Tongan Public Service Association General Secretary Mele ʻAmanaki has lampooned government ministers online, saying they were ‘disorganised’ and ‘confused’ in Parliament.
She ridiculed Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva’s ministers by labelling their actions with words she coined by putting together words used for nobles with words used for Tongan commoners.
“Me’a atu e PM hee, me’alue atu e Minisitaa koee hee, pea me’atolo atu e Ministaa koee mei hee! me’apisipumu atu e Minisitaa koee hee!!” she wrote.
Translated: “The PM walked that way, that minister walked that way as a noble and at the same time walked as a commoner, and that minister walked that way as a noble and at the same time he threw things as a commoner and that minister walked that way as a noble and at the same time he sounded like loud music”.
‘Amanaki applauded former government ministers, saying they were more experienced and well organised when they presented themselves in the House.
She said they were better because they were handpicked by the king according to their various qualifications and expertise.
‘Amanaki was commenting after she apparently listened to the Parliament meeting broadcasting live on radio last week.
She said some of the ministers appeared to not have read the agenda and that had caused them a lot of confusion in the House.
She suggested running a workshop for these ministers or a kalasi ʻaho, a mocking reference that compares the situation to a church Bible sharing service during day time for Methodist church members.
ʻAmanaki said it was important for the Prime Minister and his cabinet to discuss and agree what they were going to say in Parliament before attending the House.
She pleaded with them to read the Parliamentary agenda before going to the House to avoid making mistakes.
She said the ministers in former governments made themselves aware of the agenda before they entered the House and that was their strength
Amanaki’s reactions to Hon. Pohiva’s ministers came after they rowed with the Prime Minister’s daughter, Lautala Tapueluelu, on Facebook last year.
Tapueluelu criticized ‘Amanaki for posting on Facebook information about their lunch meeting with the Prime Minister and others.
‘Amanaki posted that they had talked about how the Prime Minister made the decision to dismiss former Internal Affairs minister after an incident with one of his female directors.
She also said they discussed: “our joint court case, VONC, appointee to Minister of MIA, TSM for women in Parliament, West Papua, reshuffle of some portfolios, discussions in Parliament including the petition of the seasonal workers in Australia, regulation of financial institution, and his disappointment with the Kele’a article”.
Tapueluelu said she talked to the Prime Minister about ‘Amanaki’s post and he was disappointed to find out she had reported their conversation on government matters on Facebook.
“I felt that your intention was so evil”, Lautala said of ‘Amanaki.
“The Prime Minister was so disappointed when I showed him your post,” she said.
‘Amanaki told Tapueluelu to stop interfering with government work and leave it to the Chief Secretary and Pohiva’s PA.
Kaniva News contacted Tonga’s Chief Secretary and the Secretary to Cabinet for a comment. We are waiting for a response.
Comment
The Tongan language is divided into three categories according to people’s different social standing. The ordinary people are at low status while the nobles are on high position. The king and the queen are at the highest and regarded taboo. When commoners speak or talk to the nobles they use special honorific languages. When they talked to Their Majesties culturally through their heralds they have to use regal language.
For example, the commoner’s word for walk is lue, while it is me’a for nobles and hā’ele for Their Majesties.
Commoners can informally use honorific and regal languages for themselves in their conversation, but this can only happen when they make fun of someone or in situation where it is meant to jokingly give that particular person some kind of importance or value. However, this kind of language usage cannot be used in front of the king or the nobles.
The main points
- Tongan Public Service Association General Secretary Mele ʻAmanaki has lampooned government ministers online, saying they were ‘disorganised’ and ‘confused’ in Parliament.
- She applauded former government ministers, saying they were more experienced and well organised when they presented themselves in the House.
- She ridiculed Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva’s ministers by labelling their actions with words she coined by putting together words used for nobles with words used for Tongan commoners.
- “Me’a atu e PM hee, me’alue atu e Minisitaa koee hee, pea me’atolo atu e Ministaa koee mei hee! me’apisipumu atu e Minisitaa koee hee!!” she wrote.
