Photos by Linny Folau and Pesi Fonua

The 2008 session of the Tongan parliament was officially closed this morning by the Princess Regent, HRH Princess Pilolevu Tuita.

In her message from the throne, the Princess Regent warned government and the people of the financial crisis that had rocked the most economically powerful nations of the world. The devastating impact of the crisis had not reached Tonga yet but, she advised, that we should prepare for it.

"Be thrifty with our resources, reorganise our lives and tighten our control on spending."

The Princess Regent said that government, businesses, the private sector and all the people of Tonga should work harder and follow the economic systems of the USA, Europe and Asia.

The Princess appealed for the support and the prayers of the people for the Commission for Political Reform to be able to achieve its mandate and to secure the sovereignty of Tonga forever. She also thanked the members of parliament for what they had achieved during the 2008 parliamentary session.

It was a warm and overcast day in Nuku'alofa today and, as is traditional with the opening and the closing of parliament, school children marched through central Nuku'alofa and the grounds of the Royal Palace. Today the marching was done by primary and intermediate school children.

The closing of Parliament was carried by the Princess Regent, Princess Pilolevu because King George Tupou V is still away overseas.