Tonga

That is, they should read and clearly understand the laws, Constitution and the House’s Rules and Standing Orders.

The Number 3 Noble Representative, Lord Vaha’i conveyed the King’s message to Parliament when it was in session.

Lord Vaha’i said the King warmly welcomed himself and Tongatapu 5 MP, Losaline Ma’asi during their audience last Friday.

In addition, Ma’asi said the King Tupou VI advised MPs they should read and understand the law, Constitution, Bills or the Houses’ Rules and Standing Orders before engaging in Parliament’s discussion.

Minister of Internal Affairs ‘Akosita Lavulavu told Kaniva News her Ministry would help town reunions because the strong participation of members who lived overseas would help generate sources of income for their community development.

Annual sporting tournaments including football and netball were planned for each town and island.

Revealing details of the Ministry’s 100-day plan, Lavulavu said it included an effort to improve its reputation after it was the subject of the second highest number of public complaints to the Ombudsman.

The confirmation came after the Prime Minister had an audience with His Majesty King Tupou VI on Wednesday.

The Prime Minister “recommended” himself to the king to be appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Lord Ma’afu to become Minister of His Majesty’s Armed Forces.

The meeting was called after what appeared to be a clash between the power of the Prime Minister to nominate “all his cabinet ministers” and the power of the king as Commander-in-Chief of the forces on land and sea to appoint “all officers” at His Majesty’s Armed Forces, emerged.

In a statement issued to coincide with the United Nations’ review of Tonga’s human rights record, the UK encouraged Tonga to establish a National Human Rights Institution in compliance with the Paris Principles.

It said Tonga should take the following steps:

It is understood his doctor accompanied him to Parliament.

Pōhiva missed the first sitting of Parliament last week because he was in intensive care.

No details about his illness have been released.

During yesterday morning’s sitting Ha’apai MP Veivosa Taka was re-appointed as the Whole House Committee Chair.

Tongatapu MP Losaline Mā’asi and Noble’s Representative Lord Vaha’i were assigned to submit the House’s response to the King’s message from the throne.

Today's sitting was the first since the November snap election triggered by the royal dissolution of parliament over concerns surrounding the previous Pohiva government's conduct.

It was also the first sitting since last week's opening, which Mr Pohiva missed because he had been admitted into the local Intensive Care Unit.

There's been scant information about the prime minister's health, prompting local media to complain about the silence from his office.

Under the constitution, it is still strictly enforced that women have restrictions to the ownership of land.

Women who wish to use land for any purpose including for cultivation can only lease land for temporary use.

The Ministry of Women's Affairs in Tonga was created at the end of 2012 and started discussions then on reviewing women's land rights by pushing to ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Discrimination against Women.

Activist David Tilton said this shuts women out of opportunities to make revenue.

Mr Pohiva was admitted into the local Intensive Care Unit over a week ago and missed the opening of parliament last Thursday.

Kaniva Tonga reports Mr Pōhiva met with the King at 2 o'clock.

Kaniva reports a government spokesperson declined to give details of the meeting and the Prime Minister's health condition.

Photos posted on Mr Pohiva's daughter's Facebook page this afternoon show Mr Pohiva in formal atire.

'Ana Pōhiva Koli wrote her father is recovering well.

This should make a big difference to farmers who will be able to sell their crops and other products for export to New Zealand, said Edgar Cocker, CEO of Tonga’s Ministry Commerce, Trade, Innovation and Labour.

The hope is for the pack houses to boost economic prosperity for local communities through exporting their local produce.

Tonga's human rights record is under scrutiny as part of the UN Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review process.

Several countries on the council called for Tonga to upscale efforts to ratify the Convention for the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women, known as CEDAW.

Tonga has been preparing to ratify the treaty since 2015 but progress has been slow because of stiff opposition from those fearing it could open the way to same sex marriage and abortion.