Prime Minister Lord Tu'ivakano

Commonwealth training for Tongan officials and MPs

The Prime Minister announced at the end of a Government Retreat held in Vava’u from January 21-24 that an agreement in principle was reached with the Commonwealth Secretariat to provide training to improve the effectiveness of government officials and Members of Parliament.

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Government retreat

Vava'u

Prime Minister Lord Tu'ivakano

Commonwealth Secretariat

PM's new Cabinet short of ministers

Tonga remains without a designated Minister of Police, and a Minister of Agriculture, following the resignation of three Cabinet Ministers on June 25 and the reshuffling of portfolios under new line ministries.

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The Cabinet

Prime Minister Lord Tu'ivakano

Government proposes $1.6m Social Benefits Scheme

In a Press Release on Friday June 29, the Ministry of Finance and National Planning stated that during times of economic slowdown it remained the responsibility of government to protect the livelihood of its most vulnerable people. The Prime Minister told parliament that government is proposing a $1.6 million Social Benefits Scheme for the Elderly to be implemented on 1 September 2012, which is based on monthly stipend of about $65 pa’anga for 2,082 eligible people as reported in the 2006 Census.

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Social Benefit Scheme

Ministry of Finance

Prime Minister Lord Tu'ivakano