Tonga

Tonga’s Acting Attorney General and Director of Public Prosecutions ‘Aminiasi Kefu said this forum allows heads of prosecuting offices to discuss important issues, including the challenges they face within their jurisdictions while sharing success stories so they learn from each other. It is important that they make a unified stand to speak with one voice to protect their role.

He said as prosecutors they are regularly under pressure from different sources to ensure justice or what others perceive as justice.

The assistance was formalised last week between the CEO of Metrology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate change and Communication, Paula Ma'u and the recipients.

Speaking to Radio Tonga News, Dr Tevita Tukunga says the project will offset high operation costs faced by consumers.

He said residents of the nine villages will now have affordable and clean energy source. The new water pumps will cut costs and ensure sustainable water supplies.

Manu Samoa needed a try on the stroke of full-time to snatch a 21-20 victory over hosts Canada, to earn a place in the final.

The Manu Samoa captain, Alesana Tuilagi, says they will have to step up their game against Fiji.

"The way we played we need to look deep at it and we need to cut down the simple mistakes that we're giving away. You know playing [against] good teams coming up the final we can't afford to play like that and we know it."

Alesana Tuilagi.

Dr Ngongo Kioa says that while the levy will be paid by the banks, the cost will likely be passed on to the people.

Radio Tonga News understands the 'Foreign Exchange Levy Bill' was passed in Parliament, but was returned back from the Privy Council after a complaint from the Tonga Chamber of Commerce.

Questions have been raised over the lack of public consultation and NGOs have voiced concern over how the levy will affect people at the grassroots level.

In a special Cabinet meeting on Monday 27 July 2015, a decision was made to go ahead with the hosting of the Games. Sports Organizing Committee leaders also met with Government officials to discuss details of the Games.

The main concern has been the lack of funding for the needed infrastructural construction of facilities and the provision of equipment for the Games.

Doubt was cast on whether Tonga will go ahead with stated of the Games when the Prime Minister had earlier given media interviews that the financial position of the country was not adequate to host the Games.

The Samoans looked to be slipping to a surprise defeat after Canada's Sale Sharks wing Phil Mackenzie raced over for an opportunistic converted try to put the home side 20-16 up with four minutes left.

But Samoa punished a needlessly conceded penalty by setting up a line-out on Canada's goal-line with just seconds left.

And when Canada knocked on from the set-piece, Sakaria Taulafo was on hand to touch down for the winning score.

Canada had raced into a 13-0 lead through a try from centre Nick Blevins and eight points from the boot of full-back James Pritchard.

The annual meeting of heads of prosecuting agencies from around the Pacific will deliberate under a theme ‘Pacific Prosecutions and Good Governance: Independence, Accountability and Transparency’.

‘Aminiasi Kefu the Acting Attorney General and Director of Public Prosecutors said the theme is based on good governance because one of the aims of PPA is to promote and protect the independence of prosecutors from improper influences from whatever source, including but not limited to political interference.

Both teams came in to the match with one win and one loss and were playing for points towards the finals series.

The 'Ikale Tahi were also looking to repeat the result of last years match against the USA Eagles in Kingsholm.

Tonga put the pressure on early and never let up throughout the game.

Both wings got in on the scoring action with Fetu'u Vainikolo bagging a double and Telusa Veainu getting over the line.

Impressive kicking from first-five Kurt Morath also led the way towards their 33-19 victory.

“The Pacific Ocean is a vital regulator of climate for the whole world and needs a voice.  We, the Polynesian Leaders Group, are the voice for the Pacific Ocean, and wish to carry our strategic vision to deal with the adverse effects of climate change by limiting global warming below 1.5 (degrees Celsius) and having access to tools and means to adapt to the adverse impacts caused by climate change.”

The students at the Roman Catholic Pacific Regional Seminary were sent home at the end of the last semester.

This is the second time in two years that three Tongan seminarians have been sent home.

Sources close to the Catholic Diocese of Tonga say that the head of the church in the kingdom, Cardinal Soane Patita Paini Mafi, has been upset by the incident.

“He has called for an immediate review of preparations for candidates to the priesthood in the light of what has happened,” the source said.