The Legislative Assembly of Tonga passed the first reading of the 2024/2025 Appropriation Bill 2024 today. They are planning for expenditure of $899.2 million. The Chief Clerk reported that the Bill comprised of the Government’s budget estimates for the period commencing 1 July 2024 and ending 30 June 2025. When introducing the Appropriation Bill to the Legislative Assembly, the Minister of Finance, Hon. Tiofilusi Tiueti said, “The budget for the Financial Year 2024/25 was guided by the theme ‘Building the foundations for sector-driven economic growth and sustainability’ focusing on enhancing growth and development for the benefit of the entire population…
Author: Newsdesk
Tonga’s sole financial regulator, the National Reserve Bank of Tonga (NRBT) has closed LWS Trading and RK3 Pacific Tonga Ltd and filed complaints against them with Police. LWS Trading is based in Tonga and was operating in partnership with RK3 Pacific Tonga Ltd which described itself on Facebook as having offices in New Zealand and Australia. Their main business was facilitating the transfer of money to Tonga from overseas. Many Tongans overseas use money transfer services to transfer funds mostly to their relatives in Tonga. This has been a regular practice for many years, as Tongans living overseas help their…
For quite some time, the separatist forces of China’s Taiwan Region and certain major country have been deliberately distorting and challenging one-China principle and United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758, trumpeting the notion that Taiwan’s status is undetermined, and advocating support for Taiwan’s participation in the United Nations conferences and activities. These moves attempt to invent a whole set of false narratives to mislead international public opinion, and trample on the international law and basic norms governing international relations. In view of this, it is more than necessary to comprehensively and systematically explain the origin and facts of Resolution 2758…
The Office of the Tonga Legislative Assembly said in a statement today that one of its employee was suspended on Tuesday this week , following allegations of involvement with illicit drugs. A formal police investigation is currently underway. The announcement came a day after the opening session of the Parliament where King Tupou VI again expressed his concern for illicit drugs in Tonga. There was no further detail released concerning the employee’s suspension. Earlier this year, an employee of the National Reserve Bank of Tonga was dismissed when drugs were found in his office.
This week, President Ilham Aliyev hosted a significant meeting in Baku with three representatives from island nations: Tuvalu’s Governor-General Falaniko Toafina, Tonga’s Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni, and The Bahamas’ Foreign Affairs Minister Frederick Audley Mitchell. The discussions centered around Azerbaijan’s objectives for the upcoming 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in November. During the meeting, the leaders highlighted the severe climate challenges faced by their nations. The Bahamas’ representative, Mitchell, pointed out that a hurricane five years ago resulted in a loss of 30% of the country’s GDP, with…
Tongan kite foiler JJ Rice is competing at the “2024 Formula Kite World Championships” in Hyères, France, from May 13-19. This is a crucial event before kiteboarding’s Olympic debut in Paris 2024. Last December, JJ’s eighth-place finish at the Kite Foil, Sail Sydney competition in Australia secured his spot in the Summer Olympics. Although born in the U.S., JJ grew up in Tonga and proudly represents his home country. He dreams of inspiring Tongan youth to take up sailing, hoping to see them in future Olympics. Kite foil racing, debuting at this year’s Olympics, showcases riders flying above water at…
Even though Vanuatu’s national airline, Air Vanuatu, is going through bankruptcy, it does not take away from the fact that for the second time in 20 years, Vanuatu has been voted in and ranked as the top country on earth according to the 6th edition of the Happy Planet Index, which was issued on 2 May 2024. This recognition was conferred by the Human Development Index based in the United Kingdom. Of the countries in the top 10, Vanuatu is the only Pacific country, followed by Sweden, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Denmark, Spain, Panama, France, and Chile. Vanuatu’s success…
Air Vanuatu, one of the regions main airlines has filed for voluntary receivership. Problems started becoming so evident last week as the airlines flights from Sydney and Brisbane and Auckland were cancelled. It comes amid reports an administrator has been appointed. Brisbane Airport said it was aware flights had been cancelled on Thursday and Friday, and has warned passengers scheduled to fly with the airline that they should not travel to the airport. Local newspaper Vanuatu Daily Post says it was informed the Air Vanuatu board has been dissolved and an administrator was appointed on May 6. The publication said…
Former Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama was in hand cuffs and led out of the Suva High Court on Thursday 9 of May, to make his way to Korovou Prison where he will serve his 1 year sentence. The former Fiji Prime Minister has been sentenced to 1 year in prison. Suspended Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho will serve 2 years in prison. They will serve custodial sentences. The duo were sentenced in the High Court yesterday by Acting Chief Justice Salesi Temo for charges of perverting the course of justice and abuse of office. Mr Bainimarama was found guilty of one…
The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, will attend the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders Meeting in Tonga, set to take place from 26-30 August 2024. The announcement was confirmed by Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku. The Prime Minister extended an invitation to Secretary-General Guterres during a bilateral meeting in New York on 17 September 2023. The participation of such a high-profile figure underscores the significance of this year’s PIF Leaders Meeting, themed “Transformative Resilient Pasifiki; Build Better Now.” Speaking to local media on Friday, 3 May, Prime Minister Hu‘akavameiliku remarked, “Having high profiles coming will attract more people because of the…