Important testimony by John Jonesse, Managing Director of the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia Ltd., was cut short today when the SCP board cut off his access to corporate legal defence, thereby forcing an adjournment of the Ashika ferry inquiry.
You are here
Results for Parliament
Friday 6 November 2009
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Final Report of the Constitutional and Electoral Commission on a proposed new system of government for Tonga to be introduced next year was presented to HM King George Tupou V at the Palace, yesterday morning, 5 November 2009.

Thursday 5 November 2009
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Fiji Marine Survey Certificates issued on the MV Princess Ashika in 2009 confirmed there were increasing safety concerns from the Fiji Marine Board and Fiji International Safety Administration on the deteriorating condition of the vessel.

Thursday 5 November 2009
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
‘Alisi Taumoepeau the Chairman of the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia Ltd., appeared for the first time at the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika this morning and is set to give evidence on January 18, 2010.

Tuesday 3 November 2009
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A thorough survey of the MV Princess Ashika was not carried out before it was purchased by the Tongan Government, the Managing Director of Shipping Corporation of Polynesia Ltd., John Jonesse, told the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika, this morning, November 3.

Tuesday 3 November 2009
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Managing Director of Shipping Corporation of Polynesia SCP Ltd., John Jonesse, told the Commission of Inquiry yesterday morning, November 2, that the MV Princess Ashika was in good condition when it left Nuku'alofa on August 5 on its final voyage.

Sunday 1 November 2009
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Paul Karalus the former Minister of Transport who resigned on July 11, six days after the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika on August 5 will give evidence on December 14 at the Royal Commission of Inquiry, Nuku'alofa.

Sunday 1 November 2009
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The advanced level of corrosion and rust on the MV Princess Ashika was a serious concern for Sateki Tupou, whenever the ferry left port, the foreman and the workshop supervisor of the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia Ltd., told the Commission of Inquiry Day Four on Friday, October 30.

Thursday 29 October 2009
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A welder and fitter for the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia Ltd Manase Katoa, in his testimony this morning at the Inquiry into the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika reaffirmed the advanced level of rust and corrosion of the vessel and how unfit it was to operate in Tonga.

Tuesday 27 October 2009
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The first public hearing of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika on the night of August 5, got into a vibrant start this afternoon, when Mosese Fakatou, a former Marine Engineer with the Ministry of Ports and Authority showed slide photos of holes and heavy corroded sides and floor of the ferry.

Sunday 25 October 2009
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tongan Prime Minister, Dr Feleti Sevele, in a special speech to the Tongan parliament on October 8 gave a brief outline of a new way of government under a Constituency Electoral System that the Tongan government, the Cabinet and Privy Council, want to have in place before the new elections on November 2010. By Pesi Fonua

Tuesday 20 October 2009
9 comments
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's parliament discovered an elusive unity of purpose last month, when after months of frustrating debate over the direction of reform the House led by the Prime Minister, decided almost to a man, that some set beliefs and traditions should be upheld and the Constitution should not be changed to allow Tongan women equality under the law. From the House, by Pesi Fonua. FROM OUR ARCHIVES, 20 October 2009
Wednesday 7 October 2009
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Tonga Legislative Assembly will resume sitting on Thursday, October 8 after a two and a half weeks adjournment that allowed members to attend parliamentary meetings abroad, and extra time to to make a tsunami response.

Friday 2 October 2009
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The first public hearing of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the MV Ashika ferry was held on October 1 at the Fa'onelua Convention Centre.

Saturday 19 September 2009
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
November 2010 has been set by the Tongan government as the date for an election of Tonga's new parliament, the Deputy Prime Minister Dr Viliami Tangi told the Tongan Parliament on Monday, September 14 and he urged the House that instead of waiting for the Constitutional and Electoral Reform Commission to present its draft final report in November they should move ahead an amend Clause 77 of the Constitution, to enable the Prime Minister to set a date for the 2010 parliamentary election.From the House. Monday 14 September 2009. Premium Content.

Friday 18 September 2009
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Mr Justice Warwick Andrew has been temporarily relieved from his Supreme Court judge duties to take up his role as the Chairman of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika.

Tuesday 15 September 2009
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
An allocation of $200,000 was approved by the Tongan Parliament yesterday, September 14, toward the air fares of the Tongan contingent to the 8th South Pacific Mini Games at the Cook Islands from September 21 to October 2.

Tuesday 15 September 2009
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The sunken ferry, MV Princess Ashika was insured and so was the cargo and the passengers, the Minister of Finance, Hon. Afu'alo Matoto assured the Tongan parliament on Thursday, September 10 during the House's question time.

Monday 14 September 2009
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Crown has yet to decide if it should apply to re-open the criminal sedition case against four People's Representatives of 2006 who were acquitted of an indictment on a joint charge of seditious conspiracy by the Appeal Court of Tonga on Wednesday, September 9.

Friday 11 September 2009
1 comment
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's political reform is precisely a reforming of the composition of the parliament, Dr Malakai Koloamatangi, a Political Science Lecturer at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, told members of the Tongan media on Wednesday, September 9.
