On the eve of his 76th birthday, Tongan Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva said his chronic asthma had been so bad that at times he thought he could bear it no longer.
But despite the illness he never gave up.
In an exclusive interview with Kaniva News this evening Hon. Pohiva reminisced about his political career and how he fought to bring democracy to Tonga and finally became the Prime Minister of Tonga.
He said looking back at the past 40 years when he and others began the democratic reformation in Tonga was something that could give him strength.
Hon. Pohiva said he was really happy with what he had achieved so far in his fight to bring a better political system for Tonga.
“I have come through so many problems,” the Prime Minister said.
He said his asthma had been so serious that he did not think he would live long.
“When I was in my 40s I thought I will not reach 50s. When I was in my 50s I thought I would not reach my 60s,” Hon.Pohiva said.
“Now I am 76 tomorrow I do not know where are all these lives come from,” he said smilingly.
The Prime Minister said he knew his government and how he led it was not perfect.
He was elated at what he had done for Tonga in politics.
He said he compared his government to former governments and how they were operated and he could tell the difference. He said he had achieved most of what his political supporters wanted and he knew they were happy.
He said the most difficult situation in any successful political change like what Tonga has gone through was the transitional period.
“It is because we have to do a lot of things to change the mindset of the people from what they used to in the old ways and how they were led so they could live and get used to the new system”, he said.
He said his government was through that period.
During the interview he mentioned two church leaders who he said were vital in his political battle. Without them he thought he might not be at this stage and position he has today.
They were the late Bishop Patelesio Finau of the Catholic church and the late Dr ‘Amanaki Havea of Free Wesleyan church.
The Prime Minister’s revelations about his religious inspiration follow an incident during a reception in Hastings on Monday night when he shared verses from his favourite hymn with Tongan fruit pickers.
He asked a minister who was about to say the closing prayer at the reception in Hastings if he could share his favourite hymn with the Tongan fruit pickers who attended the event.
Hon. Pohiva then read out three verses of the Free Wesleyan Hymn 550 known as ‘Eiki ke ke me’a mai.
He told the Tongan fruit pickers to think of the hymn whenever they struggled.
He said the hymn always helped him whenever he struggled and needed help.
The revelation of his favourite hymn was significant as he has sometimes been accused by his critics as being unreligious.
A letter released on internet last month, which police now are investigating, accused Pohiva of being anti-religious.
In the letter, the authenticity of which has been denied, he supposedly told Chinese authorities that “in Tonga The church has too much power and the people are too religious as a result. They listen to the church, the King and the monarchy, who are the “protectors” of the church. They hold on to outdated beliefs that only serve to hurt Tonga.”
‘Eiki ke ke me’a mai in Tongan and English
Eiki ke ke me’a mai e anga ‘eku nofo
Ko e fili ‘oku tu’u takai ‘o loki au ‘i loto
Lord look at how I live
The enemy stands and surrounds me
Po ko enau ngahele mai na’a ‘ikai te te le’o
Pe ha’u he aho kuo ‘ai ‘a e anga ‘angelo
Every night they crawl in to see if I am not watching out
And at day time they come pretending like an angel
Eiki ke ke fakatupu ha atamai vavalo
Ke u le’o pea tali tu’u ‘o teke ke mama’o
Lord create in me a pondering mind
So I can guard and resist the enemy
The main points
- On the eve of his 76th birthday, Tongan Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiova said his chronic asthma had been so bad that at times he thought he could bear it no longer.
- But despite the illness he never gave up.
- In an exclusive interview with Kaniva News this evening Hon. Pohiva reminisced about his political career and how he fought to bring democracy to Tonga and finally became the Prime Minister of Tonga.
- He said looking back at the past 40 years when he and others began the democratic reformation in Tonga was something that could give him strength.
