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!

Racism in Tonga's parliament and Bollywood

Bob Tuckey, the chairman and CEO of the Tonga Rugby Union Authority, has resigned and left Tonga; sickened by the racism, by the innuendos, and by the hostility he encountered here in Tonga. Bob's ethnicity became the focus of parliamentary debates last week after it was raised by the Speaker Lord Lasike. Unfortunately for Bob and his family, even from Australia they will continue through their taxes to contribute to this racist's salary; and to the salaries of twelve other MPs who voted to dump him (since Australia provides millions of dollars in budget support to Tonga this year). On Monday Tonga's parliamentarians decided to backtrack and ascribed Bob's departure solely to a disagreement with the head coach of the national rugby union team. In parliament yesterday the head coach became hero and the members of the TRUA became villains. One MP pledged his support to the national side in the morning session; withdrew his support in the afternoon session; then re-pledged his support this morning. Sounds like a toddler misbehaving or the plot from a low-budget masala movie from Bollywood. But the legislature will have none of that; they seem instead to be looking towards Hollywood for inspiration. According to the only member of parliament with a doctorate, Dr. Sitiveni Halapua, rugby union will unite us. You know, "Invictus" style. But it would be an insult to Nelson Mandela, who fought courageously against apartheid and racism throughout his adult life to be associated with this bunch. So it is going to be "Mr. Bean took Tongan MPs to the circus."

Tonga's parliament defy the International Rugby Board (IRB) and the pig

In a rare show of unity, the people's and nobles' representatives in Tonga's legislative assembly voted overwhelmingly to dump the chairman of the Tonga Rugby Authority, Bob Tuckey, but retain him as CEO only. This despite an emotional appeal from deputy Prime Minister Samiu Vaipulu and letters of support for Mr. Tuckey from some senior players and the coaching staff of the Ikale Tahi. The IRB also expressed its approval of Mr. Tuckey's performance and warned that Tonga's participation at the 2011 World Cup, now only three weeks away, could be jeopardized. But Tonga's parliament defied them all. It can be characterized as an act of bravery or tomfoolery or hypocrisy or all three. It was the embattled Speaker, Lord Lasike (pronounced Lar-sick-eh) who led the charge on Mr. Tuckey. Lasike, who is married to the Agriculture Minister's sister and is facing demands for his resignation over allegation that he has a mistress, said that he can tolerate a Tongan being both chairman and CEO of the rugby authority but not a foreigner. So it is his foreignness that is the issue. The problem is that this year's budget, as was last year's, is buttressed by foreign cash supplied by the Australian and New Zealand governments; which contributes to the two salaries that is drawn by Lasike. His salary as a Speaker and another as a noble; in other words, a second salary for doing nothing. I care less as to who chairs the Tonga Rugby Authority but why ridicule, belittle and rattle the national side one day before a test match. I therefore propose a compromise candidate, a pig. A big fat sow. A powerful chief had once crowned a pig as the secular king of Tonga to silence all the contenders. So a pig might just be the solution to all the feuding over the administration of rugby union here in Tonga. And maybe the players and coach will be left alone. The sores that afflicts the sport here is due in part to ex-president of the Tonga Rugby Football Union, Sangster Saulala. He boasted to the Kele'a newspaper on 13 July 2011 of how he had stood up to the IRB and that "the money sent...to Tonga by the IRB is Tonga's money anyway...but it is being portrayed as IRB money."

Shouting in Tonga's parliament

On Monday 15 August 2011 Tongan member of parliament 'Akilisi Pohiva told the legislature that the people no longer trust the House; least of all the speaker. According to a letter in the Taimi 'o Tonga newspaper parliamentary speaker Lord Lasike has a mistress. Yesterday's proceedings rapidly degenerated into a shouting match and then a screaming one between 'Akilisi and Revenue Minister Clive Edwards over the satellite company Tongasat. 'Akilisi and colleagues are resurrecting a dispute that was settled long ago between the Tongan government and Tongasat, a company in which Princess Salote Pilolevu is a significant partner. But why raise it now? Well there is a by-election next month and trumpetting alleged injustices and royal family bashing is always a vote winner. The anti-Chinese rhetoric is likely to intensify as the campaign picks up pace. It is also likely that Radio Australia's Bruce Hill will turn up soon and sniff around and probably report back on how a favourite politician has been wronged. A few weeks ago Bruce interviewed a Niuean community leader on the prospect of a race riot on their island if Chinese families settle there. Dear Bruce the ingredients for a race riot is rather simple: xenophobic politicians and stupid journalists.  

'Akilisi Pohiva, Dr. Sitiveni Halapua, the reconstruction and mice of Nuku'alofa, and pity the All Blacks

The de facto leader of the opposition 'Akilisi Pohiva and his de facto deputy Dr. Sitiveni Halapua have been appointed to look into the state of the money borrowed from the People's Republic of China and how it has been spent in the reconstruction of Nuku'alofa. As elected politicians are notorious for self-promotion, it would be a disaster if their report would be replete with references to letters and petitions written by Mr. Pohiva in the past or articles in the Kele'a, the newspaper he founded. If you are not convinced, just look at the appendices in the submissions to parliament by the opposition. But as the loan is being rapidly depleted, the mice of the central business district are fast becoming the fittest rodents in the world. Restricted to exercising and racing in the Uata Building since its opening in 1981, the mice now can choose between the Royco Building, the Lalita Building, or the taller and grander O G Sanft Building and Taumoepeau Building, where whole floors are available for mice-sprint, mice-aerobics, mice-cartwheels, and mice-banquets, courtesy of the loan from the PRC. For the really, really adventurous there is the extension to the heavily guarded Royal Palace, which cost millions. Then there is always the mini-racetrack also called the Tonga Rugby Football Union's trophy cabinet which is perenially devoid of any silverware. Tongan players have however exploited other facets of the competitions they were involved in. At the recent Commonwealth Games, Tonga's rugby sevens team was a disappointment but they made up for it in the dining hall where, according to the Kakalu newspaper, they ate and ate so much food that they returned home heavier than when they left. But those are amateurs, Tonga's team for the Rugby World Cup is a professional outfit and they will be in Auckland on September 2011 to break the will of the All Blacks and the hearts of all Aotearoa from Cape Reinga to Invercargill. Beware New Zealand!! The Tongans are coming!!!     

Tonga's police commissioner return to New Zealand; Tongan solutions to problems

On the evening of 16 November 2006 in Nuku'alofa, two brothers from the family that owned the Taumoepeau Building watched nervously as fire engulfed the Molisi Tonga store next door. Also watching were firemen who said that a fire engine parked nearby is full of water. But as flames started to flicker on the edge of the roof facing Molisi the firemen made no move to hose it down. The appointment of Chris Kelley as police commissioner was still two years away or we would have known definitively what they were saving the water for or if there was water at all in the fire engine. An HSBC Bank advertisement emphasizes that local knowledge is invaluable. And a key fact that Kelley should have learned from day one is that the Friendly Islands Human Rights and Democracy Movement is not a human rights organization. There are things in this country that can only be understood in that context. Unfortunately Kelley's days as police commissioner ends this Friday. Today the Minister of Police tried to rationalize the government's decision not to renew Kelley's contract and failed miserably. The honour for the most comical decision however belongs to the Tonga Water Board. To counter a rising tide of complaints from water consumers the TWB hired a public relations officer. These are engineering problems that need engineering solutions. Another problem that is not tackled is the bastardization of the Tongan language. The use of pidgin Tongan is on the ascendancy and one of the worst offenders is the Ministry of Education, Women Affairs and CULTURE. A new Miss Heilala was crowned last week; and a heartening and positive development is that those judging the talent contest in the pageant now include dancers, singers and artists. The principal judge in another year was a fresh diplomat from NZ whose previous career was farming, probably dairy. That is not so unusual here. The last general manager of the Tonga Broadcasting Commission came straight from the Ministry of Agriculture where she handled livestock, fertilizers and tractors. A professional farmer might be just what the Talaki newspaper need. Its edition on 25 March 2009 talked of the Catholic church's generosity in letting students from other faiths enter the Australia Pacific Technical College. The Talaki's editor forgot that the APTC is owned by the Australian government.