Results for Tonga

A 21-year-old female student at the St Joseph’s Business College suddenly died on November 1, after collapsing at the school compound in Fasi.

A group of 23 United States Peace Corps volunteers were sworn-in today, at the Epworth Hall, Nuku'alofa, before they take up assignments teaching English in primary and secondary schools in Tongatapu and some of the outer islands.

With a week left before Tongans head to the polls on Thursday November 16, there are 59,003 voters registered, after a supplementary electoral roll was published last week.

The ‘Ikale Tahi will face a power packed Barbarians team this weekend 10 November in Limerick, Ireland (11 November in Tonga). The Barbarians played the All Blacks last Saturday 7 November at Twickenham Stadium in England, losing 22 – 31 although the Barbarians were ahead 17 – 10 at halftime.

The process of forming Tonga's new government and choosing a Prime Minister following the November 16 General Election, will start on or before November 30, but the process may continue to mid-December.

American, Dean Jay Fletcher (54) who is wanted in Tonga on the charge of brutally murdering his wife in July 2016 has been ordered released in Hawaii, after the United States District Court on November 1 ordered the dismissal of his extradition. The Tonga Government sought Fletcher's extraditon for the offenses of murder, manslughter, and inflicting grievous bodily harm. However, the US Secretary of State had "determined that Fletcher could not be guaranteed a fair trial in Tonga" because he did not have funds to defend himself.

The owner of Super Cheap, a closed car dealer in Tokomololo has been charged with obtaining money, reportedly $7,500 pa’anga by false pretence from a client.

A recent amendment to Tonga's Electoral Act in early September makes it possible for five life peers to stand as candidates for the Tongan Parliament when nobles elect their nine representatives on 16 November, the Electoral Commissioner, Pita Vuki told an Election Reporting Workshop this morning. Nobles and Life Peers are not subject to the same scrutiny given to the nominations for the People's Representatives.

Three Tongan women panelists from different sectors agreed that "integrity", "good moral character" and "following the rule of law" were basic qualities expected in public life and leadership positions. "If a government is not prepared to follow the law then we will go back to the jungle and that's not my expectation of a government or a candidate or an MP," said 'Alisi Taumoepeau.