Results for Government

A complaint has been lodged with Tonga's Public Relations Commission against the new Minister for Tourism, Hon. Semisi Sika, accusing him of an "illegal takeover" of the Tonga Tourism Authority Board, according to Tomifa Paea, the TTA chairman who said he filed the complaint and that the dispute had led to a freezing of the TTA bank account. It is now expected that new board members for TTA will be announced tomorrow, Thursday, in an ongoing dispute between the Minister of Tourism and the TTA that was originally set up to operate as an independent body.

A petition to King Tupou VI from the Public Service Association (PSA) was submitted on Tuesday, 12 July, as the PSA continues to push for defering the implementation of new civil salary structures. The petition was signed by 476 public servants.

Two women were elected during local government elections for District and Town Officer positions last Wednesday 29 June. Sisifa Fili is the new District Officer of ‘Eua Motu’a District - the first woman to be a District Officer, and Vika Kaufusi is the new Town Officer for Haveluloto.

A special public holiday will be held in Tonga on Wednesday, 22 June to mark the upcoming 150th Anniversary of Tupou College.

A new salary structure for civil servants that was approved by the Tongan Cabinet on 13 April, to be implemented on 1 July 2016 in the new budget, has been stopped in its tracks, because the Public Service Association (PSA) claims it is unlawful. Now the pressure group may have succeeded in their demand for Cabinet to change a decision, in return for the PSA withholding a threatened injunction against the Cabinet’s approval of the new salary structure. By Pesi Fonua.

Dr Lia Latu Maka will take up a three year posting as the new Chief Executive Officer for the Public Service Commission in Nuku'alofa, on Tuesday, 1 March.

A new $8.1 million pa’anga office block built by Tonga's Retirement Fund Board was opened by HM King Tupou VI on Friday, 12 February in Nuku’alofa.

No decision has been made by Government to appoint a new Minister of Tourism following the former Minister ‘Etuate Lavulavu’s exit as a Member of Parliament last week.

“In the sweat of thy face, shall thou eat bread...” PM ‘Akilisi Pohiva told hundreds of civil servants who attended the Public Service Thanksgiving Prayer Service at the Queen Salote Memorial Hall yesterday, 12 January.