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2010
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Wednesday 24 February 2010 8:15pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : John Jonesse was arrested and charged with criminal forgery last week, and is not permitted to leave Tonga before a court appearance scheduled on March 17.
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Tuesday 23 February 2010 8:15pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : In talks with SCP Managing Director John Jonesse leading up to the possible purchase of the Ashika ferry, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Public Enterprise 'Inoke Vala, took what Jonesse advised him at face value. Premium content -
Tuesday 23 February 2010 6:15pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : At the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the MV Ashika the issue of due diligence was again highlighted in the evidence of the Chief Secretary and Secretary to Cabinet Busby Kautoke who adhered that Cabinet had no reason to believe that the vessel was unseaworthy. But he accepted that they took for granted that all Government processes of due diligence extending to that of the Procurement Committee would be followed. Premium content -
Tuesday 23 February 2010 6:00pm
Levuka, Fiji : I have been following your coverage of the enquiry and commend your work. As a resident of Levuka and frequent passenger on the Ashika I am not surprised this tragedy occurred. Premium content -
Tuesday 23 February 2010 5:30pm
Auckland, New Zealand : Tonga quietly buried one of her most influential scholars and visionaries when they laid Ilaiasi Futa ki- Ha'angana Helu to rest at Telekava cemetary in Nuku'alofa this week. Quietly, that is, for someone who has had a prominent role in shaping Tongan society over the last half-century. Premium content -
Tuesday 23 February 2010 2:15pm
Scotland, United Kingdom : Thank you for providing a condensed version of the Ashika Inquiry testimonies. One thing struck me as I read Commander Lupeti Vi's statement on the incompetencies of some government officials that were involved in the Ashika incident. Premium content -
Monday 22 February 2010 9:45pm
Auckland, New Zealand : While I agree with your correspondent Josephine Latu of Tofoa that the Ashika commission of enquiry teaches Tonga a lesson, I am more concerned about what lessons Tonga wants to learn from this. That list will be too long to go into here but we can expect it to be longer by the time the Commission reports on its findings. -Sefita Hao'uli Premium content -
Monday 22 February 2010 8:30pm
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea : wish to add my voice to the siren songs being sung over Chinese orbital slot fees payable to Tongasat being used to buy the doomed 'bathtub'. I recall rosy reports from Parliament 17 months ago (11 September 2008) where immense gratitude was expressed in Parliament by PM Sevele to TongaSat because TongaSat was supposed to have become a successful national development 'project'. -Samuel 'Ofeina'helotu Tupou Premium content -
Monday 22 February 2010 3:15pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : A suggestion that the Ashika ferry tragedy had resulted from systematic failure of the Tonga government, was rejected by Tonga's Prime Minister, who stressed that the laws, regulations, policies and procedures are in place; but he accepted that it was the failure of individuals who failed to comply with their responsibilities under the laws of the country. Premium content -
Friday 19 February 2010 11:30pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : The Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the Ashika was told today, that because of the urgency in the purchasing of a ferry, the initial FJ$90,000 dollars (an equivalent of TOP$88,250) was paid from a government fund specifically out of the Ministry of Finance vote; while the remaining FJ$510,000 was paid from a separate Government Fund that held, in part, payments from the People's Republic of China in a Special Account at the National Reserve Bank. Premium content -
Friday 19 February 2010 11:30pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : The Prime Minister Hon Dr Feleti Sevele is expected to give his evidence at the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the Princess Ashika on Monday, February 22. Premium content -
Friday 19 February 2010 11:30pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : At the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the Princess Ashika today, the Minister of Finance and Public Enterprise, Hon 'Afu'alo Matoto, said he could have done better to ensure that proper due diligence was conducted prior to the purchase of the vessel instead of being too trusting and accepting information given to him. Premium content -
Friday 19 February 2010 11:30pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : At the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the Ashika evidence has established that Ministry of Finance's high-ranking officials ranging from the Minster of Finance to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Finance had proceeded to allow payments for the Princess Ashika, under a wrong assumption that due diligence was conducted. Premium content -
Friday 19 February 2010 6:42pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : "Our traditional dances are more appealing than our neighbours, and our people are the most beautiful in the region. We are going to compete with our Pacific Island Neighbours at the Expo and we need to carefully pick our best that will be available to represent and expose Tonga at this world great event," said Saia Moehau, the Vice-Chairman of the National World Expo Committee. Premium content -
Friday 19 February 2010 5:19pm
Abu Dhabi, UAE : United Arab Emirates UAE launches Pacific Islands Partnership Program 50 Million USD to finance education, environment, social and healthcare projects in the South Pacific region. Premium content -
Friday 19 February 2010 2:45pm
London, UK : The enquiry to the MV Ashika is shedding more light to Tonga's Governmental Department dealings as appalling. -William Mariner Premium content -
Friday 19 February 2010 2:30pm
Tofoa,Tongatapu :Editor,
Thank the good Lord for the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Ashika.We know we're in trouble when we have to rely on three overseas palangis and a very sharp lawyer to reveal the facts about our biggest maritime tragedy, and in the process shed some light on the integrity of our system and of our leaders.
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Friday 19 February 2010 12:17pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Westpac today encouraged customers impacted by Cyclone Rene to contact their local branch to discuss ways the bank can support them. Premium content -
Thursday 18 February 2010 9:38pm
Crocus Valley, Canada : Faith, Wisdom, Courage, Knowledge and Quality of a Tongan Ministry encouraged Canadian Professionals to visit Tonga. Premium content -
Thursday 18 February 2010 4:42pm
London, UK : Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma today expressed his concern and solidarity on behalf of the Commonwealth with the people of Tonga and other countries in the Pacific affected by the impact of Cyclone Rene in recent days. Premium content
