Tonga

Tonga’s Ambassador and Permanent Rep, Viliami Vaʻinga Tōnē, and his counterpart Claver Gatete signed the joint communique at the Rwanda Embassy in New York Tuesday, 21 March, 2023.

The two Heads of Mission expressed the significance of nurturing the relations between Tonga and Rwanda, both at the bilateral and the multilateral levels according to a statement.

Ambassador Gatete further emphasized the significance of fostering the government-to-government and people to people relationships between the Kingdom of Tonga and the Republic of Rwanda.

The training is provided under the Defence Australia workshops for Sporting Partners in Tonga including, Tonga Netball

The training saw officials from Vava’u, Ha’apai, ‘Eua, and from Tongatapu Representatives from Sports Bodies of various Ministries, Public Enterprises and NGO’s, Teachers of Higi School and Primary Schools, Sports Leaders of Villages attend.

The volunteers were part of a global evacuation due to the Covid pandemic in March 2020.

A statement said they complete their service that began in August 2019 serving at various government and mission schools. 

Peace Corps Tonga said 15 more volunteers will arrive in Tonga in June. They will work across on Tongatapu, ‘Eua, Ha’apai, and Vava’u.

The Tonga’s Competent Authority has confirmed that it has increased by 0.03/kg for Tongatapu and 0.02/kg for Vava’u.

“In Tongatapu, the price increased to $4.54 from $4.51 per kg.”

“Vava’u’s price increased to $4.60 from $4.58, Ha’apai is at $5.72 from $5.69, ‘Eua $5.58 from $5.55. While, Niuatoputapu increased to $6.88 from $6.85.”

The price hike is due to higher Saudi CP price flowed through the market increasing the retail prices

All prices include consumption tax.

Robotic engineer Arthur Cocker says everyone thinks about setting up a solar farm, but no one thinks about cleaning them reports PMN News.

He says right now the rain is the only cleaner, and if humans were to do it, it would need a water blaster, which could not only damage the panels but also take a lot of time and effort.

​“Our solution would actually be a little bit more manageable, as it’s just hard to find staff. This will be automated. We really want our solution to be something that requires little to no effort for them.”​

The MoU, signed between Seabased, the Kingdom of Tonga, and United Nations-recognised association representing small island developing states SIDS DOCK, sets out plans for the build-out of 10MW wave energy park that will be conducted in phases.

The initial park in Tonga will be 2MW and is projected to save the island kingdom $2 million in foreign exchange, displace 2 million liters of fuel, reduce carbon emissions by roughly 5.6 kilotons and generate enough power for 2,800 homes.

The Government is also assisting Tongan students currently studying in Vanuatu by providing additional allowance to cope with additional expenses due to the cyclones.

A statement from the PM’s Office said the Government had received financial assistance from the Government of Vanuatu following the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai events in 2022 and the Tongan diaspora in Vanuatu also remitted financial assistance channeled through the Ministry of Finance following the HTHH events.

Prime Minister, Hu’akavameiliku confirmed this in a press conference.

The vessel is currently docked in Auckland for maintenance work.

Hu’akavameiliku said he is glad to have all the faults repaired, while it’s still docked there.

New Zealand Maritime is carrying out the final inspections of the ferry before it is released to return to Tonga.

“Inspectors from Tonga had also informed New Zealand Maritime of other pressing issues to address. We hope that it arrives soon, to help transport our people to the outer islands,” he said.

Confirmed by the Tonga Competent Authority, the petrol will increase while kerosene and diesel to decrease from mid-March to April,

Tonga Competent Authority said wholesale price for petrol will increase by 4.15 seniti/litre. The retail price for petrol on Tongatapu will increase to $3.52 per litre from the current price of $3.48 per litre.

“Meanwhile, the wholesale price for kerosene and diesel prices will drop by 11.33 seniti/litre and 11.25 seniti/litre respectively.”

The 13-year-old student claimed she was chased by a man while on her way to school on the morning of Tuesday. 28 February 2023.

However, Police investigations found that the complaint was false.

Police said the girl was deeply remorseful for what she had put everyone through.

“That morning, among other personal and family issues, she was particularly anxious about being late to school and it did not help that she had to walk rather than being dropped off.”