New laptops for Tonga's parliament; birthday guest-list is news for Radio NZ International; and a code of ethics for Tonga's teachers

Each member of Tonga's new parliament has at his disposal a new laptop, courtesy of the People's Republic of China. The Speaker was so overjoyed at the gift that he forgot which language to express his gratitude in and ended up switching back and forth between the English and Tongan languages while talking to journalists. When the Speaker was still an ordinary member of parliament he once complained that he could not understand the then minister of health, who used to decorate his speeches with English phrases. The Speaker talked of the many advantages a laptop brings, including ease of access to the internet; but he overlooked the mere fact that these toys are also useful for watching porn, a diversion that can help MPs bear with the long and aimless speeches that dominate parliamentary debates. What will happen to the laptops in four years? We do not know yet, but in parliament this year veteran MP 'Akilisi Pohiva wanted to know the fate of 10 motorbikes, 40 desk fans. and 100 green-colored chairs that belonged to the legislature but have mysteriously disappeared. Every weekday at 8.40 am we get to hear a news bulletin in the Tongan language from Radio NZ International, relayed via FM 89.5. If the news reader had been to a wedding or birthday party, that too would often feature in the news. But Tevita Finau who read the news from Wellington took it to an absurd level on 22 February 2011 when he actually read out the guest-list at a birthday party. By the sixth minute (I timed it) Tevita started on who lit the birthday cake, but thankfully local announcer 'Anolo Manu has heard enough and turned it off. Today the Friendly Islands Teachers Association president Finau Tutone told Radio Tonga news that they are working on a code of ethics for teachers here. What I as a parent want is equal opportunity for all students. In 2005 Mr Tutone's then 12-year old grandson, a Form 2 student, sat the Maths paper in the Tonga School Certificate exams, which was and is only available to Form 5 students. This country teems with youths who unwisely left school early without any qualifications; why not not give them the same opportunity as that enjoyed by the young Tutone. Anyway Finau Tutone is a very active member of the Friendly Islands Human Rights and Democracy Movement that purports to promote human rights here in Tonga.