8000 Tongans seeking repatriation, when repatriation flights “may resume” in February [1]
Saturday, December 12, 2020 - 23:04. Updated on Saturday, December 12, 2020 - 23:08.
From the House by Pesi Fonua
There were 8000 Tongans stuck overseas because of the COVID-19 border restrictions and wanting to return home, when the repatriation flights ended this week. They include 13 Tongans stuck in India.
The repatriation flights may resume in February next year, Hon. Poasi Tei, the Minister for MEIDECC, told the House. He did not elaborate further.
The Minister revealed the number of 8000 when the House was discussing a letter to parliament. The letter came from the group in India, who is concerned that they can't return to Tonga. Most went to India for medical treatment. They were very sad that they can't make it back to Tonga
The Tongatapu no. 9 People's Representative, Penisimani Fifita, was in tears over the situation of these people, and he raised concern that the government was going out to tour Vava'u, instead of trying to get these people back to Tonga.
The exchange in parliament made it clear that a huge number of people are seeking to return to Tonga, and that it will be quite some time before repatriations resume. The government has not revealed the rate at which the requests for repatriation to Tonga are growing.
There remains little or no transparency on the selection process for repatriation. Selections are made by a repatriation committee in Nuku'alofa, which includes the Minister.
On previous repatriations to date it has been said that priority was given to groups of fruit pickers, families who were split by the sudden border closure, particularly the elderly and young children.
People are given short notice of their selection for repatriation and if they cannot get the pre-departure CoVid-19 tests done in time, they can't board the flight. Individuals seeking repatriation have no idea of where they stand in the queue of 8000. Family groups have no idea if they will all be selected to travel together.
Final Session
During the final session of the Tongan Parliament for 2020; some of the Bills that it passed before it closed its 2020 session were:
- Bill No. 39 - International Arbitration Bill 2020. A Bill for an act to make provision for Arbitration, the recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards and related matters.
- Bill No. 40 - Remuneration Authority (Amendment) Bill 2020. A Bill for an act to amnend the Remuneration Authority Act 2010.
- Bill No. 41 - Electronic Communication Abuse Offences Bill 2020. The Bill to regulate electronic communication Abuse in Tonga.
- Bill No. 42 - Act of Constitution of Tonga (Amendment) Bill 2020. A Bill for an Act to amend the Act of Constitution of Tonga to Commemorate and Honour the Tukufonua ki Langi.
- Bill No. 42A – Public Holidays (Amendment) Bill 2020. A bill for an act to amend the Public Holidays Act.
- Bill No. 43 – Legislative Assembly Retirement Benefits Scheme (Amendment) Bill 2020. A Bill for an Act to amend the Legislative Assembly Retirement Benefits Scheme Act to raise the employer’s contributions for members and to allow compassionate release of retirement benefits to assist contributing members with financial hardship during a State of Emergency.
- Bill No. 44 – A bill for an Act to enable the National Reserve Bank to manage Financial Institutions.
The Tongan Parliament will resume its proceeding on 12 January 2021.