Tonga

Princess Angelika Latufuipeka Tuku’aho commissioned the project on Friday, 3 March 2023.

A Government release said the new water quality improvement project has installed a new rapid mixer, filters, solar panel system, chlorine dosing equipment, and test kits.

Tonga Water Board said the project will boost the reliability of the water supply and quality of water for consumers on ‘Eua Island.

The Prime Minister the country Thursday night accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu and two senior staff from the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He was 73.

Kaniva News reports ‘Inoke’s death on February 25 was announced by his family.

‘Inoke, who was also known as Ernest Hayes Nuku, was a break away in the legendary team.

He was a colossus of a man in his playing days, standing about 190 centimetres tall.

He will be buried at the Kalevalio cemetery today, Friday March 3, after mass at the Catholic Church in Tofoa, Tongatapu.

The service is expected to be attended by hundreds of people.

Former ‘Ikale Tahi captain and head coach Fe’ao Vunipola remembered ‘Inoke when he was in the field.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Samiu Vaipulu has confirmed this to Kaniva News.

“‘E fai ‘a e ngāue ki ai”, he said in Tongan.

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 “We‘ve got a group of Tongan people who have come here who have also experienced 12 months ago the earthquake and tsunami in Tonga. They are already traumatised from that event a year ago," says the Pasifika Medical Association Chief Executive Debbie Sorensen.

“In Tonga following the volcano, every time a truck went past a house people were frightened because the house would shake, and they felt that another volcano or tsunami might happen.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Rabuka said that Fiji places great importance on its relations with the Kingdom of Tonga as our historical and cultural link is deeply entrenched, going back centuries, well before our formal diplomatic relations was established. 

Our bilateral relations, he added, has grown over the years through the contributions of the Tongan diaspora and communities in Fiji and vice-versa.   

The awards were handed out by the Minister of Trade and Economic Development, Dr Viliami Latu and GGGI rep, Roshika  Ranjini Gaunder.

Dr Latu said, “The government is very pleased to be partnering with GGGI on this project.”

Two local young business graduates, Fai’ana Fukofuka and Arthur Cocker each won USD 5,000 seed grants, for their ventures as “Greenpreneurs”

The programme is part of the Pacific Green Entrepreneurs Network, a three-year regional programme funded by the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) and implemented by GGGI.

A statement said the delegation had great meeting with the airline’s Chief Executive Officer and senior Staff at the company's head office in Nadi last week.

Joined by the Chief Executive Officer Poasi Tei and staff, the delegation toured the facility and viewed flight simulators and the cabin crew training facility.

Fiji Airways currently flies their Fiji Link ATR aircraft from Tongatapu to Vava'u in an arrangement while the Lulutai aircraft is under repair and maintenance.

Photo supplied 

While South Pacific islands are still idyllic as ever, those arriving in Nukuʻalofa still get a sense of the disruption to infrastructure and livelihoods that the tsunami brought.

Much-amended guides and pamphlets are covered with amendments and lists of resorts and services that are still closed or destroyed completely.

On January 15 the Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha’apai volcano triggered an enormous explosive eruption, just 60 km off the shore of Tongatapu. Visible from space, the effects were felt as far afield as New Zealand and Japan.

"Very productive meeting with Fiji PM Rabuka exploring areas of collaboration and to further strengthen our ties. Expressed our gratitude to their support to the University of the South Pacific and amazing hospitality since we arrived. Malo aupito," Hon Hu'akavameiliku stated after the meeting.

Hu'akavameiliku is attending the Pacific Islands Forum Special Leaders Retreat at the Sheraton Resort.

The meeting is chaired by Rabuka.

The future of regionalism in the Pacific will be discussed and determined today