Kalafi Moala Flags were flown at half-mast as Tonga joins the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth of Nations, and the rest of the world in mourning the passing of Queen Elizabeth II on September 8, at age 96. She had had been on the throne of the United Kingdom for 70 years. At 26, in 1952 she became Queen at the death of her father King George VI. It was at her coronation in 1952 that Tonga’s Queen Salote III visited Great Britain, and left an indelible memory in the minds of many people. Queen Salote ordered that the chariot she…
Author: Kalafi Moala
Kalafi Moala Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku is facing the greatest challenge in his 8 months of government leadership. One Minister died before he had an opportunity to serve in his portfolio; three of his senior Cabinet Ministers lost their seats in Parliament after they lost their appeals against bribery convictions. Within just 8 months, Parliamentary by-elections have been called to fill the seats four of the Ministers have occupied. One was held on September 1 to replace the late Manuopangai Hingano. Three will be held on November 3rd to replace the seats held by former Deputy Prime Minister, Poasi Tei; former…
Kalafi Moala Nuku’alofa: One thing very noticeable in Tonga is that it is a broken country. Broken in the sense there are so many things that does not work, things that need fixing but have not been fixed, let alone worked on, for years. Just driving around Nuku’alofa encountering unfinished infrastructures, beginning with the roads and surrounding vicinities, it does not take more than average intelligence to see there are many things that does not work. At least things that don’t work properly, but unfortunately most people are getting used to it. We seem to be content with mediocrity in…
Kalafi Moala After posting this article supposedly as observation from the late comedian George Carlin, Talanoa ‘o Tonga has been contacted by FB fact checking that the claim Carlin wrote it is false. He apparently did not write this, even though other sources claim he did. Anyway, I wish to state that in the end I do not care as much who wrote it, even though it is important; but there’s good value in what was written, whoever the author is. And George Carlin is still my favorite comedian from the ’70s and ’80s! We respect and appreciate the correction…
Kalafi Moala The two words – Celebrity and Christianity – seem a contradiction. At the core of Christianity is “an old rugged” Cross on which a gentle, suffering servant – savior was crucified. He suffered and died for others. On the other hand, the core of celebrity is a self-image of celebrated success, popularity, prosperity, and a struggle-free life. My American friend, Danny Lehman, whom I worked with in Hawaii, wrote me recently: “I still find it hard to reconcile the suffering servant Jesus in the Bible with some of his followers (today) who seem to ride on their celebrity…
Kalafi Moala The breaking news this week was about the fall from grace of a well-known spiritual leader, a man who founded one of the largest and fastest growing Evangelical Church movements in the world. Brian Houston, 68, the leader of Hillsong Christian movement, has resigned and removed by His eldership from leadership, for what they call “breach of moral code of conduct for pastors.” Houston was being investigated and found guilty of trying to hide the criminal activities of his father, Frank Houston, a well-known Assemblies of God pastor from Wellington, New Zealand. He was charged for sexual abuse…
Kalafi Moala While churches all over Tonga have concluded their annual prayer week at the beginning of each year, the question remains as to where we as a nation is heading in 2022? The purpose of the prayer week at this time each year is to bring spiritual renewal to the people of the church, and to pray intensively for the new year asking God for protection, provision, direction, and a peaceful conduct of life. Looking back over 2021, there is not that much difference in January 2022 concerning what dominated Tongan society. We seem to be at a better…
Kalafi Moala Hu’akavameiliku – Siaosi Sovaleni – aged 51, has been appointed by His Majesty King Tupou VI as the 18th Prime Minister of Tonga. The appointment executed today (Tuesday 28th December) was dated from Monday the 27th December. The new Prime Minister was re-elected as People’s Representative of Tongatapu 3 in the general elections on 18th November, with 83.9% of voters, the highest of any candidate throughout Tonga. He was elected as Prime Minister Designate on December 15th by a majority in Parliament of 16 to 11 over his rival candidate, Dr. ‘Aisake Eke. He has been the Minister of…
Kalafi Moala One of the most esteemed woman in Tongan society, Fekita Katoa ‘Utoikamanu, 62, has been appointed by Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni, and approved by the King, to become the new Minister of Foreign Affairs as well as Minister for Tourism. She is the only woman in Tonga’s new Parliament for 2002-2005. And also the only Minister appointed from outside Parliament. Ms. ‘Utoikamanu is more than just another popular appointment to the new Cabinet, she is Tonga’s most notable expert in Foreign Affairs, and has the training and experience to show for it. Since May 2017, she was appointed…
Supa Mario The island Kingdom has seen a decade of being under administrations that were ran by so called “Political Parties”. While these groups or parties have no legal provisions and control in the Constitution, they have existed nonetheless attracting criticism from known conservatives. The PTOA Party was initially thought to be the driving mechanism of further political reforms. As recent events had shown, they grew apart within themselves leading to their own downfall. The PAK Party engineered by the infamous Lavulavu was initially thought to be the driving mechanism for uniting the People (Commoners) with the Chiefs and the…