Posted Sun Feb 3, 2008 11:39am AEDT
The Federal Government says $2 million in funding to help some South Pacific nations fight climate change is just the first allocation of a much larger assistance fund.
Parliamentary secretary for Development Assistance Bob McMullan says the $2 million will be provided through AusAID to fund programs in Samoa, Fiji, Vanuatu, Tonga and Solomon Islands.
During the election campaign the Government promised $US150 million to help the South Pacific adapt to climate change.
View full story:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/...153058.htm
How is this money going to be distributed amongst the countries ?
Each year, donor agencies pour money into Tonga, supposedly for the benefit of the citizens.
Often these funds get mixed into the big bowl of taxes, and end up paying for political appointees such as Lopeti Senituli or for the government to pay it's legal bills when its being sued by innocent political victims. Often Aid money is given to the Royal family as in the case of the 2 million dollars that was paid to BP for fuel that Shoreline purchased.
Last year when the governor of Ha'apai addressed the parliament on the urgent need to obtain government funding to build a number of walls to protect from beach erosion, he was told that the government had no money to build a wall and instead that he should pray. (From the Matangitonga)
The government seems to have enough money to pay the king and his entourage $200,000.00 each in allowances to go on an overseas holiday for a few months, costing the tax payer $2 million dollars. These funds have come from both the taxes that we have paid together with funds from aid agencies that were destined for other purposes such as education and health services.
But we need to pray -not for the protection against rising oceans, but against rising corruption and mismanagement of what few dollars Tonga has at its disposal.
This destructive element of political corruption in Tonga has been and is continuing to cause more damage compared to the environment.
An example of this is the $118 million dollar loan from China. It will take Tonga over 20 years to re-pay this loan. And in doing so will mean that no money will ever be available to defend our shores in Ha'apai against rising tides.
Nor will there ever be any funds available to fix our roads, improve the schools for our children or get better hospital treatment- for the next 20 years.
A high tide or cyclone will bring down houses and ruin crops. The damage houses can be rebuilt and crops re-grown in just a few years. Whereas Political corruption effects each every Tongan and is often not able to be repaired.
It's better that we ask the aid donors for money to provide us with the ability to remove the corruption from our government.
With corruption and mismanagement of our taxes out of the way, then a corrupt free Tonga can better placed to manage funds & protect us against the environment.
Fakatafa,
Malo e talanoa pea malo lahi moe fokotu'u fakakaukau ma'olunga.
Koe ngaahi ha'aha'a 'o natula 'oku 'ikai pule kiai taha pe fakaloto'i 'e taha 'a natula ke vilo mai.
Koe fakaakeake mei he ha'aha'a 'o natula 'oku lau mahina pe ,pe lau ta'u .Koe ha'aha'a 'a hono pekutu'u pe puke fakamalohi'i e "FAKAMAAU TOTONU moe TOTONU 'AE TANGATA'I FONUA" , 'e feohi e fonua moia mei he to'utangata kihe to'utangata kae 'oua leva kuo "FA'AO FAKAFOKI MAI PE TAU'I" 'o ikuna'i 'ae kau fakamalohi koia.
Poupou 'aupito kihe fokotu'u fakakaukau kuo ke 'omii , ke fai ha femahino'aki moe kau Aid donors kihe founga tili 'ae kau taki he ngaahi tokoni 'oku nau 'ofa aki.
Neu fokotu'u foki moe tefito'i fakakaukau tatau 'ihe thread..."Koe ha e sitepu hokoo", 'uhinga ke a'u tonu pe fetu'utaki hangatonu pe 'ae ngaahi komiti Temokalati kuo 'osi lesisita fakalao 'i muli kihe Commonwealth pe U.N ke nau hu mai 'o tokoni 'o hange tofu pe koe me'a ne fai 'e Pilitania he taimi 'o G2.
Malo e 'omi fakakaukau moe 'ofa fonua.
PEACE!
[An example of this is the $118 million dollar loan from China. It will take Tonga over 20 years to re-pay this loan. And in doing so will mean that no money will ever be available to defend our shores in Ha'apai against rising tides.
Fakatafa could you please confirm if the $118 million dollar loan from China has been approved and paid as my source from England ( Tongan Citizen) rang to say that China Govt withdrew from the deal . It seem to me that you could help to clarify this .
TOPUKIE,
I have only heard that the loan was approved and there was an official signing of the loan a while back. It was reported at the Tonga-Now web site and a few other web sites.
I have not heard that China has backed out of the deal.
I am unsure if the funds have been dispensed as yet.
I am aware that the PM has applied for funds from the loan as he is intending to rebuild his supermarket (Molisi).
Sorry, but thats all the info I have at the moment.
Fakatafa
Fakatafa
My England friend told me that was why G5 and his team including TKolo , Mapa Faletau and others spent long time in Europe and also all the way to Israel desperately ke fai ha no ki he Coronation ,hili e mahino ko ia 'oku holomui 'a Siaina.Intresting
Malo e taalanga 'ae kau tangata moe kau fefine, hangee koe lau koe lahi ange koee 'ae corrupt he fonua moe use e mafai halaa.Koe hoko atu ki 'Oseni he kumi faingamalie moe kumi $$$$.Kae hili ia kapau ne tuku pee manumanu ia moe siokita moe ngaue'aki e mafai halaa na'e sai pee Tonga ia.Pea ko'etau 'alu atu 'eni kihe kovi 'aupito he koe kuonga 'eni kuo faikehe.
'Io Topukie ,Interesting but you never know what they are up too .This is alot of millions and the poor people of Tonga will end up paying this loan for a long,long, time. ;Oku nau mio'i holo pee but the truth will come out sooner or later !
TOPUKIE Wrote:Fakatafa
My England friend told me that was why G5 and his team including TKolo , Mapa Faletau and others spent long time in Europe and also all the way to Israel desperately ke fai ha no ki he Coronation ,hili e mahino ko ia 'oku holomui 'a Siaina.Intresting
Topukie mo Fakatafa, 'ihe 'eku ma'u koe loan 118 which Parliament approved last year. Koe palopalemaa koe'uhi koe deal koia na'e hanga ai 'ehe PM and PK pea moe Deputy Prime Minister are trying to sabotage it because China will NOT be providing $$$ but only materials and people !!!
Kaikehe foki kuo 'osi mole atu e fo'i 1 million already na'e to'o mei he pa'anga teuteu e coronation 'i he fu'u folau koena 'ae Tu'i moe kautama koena ki 'Iulope mo fe fua...
'Aia koe hoko atu ia koeni 'ihe taimi ni, don't be surprise kapau 'e tenau feinga tufi pa'anga 'a G5 moe PM mo'ena kau te'e he ngaahi aid pea moe ngaahi tute koe teu kihe Coronation. Pea 'oku ou fie 'oatu ai pe heni ketau fai hano vakai'i 'ae teu coronation koeni ki 'Aokosi ketau hanga 'o talanga'i telia hotau ngaahi famili 'i Tonga 'eiki...KE VAKAI NA'A NAU TEITEI MOLE HA'ANAU PENI 'E TAHA HA NGAAHI ME'AKAI, PE KOE TALITALI E KAU FOLAU MAI KIAI PE TETAU TEITEI NGAUE KE UE'I HA TEITEI FAKAMA'A KOLO 'E TAHA KAE TUKU PE KE LELE MAI E NGAAHI HOA E PM MOE KAU MINISITAA 'O HIKO 'AE VEVE MO TUFI E ta'x E FANGA MONUMANU kamou sio kimoutolu hano toe lii'i mai 'e Tafolosaa moE hoa e PM e ngaahi tohi mo'ua kihe'enau hiko veve moe teu fakama'akolo oku teu campaign ai 'a Pilinisesi Pilo moe hoa 'oe PM kihe teu 'oe coronation...
Fakatafa/Topu/Kelo,
Malo ho’o omai ae ngaahi analysis malie ko 'eni moe ngaahi fakamatala. ‘Oku ou fie tokoni atu ki ho’o assessment ki he polokalama tokoni ki Tonga (Aid) pea tanaki atu ki he fakamatala ki he reconstruction loan ae Puleanga.
If you recall, it was reported earlier that the signing in November was for Tonga Government to loan roughly 440m RMB for the rebuilding of Nuku’alofa. This is translated roughly into USD60m, (and approx TOP118m). If China’s economy continues to grow, it will strengthen the RMB against the USD. This will stiffle Tonga’s ability to repay as it will mean the value in paanga increases !.
The concessional loan agreement specifies the interest rate on the amount is 2% and to be repaid back in 20 years time.
In addition, there is 1% management fee. This is 1% of 440m RMB !
OK…. Now that is only the finance side, questions remain to be unanswered for which we should demand a response for:-
(i) land issue, have the land owners been consulted on the plans to utilize the China loan funds ?
(ii) the approved design of Nuku’alofa and its total cost
(iii) is the amount being borrowed sufficient, not enough or too much
(iv) what about the loan provided by Australia and New Zealand (signed in December) to affected businesses. Approximately 16m TOP and to be channeled through the commercial banks ??
Fakatafa/Topu/Kelo,
Malo ho’o omai ae ngaahi analysis malie ko 'eni moe ngaahi fakamatala. ‘Oku ou fie tokoni atu ki ho’o assessment ki he polokalama tokoni ki Tonga (Aid) pea tanaki atu ki he fakamatala ki he reconstruction loan ae Puleanga.
If you recall, it was reported earlier that the signing in November was for Tonga Government to loan roughly 440m RMB for the rebuilding of Nuku’alofa. This is translated roughly into USD60m, (and approx TOP118m). If China’s economy continues to grow, it will strengthen the RMB against the USD. This will stiffle Tonga’s ability to repay as it will mean the value in paanga increases !.
The concessional loan agreement specifies the interest rate on the amount is 2% and to be repaid back in 20 years time.
In addition, there is 1% management fee. This is 1% of 440m RMB !
OK…. Now that is only the finance side, questions remain to be unanswered for which we should demand a response for:-
(i) land issue, have the land owners been consulted on the plans to utilize the China loan funds ?
(ii) the approved design of Nuku’alofa and its total cost
(iii) is the amount being borrowed sufficient, not enough or too much
(iv) what about the loan provided by Australia and New Zealand (signed in December) to affected businesses. Approximately 16m TOP and to be channeled through the commercial banks ??
Guys guys, ko 'eku ma'u 'oku te'ekiai ke access ae paanga Siaina. Ko ee 'uhinga, koe policy a Siaina koe export credit, ka oku ou fiema'u 'e porno man mo 'ene kau tama ke omai ae cash !!. Ko 'eku ma'u koe uhinga eni 'oku tuai ai ae loan negotiation.
Pea oku tonu ke tau eke ae fehu'i ko 'ena 'oku ohake 'e Mounga, ae 1% of the loan amount koe management on top of the 2% i he USD60m ! Taa koe 'ee ai pe ae fonua hono langa ae hotele ae ongo initia, mo Molisi !
Tafa, fakatonutounu atu koe cost ki he folau ae Tu'i was 1m paanga, not two million as you say. Koe totongi katoa pe eni ehe Tongan tax payers and not from aid funds... Koe konga ena ae aid funds na'e totongi vaheange 'o Lope, pea kuo osi ae paanga koia mei he kau Chinese
Melekelo Wrote:Guys guys, ko 'eku ma'u 'oku te'ekiai ke access ae paanga Siaina. Ko ee 'uhinga, koe policy a Siaina koe export credit, ka oku ou fiema'u 'e porno man mo 'ene kau tama ke omai ae cash !!. Ko 'eku ma'u koe uhinga eni 'oku tuai ai ae loan negotiation.
Pea oku tonu ke tau eke ae fehu'i ko 'ena 'oku ohake 'e Mounga, ae 1% of the loan amount koe management on top of the 2% i he USD60m ! Taa koe 'ee ai pe ae fonua hono langa ae hotele ae ongo initia, mo Molisi !
Tafa, fakatonutounu atu koe cost ki he folau ae Tu'i was 1m paanga, not two million as you say. Koe totongi katoa pe eni ehe Tongan tax payers and not from aid funds... Koe konga ena ae aid funds na'e totongi vaheange 'o Lope, pea kuo osi ae paanga koia mei he kau Chinese
Moungakula,
Mo'unga, ko'eku fanongo pe he talanoa 'oku sasala holo ka ko'eku toe fakapapau'i pe mo koe pe 'oku mo'oni nai 'ae me'a 'e taha that "PM IN CONFIDENCE told some of the diplomats 'oku 'ikai kene hanga 'o poupou'i 'ae NOO mei Siaina, kae 'ihe taimi tatau pe na'e kau pe 'ae PM he folau ki Siaina 'o fakamaaloo he'enau tokoni mai....
Pea koe me'a 'e taha 'oku ou fiema'u ke fakapapau'i pe na'e mo'oni na'e foaki ange 'ehe kau Siaina 'ae pa'anga koeni as a token of the PM's first visit to China….Pea koe pa'anga koia na'e fiema'u ia 'e he PM 'ae pa'anga koeni ke turned into his own slush fund ??? Hange pe koe pa'anga petty cash 20,000 ko 'ena 'oku ne feinga'I ma'ae kau CEO?
Moungakula,
Mo'unga, ko'eku fanongo pe he talanoa 'oku sasala holo ka ko'eku toe fakapapau'i pe mo koe pe 'oku mo'oni nai 'ae me'a 'e taha that "PM IN CONFIDENCE told some of the diplomats 'oku 'ikai kene hanga 'o poupou'i 'ae NOO mei Siaina, kae 'ihe taimi tatau pe na'e kau pe 'ae PM he folau ki Siaina 'o fakamaaloo he'enau tokoni mai....
Pea koe me'a 'e taha 'oku ou fiema'u ke fakapapau'i pe na'e mo'oni na'e foaki ange 'ehe kau Siaina 'ae pa'anga koeni as a token of the PM's first visit to China….Pea koe pa'anga koia na'e fiema'u ia 'e he PM 'ae pa'anga koeni ke turned into his own slush fund ??? Hange pe koe pa'anga petty cash 20,000 ko 'ena 'oku ne feinga'I ma'ae kau CEO]
Taahine Mary, malo e fehu'i.... koe tali ki ho'o fehu'i, io, my sources say that PM did tell me that PM said that he does not support the China loan, yet I am surprised by his public appearance, seemingly supporting it ...
I am also aware that in his visit to China last year in May, the gesture by the Chinese was to recognise his first ever visit. Lo and behold, PM and his advisers do not understand how aid funds work !!!. He thought that he would have a sluch fund, only to find out that China aid is provided in kind !!!