Results for Tonga

On September 25 in the Tongan Legislature, the Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Tevita Tupou, elaborated a new scheme for recovering the Tonga Trust Fund. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 2, September 2001.

The tragedy in America and the possibility of a long drawn out war between the USA and an enemy, which had yet to be clearly identified, could have a negative impact on the Tongan economy, said Tonga’s Minister of Finance, and the Governor of Tonga National Reserve Bank, Hon. Siosiua ‘Otuikamanu. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 2, September 2001.

A book of old photographs, titled, Early Photography, Tonga and Samoa 1855—1900 went on sale in Nuku‘alofa in July. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 2, September 2001.

Matangi Tonga interviewed Tonga Trust Fund trustee Hon. Tevita Tupou, (Minister of Law and Attorney General) and Jesse Dean Bogdonoff, the fund’s technical advisor, on September 26. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 2, September 2001.

Bob Wallace the Secretary General of the International Rugby Board visited Tonga at the end of July, as part of a tour of Oceania that took him to Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Samoa and Fiji. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 2, September 2001.

Rising unemployment is the major concern of the Tonga government at the moment, the Minister of Finance, the Hon. Siosiua ‘Otuikamanu told a Media Workshop on Economic and Financial reporting in September. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 2, September 2001.

Dr Catherine Ripley from New Zealand has taken over the work of the Village Mission Clinic in Ha‘ateiho following the departure of Dr Glennis Mafi who lived in Tonga for over 17 years. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 1, June 2001.

The Tongan economy is expected to remain sluggish during the next financial year 2001/02. The Budget statement of Tonga’s new Minister of Finance, Hon. Sosiua ‘Utoikamanu, presented to parliament on June 5 said there would be no significant economic growth during the new financial year. Instead there will be a slight drop in the growth of GDP, from 4.4% in real terms last year to 3.2% in the new financial year. The Inflation rate is expected to remain at the current peak 8%, after slowly rising from 4.2% in February 2000 and 7.1% in December 2000. These are the highest levels since the early 1990s. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 1, June 2001.

Tonga is taking a tough stand against cigarette advertising, promotion, the selling to young people, and the smoking of cigarettes in public places and on public transport. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 1, June 2001.