The Minister for Police, Paula Piukala, has expressed concern over repeated requests to breach the nation’s strict Sunday observance laws.
Minister Piukala revealed he had received another request for an air ambulance from New Zealand to land in Tonga for refuelling on a Sunday, two weeks ago. He declined the request, reiterating his stance that such landings violate the Sabbath law unless no alternatives are available.
“I replied to the letter saying this will be the last time to make such a request,” Piukala told Tonga Broadcasting in an interview. He noted that airports in Nadi, Fiji, and Samoa remain open on Sundays, providing viable alternatives.
Piukala, who also serves as Minister for Public Enterprises, highlighted, during a government press conference last Thursday, the lack of a coordinated process among key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health, Tonga Airport Limited, Civil Aviation, and Ministry of Police, for handling medevac operations. “There is no process at the moment,” he said.
Tonga’s Sunday law, rooted in Christian tradition, prohibits most commercial and transport activities on Sundays. Past efforts to relax these restrictions, including a 2004 bill allowing Sunday flights, have faced significant opposition from religious groups and were narrowly defeated in Parliament.
The Minister’s remarks come amid heightened scrutiny of air traffic in the region, following a recent drug smuggling case reported by 9 News Australia involving a flight from Papua New Guinea to Queensland. One of the alleged masterminds has pleaded guilty to his role in transporting $15 million worth of methamphetamine .
As Tonga navigates the balance between upholding religious laws and addressing emergency needs, the government faces pressure to establish clear protocols for these kinds of extraordinary circumstances.
