Results for Parliament

Lord Dalgety QC, the Company Secretary for the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia Ltd., the operator of the MV Princess Ashika, in another twist in his second day of evidence, this morning, told the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the Ashika that he had already wished to resign from his position.

The intense questioning of Lord Dalgety QC provided moments of courtroom drama on Day 31 of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the Ashika on January 19, continuing today, with the witness admitting that there was crucial information the SCP should have had and proper due diligence was not carried out in the purchase of the vessel by government.

Since Tonga's Constitutional and Electoral Reform Commission published its 'Final Report and Recommendations' on November 5 last year, Tonga's parliament has been struggling to agree on a new system of government, expected to be in place before a General Election scheduled for November or December 2010.

Tonga ferry sinking, MV Princess Ashika, Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika,

The Director of New Zealand Marine Brokers told the Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the Princess Ashika the vessel had no real value due to its old age and advanced state of corrosion.

'Oku lahilahi 'a e ilifia tevolo he teuteu liliu fakapolitikale ko'eni 'oku 'ai ke fakahoko 'i Tonga ni. 'Oku lahi mo e ngaahi fakakaukau faka'ofo'ofa ke fili ha kakai 'oku poto mo lelei ke nau hoko ko ha ngaahi taki lelei, ka 'oku 'ikai ko e me'a ia 'oku fa'ahoko 'i he taimi lahi 'i he founga temokalati.

Former Director of the Marine Division of Tonga's Ministry of Transport Bill Johnson agreed that he was negligent by not sending surveyors to Fiji to survey the MV Princess Ashika before a decision was made to buy the vessel.

Women and children passengers were trapped inside the enclosed passengers cabin shouting and crying out while holding on to their children as the Princess Ashika capsized, said a surviving crewman who managed to get out alive.

Auditor General Pohiva Tu'ionetoa, a member of a Government Procurement Committee told the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the Princess Ashika on December 10, that in May it became known to the committee that Cabinet had made a decision on April 23 to buy the vessel, and a contract was already signed.