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."