Tongatapu

The boy reportedly attempted to climb up an aluminum ladder at his home in Kolofo’ou last week.

It is believed the house against which the ladder was placed had electrical faults, a Tonga Power Limited (TPL) spokesperson told radio FM 87.5 online this morning.

The boy was trying to get up to the roof to fetch a brush that was forgotten there, the radio reported.

He was rushed to hospital before he was confirmed dead.

The TPL spokesperson said they are awaiting medical reports.

All Digicel MyCash services were restored today following restoration of international calls connectivity last week.

Digicel Regional CEO, Ms Shally Jannif, said; “I am delighted to let the people of the Kingdom of Tonga know that Digicel’s MyCash service is live and running and our Tongatapu Store is open to offer withdrawal services. Our customers were able to receive international money transfers from their loved ones overseas from earlier this afternoon.”

The first day of the examination was last week Tuesday, a day after Tongatapu’s one week lockdown.

The two-weeks exams are for students in Forms 5, 6 and 7 in all secondary schools.

The Ministry of Education has confirmed that Tongatapu has registered 2,856 senior students for the exam, Vava'u registered 605 and 206 students have registered in Ha'apai.

'Eua has registered 185 students, Niuatoputapu has registered 35 students and Niuafo'ou has 26 students.

Form 5 students are sitting the Tonga School Certificate (TSC) Examination.

The changes were announced at a press conference yesterday following the confirmation of the kingdom’s discovery first Covid-19 case at a quarantine facility.  

All schools are closed and there are no church gatherings, no kava clubs, no entertainment or any kind of gathering.

“All domestic public transportation shall cease to operate.”

“All liquor licensed trading shall be closed.”

“All licensed businesses and business activities shall be closed except supermarkets and retail shops.”

“All public facilities, events and gathering shall be prohibited.”

One of the main foci is for the farmers to be able to identify different fungal diseases that affect watermelon and how to properly treat them.

Recent training sessions were focused on signs and symptoms of Gummy stem and Blight as well as Anthracnose. In-house training is followed immediately by a field trip to enable growers to identify the various diseases that were discussed.

The Police Drugs Enforcement Taskforce also confiscated two unlicensed firearms, including a .22 long rifle and an air operated long rifle, 4.56 grams of cannabis and drug utensils.

The arrests were made at different locations including Ha‘ateiho, Puke, Mataika and Houmakelikao  in Tongatapu between 18 – 21 May.

Criminal charges for illicit drugs and firearms have been laid and all seven accused will appear in court at a later date.

The bridge is expected to run from Umusii to Folaha, across the lagoon.

The officers also discussed issues relating to the management of the lagoon.

The meeting which was chaired by Manase Vaoahi of the Ministry of Internal Affairs discussed the Queen Salote Wharf renovations, the planned Fanga’uta Day and waste management issues within the 26 communities around the lagoon.

Town officers were also briefed by the Civil Society Forum of Tonga about grants that are available for civil society groups and Non-Government Organisations.

The suspect and an associate allegedly robbed shops in Houmakelikao, Kapetā, Tofoa and Maúfanga starting on Saturday 9 January.

According to Kaniva News, Police said two men wearing masks entered the shops armed with a machete and a piece of metal.

Cash and goods were stolen before the offenders fled in a car, a black Nissan cube, Police said.

A search warrant executed at a residence at Fangaloto resulted in the arrest of the main suspect and the recovery of some of the stolen goods and cash as well as the machete that was allegedly used in the robberies.

The residents were from Kolovai, ‘Ahau, Kanokupolu and Ha’atafu communities.

The programme emphasizes communities in the Western District which are vulnerable to coastal erosion due to sea level rise and high tides to engage in a coastal clean-up and coastal tree planting.

The Vulnerability and Adaptation Division highlighted the tree planting by distributed coastal plants including Telie, Fotulona, Fao and Touhuni with a total of twenty (20) plants for each community who participated to help prevent coastal erosion.

The arrests are part of an ongoing operation targeting drug dealers and suppliers.

Police seized 2.56 grams of methamphetamine, over $800 paánga in cash and drug utensils.

All seven accused have been charged with possession of illicit drugs.

“The community can help stop the availability of illegal drugs by reporting suspicious activity to Police. By working together, we can make a difference and stop the crime and social harm associated with this illegal activity,” said A/Deputy Commissioner Tevita Vailea.