A total of 815 civil servants retired on Friday, June 30, in a mass redundancy that has cost the government some $22 million in a massive cash handout this week.

The number is fewer than Government had hoped for in its attempt to Tonga's oversized civil service.

The Secretary for Finance, 'Aisake Eke said today that the deadline for the government's voluntary redundancy offer was closed on Friday, when the 815 civil servants who had accepted the offer, "also qualify for the $1500 Bonus". He said that they were short of the 871 civil servants they forecasted would accept their package. "Ninety rejected the offer and 31 did not respond."

Government initially allocated $28 million for its Voluntary Redundancy Program, but 'Aisake said that "as of today a total of $22 million has already been transferred to the Westpac Bank of Tonga".

However, 'Aisake said that Tonga may not witness the sudden injection of $28 million into the Tongan economy until the end of the week, "when you may see some people driving around in new flash cars."