Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku told reporters in Nukualofa that despite the current crisis in internet communication, “Starlink has been notified that they do not have a license, so all terminals should be disabled.” Since the damage to the domestic cable to Vava’u and Ha’apai from an earthquake on June 29, Government is still awaiting the arrival of “a repair vessel for the submarine cable… to physically examine the damage.” Businesses in the outer islands that depend on internet communications however, have complained they may be going out of business due to the communications crisis. A resort owner in Ha’apai, Darren Rice,…
Author: Kalafi Moala
In preparation for PIF Leaders Meeting in Tonga Rarotonga: Written from PIF Leaders Meeting in Rarotonga, November 2023 Questions raised about the appointment of in-coming Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), Nauru’s Baron Waqa, have threatened to dismantle a frail unity among the leaders of the regional organisation. Mr Waqa, former President of Nauru, has been named the next Forum Secretary General despite his history which includes ongoing investigation by Australian Federal Police for taking bribes, sacking of judges he disagreed with, and imposing harsh restrictions on media. Nauru’s President David Adeang and his delegation stormed out of…
In a news coverage by Kaniva News concerning the problems with Lulutai Airlines, and more particularly the accident related to the Saab 34 airplane, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has reacted with threats of legal action claiming the story was prefabricated and misleading. The Civil Aviation Ministry has also attacked Kaniva for calling on the Prime Minister and members of the Lulutai Airlines Board to resign. The ministry has called on the news organization to apologize and rescind their story otherwise they will take legal action. But Kaniva has responded to the Ministry of Civil Aviation with a strong refusal…
Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni in a press conference today officially revealed he has resigned from his Defense Portfolio, and so has the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Fekita ‘Utoikamanu. He seemed muffled as he was unable to give any details as to why he had resigned from his defense portfolio. As to who will become the new Defense Minister and the new Foreign Minister, he mumbled in Tongan that they were awaiting direction. (Kei tali ki ha tu’utu’uni) Direction from who? If it is the Prime Minister who appoints his Ministers, according to the Constitution, then who else would…
Kuo ma’u ha tala kuo fakafisi ‘a e Palemia mei hono lakanga ko e Minisitā Malu’í ‘o fakatatau ki he fiema’u ‘e he Tu’í, Tupou VI. Pea kuo toe ma’u foki mo ha tala kuo fakafisi mo e Minisitā ki Mulí, Fekita ‘Utoikamanu mei hono lakanga, ‘o fakatatau aipē ki he fakahā e finangalo ‘o e Tu’í. Neongo ‘oku te’eki ai ke fakahoko mai ki he fonua ha fakahā faka’ofisiale, kā kuo ma’u mei he loto ‘i he Pule’anga e ngaahi fakamatala ko ia ‘oku ‘oatu heni. Talu mei he ‘aho 2 Fepueli mo e fakahā ‘i ha tohi mei…
Na’e me’a atu ‘a e Palemiá, Hu’akavameiliku ki Niua ‘i he Tu’apulelulu kuo ‘osí ke fai ha taufolofola ki he ‘Ene ‘Afio, Tupou VI. Ko ha kau Minisitā ‘e toko nima na’e kaungā folau mo e Palemiá: Lord Fohe, Lord Tu’i’āfitu, Dr. Viliami Latu, Fekita ‘Utoikamanu, pea mo Dr. Siale ‘Akau’ola. Na’e toe kau foki ‘i he kau folaú ‘a Dulcie Tei ‘o Tongatapu 6, pea pehē foki ki he Sekelitali Lahi, mo e Sekelitali ki he Kapinetí, Paula Ma’u. Ko e ngaahi fakamahamahalo ki he ‘uhinga ‘o e folaú, ko ha kole fakamolemole mo e hū louifi ki he…
Pacific Island nations face a severe obesity crisis, with ten ranking as the most obese globally. A Lancet study reveals that over 1 billion people worldwide are obese, with American Samoa and Tonga leading. Among Tongan women, 81.5% are obese, with a significant rise in children’s obesity. Obesity-related non-communicable diseases are now the leading cause of death in these regions.
The senior noble representative, Lord Tu’ivakano, spoke for the rest of his fellow noble members in Parliament, when he urged Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku to resign from his portfolio as Minister of His Majesty’s Armed Forces. He also called for the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Fekita ‘Utoikamanu to resign from her two Cabinet portfolios. It has been 4 weeks since the Privy Council in a letter on 2 February conveyed that His Majesty was no longer confident and withdrew his consent to the Minister of Defense over His Majesty’s Armed Forces, as well as to the Minister of Foreign…
In a regional three-day dialogue held last week in Port Vila, Vanuatu, it was declared that corruption is threatening the economic development of nations in the Pacific. A press release from the dialogue says that what is required urgently is community awareness, building of integrity in society, and collaboration from all the agencies both government and non-government in the fight against corruption. The Port Vila dialogue included representatives from across the Pacific. These representatives are working together to strengthen their role in the fight against corruption, with support from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the…
A standoff between the Prime Minister’s Office and the King’s Privy Council in its advisory capacity has put the two highest political powers, the Prime Minister and the Monarch, in what could be a serious constitutional conflict in Tonga. This came about when the Prime Minister’s Office received a letter from the Privy Council advising the Chief Secretary and Secretary to Cabinet that the King no longer has confidence and consent to the appointment of two Ministers: the Minister for the Armed Forces, which is held by the Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku; and the Minister of Foreign Affairs held by Hon.…