Results for Tonga

Tonga has joined the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), becoming its 84th member at an official flag raising ceremony held at the AIIB headquarter in Beijing, China, on 5 February. The AIIB was established in 2016 with $100 billion capital. It was created with the purpose of serving as a regional financing tool for Chinese President Xi Jinping’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative.

All 114 passengers repatriated from New Zealand and Fiji on February 4 have tested negative. However, from this flight onwards, arriving passengers will be quarantined for 21-days at the managed facilities, with no further home isolation required.

A 34-year-old Senior Police Constable was suspended from police duty, after he was arrested for domestic violence and child abuse, allegedly committed on his nine-year-old son. Police Commissioner Stephen Caldwell said Tonga Police must set a high standard for responding to and investigating family violence.

Tonga’s first Labour Mobility Policy was launched by Prime Minister Hon Dr Tu’i’onetoa today, 4 February. Thousands of Tongans are employed in labour mobility schemes in New Zealand and Australia in horticulture, meat processing, construction, tourism and hospitality. The policy, which was endorsed by cabinet in 2020, aims to maximize the development impact of circular labour mobility in Tonga.

Tevita Talia’uli Fatongiatau (34), who is currently serving time in prison, was sentenced to another one-year nine-months imprisonment sentence for possession of methamphetamine, by the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court.

Ue’ikaetau Tapa’atoutai was sentenced to six-months imprisonment for possession of 0.08 grams of methamphetamine and 0.43 grams of cannabis. This was fully suspended on conditions.

More than 110 passengers are expected to be repatriated to Tonga, coming from Fiji and New Zealand on Thursday, February 4. They include consultants, stranded passengers and seasonal workers.

Lolina ‘Ofa (24) was sentenced to 15-months imprisonment for numerous counts of forgery and theft of $18,189 pa’anga from a family business. The sentence was fully suspended, at the Nuku'alofa Surpeme Court. "I believe the defendant had mistakenly believed that this idea of taking whatever you want from your fa'etangata would be applicable in her case, but unfortunately the complainant did not share her logic," said the judge.

Tropical Cyclone Ana has weakened into a Category 1 storm as it moves into southern Tongan waters today. The Fua’amotu Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre, at 5pm Monday, said a gale warning remains in force. On its current track, it could bring destructive storm force winds to Tele-ki-Tonga and Tele-ki-Tokelau and damaging gale force winds over Ha'apai, Tongatapu and 'Eua, early Tuesday morning.