The Hon Prime Minister, Dr. Feleti V. Sevele recently visited (20-23 January) a contingent of 55 Royal Tongan Marines from Tonga's Defense Services undergoing training in Hawaii prior to their deployment to Iraq. His visit was on the invitation of the Admiral Timothy J Keating, Commander of US Pacific Command (US PACOM).

The Hon Prime Minister observed the Tongan contingent in training at the Battle Command Training Centre of the 25th Infantry Regiment of the US Army at Schofield Barracks. He also had a Roundtable Discussion with Admiral Keating and his most senior Commanders and advisors. He also made calls on the Commanding General of the US Army, Pacific, and the Commander of the US Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, and the Director of the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies.

Admiral Keating was full of praise for the soldiers of the Tonga Defense Services and their participation and contribution in Iraq. He said, "Tonga punches well above its weight class. It is a force to be reckoned with. And that's major praise by any standards."

This is the third contingent of troops from Tonga to be deployed to Iraq since 2004.

In his stopovers in Fiji the Hon Prime Minister held meetings with the Hon Prime Minister of Fiji; the Acting Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and the Chair of the PIF-Fiji Joint Working Group on the Situation in Fiji; the US Ambassador; the Japanese Ambassador; and a representative of the Asian Development Bank.

He also had an opportunity to visit, together with the Hon Prime Minister of Fiji and a representative of the Tongan community in Suva, Mr. Filimone Fifita, the piece of property near the University of the South Pacific which the Tongan community in Suva is planning to purchase for a Church and a community centre for Tongans in Suva and those visiting. PM Office, 01/02/08.