From left, HE Mr Brett Aldam, the Australian High Commissioner; Minister of Police, Hon Siosifa Tu’utafaiva and HE Mr Mark Talbot, the New Zealand High Commissioner 

A five-year Tonga Police Development Program, jointly funded by Australia, New Zealand and Tonga has been extended for another three years, from the end of October. 

The program, launched in July 2008 with the aim of improving the Tongan Police and building an efficient and trustworthy police force, was due to expire on Thursday October 31, 2013.

However a Memorandum of Agreement to continue the program was signed last Friday October 18 in Nuku'alofa between the Minister of Police Hon Siosifa Tu’utafaiva, the New Zealand High Commissioner HE Mr Mark Talbot and HE Mr Brett Aldam the Australian High Commissioner in Tonga. The Governments of Australia and New Zealand will make an initial contribution of around $4 million pa'anga toward the program, then they will assess annually their contribution until  2016. The implementation of the program will be carried out by the Australian Federal Police, and the New Zealand Police.

Development

Police Commissioner Grant O’Fee said that the aim of the program is to develop the infrastructure and the skills of the Tongan Police so that they could provide an efficient policing service, and regain the trust and the confidence of the community.

Following the destruction of the Nuku’alofa Central Business District by protestors in 2006, the government launched the Tonga Police Development Program.

Grant said that a significant ongoing project during the first five-years was the complete renovation of the Nuku'alofa Central Police station.

"We have set aside over $1 million for the work that started with the installation of the surveillance CCTV system at the station earlier this month. The renovation work should start this year including the construction of a custodial processing centre," he said.

Grant said that other projects included the construction of new police stations at Mu’a and Nukunuku to be completed before July 1, 2014.  

"We will also build small police houses at Nomuka and Ha’afeva in Ha’apai, and fix the station at Vava’u along with ongoing trainings for our staff,".

“This program is absolutely essential because without the program we would not be here right now. It brings in expertise from Australia and New Zealand for ongoing staff trainings and our domestic violence program are paid for by this program and they are all valuable…it is an absolute cornestone".

Agreement

The Head of Australian Federal Police in Tonga, Superintendent Amanda Kates said that the three-year period funding will be on as-need basis, which will be decided in May of each year, dependent on the requirements of the Tonga Police.

"Other projects will include the development of a detective training package, leadership and strategical leadership training, ethical and intergrity training, victim support training, and the continuation of a computer and language training.

"The implementation of a Tonga Police website, and the development of a Human Resource database, among other things," she said.