It was on 2 November 1998 that Tonga and China established diplomatic relations. This year marks the 25th anniversary of a relationship that has brought great benefits, especially to the socio-economic development of the island kingdom. HE Cao Xiaoling, Chinese Ambassador to Tonga, has referred to the relationship as a “role model of solidarity, cooperation, and common development among countries of different sizes…” China is a country with a population of 1.4 billion people. Tonga is an island country with a much smaller population of 108,000. “But China and Tonga respect each other, help each other and work to safeguard…
Author: Kalafi Moala
Sixty-one passengers were flown out of Israel on a plane the Government of the Kingdom of Tonga chartered to safely evacuate Tongan nationals from Israel on Saturday evening 14 October. The Tongans were part of tour groups from Tonga and New Zealand who were on tour of Israel. But then the war between Israel and Hamas broke out, cancelling normal flight plans in and out of the war-torn country. Of the groups from Tonga, five were flown out earlier in the week back to Tonga via Malaysia. They had to deal with higher airfares, which they could afford, to be…
Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku returns to Tonga having been away firstly at the Rugby World Cup in France to greet and encourage the Tongan team; then went on to the United Nations General Assembly in New York; and last week attended the Summit of Pacific Leaders hosted by President Joe Biden in Washington, DC. The 2-day summit which took place on Monday and Tuesday, September 25 & 26, was the second of its kind in two years. Discussions revolved around regional priorities and cooperation including the climate change crisis, advancing economic growth, promotion of sustainable developments, strengthening health securities, countering of…
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will be arriving in Tonga tomorrow, Wednesday 26th July, to dedicate a new US Embassy in Nuku’alofa. The United States consider Tonga to be strategically important amid efforts by China to expand its influence across the Pacific. The US has stepped up engagements with countries in the Pacific region as geo-strategic competition with China intensifies. Embassies are being set up in Nuku’alofa, Tonga; and in Tarawa, Kiribati. Mr. Blinken said temporary U.S. duty officers were already in Tonga and a first directly assigned officer would be there “in a few short weeks,” with the…
The by-election for a replacement for the seat occupied by the late Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa for Tongatapu 10 was held on Thursday 13 July. Five candidates were vying for the vacant seat. Kapelieli Lanumata of Lapaha won convincingly with 870 votes from all the 13 districts of the Constituency. He took the highest votes of 555 from his village of Lapaha. Matani Nifofa of Kolonga came second with 621 votes, followed by Fotu Fisi’iahi of Niutoua with 507 votes. Daniel Fale of Lapaha came in fourth with 139 votes, and Senimili Tu’i’onetoa Fonua of Makaunga came fifth with 122 votes. There…
The Annual Budget for the 2023/2024 financial year have been approved by Parliament with a 14-0 votes on Wednesday evening, just before the Friday 30th June deadline. After what seemed to be inadequate debate by members on the budget, it was approved without opposition. There was also very little or no public consultation. With the approval in place, there are still seven annual reports from government ministries and entities that have not been submitted to the House; five of those are ministries under the Prime Minister. It is the biggest budget on record of $784.2 million pa’anga, $19.5m more than…
Debate on the national budget was adjourned to Monday 19th June, but there are already a number of issues that are concerning, at least to most of the people’s representatives, and some of the nobles’ representatives in the House. This year’s national budget is a record high of $784.2 million pa’anga, with $419.5 million expected to come from government funds, and the remaining $364.7 million to come from overseas development partners. This was the announcement made by the Minister of Finance, Hon. Tiofilusi Tiueti in Parliament last week as he introduced the budget. He also said there would be a…
Kuo lesisita ha kau kanititeiti ‘e toko 5 ki he Fili Si’i ‘a Tongatapu 10. Na’e tapuni e lesisita kanititeiti ‘aneafi, Tusite 6 ‘o Sune. Ko e Fili Si’i foki ‘eni ki ha fakafofonga ki he Sea ‘o e Fakafofonga kuo pekia, ka ko e Palemia kimu’a ‘o Tonga, Dr. Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa. Ko e kau kanititeiti ‘I honau fakahokohoko, fika 1 ko Matani Nifofā mei Kolonga; fika 2 Seinimili Tu’i’onetoa Fonua mei Makaunga; fika 3 ko Daniel Fale mei Lapaha; fika 4 ko Kapeli Lanumata mei Lapaha; pea fika 5 ‘a Fotu Fisi’iahi mei Niutoua. Ko e Fili Si’í ‘e…
An on-air interview of former CEO of the Ministry of Infrastructure (MOI), Ringo Fa’oliu, has revealed breach of process on several levels that has led to the current controversies concerning road works in the kingdom. At question was the process by which millions of dollars were spent by the government in the selection and contractual engagement of three companies to carry out road works throughout Tonga. The three companies that were selected amidst several bidders had direct link to the Government, either to members of the Cabinet or to the Government’s party. Island Dredging Ltd. was connected to Lord Nuku,…
The Ministry of Infrastructure oversees all major infrastructure developments and construction in the Kingdom of Tonga. These developments include the construction and repair of roads, wharves, airports, government buildings, government schools, and reconstruction works after damages from cyclones, flooding, and tsunamis. The expenditure on infrastructure in any nation is among the highest in the Government’s annual budget. This is true for Tonga, with millions of pa’anga, designated to various infrastructural work. In addition to the budget designations are the aid from foreign development partners valued in the millions, for construction of needed infrastructural facilities. Each government in power has its…