Tonga's parliament

Man of the moment Lord Fakafanua is now Speaker of Tonga's parliament. Still in his twenties, he is probably the youngest in the Commonwealth to hold that position. Last week he played a prominent role in his sister's wedding to Crown Prince 'Ulukalala. The wedding itself had become the battleground for a power struggle within the royal family. Lord Fakafanua who is unmarried will no doubt need the assistance of his mother Princess 'Ofeina and uncle Prince Tu'ipelehake. 

Tonga's human rights political party confesses

Just as the IRA has a political wing, Sinn Fein and ETA has Batasuna; the Friendly Islands Human Rights and Democracy Movement also has a political affiliate, the Friendly Islands People's Democratic Party. Although FIHRDM director Mr. Po'oi Pohiva had strenuously and publicly denied that the two entities are remotely related. The regular FIHRDM program on TV now openly discusses the performances of the party's members of parliament and applies pressure on those who step out of line; a somewhat tacit and quiet admission. The current Minister of Justice Hon. Clive Edwards had accused the FIHRDM in 2010 of meddling in the political process but was met with all those fierce and angry denials. The Times of Tonga newspaper had reported then that the office address and contact phone numbers of the party were exactly those of the FIHRDM.

The Tonga Water Board and Tonga's dumb records

Tonga is the only country in the whole world that punishes its students, i.e. those who are Tongan passport holders, by forcing them to memorize ancient proverbs and words that are no longer in use. Foreign students and dual-citizens are exempted. Until the riot in 2006, Tonga boasted the longest-serving police commander in the South Pacific. And barring an unforeseen injection of commonsense, the longest-serving general manager of a public utility; in this case the Tonga Water Board. The TWB keeps renewing the guy's contract despite the fact that he is a geologist and not an engineer. The chairman of the TWB is a former director of health. Five years ago the current publisher of the Kele'a newspaper, Laucala Tapueluelu, had written an article relating that pigs belonging to the then director of health were feasting on human faeces from Tongatapu's many septic tanks. Well there are no such pigs at the TWB main office. There are however two axioms of Parkinson's Law: an official wants to multiply subordinates, not rivals; and officials make work for each other. These should be tested on the TWB staff because tap water is nowadays becoming a luxury in Nuku'alofa. A household's water bill is approximately half  it's electricity bill.   

Gender equality and education in Tonga

In common with most countries around the world, Tongans celebrated last week International Teachers Day. Here the theme was not that clear but it included the following three words: gender, equality, education. Teachers in Tonga are doing very well. Both the prime minister and the leader of the opposition are former teachers. If you listen to radio talk-back shows you will learn, from the teachers who took part and it was mostly teachers who called, that teaching is a very, very difficult profession. One teacher went as far as equating teaching with self-sacrificing. It makes you wonder why at all did they want to be teachers if it is that painful. You do not hear surgeons, emergency ward nurses, plumbers and accountants bleat like that. Only our government lawyers have outdone the teachers in that department, but we'll leave commenting on that to another blog. Two government high schools are located at Tongatapu, the main island; Tonga College, an all-boys school, and Tonga High School, a co-educational institution. Tonga College is the government's biggest in terms of students roll. You are tempted then to ask why isn't Tonga High School an all-girls school? Tonga's ministry of education is adept in importing the latest mantras and catch-phrases. But when the dust settles one thing stands out; secondary education is becoming very expensive here and unnecessarily so. And girls from low-income families are among the first to suffer. Why not use the millions of pa'anga donated annually to this sector by the World Bank, and the governments of Australia and New Zealand to usher in a free distance education program? That would also cater for single mothers. Since wealthier students benefit from extra classes by private tutors and consequently perform well in public exams, why not replace the utterly useless television programs "about education" that we now endure five times a week with free tuition by specialist teachers?   

Male chauvinism in the Friendly Islands Human Rights and Democracy Movement

In the Kele'a, a Tongan weekly newspaper, of  31 August 2011 on page 26 is a letter to the editor by a Solomone Palu. He wrote that the only woman in the four-member Tonga Rugby Union Authority, Aloma Johansson, would not be of much use to the national side unless she joins in massaging the players. This is demeaning to Ms. Johansson who is a certified accountant, a businesswoman and is honorary consul of Sweden to Tonga. The Kele'a is owned by Po'oi Pohiva (it said so on page 6 Kele'a 27 July 2011), the director of the Friendly Islands Human Rights and Democracy Movement (FIHRDM), which pretends to promote human rights here. And received much, much money from kids in Christchurch, New Zealand who call themselves the Christian World Service. Palu proudly stated on page 24 of the Kele'a 24 August 2011 that he is a member of the FIHRDM. Somehow the following actually believe or chose to believe that the FIHRDM is a genuine human rights organization: Imrana Jalal, that so-called brave crusader for human rights; Radio Australia's Bruce Hill (sorry, no comments on this one); the Talaki newspaper (Tonga); journalist and professional noise maker Michael Field whose specializes in getting himself thrown out of countries; Television NZ Pacific reporter Barbara Dreaver; and others who loved to be duped. Obviously they must also believe in tooth fairies and in the existence of Snow White. The FIHRDM seem to believe in legends too. A few years ago FIHRDM spokesman Finau Tutone delved into history and came up with the origin of human rights; it actually, according to this sage, started with a pharaoh and his slave! It took two half-hour programs on prime time television to explain this ridiculous claim.     

Tonga's rugby union team pass endurance test as Tongans sing hymns for a successful world cup

The Tongan national rugby union team, the 'Ikale Tahi, attended a choral-fest on Sunday in Nuku'alofa. The eleven choirs present sang twelve items. Prayers were offered and there were speeches but the Catholic Bishop Soane Patita injected some much-needed common sense by reminding the congregation that other countries are also praying for their rugby teams. It was a time for contemplation and meditation for the players that also tested their power to endure as they sat patiently for the length of two rugby games. The Prime Minister was there. The leader of the opposition was there. As was Rev. Tevita Latailakepa, the new chairman of the Tonga Rugby Union Authority. The TRUA, under previous chairman Bob Tuckey, had backed head coach 'Isitolo Maka unconditionally in the face of numerous calls for his dismissal following a long string of losses by the national side. Maka's position would probably have been untenable under any other administration. On Saturday the public donated over T$50,000 towards the team. A few hours earlier, also in Nuku'alofa, a woman and a man fled from a vehicle that was transporting money from the airport as armed men fired shots and tried unsuccessfully to steal the cash. The $100,000 that was stolen more than a year ago from the Tonga Development Bank has still not been found despite a $20,000 reward for its recovery and the identity of the robbers. Tongans are charitable but can also steal. For those of my generation who continue to miss the "morning gibberish" sessions at Rajneesh ashrams; I have actually found a substitute, just listen to Radio Australia's Bruce Hill on Pacific Beat.  

Tonga's prime minister Lord Tu'ivakano won praise in parliament for inclusion of former captain Nili Latu in rugby union world cup squad

The deputy chairman of the Tonga Rugby Union Authority 'Aminiasi Kefu has assured the International Rugby Board that there is no political interference with the TRUA. But that is at odd with what happened in parliament. On Tuesday several MPs demanded the inclusion of Nili Latu in Tonga's squad. On Wednesday the prime minister informed the House that it is a done deal and the TRUA has let Latu in. That is political interference in my book. All Wednesday Tu'ivakano was feted in parliament; a poem was recited in his honour; the benevolence of his ancestors was highlighted; and his leadership qualities exalted. Member of parliament and ex-local rugby supremo Sangster Saulala pointed out to Tu'ivakano that he too had struggled against the IRB. The Nili Latu affair is the creation of head coach 'Isitolo Maka, who seem to talk out of the two corners of his mouth. In a newspaper interview a few weeks ago he expressed his satisfaction with regular no. 7 Sione Vaiomo'unga's performance in the Pacific Nations Cup. Even the Fiji TV rugby commentator spoke highly of the very physical attribute of his game. However after playing in the first test against Fiji, Vaiomo'unga suddenly fell out of favour. Some reports suggest that Maka had held talks with Latu prior to the two tests; and Vaiomo'unga's fall from grace and Latu's recall were mere formalities. The TRUA had then overruled Maka and Vaiomo'unga was again selected. But following the PM's intervention, Latu is now in the extended squad. And racist parliamentary speaker Lasike told Radio Tonga that the "Nili Latu case is settled." As a non-rugby fan I do not understand what all the fuss is about for according to former All Black and educator John Graham, rugby union matches are won and lost by the quality of possession from the tight five!