Results for 2002

If you are wondering why Tonga’s Minister of Health, Dr Viliami Tangi, sitting in the dentist’s chair is smiling, it is because at last Tonga has a Preventive Dentistry Unit for reaching school children. The Ministry of Health has been without a mobile school dental van for more than 10 years. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 1, May 2002.

Queen Elizabeth Jubilee Baton Relay literally touched the hearts of dozens of Tongan school children during the two days that they carried it through the villages of the island of Tongatapu attracting thousands of excited spectators. The pulsating light that flows in rhythm with the heartbeat of each carrier was a fascination for every carrier of the baton. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 1, May 2002.

Tonga’s Chief Secretary and the Secretary for Cabinet, Mrs ‘Eseta Fusitu‘a, dismissed the USA Department of State report as having been doctored, not factual and incomplete. “A report of this nature, I am sure, is used as a reference by international organisations, but we have never been asked to comment.” From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 1, May 2002.

Following the report of damning comments about Tonga by a New Zealand Cabinet Minister and his associate in the New Zealand press, Matangi Tonga tried to arrange a telephone interview with the New Zealand Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Phil Goff and the Associate Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Matt Robson. After trying repeatedly for several days, we were unable to get a clarification from Robson who was the most aggressive in his accusations against the Tongan government and Royal Family. Mr Goff, however, replied to emailed questions, as follows. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 1, May 2002.

On-line training has been introduced to the Short Term Training Program of the Prime Miniser’s Office. The on-line training, in affiliation with the Illawarra Institute of New South Wales, Australia, was officially launched by the Prime Minister HRH Prince ‘Ulukalala Lavka Ata at the end of April at the Distance Education and Communication Center, Pahu. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 1, May 2002.

Tonga’s Human Rights record for 2001 was generally poor, according to the USA Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 1, May 2002.

The German adventurer, Captain Burghard Pieske, and another German master boat builder, Kieter Brummer visited Tonga at the end of April, at the start of what they hope will become a great adventure. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 1, May 2002.

Tonga’s team for the South Pacific Games in Fiji next year will receive support worth $20,000, which has been pledged by the Managing Director of Colonial Insurance, Mike Walsh. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 1, May 2002.

Tongans responded with shock and outrage after the New Zealand Foreign Ministry publicly accused the Tongan government of corruption, expressing concern about the state of democracy in the country and saying that the Tongan government appeared reluctant to introduce constitutional changes. From Matangi Tonga Magazine Vol. 17, no. 1, May 2002.