The University of the South Pacific (USP) wrapped up a four-day workshop from June 25-28, part of the UNDP-funded “Digital Democracy Governance Initiative (PDGI).” The workshop, held at USP’s Tonga Campus, aimed to enhance digital governance in Tonga by training officials from various government ministries. Luke Lusting-Bruce, UNDP Governance Officer, highlighted the initiative’s importance. “Digital democracy empowers citizens and fosters transparent governance,” he said. Professor Sushil Kumar, USP’s Director of Research, discussed digitalisation’s transformative potential. “IT tools can streamline processes and enhance service delivery,” he said, stressing the opportunities for Tonga in e-government and e-participation. USP Tonga Campus Director, Dr.…
Author: Newsdesk
The Cook Islands have legalised medicinal cannabis use with a prescription, a significant step towards healthcare reform. Health Minister Vainetutai Rose Toki-Brown announced the change, highlighting its potential benefits. “We recognise the therapeutic value of medicinal cannabis for patients suffering from chronic pain and other conditions,” Minister Toki-Brown stated. The new law permits qualified medical practitioners to prescribe cannabis products to patients in need. It aims to provide relief and improve the quality of life for those with debilitating illnesses. This decision aligns with global trends towards medical cannabis acceptance, reflecting growing understanding of its therapeutic properties. The Cook Islands…
Hawaii has become the first state in the United States to ban seabed mining in its waters, a significant move aimed at protecting marine ecosystems. The decision, announced by Governor Josh Green, reflects growing environmental concerns over the impacts of extracting minerals from the ocean floor. “Today, we are taking a strong stand to safeguard our precious marine environment,” Governor Green said. “The ocean is vital to our way of life in Hawaii, and we must do everything we can to protect it.” Seabed mining involves extracting valuable minerals from the ocean floor, but it poses serious risks to marine…
Australia is providing $6.3 million to strengthen banking services in the Pacific, ensuring financial infrastructure remains operational across the region. Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced the funding, emphasizing the importance of Australian banks like Westpac and ANZ in the Pacific. “The message we are sending today to the entire Pacific family is clear: you can bank on us,” Chalmers said. The funds will develop digital identity infrastructure and improve compliance with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing requirements. Speaking at the Pacific Banking Forum in Brisbane, Chalmers highlighted the importance of these services for local communities. “We know how critical these services…
Internet users in Tonga’s Vava’u and Ha’apai islands are still facing connectivity issues, since last week’s abrupt disconnection, as a cable repair ship is nine days away. Reports of difficulties with telephone calls and intermittent ATM and EFTPOS services are still ongoing. Despite improvements, internet reliability remains a challenge, prompting reliance on satellite options like Elon Musk’s Starlink. This is the third time Tonga’s undersea cable has been disrupted. First in 2019 when it was blamed on a Malta-registered ship, the Duzgit Venture and then in 2022, the Hunga Tonga volcanic eruption cut up the cable into parts disconnecting Tonga from…
Noelani Malia Day and Alan Uhi will swim for Tonga at this year’s Paris Olympics, starting later this month. Alan will compete on his Olympic debut in the 100m backstroke, while Noelani will swim in the 50m freestyle. They will be accompanied by officials Calina Panuve and Christos Stathis. Uhi secured his spot at the Olympics by achieving a time of 59.38 seconds at the 2024 Australian Championships, becoming Tonga’s top-ranked male swimmer. Originally from Kolomotu’a, Tongatapu, Uhi now lives in Melbourne, Australia, with his aunt and trains there. He has been in Melbourne for nearly five years, balancing his…
Emmanuel Tjibaou has made history in New Caledonia by winning a seat in the French National Assembly. He is the first pro-independence Kanak leader to serve in the French legislature in Paris in 38 years. Emmanuel Tjibaou, 47, ran for the “Independence and Nationalists” alliance. Despite debates among pro-independence parties, they all supported Tjibaou in the second constituency. He won 57.01% of the vote in the run-off against Alcide Ponga of the Rassemblement-LR party. Emmanuel is the son of the late Jean-Marie Tjibaou, who founded the independence coalition Front de Libération Nationale Kanak et Socialiste (FLNKS) and was assassinated in…
Last Friday, July 5th, His Majesty King Tupou VI opened the new Royal Archives building in Tufumahina, an initiative by the Royal Archives Office made possible by a 3.3 million pa’anga contribution from Dongguan City, Guangdong Province, China. The Royal Archives now has its own special fale to house invaluable records of Tonga’s history and culture, ensuring they are preserved for future generations. In 2019, King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u visited New Zealand’s National Library to discuss upgrades for Tonga’s Palace Archives. During the visit, they explored Tongan archival materials, including footage from Queen Elizabeth II’s 1954 Tonga tour…
A 31-year-old man and his 28-year-old female partner from Hauloto, Tongatapu were arrested by Police during a raid last Wednesday. The police seized 10.45 grams of methamphetamine, $3,370 in Tongan pa’anga, $18 in US dollars, thirteen empty packs, and drug utensils. Both individuals have been charged with possession of illicit drugs and drug paraphernalia. Despite the strict penalties outlined in the Illicit Drugs Control Act, which include fines ranging from $10,000 to $1,000,000 and potential prison sentences of three years to life, the addictive nature of drugs continues to pose a significant challenge in Tonga.
Tonga’s first Anti-Corruption Commissioner, New Zealander Chris LaHatte, was sworn in before the Tonga Cabinet last Friday, July 5. Mr. LaHatte, a lawyer from Wellington, was appointed by the King in Privy Council on March 28 this year. “This is a significant milestone in our nation’s ongoing commitment to promoting transparency, integrity, and accountability in public office,” said the Government. Tongan lawyer, Mele Fakatouato Mangisi, was appointed in June as the first Executive Director of the office, which started operations on July 1. “It has taken 17 years to establish this office since the legislation passed in 2007,” said Ms.…