Tonga

New seal for Tonga’s Ha’apai airport runway

The new resealing of the runway will give it a 10-year lifetime before it is rehabilitated again.

The resealing works on the runway is expected to commence in September and be completed by the end of the year.

The airport is expected to be partly closed during the works, which is expected to be 2 to 3 months.

The runway was last rehabilitated in 1998 under assistance from the Australian Government and the construction works were undertaken by the Ministry of Works.

Dry weather ahead for Tonga

However, the outlook for August to October is mixed with more dry weather expected for Niuafo’ou, Ha’apai and Nuku’alofa, while the rest of the country is forecast to experience average to above average rainfall, according to the Tonga Meteorological Services climate update (refer table 1 above).

There is also a lower chance (50%) of El Nino developing with the outlook decreased from El Nino Alert to El Nino Watch.

Fewer Tongan women contest upcoming Local Government Elections

Of the 62 candidates for the district officers posts, only two are women and of the 319 candidates for town officers, only 12 are women.

Supervisor of Elections Pita Vuki said, in 2016, 18 women contested in the District and Town Officers Elections – four for the district officers and 12 for the town officers.

He said that out of the 18 women contested two women were successfully elected – the first female District Officer for ‘Eua Motu’a District in ‘Eua and the first female town officer for Havelu, Tongatapu.

Petroleum prices go up in Tonga

The ministry said the cost of crude oil had risen to its highest point this year as markets responded to the United States eliminating all Iranian sanction waivers and geopolitical tensions in Venezuela.

A comparison of Tonga's April prices with March, shows petrol rose by about eight percent and the diesel price was up by about three percent.

     

China donates solar streetlights to Tonga’s tourism ministry

Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism, Semisi Sika and Acting Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Tonga, Yang Zhaohui signed and exchanged the handover certificate of the lights this week.

The total cost of the 50 solar lights is around TOP 150,000.

Another batch of 50 streetlights will arrive together with a delegation from Dongguan Municipal Government who will attend His Majesty’s King Tupou VI birthday celebration.

 

Photo supplied 

     

ADB to continue to support Tonga government through upgraded office

The ADB and the government signed a Host Country Agreement earlier this month confirming the establishment of Country Offices to enhance the impact of ADB’s growing assistance programmes in Tonga.

Minister Tu’i’onetoa says the upgraded office would help support the government.

Kaniva News reports the head of the ADB Tonga Pacific Country Office is Tatafu Moeaki, a former civil servant and CEO for Finance.

Tonga has been a member of the ADB since 1972.

Over the past decade the ADB has increased its financial and technical assistance to Tonga.

Site identified for Tonga’s new dialysis centre

The spokesperson said negotiations are underway to secure the site, which is about 2 kilometres away from Vaiola hospital.

He said the land has been gifted by Queen Nanasipau’u Tuku’aho.

Kaniva News reports a newly registered non-profitable organisation has been set up to run the operation.

Members of the organisation are Minister of Health Saia Piukala, Director of Health Siale ‘Akau’ola, Victorina Afeaki Kioa, Dr Sione Latu, Dr Lisiate ‘Ulufonua and Lord Vaea.

The facility would be established “at no cost to the government.”

Tongan community leaders call for more support for drug offenders

Sioo Tu’iano says, drug is a major issue in Tonga and urges community and church leaders to work together with the offenders to ensure that they feel safe at all times.

He adds offenders need to feel they belong in the society where they can engage in community projects in order to minimize involvement in criminal activities.

TBC reports every week Police arrest and charge people with drugs and Tu’iano is concerned about how this issue is being addressed at a national level.

Acting district officer of Lapaha, Sitiveni Fe’ao supports Tu’iano’s initiative.

OFC Futsal Nations Cup has been drawn

Steeve Laigle, President of Fédération Calédonienne de Football was at hand to assist OFC Competitions Director Chris Kemp at the OFC Academy in Auckland during the Draw which was witnessed by a number of Executive Committee Members as well as OFC President Lambert Maltock.

Defending champions and top seeded Solomon Islands and second ranked New Zealand were placed into different pots to ensure they don’t face each other during the group stages with the two bottom ranked sides American Samoa and Tonga also separated for the same reason.

More drug-related arrests in Tonga

The suspects were apprehended by the Police Drug Enforcement Taskforce at a house in Longolongo with illicit drugs packed ready for sale.

Police seized 55 packs of cannabis and 15 packs of methamphetamine  along with drug paraphernalia and cash.

The suspects are a 35-year-old man of Longolongo, a 29-year-old man of Hala’ovave, a 30-year-old man of Hoi and a 26-year-old man of Haveluloto.

They are currently in police custody and will appear in Court at a later date.