MP Veivosa Taka: “We have already fallen into a deep hole.” ^Featured

I've been waiting to hear what budgetary solutions MPs would have to address the King’s challenges to improve the country's (a) healthcare, (b) education, and the (c) economy from His Majesty's Parliament Opening Day speech.

Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva, however, seems much more interested in policing: (a) morality; (b) nationalism; (c) winning "independence” for Tonga, (d) and insuring that his son Siaosi Pōhiva's partner Pīveni Piukala, is also on the Government payroll permanently.

Let’s not forget that Mr. Piukala removed without permission company intellectual property from Shoreline a while back, giving it to 'Akilisi Põhiva's Kele'a newspaper to publish. This "quid pro quo" (payback) time to reward Mr. Piukala. Also, we cannot forget another PM’s son (Po'oi Põhiva), is hired as the PM’s permanent Personal Assistant.

PMO 2015 Press Release Lies

During the recent debates, Lord Tu’ilakepa confirmed an approved Budget allocation of $260,000 in 2015 to buy computer software from Pīveni Piukala and Siaosi Pōhiva's partnership. Meanwhile, the PMO issued an official Press Release accusing this writer’s 2015 editorial on the subject as “lies,” and that no decisions made by Cabinet to purchase a computer software from the Piukala and Pōhiva company. Now we know that was a lie as well; Mr. Piukala has been paid at least $200,000.

Mr. Siaosi Pōhiva also denied having a computer software partnership with Mr. Piukala, which is another lie. Mr. Piukala revealed that fact on a TV Tonga interview with Viola Ulakai. But with the help of the PMO, they threatened to sue this writer, for libel. Truth being told, no such actions could refute the facts, and they did not want to face those embarrassing possibilities in court.

In my editorial, I estimated the computer software would cost more than a whopping $1 million. So far, we’ve accounted for $260,000 − that’s over a quarter of a $1 million, but Mr. Piukala's software only created problems. I did research of similar software programs developed to serve similar education departments in the Pacific.

PM's Cabinet Rearranging Deck Chairs on Titanic    

In my estimation, a feasibility study could cost up to $250,000. The software development would require programming costs of about $500,000 at the least. Training and coaching of operators would add another $250,000; and the Servicing Contract to guarantee the program’s validity of sustainability, would run another $250,000 at least. Unfortunately, the new software was tested on our school children and is failing miserably.

Fast forward to last week's Parliamentary Budget Debates in which Lord Fusitu’a was correct to propose that such educational major changes usually take longer than with a “flick of fingers.” PM Põhiva claimed that we have reached the point-of-no-return, and MP Veivosa Taka rightfully exclaimed, “We’ve already fallen into a deep hole.” .  

Usually feasibility studies take at least a year. The software development also takes one or two years to include trial runs to work out the bugs in the new system. The training and coaching of operators would take another year, and the Servicing Contract is a must additional cost. The Education Department is getting what it pays for: an inferior untested product.

I’m afraid all this Government is doing is keep rearranging the chairs on deck the Titanic. Sooner rather than later, they’ll have to find the lifeboats, and abandon ship.

(Sione A. Mokofisi is an international syndicated columnist living in Tonga. His writing and photography work are published in print and online Websites in addition to "Nepituno.to". Check for daily updates on "Looptonga.com" Website. He's Director of English, Journalism & Business Management at Mona Uni-Tech, Haveluloto, Tongatapu. E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).