The following is a translation of a reply from the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Sonatane Tupou to a question by the Vava'u No. 1 People's Representative, Trevor Guttenbeil about the issue of Dual Citizenship for Tongans. The Minister talks about Tongan Citizenship. From the House, Letter 7th September 2004.
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Results for Parliament
Tuesday 14 September 2004
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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Friday 10 September 2004
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The new Minister for Foreign Affairs took his oath and a letter from the Chief Secretary and the Secretary to Cabinet informing the House of a restructure of government ministries and the appointment of new ministers. From the House, Minute No. 38, Monday 6 September 2004.
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Wednesday 8 September 2004
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
MP's debate the decision to adopt a new pension scheme for Members of Parliament or whether to stay with the old pension scheme. From the House, Minute No. 35, Thursday 12 August 2004.
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Monday 6 September 2004
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
People's Representatives to the Tongan Parliament today called for government to hold a referendum, asking the Tongan people if they want the right to elect all of the 30 members of the Tongan parliament, so the King can appoint his Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers from among the elected members.
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Monday 6 September 2004
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Hundreds of Tongans prayed aloud together with the King and Queen last night at the Teufaiva Outdoor Stadium, Nuku'alofa, asking God to have mercy on Tonga's political leaders, and to teach them to be honest and truthful, and to love the people.
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Saturday 28 August 2004
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Prime Minister HRH Prince 'Ulukalala Lavaka Ata announced in a Press Release late last night that it had become "necessary that the tenure of office of three of Tonga's ministers ended". They were named as: Hon. William Clive Edwards, the Minister of Police, Prisons and Fire Services; the Hon. Dr Masasso Paunga, Minister of Labour Commerce and Industries; and Hon. 'Aisea Taumoepeau, Attorney General and the Minister of Justice.
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Thursday 26 August 2004
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Since the Prime Minister, Prince 'Ulukalala Lavaka Ata, announced yesterday his intention to reshuffle the Tongan Cabinet, the Coconut Wireless Network (CWN) has been speculating on who will become his new ministers and whether any existing ministers will be forced to resign.
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Thursday 26 August 2004
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
From the House, Minute No. 29, Tuesday 3 August 2004, calls to restrict Tongan Tobacco not included in the Tobacco Act if it were only for personal use.
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Wednesday 25 August 2004
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's Prime Minister Prince ‘Ulukalala Lavaka Ata will give up some of his many portfolios, he announced today before going to a Cabinet meeting.
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Wednesday 25 August 2004
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
From the House, Minute No. 28 Monday August 2. Queries voiced as to why government made a new tobacco law knowing the existing law could not be enforced.
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Monday 23 August 2004
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Concern over the government's Look East Policy and its impact on the social, economic and the politics of Tonga. From the House, Minute No. 30, Wednesday August 4
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Friday 20 August 2004
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
From the House, Minute No. 27, Thursday July 29. The meaning of Point of Order is addressed; Heads of Department have the right to scold public servants for minor offenses. By Pesi Fonua
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Tuesday 17 August 2004
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
From the House Minute No. 31, Thursday 5 August 2004. Bill that was presented to the House was requested by the Minister of Police to be withdrawn for further work to be done to it. By Pesi Fonua
(Editor's note to our regular parliamentary readers: Minutes no. 27-30 are coming soon).
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Tuesday 17 August 2004
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
During proceedings on the Bill for a National Accreditation and Qualification Act a People's Rep. pointed out that the 30 year old Regulation for the Education Act of 1974 had not been tabled into the House. The Minister of Justice replied that the Regulation the member was referring to had been passed [by Cabinet] and was in use but it was awaiting to be tabled into the House. By Pesi Fonua
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Wednesday 11 August 2004
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A scuffle and fist fight took place between the two members. The Speaker called for the members to settle down, then expressed his shame on the language used and what had happened in the House. Minute No. 26, Wednesday July 28
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Tuesday 10 August 2004
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
From the House, Minute No. 25. Tuesday July 27. The Minister of Finance said that the Sales Tax would be terminated and replaced with a Consumption Tax next year and small businesses would not be required to keep any records. He said that the method of collecting taxes would be different.
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Monday 9 August 2004
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
From the House, Minute no. 24, Monday July 26. 'Uliti Uata queried the logic of the penalties for the non-payment of income tax. He said that Inland Revenue Department has been forwarding their assessment of income taxes from 1997 up to 2003 and demanding the payment of penalties and interest.
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Wednesday 4 August 2004
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Minute No. 23 The trouble with the illegal practice of double invoicing, $3 million unpaid Sales Tax, Sea Star Company owed $3.7 million to government, Sea Star borrowed $600,000 from the Tonga National Trust Fund. From the House. By Pesi Fonua
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Wednesday 4 August 2004
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Minute No. 22: Proposed amendment of the Regulation for the Ship Registration Act was to enable the Fuakavenga II to be registered in Tonga, Tonga pays $1 million to the Pacific Forum Line and $1 million to the Hartman Shipping Group of Germany so that Tonga may have the option of buying back the ship after eight years, the Regulation and the Act have been amended and the ship was reregistered earlier this year but the amended regulation was brought in for the House to approve, Death Grant of $15,000 for soldiers who die on the battlefield or during a military exercise, in addition his next of kin will be paid his pension from government. From the House. By Pesi Fonua
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Sunday 1 August 2004
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
"...
if Tonga restored the political rights enjoyed by its citizens before 2003 when it was above the median, it might qualify for access to tens of millions of dollars in US aid funding." Tonga has been dropped from a list, announced on July 20, of the world's poorest countries that the United States will allow to become candidates in 2005 for a new multi-billion dollar aid fund.
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Tonga weather forecast from yr.no, delivered by the Norwegian Meteorological Institute and the NRK. See also Fua'amotu Weather Forecasting Center, Tonga, for latest local weather bulletin.