Tongan PM leaves for Okinawa next week [1]
Saturday, May 12, 2012 - 06:51. Updated on Monday, September 9, 2013 - 18:40.
Prime Minister, Lord Tu'ivakano will attend the Sixth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting, PALM6 in Okinawa, Japan from May 25-26.
Lord Tu'ivakano will be accompanied to the PALM 6 by the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mahe'uli'uli Tupouniua and the Acting Chief Secretary and Secretary to Cabinet, Alfred Soakai.
The Prime Minister's office stated that the Tongan delegation to the PALM6 meeting will depart Tonga next week via the USA.
The Embassy of Japan in Nuku'alofa is also sending a journalist, Telesia Adams, the editor of the Taimi 'o Tonga newspaper and two high school students, Mosese Uili from Tonga College and 'Ilaisaane Namoa from Queen Salote College. The high school students will be accompanied by Manatu Maile, a teacher of Tonga High School and Lucy Moala Mafi, from the Ministry of Education, Women's Affairs & Culture.
From left to right, Mosese Uili, HE Mr Yasuo Takase, 'Ilaisaane Namoa and Manatu Maile
Mosese and 'Ilaisaane Namoa will be among 32 high school students from other Pacific Islands who will meet 32 high school students from Japanese high schools for the first Young PALM meeting from May 21-27. Their deliberation will focus on environmental issues, and it is expected that at the end of their deliberation they will present recommendations on environment issues to the PALM6 meeting.
The Embassy of Japan in Nuku'alofa said that the Young PALM meeting will be held in Miyakojima city in Okinawa to support PALM 6 and be part of the 40th year anniversary programs of Okinawa's reversion to Japan.
Japan's Ambassador in Tonga HE Mr Yasuo Takase met the students on May 9 and wished them an enjoyable trip. "I hope your participation in Young PALM would extend your knowledge on environmental issues," he said.
Telesia will be among a group of Pacific Islands journalists who will be in Okinawa to cover the meeting.