‘Akosita Lavulavu is Not First Female MP ^Featured

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A Mr. Peni Kātoa lashes out and ranting at my Letter to the Editor of <www.Matangitonga.to> hoping to silent legitimate public scrutiny of MP ‘Akosita Lavulavu. But first, Mr. Kātoa is dishonestly using election data in stating, “Mrs. Lavulavu won with 40% more votes than her nearest competitor…” But election result shows MP ‘Akosita won with 39.4% to second-place Dr. Viliami Lātū, which is only an 11.4% difference − not 40%.

Ignorant of Tongan history, Mr. Kātoa incorrectly states that MP ‘Akosita is the first female candidate to be elected to Parliament. He also wants the public to see “Mrs. Lavulavu’s election stands alone and has nothing to do with the charges against her husband.” But Mr. Kātoa is dishonestly stating the facts: Mr. ‘Etuate Lavulavu’s appeal did not negate, nor stayed his expulsion from Parliament, which stripped him of the two ministry portfolios he held (Ministry of Infrastructure, and Ministry of Tonga Tourism Authority).

Furthermore, he dishonestly states that I wrote MP ‘Akosita was responsible for her husband’s behaviors. Instead, I wrote that she did have the moral duty, as a Christian − and who claims to be a “faithful” Mormon − to correct her husband. MP ‘Akosita’s victory came from strong Mormon strongholds in Vava’u #16. I am a Mormon as well, and my wife and my deceased mother would have never permit dishonesty, stealing, nor accepted dirty money coming to our households.

Mr. Kātoa would also like the public to believe that, “Apparently the people of Vava’u are more than confident in her abilities and her character.” But only 39.4% of #16 voted for MP ‘Akosita, which does not translate to the whole of Vava’u. Plus, it’s only Mr. Katoa’s opinion on MP ‘Akosita’s “…abilities and character.” And now she’s a “public figure” in a democracy, to be vetted by the media to prove her true character. MP ‘Akosita is not an Angel, contrary to Mr. Kātoa and fellow Lavulavu supporters.

MP ‘Akosita to Cleanup a “Sodom & Comorrah” Parliament?

Then comes a list of class-envy complaints, and a witch-hunting wish-list against sitting legislators: He asked, “How is it that members of Parliament get rich while they are in office?” How many are guilty of infidelity, dead-beat dads, tax evaders, and criminals accepting briberies? He conveniently left out ’Akosita’s husband who is the only former MP convicted of bribery. Additionally, ‘Etuate Lavulavu confessed in Parliament to multitudes of corrupted acts he was charged with. Fortunately for him, he was saved from impeachment by three (3) votes of his former fellow Cabinet members (12-9).

I would like to ask Mr. Kātoa, then, to name one government in the entire world that is corruption free? And which sitting Tongan Parliamentarians were not duly elected, but are rather related by blood only? Then he asks if anyone disagrees, to which I’m raising my hand against his stereotyping blame-game.

My great-grand-father, Sosaia Mataele of Fo’ui; one of my uncles Joe Tu’ilatai Mataele of Nuku’alofa; a grand uncle Molitoni (Fisi’ihoi) Finau of Nukunuku; an uncle Samiu Vaipulu now serving, were not elected by blood relations. And so are many others, that have served many years faithfully as duly elected MPs. Mr. Kātoa cannot buildup his favorite MP choice by making a false claim using the stereotyping judgement “litmus test.” Neither does he know what “critical thinking” means.

100 Years of Sexism, Women Discrimination?

Further still, Mr. Kātoa rants on construing a sexism double standard in Tonga, “suggesting that her (MP ‘Akosita) male counterparts” have been exempted from “that same strict scrutiny” by the public. This is a disingenuous way of putting words in my mouth; I never wrote that. And he then asked what planet have I been living on…since “corruption has been rampant in our government?”

Mr. Kātoa is certainly attacking me personally for daring to question his precious MP 'Akosita. And he is confused between “hearsay” accusations of corruptions, and duly cases of corruptions, which have been tried in a court of law. Additionally, Tongan elections have been monitored by international human rights organizations, and results have been duly certified.

Mr. Kātoa must provide concrete proof of election improprieties, corruptions, and discriminations against women in Tonga. Just because male candidates have been more successful in Tonga does not conclude, therefore, that women are being “discriminated” against. And, yes, women have been elected in the past to Tonga’s Parliament − MP ‘Akosita Lavulavu is not the first female candidate to win a seat in the Tongan Parliament.

(Sione A. Mokofisi is a published syndicated author living in Tonga. He writes on culture, politics, business and economics issues. He’s Director of English, Journalism & Business Management at Tonga International Academy, Haveluloto, Tongatapu. He earned a MBA from the University of Phoenix-Arizona; BS from BYU-Hawai’i; AA from Mesa College-Arizona. He’s a Liahona High School, Tonga, alumnus.)