Reports from Tonga's newspapers, March 11-12, 2009. An English translation summary by Tevita Fonua.

The Talaki on March 11 reports that he Prime Minister's political adviser Lopeti Senituli has apologized to 'Etuate Lavulavu, admitting that he had joked to parliamentarian 'Akilisi Pohiva about Lavulavu being imprisoned in Brussels. Laucala Pohiva the editor of the Kele'a published it.

The Taimi on March 11 reports that Lopeti Senituli had heard of the Lavulavu story from Ministry of Works director Sione Taumoepeau as they and 'Akilisi bantered and laughed at a birthday party. But he later read it in the Kele'a, which credited a high ranking official in the PM's office as its source, and realized that it was pointing at him.

The Taimi also reports a story that Taiana and Lupe from New Zealand were so incensed that a Quarantine officer would not let them through the Fua'amotu Airport with their chilly bin full of meat; so the two women unwrapped, mangled and then spat on the sausages and other meat products before dumping in the rubbish box in full view of the officer.

And the Taoa community in New Zealand have shipped over a bus to their village of Taoa, to transport students to schools in Neiafu, Vava'u.

The Talaki on March 11 reports that a new tourism body, Tonga Tourism Inc., was formed in January. Sue Gardiner from Forum Travel/Air New Zealand is president of the new organization.

The government has withdrawn its 11 seniti subsidy to domestic electricity consumers. The Minister of Finance Hon. Afu'alo Matoto said that the subsidy was introduced when the price of oil skyrocketed in 2007, but it had since fallen.

According to Hon. Matoto, the talks on privatizing the Kalonikali had stalled, because the government does not want Kalafi Moala to turn it into an English language newspaper.

Hon. Matoto stated he prefers change at a slower pace so that it is bearable, so that it is comprehensible to the people, and so that errors are identified and corrected in time.

68-year old Hua Zheng, a resident of Tonga since 1992, was fined $80 by the Police Magistrate's Court for breaching Tonga's Sabbath laws when she sold 3 kilograms of chicken, 1 kilogram of sugar, and 2 kilograms of flour to Viliami Tokahelolo on a Sunday.

The Kele'a on March 11 quotes Tongatapu People's Representative 'Akilisi Pohiva as saying that the government's failure to pay the civil servants on time is a sign that the government is broke.

The Kalonikali on March 12 reports that the government will sell 16 of its quarters around Fanga, Fasi and Sopu which will be available to members of the public to buy and register. The government hopes to also sell properties behind the Government Primary School at Fasi and around the Dateline Hotel.