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.
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Saturday 30 June 2001
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Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
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Saturday 30 June 2001
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Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
A second Internet Service Provider for Tonga, Kaivai, has yet to go into operation. A licence was issued last year for the new ISP following an invitation from government for applications for licences. It was part of government’s open policy on licences for operators in the mass media, television and FM radio stations, and Internet Service Providers. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 1, June 2001.
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Saturday 30 June 2001
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Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
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.
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Saturday 30 June 2001
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Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
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.
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Saturday 30 June 2001
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Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
The agreement for the long awaited renovation and expansion program of the International Dateline Hotel in Nuku‘alofa was finally sealed in April and the work will start at end of September. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 1, June 2001.
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Saturday 30 June 2001
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Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
Fiji is moving to expand its trade with its neighbouring island states in an effort to revive its economy after the May 19 coup d’etat. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 1, June 2001.
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Saturday 30 June 2001
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Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
The $3 million pa‘anga Shopping Centre development on Nuku‘alofa’s Taufa‘ahau Road is a dream come true for Tongan businessman, Tevita Misa Fifita. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 1, June 2001.
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Saturday 30 June 2001
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Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
We are used to seeing people queuing up to get money from the bank, and pushing themselves in to buy a loaf of bread from the bakery, but now customers are fighting to buy bricks to build their houses. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 1, June 2001.
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Saturday 30 June 2001
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Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
The importation of consumer goods remains a profitable business in Tonga with stiff competition for a share of a market that has risen from over $115 million worth of imported consumer goods in 2000 to over $121 million in 2001. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 1, June 2001.
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Saturday 30 June 2001
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Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
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.
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Saturday 30 June 2001
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Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
Mr Frans Baan, the new head of the European Commission, visited Tonga for the first time in March. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 1, June 2001.
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Saturday 30 June 2001
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Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
Moshin Morita, the President of the University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, was in Tonga in March on a fact-finding mission, “to find ways to develop intellectual and cultural ties between Japan and Tonga.” From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 1, June 2001.
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Saturday 30 June 2001
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Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
A five-day workshop on Human Rights and Good Governance for the Youth of Tonga will be held at the Tonga National Council of Churches Centre, Nuku‘alofa, June 18-22. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 1, June 2001.
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Saturday 30 June 2001
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Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
A second Human Rights Movement for Tonga was formed in May. The new Kotoa Movement has made a public statement that it was not established to be in opposition to the exisiting Tonga Human Rights and Democracy Movement. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 1, June 2001.
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Saturday 30 June 2001
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Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
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.
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Saturday 30 June 2001
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Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
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.
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Saturday 30 June 2001
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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.
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Saturday 30 June 2001
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Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
Charges of contempt of court against OBN television presenter Sangster Saulala and others, brought by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Tevita Tupou, were dismissed by Chief Justice Ward in the Nuku‘alofa Supreme Court in June. From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 1, June 2001.
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Saturday 30 June 2001
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Nuku‘alofa, Tonga
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.
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Saturday 30 June 2001
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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.
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