Results for Parliament

The MV Pulupaki, declared last week to be unseaworthy and detained from sea by the Ministry of Transport, was allowed to sail in the weekend under the authorisation of the Minister of Transport Noble Nuku, an inquiry was told on Tuesday, January 26.

On being questioned by Assisting Counsel to the Commission Manuel Varitimos she confirmed her affidavit where she referred that Government failed to carry out proper due diligence and the procurement policy was not complied with when buying the ship. She also pointed out a failure of the Ministry of Transport who was responsible for proper checking of the vessels.

The Company Secretary for the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia Ltd., Lord Dalgety QC, told the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the Ashika that the Government of Tonga was negligent by not conducting proper due diligence of the vessel and it was not SCP duty to do so or to interfere.

Lord Dalgety QC, the Company Secretary for the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia Ltd., the operator of the MV Princess Ashika, in another twist in his second day of evidence, this morning, told the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the Ashika that he had already wished to resign from his position.

The intense questioning of Lord Dalgety QC provided moments of courtroom drama on Day 31 of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the Ashika on January 19, continuing today, with the witness admitting that there was crucial information the SCP should have had and proper due diligence was not carried out in the purchase of the vessel by government.

Since Tonga's Constitutional and Electoral Reform Commission published its 'Final Report and Recommendations' on November 5 last year, Tonga's parliament has been struggling to agree on a new system of government, expected to be in place before a General Election scheduled for November or December 2010.

Tonga ferry sinking, MV Princess Ashika, Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika,

The Director of New Zealand Marine Brokers told the Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the Princess Ashika the vessel had no real value due to its old age and advanced state of corrosion.

'Oku lahilahi 'a e ilifia tevolo he teuteu liliu fakapolitikale ko'eni 'oku 'ai ke fakahoko 'i Tonga ni. 'Oku lahi mo e ngaahi fakakaukau faka'ofo'ofa ke fili ha kakai 'oku poto mo lelei ke nau hoko ko ha ngaahi taki lelei, ka 'oku 'ikai ko e me'a ia 'oku fa'ahoko 'i he taimi lahi 'i he founga temokalati.