Tapu moe ‘afio ‘a e ‘Otua Mafimafi ‘I hotau lotolotonga.  Tapu mo e Hou’eiki Nopele ‘a ‘Ene ‘Afio.  Tapu foki ki he Hou’eiki Minisita ‘o e Kalauni.  Tapu ki he faifekau mo Ha’a Lotu.  Pea ‘oku ou kole keu fakatapu ki he Tonga kotoa pe, ‘oku lonuku heni he ‘aho ni, pea mo kimoutolu kotoa pe ‘e a’u atu kiai ha fakamafola ‘o e katoanga ‘o e ‘aho mahu’inga ko ‘eni.

‘Oku tau fakafeta’i kotoa pe ki he ‘Otua Mafimafi he kei fakatafe mai ‘ene meesi mo ‘Ene ‘Alo’ofa, ‘o fai hotau malu’i, mo hotau tataki, pea tau a’usia ‘a e ‘aho ni, oku fongofongaola pe ‘a e fonua, pea kei tu’u pe ‘a e ngaahi tu’unga, ‘Io, ‘oku kei ma’u pe mo ‘Ene ngaahi palomesi.

‘Oku ou fakamalo heni ki he Komiti kuo nau fokotu’utu’u ‘a e polokalama, ki he fakamanatu ‘o e ‘Aho Fakafonua ‘o Tonga, pe koe Tonga National Day.  ‘Oku ou fakamalo atu ‘i he ngaue lahi kuo mou fai, pea fakahoko lelei ai ‘a e ngaahi polokalama ‘o e ‘aho fakamanatu ni.  ‘Ikai ko ia pe, ka ‘oku ou toe fakamalo atu foki, ‘i ho’omou fakaafe’i au, keu kau fakataha mo kimoutolu, ‘i he ouau ‘o e ‘aho ni.
Ko e ‘uhinga mahu’inga na’e fokotu’u ai, ke hoko ‘a e ‘aho ni, koe ‘aho ke fakamanatua, koe ‘Aho Fakafonua ia ‘o Tonga, pe koe Tonga National Day, he koe ‘aho ni, ‘oku kakato ai ‘a e ta’u ‘e Teau Tolungofulu ma Tolu, mei he ‘aho ko ia na’e tali ai ‘e he Fale Alea ‘o Tonga, ‘a e Konisitutone, ‘o e ‘aho 4 ‘o Novema, 1875.  Pea oku tau polepole ai, he na’e kau ‘a Tonga ni ‘i he fuofua fonua he pasifiki pea ‘i he konga lahi ‘o mamani, ke fa’u pea ngaue’aki ‘a e Konisitutone.

‘Oku ‘ikai ko ha me’a si’i ia, pea ‘oku tau fakamalo moe loto hounga’ia mo’oni, ki he langi mama’o ‘a e ‘Uluaki Fa, pea moe Hou’eiki mo e kau tangata ‘o e ‘aho koia, ‘i he visone ma’ongo’onga ‘oku tau kai melie ai he ‘aho ni.  ‘Oku oo ua moe mahu’inga ‘o e Konisitutone, ‘a e maa’imoa fisifisimu’a ko ia ‘a e Kaivai ‘o Tonga Onoponi, Kingi Siaosi Tupou I, ko ‘ene tuku ‘a Tonga ki Langi.

‘I he ‘aho ni, ‘I he’etau fakamanatua ‘a e ‘Aho Fakafonua ‘o Tonga, ‘oku ou tui ‘oku mahu’inga ke toe fanguna ‘etau tokanga, ki he feilaulau moifua, na’e feia ‘e he ‘Uluaki Fa, ‘a ‘ene hapai ‘a Tonga, ‘a e kakai moe kelekele mo nga’oto’ota kotoa, ‘o tuku ki he langi ki he to’ukupu mafimafi ‘o Sihova.  Ko e ‘aho ni ‘oku ‘ikai totonu ke ngata pe ‘e tau fakamanatu ‘i he ngaahi polokalama fiefia ‘o e ‘aho, ka ke tau toe fakalaulauloto ange ki he mahu’inga ‘o ‘etau Tonga.

Na’e toe fakafo’ou ‘e he La’a kuo To, Taufa’ahau Tupou IV, ‘a e tukupa na’e fai ‘e Siaosi Tupou I, ‘o toe tuku ‘a Tonga, ‘a e kakai mo e fonua, ki Langi ‘i Mala’ekula.  Ko e fakamo’oni, ‘a e mahu’inga ‘o e maa’imoa koia.  ‘E tutuku ‘a e katoanga ‘o e ‘aho ni pea tau takitaha foki mo ‘ene manatu ki he ngaahi hiva malie, ngaahi faiva malie, mo e ha fua ‘a e ngaahi malie tetau foki mo ia.

Tuku mu’a keu fokotu’u atu, ke tanaki atu ki he ngaahi manatu fiefia ‘o e ‘aho ni, ‘a e manatu ki he tukufonua na’e fai ‘e he ‘Uluaki Fa.  Ka ke ‘oua mu’a na’a ngata pe ‘i he manatu, ka ke tau fakasino ‘a e manatu koia, ‘aki ‘e tau mamahi’I, ‘a e me’a ‘oku tau Tonga ai.  Ko e Konisitutone kuo tau fononga mai mo ia ‘i he ta’u ‘eni ‘e Teau Tolungofulu-ma-Tolu, na’e foaki mai ai ‘etau tau’ataina ki he’eta koloa, pea vaka mai ai ‘a e ‘ofa fonu mo mamahi’i fonua.

‘I he ‘aho 30 ‘o Sune ‘o e ta’u nip e, kolo ko Independence, vahe fonua ko Missouri, na’e lea ai ‘a e tangata kanititeiti ki he fili Palesiteni ‘a ‘Amelika ‘oku lolotonga fakahoko he ‘aho ni, ko Barack Obama ‘o ne kaveinga ‘aki ‘a e Mamahi’I Fonua, pe koe Patriotism.  ‘I he faka’osi ‘ene lea, na’e pehe, “Koe mamahi’i fonua, pe koe ‘ofa fonua, ‘oku ‘ikai ngata pe ‘ete lea ‘aki ‘ete ‘ofa hoto fonua, ka ko ha fa’ahinga ‘ofa makehe moe falala ki he kakai ‘o e fonua.

Ko e ‘uhinga ia ‘oku ngatu ai hotau mafu, ‘i he vakai ki he vilingia ‘a e fuka ‘o e fonua.  Ko e ‘uhinga ia ‘oku to ai hoto lo’imata, ‘i he fanongo ki he vanavanaiki ‘a e le’o ‘o e piukala, ‘i he faka’apa’apa ki he mo’ui kuo mole ‘i he mala’e tau.  He ‘oku tau ‘ilo, koe lahi moe tu’umalie, moe ikuna, moe lava me’a hotau fonu ‘oku makatu’unga ia ‘i he ivi ‘osikiavelenga, moe ngaue (‘aufuato) fakakukafi fakataha ‘a e kakai ‘o e fonua.

Ko e fa’ahinga ‘ofa fonua, moe mamahi’i fonua pehe, oku ou faka’amu ke tanaki atu, ki he’etau ngaahi manatu fiefia ki he fakamanatu ko’eni ‘o e ‘aho ni.  Ko e fakamahino ia ‘etau Tonga, pea koe fakahounga’i ia hono tuku hotau fonua, mo e kakai ki langi ki he ‘Eiki ke ne tataki mo tokanga’i, pea ke ne tapuaki’i foki.  Fakatauange ke tau tutuku ‘i he ‘aho ‘Alo’i ‘a hotau Fakamo’ui.  ‘Ofa ke mou ma’u ha Kilisimasi fiefia mo ha ta’u fo’ou monu’ia.

I would like to take this opportunity, to say a few words in appreciation of the tremendous efforts of the organizers in putting together the programme to commemorate the 2008 Tonga National Day.

This is indeed a significant event, commemorated on an equally significant day.  Today marks the one hundred and thirty third anniversary of Tonga’s unique Constitution, which was passed by the Tonga Legislative Assembly, and promulgated on the 4th November 1875.  We are proud of that Constitution which has survived the test of time, for a hundred and thirty three years.

This year’s commemoration, I feel, is a timely wake-up call for all Tongans.  The world is facing an economic crisis.  The eyes of the world are all focused on the outcome of the American Presidential elections being held today.  Small and insignificant as we are, we will, in one way or another, be affected.  This is the time for us to rethink about our country.  We need to think seriously, about what it is, that identify us, as Tongans.  What are our values?

Let me remind you of the mighty deeds of the Founder of Modern Tonga, King George Tupou I, when, at the hallowed grounds of Pouono, at Neiafu, Vava’u, he ceded Tonga, its people, its land, its possessions, to the protection and guidance of the Almighty God.  His Late Majesty, King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV, renewed that act of allegiance, at Mala’ekula, to reiterate, that we, the citizens of Tonga, and our land, our possessions, our freedom, and indeed, our destiny, are in God’s safekeeping.

As we disperse today, we will each take with us many happy memories of some great singing, great performances, great and perhaps, new artists, and ofcourse a great Tonga National Day.  Let me add to those memories, by challenging each and everyone of us, that to enhance our safekeeping in God’s hands we need to love our country, we need to love Tonga, we need to love our people, we need to love our land and our liberty and our values.  We need to be patriotic

Let me conclude, by sharing with you an excerpt from a speech by Senator Barack Obama, the American Democratic Presidential hopeful, or may be he will be president, but on June 30th this year he spoke to a huge crowd at the in the town of Independence in Missouri, about Patriotism.  This is what he said:  “Patriotism, is not a love of America in the abstract, but a very particular love for, and faith in the American people.  That is why our heart swells at the sight of our flag.  We know that the greatness of this country, all result from the energy and imagination of the American people.  That is the love and liberty that we defend”

It is indeed, our aspirations, that despite all the trials and tribulations of our times, we will continue to uphold and be proud of our identity as Tongans, by being patriotic.  I hope I have given you some food for thought, as we prepare to commemorate the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

May you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year. 

Malo ‘Aupito.

Issued by:         PMO Website Bureau, Prime Minister's Office, Nuku'alofa, Tonga.
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