March 24, 2000	atimes.com

Oceania Tongan Prime Minister talks about kingdom's future By Craig DeSilva HONOLULU, Hawaii - Many were surprised earlier this year when King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV of Tonga appointed his youngest son, 41-year-old Prince 'Ulukalala Lavaka Ata, to the post of prime minister. Many expected the king to appoint his eldest son, Prince Tupouto'a, to the position because he has more political experience. Since his appointment in January, Prince 'Ulukalala has been quiet in the media limelight. Pacific Islands Report had the opportunity to speak with the prime minister during his recent trip to Honolulu while attending meetings of the Standing Committee of the Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders and the Pacific Basin Economic Council (PBEC). Q: What direction will Pacific Island countries take in the wake of declining foreign aid and as globalization becomes more evident in the economy? A: I'm not sure about other Pacific Islands, but in Tonga probably the word, if I had to give it to you in one word, it would be adaptation. We just have to adapt to circumstances. We have to adapt to survive. Q: What are some of the changes Tonga will be facing? A: Well, the very ones that were discussed here: globalization and localization. It's important to become apart of the world community. Yet, at the same time, try and maintain your own cultural identity and values. Q: What are you hoping to accomplish as the new prime minister of Tonga? A: Perhaps it's a bit to soon to be asking me that question. I remember there's a story when one of the Chinese leaders was asked what he thought of the French Revolution, and his answer was it's a bit to soon to tell. Q: So I'll be asking you that in another five or 10 years? A: I may know something then. But at the moment, it's a learning experience for me to be in this kind of forum. It's also a learning experience for me because I've only been prime minister since January. Q: What direction would you like to take the government? A: Like any other small country, I would like to pursue the things that are important to the people. For example, better health and education, better employment opportunities. These are things that are important to any small country. By themselves, small island countries are fairly vulnerable, but perhaps together we can find common answers. Q: Is democracy something you want to promote in your own government? A: It depends on what you mean. I think the economy is what's important, you know. It's no good being a democracy if you're starving. People have to eat. People have to send their children to school. People have to make a living. I think if you ask (democracy movement leader) Mr ('Akilisi) Pohiva, he will probably agree with me. I think it's more important to do the things all Pacific Island countries want done. They want to help themselves. They are human beings just like anybody else. They need to have food; they need shelter, and perhaps a bilingual education. Q: Is education one of the keys to getting those things? A: I think it's something that we have invested in heavily in the past and I think it's showing its borne fruit. Some people say that Tonga per population has the highest number of PhD students, even higher than Australia and New Zealand. I don't know if it's true, but these are the kind of statistics that are coming out. Q: Are they being educated mainly in Tonga, or do they have to go to Australia or New Zealand for education? A: Mostly to Australia and New Zealand. In fact, I was going to ask you why some of the people who we send to get educated in America stay there and don't come back to Tonga. But a higher percentage of people who go to Australia and New Zealand for education come back to Tonga. I think (this brain drain) is just part of the problem. Q: What do you think is the other part? A: Good question. I'm still searching for the answer. I'll let you know when I know (laughs). Q: You asked the informal Pacific Basin Economic Council briefing of US financial experts and Pacific leaders, ''What is Tonga doing wrong?'' PBEC has been around for 33 years, yet Tonga has only Bank of Hawaii as a foreign investor. Wally Osman, a Bank of Hawaii economist, answered that Tonga needs to change its communal land tenure system by allowing more foreign investors to own or lease land. Can a middle ground be achieved between the Pacific Way and Outside Way? A: Well, that's up to the Tongan people, really. Because they actually own the land. You can't just make laws and take people's land away. I think they tried this already and it didn't work. (This is a special report by Pacific Islands Report, a service of the East-West Center and the University of Hawaii. For news in depth, link to the PIR website: http://pidp.ewc.hawaii.edu/pireport)

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