The PACER Plus negotiations were launched at the Cairns Pacific Forum Leaders Meeting in 2009, marked the start of negotiations on PACER-Plus, a trajectory that has actively discounted the concerns of the Forum Island Countries (FICs) in favour of the policy interests of Australia and New Zealand. – Pacific Civil Society.
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Thursday 11 December 2014
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Wednesday 12 November 2014
4 comments
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tongan voters will be put on the spot on November 27 to elect a new government that could save the country from its current economic downward spiral, and to start a recovery process that will restore the trust and confidence of the people in the system of government that was implemented in 2010. Until we fully understand how our system works, and why it doesn't work, we will continue to struggle. Editor's comment, by Pesi Fonua
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Thursday 23 October 2014
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Australia
The Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG) says ongoing negotiations for the controversial free trade agreement known as PACER-Plus are creating an unbalanced agreement against the interests of the Pacific Islands. - Adam Wolfenden.
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Wednesday 18 June 2014
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Tongan Government has opted for the choice of issuing Government bonds as part of its financing plan for its 2014/15 budget. - Tatafu Moeaki,
CEO, Ministry of Finance and National Planning.
Sunday 9 March 2014
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
In spite of the rain that was driving away their customers, the women vendors at Nuku‘alofa’s central Talamahu Market looked cheerful on International Women’s Day, Saturday March 8, 2014. But here in the heart of the capital, only a stone’s throw away from the new cruise ship berth at Vuna Wharf, the Talamahu Market is a place where women’s real status in Tonga is on display for all to see. By Mary Lyn Fonua.
Friday 17 January 2014
1 comment
Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
Eleven months from now, in November 2014 Tongans will go to the polls to elect new members of parliament. As Tongans are preparing to pick their teams to find solutions to Tonga's many problems, it is important to look at some of the immediate challenges that are confronting Tonga’s More-Democratically-Elected Government (MDE). Editor's Comment, by Pesi Fonua,
Wednesday 4 September 2013
1 comment
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The resignation of Lord Tu‘iha‘ateiho as the Acting Speaker of the Tonga Legislative Assembly, on Tuesday, 27 August, is the latest fiasco in parliament, since Tonga introduced a new political system at the end of 2010. Editor’s Comment, By Pesi Fonua
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Wednesday 5 June 2013
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
What's the use of passing Cabinet decisions if they do not implement them? The Cabinet Decision of 5 April removing Duty and CT for the fishery sector...cannot be effected until Fisheries confirms the administrative procedures... - Tricia Emberson, FIAT.
Monday 21 January 2013
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The planes Samiu wants to bring in, the Chinese made MA60, does not have the best reputation. They have been refused a certificate by the American Federal Aviation Department and have been involved in several accidents, one killing all the passengers on board. – Sione Taufa.
Sunday 20 January 2013
Pagopago, American Samoa
Just wondering who is negotiating Tonga's fuel price? Are the prices reasonable? I think the public would like to know what the other islands in the region are paying for their petrol (fuel). - Sione Lousiale Kava
Wednesday 10 October 2012
1 comment
Auckland, New Zealand
I've got no personal axe to grind with PTOA leader 'Akilisi Pohiva but I think he has forgotten, to the detriment of his party and to himself, that politics is the art of being practical. Although he is paying dearly for this oversight, the rest of the country are also footing the bill for the absence of any effective opposition in the House - and denying us the fruits of an effective democracy. - Sefita Hao'uli.
Tuesday 3 July 2012
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The ten members of parliament who are calling for the Prime Minister, Lord Tu'ivakano, to be removed signed their motion stating, "our hearts are wounded with love ... for the Prime Minister and his Cabinet". From the House by Pesi Fonua.
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Friday 29 June 2012
1 comment
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
$2 million pa'anga of taxpayers money was divided equally among 17 People's Representatives this week, to spend on their annual national tour of constituencies - a $300,000 increase from the $1.7 million they took in the previous budget. The Minister of Finance Lisiate 'Akolo argued for the increased amount of $300,000 to be divided between himself and 'Uliti Uata, but the PRs also wanted a "fair share". From the House by Pesi Fonua.
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Friday 29 June 2012
England, United Kingdom
The letter submitted to Parliament by the Democratic Party asking for a ‘vote of no confidence’ in the performance of the PM contains the following points: 1. That the PM reshuffled his ministers once, twice or thrice; 2. That he was not chosen by the people; and 3. That he was unreliable. What? Is that it? - Senolita Swan
Thursday 28 June 2012
Honolulu, Hawai'i
Just when Tongans around the world are comfortable with Prime Minister Tu'ivakano's new democratically elected government, the opposition dropped this bomb in Parliament House with the filing of a no confidence vote, on the first democratically elected Prime Minister in the history of Tonga. - MT Tuaileva,
Thursday 5 April 2012
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Lord Sevele, who was Tonga's Prime Minister for five years, from February 2006 to December 2011, during the planning and the implementation of the Political Reform Program, has described HM the late King George Tupou V as "a visionary leader and a man of substance," who further democratized Tonga's Constitutional Monarchy system of government by surrendering to parliament some of his executive power. Interview by Pesi Fonua.
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Saturday 24 March 2012
2 comments
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The reign of His Majesty King George Tupou V, 2006-12, was the shortest of any of the monarchs of the Tupou Dynasty, since King Siaosi Tupou I ascended to the throne as the 19th Tu'i Kanokupolu in 1845. King George Tupou V, however, has been a mover and a shaker of Tonga's political, social and economic life, since he entered the civil service in 1970 as Crown Prince Tupouto'a at the age of 22 years. Obituary, by Pesi Fonua.
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Tuesday 28 June 2011
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'Aokalani, Nu'usila
'Oku ou faka'amu pe keke mea'i Katalin, kuo hanga 'ehe ngaahi fonua, kau ai 'a e EU 'o fakafaingofua'i 'etau fengaue'aki 'aki hano fokotu'u 'o ha ngaahi 'ofisi 'o kau ai 'a e 'Ofisi Fakafeitu'u 'i Suva, Fisi. 'Oku 'I ai hotau 'ofisi fakafeitu'u 'i Geneva kene fakahoko fatongia ki he WTO. - Dr Fotu K.V. Fisiiahi.
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Wednesday 22 December 2010
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North Carolina, USA
I fear for the future of my adopted country when, after four years of supposed progress, it seems like nothing has really changed. I pray my pessimism is unfounded, and indeed that these elections will usher in a new government and a better future for Tonga. However, from a distance, it seems like the power remains in familiar hands, and that these hands have and will continue to be self serving, without the accountability that elected officials must show. - Scott Yurcheshen.
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Wednesday 15 December 2010
1 comment
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga should have a new Prime Minister Designate by Monday or Tuesday next week. But the intense political competition going on as we are heading for the Second Round of our 2010 Parliamentary Election is that, suddenly, the contest is between a Political Party and a bloc of elected members of parliament. The outcome of this encounter in a country that has no laws to regulate parties is that one group will have a majority in Parliament to form a majority government and because of that, will be able to install a dictator into power. Editor's Comment, by Pesi Fonua.
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Tonga weather forecast from yr.no, delivered by the Norwegian Meteorological Institute and the NRK. See also Fua'amotu Weather Forecasting Center, Tonga, for latest local weather bulletin.