Results for Tonga

The Millennium wake-up call for Tonga came at the end of 1999 when Crown Prince Tupouto'a announced that he was bidding for a licence to provide a second telephone carrier, and that he was going to introduce wireless technology where, "the customer should be able to buy a computer, plug it in, pull out an aerial and make a phone call. At the same time, he should be able to swipe a card on the computer, establish an account and switch to his favourite TCV channel while he is talking on the phone." A lot of work has been done since then to introduce wireless technology to Tonga, but finally a date has been set for July 2 when the newly formed Tonfön, a trade name owned by Shoreline Communications, will launch its telephone system in Nuku‘alofa. Tonfön also has a fibre optic cable system on the drawing board. Interview with Soane Ramanlal of Tonfön. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 1, June 2001.

A self-confessed undercover agent, Kelikolio Tapueluelu, is the person who is in the midst of a controversy that rocked the Tongan Cabinet, after he told the New Zealand television program ‘60 Minutes’ in March that he collaborated with the Minister of Police, Hon. Clive Edwards to break into the home of the Tongan Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Hon. Tevita Tupou, to retrieve a letter from the Minister’s computer. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 1, June 2001.

The working co-operation between the Tonga Defence Service and the People’s Republic of China military establishment was further consolidated following a visit to China by the Commander of the Tonga Defence Service, Lt. Col. Tau‘aika ‘Uta‘atu, Lt. Com. Satisi Vunipola, and Maj. Siamelie Latu from May 13-20. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 1, June 2001.

A review of the Tongan economy by scholars and economic thinkers at the University of the South Pacific, Tonga campus, on May 29 was a bit like a group of growers assessing the possible yield that they could expect to get from what they perceived to be a well-cultivated plantation. However, their findings also revealed a mixed bag of economic abnormalities. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 1, June 2001.

The excitement over the development of Tonga’s telecommunications is related to three important decisions that were made by government before the turn of the century. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 1, June 2001.

Tonga’s first Chiropractor is John Gieschen from Kansas City, Missori who arrived in Nuku‘alofa in May. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 1, June 2001.

A peaceful revolution is currently taking place in Tonga as we are trying to find the right combination to take advantage of what the 21st century has to offer. In business, never before have Tongan business people invested so much money in the Tongan economy, pouring millions of pa‘anga, into trade, telecommunications, tourism, agriculture, fisheries, power generation, the media, shipping, and even airlines. By Pesi Fonua. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 1, June 2001.

The 6th Oceania Sumo Championship on June 1 brought a team of Japanese wrestlers to Tonga, meeting over 20 Tongan wrestlers in the event at the Queen Salote Hall in Nuku‘alofa. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 1, June 2001.

While finding Tongan computer teachers is a problem for most Tongan Secondary Schools offering a computer studies program, Queen Salote College had its prayers answered when Pulu ‘Anau turned up at the school in early 1999, looking for a job. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 1, June 2001.