Tonga

Six of the passports were reported to Interpol while the rest failed a test requirement.

This has been confirmed to Kaniva News in an email from Immigration New Zealand this morning.

The email read: “Immigration New Zealand can confirm that on 28 September, seven passengers holding Greek passports were prevented from boarding a flight from Tongatapu Airport to Auckland. Six of the seven passports were recorded as stolen or lost with Interpol and the seventh passport failed a basic passport scan. All passports are with Tongan Police for further investigation”.

According to the General Manager in Nuku’alofa – Peter Kurds, the renovation costs up to TOP$18 million.

Radio Tonga reports the hotel has 124 rooms, a restaurant and bar.

RNZ reports the Tonga Leiti's Association has planned a national consultation with government leaders in December to petition for changes to the Criminal Offences Act.

The Act criminalises cross dressing and sodomy which can be punished with to ten years in prison.

The Association's project manager, Henry Aho, said religious leaders in Tonga want to see the legislation enforced.

Kaniva Pacific reported the prime minister as saying this was a big problem for him and he found it hard to cope.

He said the way the Cabinet and the Privy Council existed at present showed their responsibilities were not "well defined."

Mr Pohiva said the government needs the power to ensure the CEOs, government commissioners and the Attorney General did what the government wanted for the benefit of the people.

RNZ reports Dean Jay Fletcher was arrested after being identified as the man who had fled from a jail in Vava'u last week.

Mr Fletcher was found to have entered the port without proper documents and without a yellow flag or any proof of clearance form the last port.

While in court the defendant tried talking straight to the District Court Judge Fiti Sunia but was stopped and told to get a lawyer.

Judge Sunia has denied bail because the defendant is alleged to be involved a murder case.

A pre-trial is set for 26th October.

According to Radio Tonga News, the General Manager of Friendly Island Shipping Agency – Mosese Fakatou says the ferry was docked in Suva for a week.

The MV Otuanga’ofa is expected to arrive in Nuku’alofa on Thursday and will start operations to Vava’u and Ha’apai next week.

MV ‘Otuanga’ofa was suspended 4 months ago due to technical problems.

Meanwhile the hired Australian ferry MV Maggie Cat will continue its services in Tonga, until November.

Tonga Breast Cancer Society launched the breast cancer awareness month this week with a morning tea and was graced with the presence of Her Royal Highness Princess Pilolevu Tuita, Patron of the Breast Cancer Society.

Speaking at the program the Director of Health – Dr. Siale ‘Akauola said, cancer is the second cause of death in Tonga.

He praised the awesome efforts the society has carried out to assist the victims of breast cancer.

Dean Jay Fletcher, 54, had been accused of the murder of his wife, who was found beaten to death while the couple were anchored in the northern islands of Vava'u late in July.

He was due to appear in court next week, but in the early hours of last Thursday, Mr Fletcher somehow managed to escape from a police cell in Neiafu and flee on his yacht, the Sea Oak.

He said there were more people-to-people exchanges and reconfirmed China would continue to work together with Tonga and increase the cooperation and give more benefits to its people.

Mr Huang made the comments during a reception his office hosted to celebrate the 67th Anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, in Nuku’alofa.

King Tupou VI and Queen Nanisapau'u are expected to arrive in Suva on Wednesday when the official funeral gathering begins.

Ratu Joni died last week after a short illness.

He was Chief Justice of Nauru and a life peer on Tonga's Privy Council.

Preparations for Ratu Joni's funeral have started on the chiefly island of Bau.

Pacnews reports sources close to the Yavusa Ratu Clan say Ratu Joni will be buried in the chiefly burial ground, or Sau Tabu.

Ratu Joni was a senior chief of the Tailevu and the Kubuna Confederacy.