Tonga

7 sent to jail in Tonga over cocaine haul

An eighth defendant has been given a suspended sentence.

RNZ Pacific reports the estimated 36kgs of cocaine washed ashore could be worth close to $US8.2 million based on Australian market values.

Not all of it was recovered.

The eight accused were sentenced via video link last month on charges including the supply and possession of the illegal substance.

The sentences ranged from the suspended sentence, to three years' imprisonment, to 13 and half years behind bars with the last two years suspended for two years with conditions.

 

Germany’s Special Envoy to the Pacific visits Tonga’s Prime Minister

Grzeski ,whc is based in Canberra, visited all 13 Pacific island states which maintains diplomatic relations with Germany, including Tonga.

Her visit last week was to find out what the Pacific Island States expect of Germany’s future involvement in the Pacific; political priorities; diplomatic presence; economic and financial commitment.

Lord Ma'afu installed

His appointment ceremony took place at the Vaka Ua Hall of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, in Vaini.

Lord Ma’afu’s appointment letter was read by Sione Fifita, the Private Secretary to His Majesty King Tupou VI in the presence of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Tupouto'a 'Uluakalala and Crown Princess Sinaitakala Tuku'aho, Prince Taufa’ahau and Princess 'Ofeina e he langi Fakafanua, Prince Ata, Hon Salote Lupepauu Tuita Taione, His Serene Highness Prince and Princess Kalaniuvalu.

Bad weather hampers search for man missing at sea

Siale Havea and three other men went underwater fishing on Friday night, 31 March 2023 at around 8pm.

Police said the sea was rough that night and after several attempts from different locations, Havea got into the water alone at Fahefa.

The other men managed to return home.

On Saturday morning, Police at Nukunuku were alerted when Havea failed to show up.

Police were unable to deploy their Search and Rescue boat, due to bad weather.

Four-nations Rugby Challenge to return for first time since 2020

The tournament returns for the first time since 2020 due to the Covid-19 lockdowns.

RNZ Pacific reports National 'A' teams of Fiji, Japan, Tonga and Samoa will battle for the title.

It is the first time in 13 years that Samoa has hosted a World Rugby tournament - the last being the Pacific Nations Cup in Apia in 2010.

"We are excited to be hosting this event in Samoa after the last three years of the pandemic but also a start on what is an exciting year for rugby in our region heading towards Rugby World Cup in France.

Mo'onia Gerrad named Director Netball Australia Board

Gerrard the first Australian Diamond netball rep with a Pacific background, will take on the position of Athlete Director.  

Netball Australia said the new role, established under recommendations from the 2020 State of the Game Review, will contribute to Netball Australia's ongoing stakeholder engagement and advise on overarching strategies for the growth of the game.  

Gerrard is linked to Tonga through her mother and was a key partner in the development of the sport in the Kingdom from 2009.

Taliai Military Camp Mess refurbishment completed

LTCOL Sean Benporath handed back the Mess to LTCOL Sione Mapakaitolo, of the Tonga Land Force, after the completion of a refurbishment programme of the facility.

The Mess is part of the ongoing refurbishment works, sponsored by the Australian Defence Cooperation Programme and will be used by the Land Force, Tonga Marines and Air Wing at Taliai Military Camp.

The Taliai Refurbishment programme is designed to improve the quality of life of His Majesty’s Armed Forces posted to the camp and to ensure recruits have access to quality facilities during their training.

New multipurpose packhouse facility to boost Tonga’s root crops export

The company signed a new partnership with the Pacific Horticulture and Agricultural Market Access Plus Program (PHAMA Plus) to facilitate this development.

The partnership builds on PHAMA Plus' prior collaboration with Lotopoha to improve Tonga’s root crops export capacity and meet increasing quality requirements and market demands. The multipurpose facility will serve as a processing and packing facility for both frozen and fresh produce in the Eastern district of Tongatapu which supplies a large portion of the country’s total root crops exports volumes.

Tonga removes proof of Covid vaccination requirement

This follows Cabinet's approval of the cancellation of the Open Border Policy Framework.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has supported the removal following a request for advice from the government.

The government said Covid-19 cases in Tonga and around the Pacific have dropped in the last six months.

The ministries of health and foreign affair's will incorporate key surveillance data requirements into one arrival card for arriving passengers to complete.

 

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Tonga’s Eua Emergency Operation Centre receives High Frequency radios

A statement said the equipment is expected to enhance communication capabilities.

The equipment provided by the Pacific Emergency Telecommunication Cluster was installed by a team from MEIDECC’s Communications Department.