Results for Tonga Government

A petition, pleading for King Tupou VI to dismantle parliament and call a new General Election, “because the people no longer trust the Parliament and the Government”, was delivered this afternoon to the Palace Office, by Siaosi Pohiva, the Tongatapu No. 1 People’s Representative and his supporters.

Outward migration and growth in remittances are essential for the sustainable development of Tonga, concludes the first national ‘Migration and Sustainable Development Policy’, launched by the Prime Minister on April 28. The new policy, two-years in the making, was passed by Cabinet in November 2020. However, its directions remain conflicted by the Health Emergency border restrictions that limit travel. By Pesi Fonua.

An online portal containing the government’s work on climate change was launched at a workshop last Friday, 26 March.

Tonga’s Minister of Justice and Deputy PM, Hon. Vuna Fa’otusia, resigned from Cabinet on Friday, 11 December, according to a reliable government source. The resignation comes during a political leadership upheaval, with a letter to parliament last week for a Vote of No Confidence against the Prime Minister.

The Tonga government celebrated the launch of the Lulutai Airlines Ltd, with the handover of an Air Operator Certificate at the Fua’amotu International Airport yesterday, 23 September 2020. Domestic air services were scheduled to start today.

The Chief Justice has ordered that the defunct Tonga Weekly Newspaper Ltd. be restored to the Register of Companies, in the latest twist of a defamation suit brought against the government-owned newspaper by Mele 'Amanaki in 2014.

Editor's comment: On Friday we reported the government’s announcement that there would be a test/drill repatriation flight, with 50 overseas Tongans arriving on an Air New Zealand cargo flight “next week”, and quarantined for two weeks at the Tanoa Hotel. The problem with our report was that we believed what we were being told at the Prime Minister's press conference held at the Fa'onelua Centre. But the “flight arriving this week” was simply their flight of fantasy.

The Tongan Government will pay the second term school fees for all students in government and non-government secondary schools from Forms 1 to 7, through the government’s Education CoViD-19 Relief Assistance.

Tonga's electricity consumers have been spared the recent electricity price increase as the government is stepping in to cover the increased charges over the next few months. A statement today said the Prime Minister “is also the Minister of Public Enterprises, the Minister of Finance and CEO of the Ministry of Public Enterprises.” has directed an independent audit of the tariff structure.