By all accounts, the Princess Ashkia was a leaky old shitbox and shouldn't have been allowed to sail in a bath, let alone an open sea that was prone to stinky big swells. It had been certified to sail by the Tongan Government, which owned it but, but apparently was only allowed to sail in Tongan, Samoan and Fijian waters as it did not meet international standards (because it was a leaky old shitbox).Prince Tupoutoa Lavaka, the Crown Prince of Tonga, was obviously pretty cut up by the disaster as he offered his condolences to the victims - and promptly hopped on a plane and headed off for a wee frolic to Europe.
A Royal Commission of Inquiry has launched to get to the bottom of the matter.
But call me a cynical, annoying kid with absolutely no generosity of spirit but here's the thing.
Some years ago I went to Tonga and Samoa on a filming trip. In Samoa, they couldn't do enough for us: we were totally looked after by the Visitors' Bureau, had great accommodation, got a vehicle, tour guide and driver and didn't have to pay a cent for any of it.
In Tonga, before we shot a frame we had to stump up with a one thousand dollar bond - that would only be reimbursed if they approved of the finished product. Even then, I still had to throw a wee tanty in the bond-issuing office when we'd just arrived in Nuku'alofa when they tried to tell me, that actually, they really didn't want to issue me my permit after all. ( We're not in Myanmar now, Mr Inowannaissueyouapermitiolofa.)
So you understand my cynicism. Ten bucks says that their Commission of Inquiry will reveal one thing - and that's going to be the story they would like us to hear about why the ferry sunk and ended ninety-five peoples' lives.
