Results for Government

Editor's comment: On Friday we reported the government’s announcement that there would be a test/drill repatriation flight, with 50 overseas Tongans arriving on an Air New Zealand cargo flight “next week”, and quarantined for two weeks at the Tanoa Hotel. The problem with our report was that we believed what we were being told at the Prime Minister's press conference held at the Fa'onelua Centre. But the “flight arriving this week” was simply their flight of fantasy.

The publication of a new electronic navigational charts for Tonga is expected to bring economic and maritime safety benefits to the country. The new charts created used hydrographic surveys of the undersea world around Tonga, replace charts from the 1800s

The Tonga government will receive a US$4.5 million (about $10.4M pa'anga) insurance payout for destruction caused by Severe Tropical Cyclone Harold on April 9, under its cover with the Pacific Catastrophe Risk Insurance Company.

Tonga's national lockdown was extended today for another week, effective Sunday, April 5 to April 12. Dr Reynold 'Ofanoa is urging passengers who arrived in Tonga on 19 March to contact the Ministry of Health as soon as possible.

Distaquaine Pele Tu‘ihalamaka is the new Chief Executive Officer for the Ministry of Trade and Economic Development, taking up the position from March 23 for four-years.

Dr Lia Maka was re-appointed as Chief Executive Officer for the Public Service Commission for a period of four-years, starting on March 16.

District Town Officers and Town Officers will start promoting tax awareness and assist government with the war on drugs, after the Ministry of Revenue and Customs (MoRC) requested support at a Tax Awareness Program held on 26 November in Nuku’alofa.

Over $11 million pa'anga in unpaid tax and duties from 2004-14, owed to the Ministry of Revenue and Customs, is an issue that Tonga’s new government of Prime Minister Dr Pohiva Tu‘i‘onetoa wants to address.

The Tongan Cabinet yesterday, 13 November cancelled the appointment of Piveni Piukala “to lead a Reform Technical Task Force for Planning, Budgeting and Aid at the Ministry of Finance. . .”