[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 30, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H8797-H8798]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
IN TRIBUTE TO HIS ROYAL MAJESTY KING TAUFA'AHAU TUPOU OF THE KINGDOM OF
TONGA
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the
gentleman from American Samoa [Mr. Faleomavaega] is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the
outstanding leadership and distinguished service of one of the South
Pacific's most honored heads of state, His Majesty King Taufa'Ahau
Tupou IV of the Kingdom of Tonga.
His Majesty King Taufa'Ahau Tupou IV, the eldest son in the royal
family, was born at the royal palace in Nuku'alofa on July 4, 1918. As
crown prince, he studied in Australia at Newington College and the
University of Sydney, where he received bachelor of arts and bachelor
of law degrees.
His Majesty was the first Tongan ever to receive university degrees.
In addition to academic accomplishments, he excelled in athletics,
being a member of the university's championship rugby and rowing teams.
Upon concluding academic studies, His Majesty was appointed to the
cabinet of the Tongan Government with the portfolio of Minister of
Education, and later as Minister of Health. In 1949, he became the
premier of Tonga, thus acquiring additional portfolios in foreign
affairs, education, and agriculture. From early on, His Majesty has
carried the major burden of the kingdom of Tonga's administration as
well as development.
During His Majesty's 16 year term as premier, Tonga benefited
tremendously from his guiding hand, resulting in steady development and
economic advancement of the kingdom. Due to his efforts, education
standards were dramatically improved in Tonga with the establishment
and expansion of public high school and college systems. In the
business sector, His Majesty pushed for the creation of the Tongan
copra board, the Tongan produce board, the agricultural council and the
government fishing fleet--the backbone of the kingdom's economy. Under
his able leadership, public communications and the media were also
facilitated, with the establishment of the Tongan broadcasting
commission and the local newspaper, the Tonga chronicle, now in its
31st year on publication.
In 1965, with the passage of her late Majesty Queen Salote Tupou III,
the crown prince was proclaimed King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV and coronation
ceremonies were held in 1967. The remarkable progress achieved in the
kingdom of Tonga during His Majesty's years of leadership has gained
the respect of overseas nations and contributed to positive relations
with international neighbors. His Majesty, in particular, has fostered
close relations with the United Kingdom, which provides substantial
financial support for Tonga's continued economic improvement.
Mr. Speaker, this Friday in Utah, His Majesty King Taufa'ahau Tupou
IV will be honored again--this time by the Seacology Foundation for His
Majesty's efforts in protection of the environment.
The Seacology Foundation is a nonprofit foundation founded to help
protect island ecosystems and island cultures. Seacology scientists
include experts in endangered species, island Flora and Fauna, and
island ecosystems. One hundred percent of the money donated to
seacology goes directly to building schools, hospitals, installing safe
water supplies, and meeting the other needs of the indigenous people
who live near the rain forests so that these people will not have to
sell off the rain forest to survive. Seacology scientists donate their
time as well.
His Majesty King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV has been selected to receive
this year's Seacology Foundation award as ``indigenous conservationist
of the year'' for providing royal protection for the peka, or flying
fox, colony in Kolovai village in Tongatapu, and for his protection of
the primary forests of 'Eua island, and or supporting the establishment
of a system of nature preserves throughout the kingdom of Tonga. His
Majesty has also spent lifelong service as an interpreter and
custondian of Tongan culture, both ancient and modern. The history and
culture of the Tongan people are among the most ancient and historical
among the Polynesian people. As a letter from the Seacology Foundation
to His Majesty notifying him of the award explains, none of these
achievements would have occurred without his strong leadership and
support.
Mr. Speaker, I deeply congratulate His Majesty King Taufa'ahau Tupou
IV and the Seacology Foundation for all their efforts and I would
submit for the Record a copy of a letter from Dr. Paul Alan Cox, PH.D.,
chairman of the board of Seacology Foundation to His Majesty. Mr.
Speaker, it is indeed an honor to call on my colleagues and our great
Nation to join me in recognizing the outstanding and exemplary service
of His Majesty King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV on behalf of the good people of
Tonga, the Pacific region, and our global community.
Mr. Speaker, I submit for the Record a copy of the letter to His
Majesty from Dr. Paul Cox of the Seacology Foundation.
December 15, 1995.
His Majesty King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV,
The Kingdom of Tonga.
Your Royal Highness: It is with deepest respect that I
inform your royal highness that you have been selected as the
1996 Indigenous Conservationist of the Year by the Seacology
Foundation. This annual award is made to honor those
indigenous people who have performed heroic service in
preserving their own ecosystems and cultures.
After careful consideration of the activities of your
majesty in providing royal protection for the peka or flying
fox colony in Kolovai Village in Tongatapu island (which is
the oldest flying fox refuge in the world), for your
protection of the primary forest of `Eua island, for your
support in establishing a system of nature preserves
throughout the Kingdom of Tonga, and for your life-long
service as an interpreter and custodian of Tongan culture,
both ancient and modern, the Scientific Advisory Board of the
Seacology Foundation has unanimously voted to honor your
majesty with this award, which is the most prestigious
conservation award for indigenous people in the world.
The Seacology Foundation invites you, at our expense, to
attend an award dinner in your honor and a presentation
ceremony in Salt Lake City, Utah to receive your award, which
will consist of an engraved plaque and a cash award of
$1,000. Fine Nau and I will meet with you personally to
arrange a convenient date for this event.
Because of your stellar service, both public and private to
conservation, and because of the tremendous example of
dedication and courage that you have set for your own
people--the Polynesian Islanders--and for indigenous peoples
throughout the world, the Seacology Foundation is pleased to
bestow upon you the most distinguished award for indigenous
conservation in the world by naming you 1996 Indigenous
Conservationist of the Year. We offer you our sincere
appreciation for your tremendous devotion to protecting this
planet.
Warmest personal regards,
Nafanus Paul Alan Cox, Ph.D,
Chairman of the Board.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield at this time to my good friend
from the State of Utah [Mr. Hansen].
Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my friend yielding in this very
important assignment that you have brought up, and I concur with the
gentleman from American Samoa and also would like to add the support of
the people from my State who have--many, many of our people have gone
to Tonga. In fact, at the school that you graduated from, BYU, there is
a number of Tongans there who have shown exemplary type of performance
both in athletics and academically, and it is a pleasure that we can
give this tribute to His Majesty, and I join you and thank the
gentleman for taking this time to bring up this, a very important thing
for His Majesty from Tonga.
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend from Utah.
It might be of interest, Mr. Speaker, that it was since 1844 that
when the Mormon Church was founded that missionaries were first sent to
the South Pacific in the South Seas. So the Polynesian people have had
a very long and standing relationship with the Mormon Church since
1844, and because of this, even through His Majesty is not a member of
the Mormon faith, but certainly most respectful throughout the region
for his energy a and certainly for his outstanding leadership as one of
the great leaders in the Pacific region.
[[Page H8798]]
And for this, Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for this opportunity
and want to wish His Majesty a very most welcomed visit here in our
country.
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