Results for Tonga

The Prime Minister, Hon. Hu'akavameiliku delivered the keynote address at the Polynesia Public Service Commissioners Sub­-Regional Fono yesterday, in Nuku'alofa. The meeting is held from 16-18 August at Tanoa Hotel, and hosted by Public Service Commission.

About 6,000 mangroves seedlings were planted at Sopu, in Nuku'alofa, under the 1 Million Trees project of the Department of Environment and Climate Change and NGO Tonga Citizens Science Initiative.

Tonga is hosting the Regional Preparatory Meeting of the Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS), that opened yesterday at Fa’onelua Convention Center, yesterday, 16 August. About 70 international delgates are gathered to prepare for the 4th International Conference on SIDS, to be held in May next year.

Trafficking in Persons, a crime where victims are exploited in various forms of slavery, is coming under a new scrutiny in Tonga. Ever since Tonga prosecuted its first Trafficking in Persons (TIP) case over a decade ago, there have been no further cases of TIP because there were no new trafficking investigations and victims were not identified, says Police Deputy Commissioner and Chief of Staff, Pelenatita Vaisuai. That situation is about to change. Interview by Katalina Siasau.

Kiteboarder, JJ Rice is representing Tonga at the World Sailing Championships that opened in The Hague, Netherlands, last week. He was the only entry from the Pacific islands in the event of Kite Foil Racing, for the championship that runs for nine days (11-20 August) and is looking for an Olympic qualification.

Tongan-New Zealand amateur boxer, Matt Mataika has switched allegiance to Tonga ahead of next year’s Olympic Games due to financial crisis with Boxing New Zealand.

Nuku’alofa greeted thousands of new faces arriving on the returning cruise ship, the Pacific Explorer which docked at Vuna Wharf today, 11 August.

‘Ikale Tahi Head Coach, Toutai Kefu, remains full of confidence for the team and is looking forward to seeing them regroup against Canada in Tonga tomorrow, 10 August.

FROM OUR ARCHIVES: When the late George Tupou V surrendered the Executive Power to the Prime Minister in 2010, did it mean he wanted to remain only as a ceremonial and symbolic monarchy without any political power? Why did he appoint the Lords? Without a proper assessment of the answers to those two questions, the present leaders of the PTOA (Paati Temo Otumotu Anga’ofa) movement do injustice to the democratic and political reform that the late king had initiated. - Seni Penitani