Results for Tonga

A workshop on "Parliament and the Media" held in Tonga this week called on the Tongan government to draft and enact a Freedom of Information Act "as a matter of priority". It also highlighted the need for the relationship between Government, Parliament and the Media to be taken into account during the political reform process, and urged the Speaker to make provision of media and public gallery and broadcast facilities in parliament. By Pesi Fonua.

The Government of Australia will provide funds totaling T$1,606,234.00, for nineteen (19) projects in Tongatapu, seventeen (17) in Ha'apai and four (4) in Vava'u as outlined in the Attachment.

A Kolonga man who callously shot a woman shopkeeper at point blank range deserved life imprisonment for the extremely serious crime, but Tonga's statutes do not allow a life term, a Tongan Supreme Court judge said on September 5.

A new formula for calculating customs duty on imported vehicles, based on the size of the engine and not on the value of the vehicle has been firmly enforced since May 1, said Peter Nash, the Operations Manager for the Tonga Customs Department, confirming that there was no extension to the three months transitional period, which ended on April 30.

The Port of Refuge in Neiafu glowed with activities and a Tupakapakanava torch lighting ceremony as the Vava'u people celebrated the coronation of King George Tupou V with enthusiasm and joy on Monday. Photos by Pesi Fonua

Tonga's Galaxy Queen Pageant 2008 began in Nuku'alofa on Wednesday August 6 and lived up to its outrageous reputation attracting a full house to the Queen Salote Memorial Hall.

The tropical root crop cassava (manioke) could help protect the food and energy security of poor countries now threatened by soaring food and oil prices, FAO said today. At a global conference held in Ghent, Belgium, cassava scientists called for a significant increase in investment in research and development needed to boost farmers... yields and explore promising industrial uses of cassava, including production of biofuels.

A spectacular half hour display of fireworks on the Nuku'alofa seafront attracted crowds of spectators on the evening of August 1, Tonga's Coronation day, for King George Tupou V. Photos by Pesi Fonua and Linny Folau.

A Tupakapakanava or traditional torch lighting ceremony was held along the Nuku'alofa foreshore yesterday evening, July 30, after sunset when students lit bark torches creating a line of fire around the coastline and rings of fire around the small islets visible from the capitalThe ceremony is a traditional honour accorded to the Royal Family and followed the installation of Tonga's King George Tupou V yesterday. Photos by Peter Poulsen.