Results for Parliament

Tonga's Prime Minister and his Cabinet struggled to answer hard questions in Parliament yesterday. Members were demanding to know how an American, charged with murder escaped from prison in Neiafu and managed to sail away on his yacht? They also wanted to know when the construction of sports facilities for the 2019 Pacific Games will start? And what is the government's foreign policy on West Papua? From the House, by Pesi Fonua

The Tongan Parliament resumed its 2016 session yesterday morning October 3, amid disarray. Apparent procedural inefficiencies wasted much of the day. Firstly, a letter protesting against a Bill for a Water Resources Act was read even before the Bill was read in the House. Then legislators spent over an hour listening to motions from one member, even though the Legisture had already voted on and decided for the motions to be lowered into the Whole House Committee. From the House by Pesi Fonua.

A decision by the Tongan Parliament on 24 August for the Auditor General to audit the ‘Eua Forest Reserve and then report back to the House has surprised many members of the public, since government has already leased the ‘Eua Forest Reserve to a Maori Trust for 50 years in an agreement signed on 17 June 2016. From the House, by Pesi Fonua.

The Minister of Police has no authority, and government is facing “a concrete wall” while they are trying to find out what happened to the Tonga Forest Products Ltd. the Prime Minister, Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva told parliament on Thursday, 18 August. From the House by Pesi Fonua.

The sudden withdrawal by Cabinet Ministers of two Bills that were top of agenda of the House when it opened on 15 August has aroused concern over the law making process of government. From the House, by Pesi Fonua.

‘Akosita Havili Lavulavu (31) is the new Vava'u no. 16 People’s Representative to the Tonga Legislative Assembly winning a By-election with 39.4% of the votes yesterday, Thursday 14 July. There was an 69% turnout of registered voters.

Consider the Tongan pillars of love, respect, humility, reciprocation and patriotism Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala urged a gathering of parliamentary staff from 10 Pacific Islands, as he opened the 47th Annual Presiding Officers and Clerks Conference held from July 11-14 at the Fa'onelua Centre in Nuku'alofa.

Tonga’s construction of sporting facilities, in preparation for the 2019 Pacific Games will start “not long from now,” Hon. Fe’ao Vakata, told the Tongan Parliament on Tuesday, 28 June, during a budget debate that was flavoured with biblical readings.

Four candidates, including one woman, have registered to contest the seat of Vava’u 16 in the Tonga Legislative Assembly in a By-Election to be held on 14 July.