The purchase of the MV Princess Ashika was a major acquisition for the Tonga Government but the Cabinet failed to ascertain that its decisions were implemented, and to allow its established institutions, the Procurement Committee and Anti Corruption Commission to operate effectively. This resulted in the purchase of an unseaworthy vessel that was ready for scrap and should never have been allowed to sail in Tonga, a Royal Commission of Inquiry has found.
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Results for Parliament
Saturday 17 April 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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Tuesday 13 April 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Live broadcasting of debate in the Tongan Legislative Assembly on matters relating to the proposed political reform, started on Thursday April 8.
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Tuesday 6 April 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Tonga Legislative Assembly resumed session today after a three month long Christmas break since 18 December 2009.
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Friday 2 April 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's Chief Justice Anthony David Ford has been appointed as an Employment Court Judge in New Zealand, the New Zealand Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced yesterday, April 1.
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Friday 2 April 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Brandishing a copy of the Final Report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Sinking of the Princess Ashika, Tonga's Minister for Communication and Information, Hon. 'Eseta Fusitu'a told the local media yesterday they could not have it.
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Friday 2 April 2010
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Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Tonga's commitment to support American foreign policies around the world is unmatched in the Pacific, except perhaps for Australia. Past Tongan monarchies did not hesitate to commit Tonga's tiny military force during world conflicts involving the United States. - Sione Akemeihakau Mokofisi.
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Thursday 1 April 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The tragedy of the MV Princess Ashika sinking is that the causes of the disaster were all easily preventable and the 74 deaths were completely senseless, an inquiry into the sinking of the Tongan ferry on August 5 last year, has concluded.
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Thursday 1 April 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Final Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika, 31 March 2010. Downloadable files.
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Wednesday 31 March 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The final report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Sinking of the MV Princess Ashika on August 5 was this morning presented to HM King George Tupou V at Consular House, and later at mid-day to the Chairman of the Whole House Committee of the Tongan Legislative Assembly, Noble Lasike.
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Tuesday 30 March 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Report of the Royal Constituency Boundaries Commission to settle the electoral boundaries for the 2010 Elections was presented to King George Tupou V on Thursday, March 25 in Nuku'alofa.
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Tuesday 30 March 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The final session of the Tonga Legislative Assembly for 2009 would resume on Tuesday, April 6 and on the agenda is the Report of the Royal Constituency Boundaries Commission and Bills for the 2010 Political Reform.
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Tuesday 30 March 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The much-anticipated Final Report into the Sinking of the MV Princess Ashika will be presented to HM King George Tupou V on Wednesday, March 31 in Nuku'alofa.
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Monday 15 March 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The legal counsel to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika made their final oral submissions on Friday evening, March 12 at the Fa'onelua Convention Centre.
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Friday 12 March 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The final session of the Tonga Legislative Assembly under its current composition has been unofficially set for early April, but this date has yet to be confirmed.
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Wednesday 3 March 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
In recent weeks some correspondence passing between the former Attorney General and Minister of Justice and the Prime Minister has been published in the media here in Tonga. Some of the material published alleges that the Chief Justice either put "pressure" on someone to sign his contract or that he and the former Minister "colluded" to subvert the Constitution. These are serious allegations leveled at the Judiciary.
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Monday 1 March 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The former Minister of Transport, Paul Karalus, told the Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the Princess Ashika on Saturday, February 27, that he was deeply saddened and embarrassed with the discovery that his report to the King, Prime Minister and the Cabinet that the MV Ashika was in good condition was based on incorrect information.
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Friday 26 February 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Company Secretary of the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia Ltd Lord Dalgety is under fire at the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the MV Ashika on February 25, after evidence revealed a "scandalous contract" of employment and possible use of public funds to finance personal and first class travels in his other role as Chairman of the Electricity Commission.
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Thursday 25 February 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Shipping Corporation Company Secretary Lord Dalgety who has been missing in action at the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the Ashika since January 22 is expected to continue his evidence this week after it was confirmed by a doctor that his medical condition was that of dehydration.
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Thursday 25 February 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
In another interesting turn of evidence provided by the former Minister of Transport Paul Karalus on February 25, he accepted a submission that he misled Cabinet in a memorandum regarding due diligence on the Ashika.
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Wednesday 24 February 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The former Minister of Transport Paul Karalus (61) told the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the MV Ashika today that during his time as Minister his understanding was that the power to detain an unseaworthy ship from sea was of the Director of Marine, and he, on the other hand, would just support it.
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