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2010
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Tuesday 26 January 2010 1:10am
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : 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.
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Monday 25 January 2010 11:45pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Only five months after the tragic sinking of the Ashika in August 2009 with the loss of 74 lives, a second Tongan ferry is in trouble, an inquiry learned today, when it was told that the privately-owned MV Pulupaki had sailed at the weekend - after its owners, who include a member of parliament, ignored a detainment order from the Ministry of Transport. Premium content -
Monday 25 January 2010 4:30pm
Tokyo, Japan : Crown Prince Tupouto'a-Lavaka presented his Letter of Credence as the non-resident Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Tonga to Japan, to HM Emperor Akihito of Japan at the Imperial Palace, Tokyo, on January 15.2 comments Premium content -
Saturday 23 January 2010 5:40pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Tonga's ratification of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Statute in November last year, made it one of the first nine countries in the world to be a full member of IRENA, the Tongan Prime Minister Hon. Dr Feleti Sevele, said in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, this week. Premium content -
Friday 22 January 2010 6:47pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : 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. Premium content -
Thursday 21 January 2010 7:27pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Calling the Ashika an old "rust bucket", Lord Dalgety QC yesterday told the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the ferry that the Minister of Transport's submission was totally and utterly incorrect in stating that Dalgety had revised a Memorandum of Agreement for the FJD$600,000 purchase of the vessel. Premium content -
Thursday 21 January 2010 5:39pm
Colombia, Sri Lanka : CIAT scientists and their partners in Southeast Asia have issued urgent preliminary guidelines to tackle deadly pest and disease outbreaks that have crippled cassava production in parts of the region. Premium content -
Thursday 21 January 2010 4:00pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : FROM OUR ARCHIVES: There was an hour of suspense today 21 January 2010, while Members of Parliament waited at Parliament House for the Interim Speaker to return from his visit to the King and to announce the name of the new Prime Minister Designate. Photos by Linny Folau and Pesi Fonua -
Wednesday 20 January 2010 8:24pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : 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. Premium content -
Wednesday 20 January 2010 4:57pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Tonga's new parliamentarians are now speaking before casting their ballots to decide who will become Prime Minister Designate. The names of two nominees, Lord Tu'ivakano and 'Akilisi Pohiva were announced. Premium content -
Wednesday 20 January 2010 1:15pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : 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. Premium content -
Tuesday 19 January 2010 11:57pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : The true colours of Tonga's People's Representatives came to light during the debate in Tonga's quest for a new and more democratic system of government... Editor's Comment, by Pesi Fonua.4 comments -
Monday 18 January 2010 11:30pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Tonga will send a team to compete in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India, from October 3-14, this year. Premium content -
Monday 18 January 2010 11:00pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : The cargo deck of the Princess Ashika was flooded on every voyage it took when it was in operation, and a refrigerator full of frozen food floated and refrigeration ceased, Nikola Tau, a former freight officer with the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia Ltd told the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the Ashika this morning, January 18. Premium content -
Sunday 17 January 2010 5:29pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : 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 2010.1 comment Premium content -
Friday 15 January 2010 7:00pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : The MV Princess Ashika was designed to operate only on smooth waters with a sailing time of not more than three hours, according to a report that was presented to the Ashika Inquiry today. Premium content -
Friday 15 January 2010 6:45pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Tonga ferry sinking, MV Princess Ashika, Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika, Premium content -
Thursday 14 January 2010 6:52pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : A New Zealand inspector who inspected the main engine of the Princess Ashika vessel in Fiji in April 2009, revealed to the Royal Commission of Inquiry, he never signed an Audit Document for the Ashika as he never knew one existed. Premium content -
Thursday 14 January 2010 6:45pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : Tonga's National U-20 Women Squad for the Oceania Football Confederation Women's World Cup Qualifiers starting in New Zealand next week, was named on January 13. Premium content -
Thursday 14 January 2010 6:45pm
Nuku'alofa, Tonga : 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. Premium content
