The Ministry of Infrastructure oversees all major infrastructure developments and construction in the Kingdom of Tonga. These developments include the construction and repair of roads, wharves, airports, government buildings, government schools, and reconstruction works after damages from cyclones, flooding, and tsunamis. The expenditure on infrastructure in any nation is among the highest in the Government’s annual budget. This is true for Tonga, with millions of pa’anga, designated to various infrastructural work. In addition to the budget designations are the aid from foreign development partners valued in the millions, for construction of needed infrastructural facilities. Each government in power has its…
Author: Kalafi Moala
New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Carmel Sepuloni returned to New Zealand with her delegation on Friday 21 April, having visited the Solomon Islands, Fiji, and Tonga. The New Zealand Air Force plane that brought Hon. Sepuloni to Tonga and her delegation of 60, took out of Tonga a lot of good will and affection having spent 3 days in the country. It was the first visit to Tonga for Hon. Sepuloni, who is of Tongan heritage. It was also the first time someone of Tongan heritage who has been appointed to a high position such as Deputy Prime Minister…
I teach a class in a Journalism Course at the Tonga Higher Institute of Education.The class is on Values & Ethics, as applied to Journalism. I have been a journalistfor 34 years; having worked as owner and editor of a newspaper; and for 2 yearsproduced TV programs; then later owned and operated an FM radio station.Having sold the newspaper and radio since 2019, I am now in semi-retirementbut still involved in online journalism, not counting my involvement in producingnews from Tonga for outlets locally and overseas.A good portion of my adult life has been taken up with journalism and thecommunications…
Part 2: Pathway to democracy. As the island kingdom approached 2010, it was already a foregone conclusion that there would be a major constitutional reform to the political governance structure. Essentially, the changes to be made would involve the appointment of government – the executive branch, no longer to be made by the Monarch but by Parliament. In that case, the Prime Minister would be appointed based on a majority vote of the members of Parliament. He would then appoint his Cabinet Ministers, to form a government. Elected members of the people’s representatives were raised from nine to seventeen. They…
Ko e hisitolia ‘o Tongá ‘oku faka’ilonga’i mai ai e ngaahi me’a mahu’inga ne hoko ‘o ne fakatoka e hala fononga ki he fonuá mo e Sosaieti Tongá. Ko e hala fononga foki ‘eni ki he “kaha’ú”. Kā, ko e faikehekehe ‘o e kuohilí mo e kaha’ú, he ko e kuohilí ko e ngaahi me’a ia kuo ‘osi hoko. Kā, ko e kaha’u ‘oku te’eki ai ke hoko mai ia. ‘Oku mahu’inga hotau kuohilí he ko e fai fononga ki he kaha’u, ko e hoko atu ia mei he ngaahi makatu’unga mo e ngaahi me’a mahu’inga ne hoko ‘i hotau…
By Kalafi Moala The dominant story of the past two decades or so was the 2010 constitutional reform that would put Tonga on the pathway to democracy. Since 2010 there were numerous stories that carry the strengths of the changes made, as well as the failures in executing reform. The movement toward democratic reform came as a natural social progression emerging with a number of contributing factors. Some were political. Some were socio-economic; and others came out of basic personal and societal discontent with the status quo. King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV, who was one of Tonga’s longest ruling monarchs, entertained…
Kalafi Moala The wife of former ousted Minister and Member of Parliament, Poasi Tei, was the clear front-runner, and strongest winner of Tongatapu 6 by-election, when the poll made its final count on Thursday 3 November. Dulcie Elaine Tei, won handily by 1308 votes over her closest rival, Fane Fotu Fituafe, who tallied 900 votes; a difference of 408 votes. The other three candidates were insignificant with their number of voters: Sione Talanoa Fifita (115), Tahifisi Vehikite (114), and Sepeti Vakameilalo (27). 53.1% of registered voters for Tongatapu 6 went to the polls. Mateni Tapueluelu, was no surprise when he…
(September 2022) Howard Sekomb, former missionary to Tonga and President of the Free Wesleyan Church (aged 100); his wife Janet, aged 97; and Siupeli Taliai, aged 96. Siupeli is former Principal of Tupou College. All are still living, and reside in Melbourne, Australia. Photo: Supplied
Kalafi Moala ‘Etuate and Akosita Lavulavu were released from prison on Tuesday 11 October, when the Appeals Court granted their appeal to be successful. Reunited with their two sons, Edward Jr, age 10, and Ezra, age 3, the Lavulavus could not be happier. Asked how they feel, the 65 year old ‘Etuate Lavulavu said with much emotion, “it was obvious we have been wronged, and we expected the results as given by the Appeals Court.” The Lavulavu’s had spent 464 days in jail since 2 July 2021. Their request for bail and stay of ruling until their appeal was turned…
Kalafi Moala Someone has rightly said that if it’s broken, fix it. The implication is that broken things are fixable. If it is not broken, it has been suggested that we strengthen it, so it won’t be easily broken. We do live however in a world where there are too many things broken and left unfixed. Some things are broken beyond repair but they maybe replaceable. There are tangible things when broken that cannot be fixed – a plate, a glass, a vase. It would be much easier and cheaper just to replace them. It may be impossible to try…