Tonga can cater for a maximum of only 246 repatriated passengers at one time, the Ministry of Health CEO Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola said today. This means that repatriating over 3,000 people currently registered on the government's repatriation list will be a slow, drawn-out process. By Eleanor Gee.
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Results for Tonga
Wednesday 23 September 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Wednesday 23 September 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The body of a 20-year-old male diver was recovered early Saturday morning, September 19, near Lofanga in Ha’apai waters.

Wednesday 23 September 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Churches have scaled down their annual Faka-Sepitema roll-call for women, with each district having their own roll-call due to the restrictions imposed by COVID-19 prevention.

Tuesday 22 September 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The 25 repatriated passengers from the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu have all tested negative for CoViD-19 and are now on one week home quarantine for added safety, confirmed Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola yesterday.

Tuesday 22 September 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Students at GPS Matahau and GPS Fahefa celebrated their new classrooms at commissioning events last Friday, 18 September. They were built under the Pacific Resilience Program (PREP) led by MEIDECC and co-funded by the World Bank and the Australian Government.

Tuesday 22 September 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A proposed Government Bill to amend Clause 89 of the Tongan Constitution, with an additional Clause 89A introducing "traditional culture", sparked off some vociferous exchanges in the Tongan Parliament yesterday, 21 September, but wording of the proposed amendment has not been released. Clause 89 gives judges the power to direct the form of indictments to control the procedure of the lower courts, and to make rules of procedure. However, the proposed change was not read out in the House and the Bill was not made available to the media.
From the House by Pesi Fonua.

Monday 21 September 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Timote ‘Asa was sentenced to a deterrent sentence of six-years imprisonment for numerous charges, including rape and abduction of a young woman in Tongatapu. In sentencing at the Nuku'alofa Supreme Court on September 18, the Chief Justice protected the identity of the complainant.

Monday 21 September 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The annual Tax Week, September 21-27, was launched by Prime Minister Hon Dr Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa, under a theme of resilience. It aims to inform and raise awareness on the Ministry's services.

Monday 21 September 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A group of women who formed a backyard vegetable gardening group called Green Fingers, presented their harvest to Princess Pilolevu Tuita at her residence, last week.

Monday 21 September 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
'Iasinito Mataele Toke (38) who pleaded guilty to serious fraudulent conversion of $39,596 pa'anga from his employer Pacific Energy Ltd. was sentenced to two-years three-months imprisonment.

Friday 18 September 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tinitale Finau (45) was sentenced today at the Supreme Court to two-years imprisonment, which was fully suspended for cultivating 54 cannabis plants in 'Eua.

Friday 18 September 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Four men have been arrested with methamphetamine and cannabis at three different locations in Tongatapu in an ongoing operation by Tonga Police.

Friday 18 September 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tongamoa Kakau (32) was found guilty today of serious indecent assault committed on a 21-year-old woman in the early morning hours, at her home in Houmakelikao.

Friday 18 September 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Court of Appeal second session, which will hear Lord Tu’ivakano's appeal against his conviction is deferred to start on October 19 in Nuku'alofa.

Friday 18 September 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Forty-five people repatriated from Fiji and Kiribati tested negative for CoViD-19 and are now in home quarantine for seven days after completing their 14 days quarantine at the Tanoa Hotel.

Wednesday 16 September 2020
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Bundaberg, Australia
A Tongan fruit-picker was fined $650 after punching a backpacker from Vanuatu in a consensual fight in Australia.

Wednesday 16 September 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Three men who caused the death of Sione Feimoefiafi (49) by stomping on his head at and outside the Tali‘eva Bar in the Nuku'alofa CBD in 2019, were today found guilty of manslaughter. They are detained in police custody for sentencing in October.

Wednesday 16 September 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The price of petrol has increased, while kerosene, diesel and LPG prices have decreased effective today, 16 September.

Tuesday 15 September 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Toio Lauteau (42) was convicted today at the Supreme Court of serious causing bodily harm, when he hit his wife twice on the head with a hammer in ‘Ohonua, ‘Eua. He will be sentenced on November 10.

Tuesday 15 September 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Talikivaha Palei Posoni was acquitted of possessing cocaine at Te'ekiu, after a Supreme Court judge found that the evidence was insufficient to prove beyond reasonable doubt the offence. There were discrepancies in the evidence because the analyst's report about the substance she received did not match the substance found by police at the accused's house.
