Tonga

The ministry has been struggling to pay the workers for the past couple of months.

Radio Tonga reports the Minister of Infrastructure, Etuate Lavulavu, had promised to make payments two weeks ago but they had not been made as of Wednesday.

The minister is reportedly seeking additional funds to cover the outstanding wages for the workers, who are employed as drivers, rubbish collectors and road maintenance workers.

Tonga education officials, with the push from Prime Minister and Minister for Education, Akilisi Pohiva, introduced a new system of measurement this year amid concerns over the performance of students.

But Radio Tonga reports Tonga High School officials saying that under the new system, called Raw Marks, they are cannot calculate who should be dux this year.

The school began using the new system halfway through the year.

The failure to announce a dux has reportedly caused widespread disappointment among people associated with the school.

Educational programmes and talkback shows have been organised for Law Week in the Kingdom of Tonga.

Acting Attorney General ‘Aminiasi Kefu said they want to enhance the public’s knowledge about the country’s laws.

He said about 70% of people who appear in court in Tonga do not have a legal representative or attorney for many reasons.

People convicted of serious crimes are being sent back to Tonga from New Zealand without appropriate notification, says a former Tongan Justice Minister.

Last week, a man was sentenced to jail for the manslaughter of a man in Tonga, just two months after his deportation in 2014.

Patrick 'Unga had earlier served time in New Zealand for killing his fiancé in 2003.

A Tongan-born surgeon is offering cancer patients a fighting chance at life, with the alternative being a series of palliative treatment.

Simione Lolohea is one of only two doctors in New Zealand to offer the controversial cancer treatment - hot chemotherapy.

The treatment involves chemotherapy that is heated to 42 degrees Celsius, which is then used to flush out cancers that the surgeon is not able to remove during surgery.

A convicted murderer, who had received a life sentence for murdering his fiancé in New Zealand in 2003, killed again in Tonga only a few months after his deportation to Tonga two years again.

Matangi Tonga reports Patrick 'Unga was sentenced last week to more than 12 years in jail for manslaughter after the death of Sitanilei Sime in Nuku'alofa in April last year.

The final 18 months has been suspended subject to several conditions.

The Tonga national women 7s team is preparing to depart for New Zealand tomorrow for the qualifying competition for the Rio Olympics.

The team says it has prepared well and is ready to take on competitors.

Tonga is eyeing one of three spots up for grabs for the Pacific region.

The Tongan side includes only two overseas-based players. 

They are captain, ‘Elenoa Lauhingoa and 18-year old Shirley Mailangi.  The rest of the players are locals.

Captain Lauhingoa told FM87.5 Sports they have the bulk and pace in the side. 

Former New Zealand sevens rep Nafi Tuitivake has switched allegiance and will represent Tonga at this weekend's Oceania Sevens Championship in Auckland.

The 26 year old represented the All Blacks Sevens on the 2008 World Series and is a former New Zealand Under 20s player.

He was also a part of the Crusaders Super Rugby team last season.

With the winner of this weekend's Oceania tournament earning a berth at the Rio Olympics, Tonga coach Andy Katoa says Tuitivake was keen to be involved.

The Visitors Board at Vaiola Hospital in Nuku’alofa, Tonga raised $168,650 at the end of the weekend. 

The funds will enable the hospital to buy new washing machines and dryers.

The Chairperson of the Visitors Board to the Hospital, Rev Dr Tu‘ipulotu Katoanga emphasised the importance of Vaiola Week which is underway and the need for the people of Tonga to lend a hand and help them with fundraising.

Fifteen new Peace Corps volunteers are now ready for their assignments in Tonga.

The U.S. Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission Doug Sonnek and Peace Corps Country Director for Fiji, Samoa and Tonga Eddie Stice administered the oath of service to Tonga's 80th group of Peace Corps trainees in Suva last Friday.

The new volunteers will now travel to their project sites in Tongatapu, 'Eua, and Vava’u to begin their work.

All of the Peace Corps Volunteers are assigned to primary schools where they will assist the Ministry of Education in improving English literacy skills.