's all a ploy to get back into a position of power so as to finish a lot of what he started earlier in his career. - Siane Tu‘ione
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