Results for Parliament

Tonga's 2008 Parliamentary Election to be held on April 23 for the Nobles Representatives and April 24 for the People's Representatives is on schedule, according to the government electoral officer, Pita Vuki.

Highlighting mediation as a process of settling disputes out of court has been the biggest achievement of Tonga's first Law Week, according to Tonga's Chief Justice Anthony Ford.

The House resumed after several weeks of recess, first to enable government to prepare and to host the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in mid-October, and then to enable members to attend the 125th anniversary celebration of Tonga College at the end of October. The day's working agenda was a "carrot on a stick" approach. From the House, an English translation summary from the Tongan vernacular, by Pesi Fonua.

HM King George Tupou V will officially close the 2007 session of the Tongan Legislature on Thursday, November 1 at the Queen Salote Memorial Hall, Nuku'alofa.

The Tongan Judiciary has introduced a new court procedure, to enable disputing parties to negotiate out-of-court settlements through mediation.

As one of the few loyal friends of America in the world, the Kingdom of Tonga has been rewarded with nothing but empty thanks from the U.S. Government. As most recently as a couple of years ago the U.S. Consul from the Suva Embassy, in Fiji, had the guts to lecture the Tongan Government as a "human-rights violator."

People's Representative, Samiu Vaipulu, who had just been to Vava'u, told the House that the report that MOW daily labourers walked out from their jobs was incorrect, they walked out because there was no work and no money to pay them with. From the House, by Pesi Fonua.

The clerk told the House that the Minister of Lands and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence were away overseas. The Governor of Ha'apai and Noble Tu'ipelehake had asked for a day off. Noble Tu'ilakepa and Sunia Fili were away to the APPU meeting in Palau, and those who did not no answer when he called out their names, were probably coming late. They were the Prime Minister, the Minister of Works, the Minister for Tourism, the Minister for Transport and Civil Aviation, a Noble's Representative, Lasike, and People's Representatives Clive Edwards, and 'Uliti Uata.

The highlight of debate was the concern by some members over the membership of the Tongan Parliament in overseas parliamentary associations, and the cost for Tongan representatives to attend some of their meetings. It raised the question: was it worth it? From the House, by Pesi Fonua.