A careful reading of the ruling Tu’i’onetoa’s Tonga People’s Party’s (PAK) manifesto appears to support claims that Democrat constituencies are being punished.
Democrat supporters have long complained about the roading programme, which has been mired in controversy since it was revealed that contracts have gone to friends of the government, including PAK bigwig and convicted criminal ‘Etuate Lavulavu.
Recently they have complained that the only constituencies that are regarded as a priority for the roading project are those which voted for the PAK.
Voters in Nuka’alofa, which makes up by parts of Tongatapu 1, 2, 3 and 4, wonder why the capital’s roads are being left to deteriorate.
There has been outrage as people have begun to feel they are the victims of an outrage using taxpayers’ money to reward only government supporters.
These are:
Tongatapu 10, Tongatapu 7, Tongatapu 6, Tongatapu 3, Vava’u 16, Vava’u 15, ‘Eua 11 and Niua 17.
However, the evidence has been sitting in plain sight since the manifesto was published last year: If you voted for the government, you will get your roads repaired by the end of next year.
If you voted for anybody else, you will just have to wait.
These constituencies are not due to be finished before the end of 2023:
Tongatapu 9, Tongatapu 8, Tongatapu 5, Tongatapu 4, Tongatapu 2, Tongatapu 1 , Vava’u 14, Ha’apai 12 and Ha’apai 13.
While the road schemes are listed in the PAK manifesto as being the product of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources others are not. Among the government’s proposed schemes are several kilometres of bridges, all of which are labelled as “Hon. Akosita Lavulavu Projects.” It is unclear whether the name of the recently jailed Minister of Infrastructure will remain.
FAKAMATALA FAKATONGA
‘Oku paaki he menifesitō pe tohi palani ngāue mo konisitūtone ‘a e Paati ‘a e ‘Eiki Palēmia’ Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa ko ‘ene polokalama tanu mo ngaahi hala laui miliona oku fai ai ‘a e vālau’ ‘oku fakamu’omu’a pe ‘a e ngaahi vāhenga ne nau fili ia mo ‘ene kapineti’ ki Fale Alea’. Ko e toenga’ toki vakai ia. Pea ‘oku hoko ai heni ‘a e ngaahi vālau he ‘oku tautea’i ‘a e ngaahi vāhenga ia ne ‘ikai ke nau fili he PAK, ka i he taimi tatau ko e pa’anga tukuhau ‘oku fai’aki ‘a e tanuhala filifilimānako ko ‘eni’ ko e pa’anga ‘a e ngaahi vāhenga’ kotoa ‘ikai ko ha pa’anga pe ia ‘a e PAK pe ‘ū vāhenga pe ko ē ne fili PAK ke nau fakapale fakatonutonu holo’aki. Lolotonga ‘oku lisi ‘i he menifesitō ko ‘eni ko e tanu hala ko ‘eni ko e fou mei he Potungāue Fonua’ mo e Savea’ ko e toenga’ e ngaahi polōseki ‘oku lisi ai’ hangē ko e ngaahi hala fakakavakava ‘oku ‘asi ia ko e polōseki ‘a Akosita Lavulavu. ‘Oku ‘ikai mahino pe ‘e toe liliu ‘o to’o e hingoa ‘o Akosita’ he kuo ngāue pōpula ia pe ‘e kei fakakakala’aki pe.
