Tonga

Exercise Tropic Wing 2017 was mutually agreed upon by HMAF and the NZDF during a meeting in 2015.

The purpose of the training exercise is to maintain the close cooperation and relations between both armed forces, and to further develop military skills and jungle training of respective troops.

The exercise was planned to take place on Tongatapu and ‘Eua in close coordination with the Tonga Police Force, Tonga Airport Authority and Forestry in Eua. HMAF is looking forward to further opportunities in the future to train with our development partners.

As Kaniva News reported, the surprising dissolution on Thursday 24 followed an approach by the Speaker Lord Tu’ivakanō to King Tupou VI and a decision made by the Privy Council.

According to the government gazette, fresh elections have to be held by November 16.

Acting Attorney General ‘Aminiasi Kefu said the King’s decision to dissolve Parliament was part of his royal prerogative and could not be challenged in court.

Kefu said when the King proclaimed such royal command he is not required according to the constitution to explain it.

Since March, over 1600 cases were recorded, reaching a peak in June.

RNZI reports the chief medical officer for the Ministry of Health's Public Health Division Reynold Ofanoa said most of the people affected were between the ages of five and fourteen-years-old.

Dr Ofanoa said the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps, rubella and chicken pox was not included in Tonga's vaccination programme.

"But when this occurred I think it was raised during the discussion the opportunity of introducing the mumps vaccine," said Reynold Ofanoa.

Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva's government will continue to function, but only in a caretaker role until early elections take place.

It's unprecedented in Tonga's history, but government officials say the King's direction is final.

"Yes, its legal and valid and we have to implement that decision," Acting Attorney General Aminiasi Kefu told Newshub.

The decision is based on the personal Royal Prerogative of His Majesty, and cannot be challenged in court.

Tongans will head to the polls in November after the King's sudden decision to dissolve parliament, which is being seen as an effective vote of no confidence in the government of the Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva.

'Aminiasi Kefu said the country had the resources to arrange an election at short notice, and the sudden nature of this year's election should prove no impediment.

"I don't suspect there would be a lot of difficulty," he said.

King Tupou VI dissolved the country's parliament on Thursday and called for elections a year early in an effective vote of no confidence in Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva.

The government said the country would continue to function as normal and it would continue in an interim role until the elections, set down for 16 November.

Mr Pohiva's cabinet met at the weekend, before a brief statement was read on public radio. It provided no reaction to the decision, except to say that the administration of government services would continue.

King Tupou last week made the decision to declare elections a year early, an effective vote of no confidence in Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva.

Mr Pohiva's government will continue in an interim role until the elections, set down for November 16.

His cabinet met yesterday, before a brief statement was read on the country's public radio.

It provided no reaction to the decision, except to say that the administration of government services will continue.

From March to this month, over 1600 cases were recorded across the Kingdom, the peak being in June when over 200 people were infected.

The chief medical officer for the Ministry of Health's Public Health Division, Reynold Ofanoa, said most of the cases were children between five and 14-years-old.

Dr Ofanoa said it was good to see the number of cases falling.

"From June until now, week by week we have seen a decrease in the number of cases in comparison to the previous weeks," he said.

"We are hoping soon we will be able to declare that the outbreak is over."

The dissolution is with effect from Thursday, 24 August 1700 hours.

According to the Instrument of Dissolution, the King took the decision on the advice of the Lord Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and upon considering provisions of the Constitution.

The election of new Representatives of the Nobles and People is to be held no later than 16 November, 2017.

More to come 

Photo: 1 NEWS 

The Deputy Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni said $US25 million will be spent over the next three years.

Weather stations would be upgraded as part of the project and Mr Sovaleni said there would also be a consolidation of disaster and weather agencies.

"We believe in building our resilience and actually getting our preparedness up to a certain level. Also upgrading our systems, that’s including early warning systems, computer systems, data basing and so forth."