Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni

Tonga volcano eruption: PM reflects ahead of one-year anniversary of disaster

Hu'akavameiliku was at home on January 15, 2022, when the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai volcano exploded with a destructive power the world had not seen since the Krakatoa eruption of 1883. Hu'akavameiliku was meeting with a local church community group when he heard what he first thought was thunder. Within minutes he was notified of the volcano's eruption. Hu'akavameiliku recalls his first thoughts:

Police portfolio assigned to PM an assurance Tonga government ‘more willing to commit to war on drugs’

It was to ensure the Prime Minister was there whenever there were communication and urgent requirements involved with tackling of synthetic drugs, sources who were familiar with the formation of the new Cabinet told Kaniva News.

Sovaleni wanted to show the government is “more willing to commit to its war on drugs”.

The Prime Minister earlier last month said the government’s agenda for fighting against illicit drugs was one of his top priorities.

Tonga’s drug abuse situation was said to have infiltrated all level of the society.