Election 2010
Six ex-candidates fined for not reporting expenses
HALF-a-dozen former candidates who ran in last year’s general elections pleaded guilty today for failing to report campaign expenses to the Electoral Commission. Five others facing the same charges are overseas, while another pleaded not guilty. According to Section 24 of the Electoral Act, election candidates are required to submit an… Read More
Twelve charged for not declaring election spending
TWELVE former election candidates have been charged this week for undeclared campaign spending, Radio Tonga reported. According to Part 4 of the Electoral Act, candidates must lodge an itemised statement of all financial expenses to the Election Superviser, 14 days after the elections. The limit for campagin spending is T$10,000. All twelve charged failed to… Read More
MPs not sworn in at Parliament opening
TONGA’S Parliament was opened today by the Princess Regent Pilolevu Tuita, without the planned swearing-in ceremony of its members. Only Lord Lasike officially took his oaths as Speaker of the House. The rest of the Legislative Assembly will be sworn in tomorrow. Reasons for the delay are unclear, although it… Read More
Cooperation key ingredient, says Finance Minister
FINANCE Minister Sunia Fili says the new Cabinet has all the elements to make a positive change in government – if members can work together. “We have a good calibre of ministers. They are very well qualified; we have a woman to balance out things and directly represent women. The… Read More
NZ High Comm denies being “unhappy” with PM election
NEW Zealand’s High Commissioner to Tonga, H.E. Dr Jonathan Austin has denied statements made by “pro-democracy” MP ‘Akilisi Pohiva that the New Zealand government is unhappy with nomination of a Noble as the Prime Minister of Tonga. In a phone interview with the Tonga Chronicle, Dr. Austin says there is… Read More
Insights from the only woman in Cabinet
OF the new ministers in Cabinet, the only woman amongst them has the most patent experience in her own portfolio. Minister for Education, Women’s Affairs and Culture (MEWAC) Dr ‘Ana Maui Taufe’ulungaki (64) spent more than 30 years in Tonga’s education system as a teacher and an administrator, and is a former Pro-Vice Chancellor for Graduate… Read More
New Cabinet ministers start work today
THE Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakano has declared his Cabinet and recommended their appointments to His Majesty the King. “The Cabinet ministers commence today, Tuesday 4th January 2011 at their respective portfolios,” stated an official release from the Ministry of Information and Communication, also overseen by the PM. The first Cabinet… Read More
Pohiva disappointed
LEADER of the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands, MP ‘Akilisi Pohiva is “disappointed” with the ongoing Cabinet selection process. “There’s no doubt about it. And I have my reasons,” he said. Pohiva disagreed with plans to bring in two non-elected Cabinet ministers from outside the legislature, namely former MP William… Read More
Demo Party ready to cooperate, says member
LONG-TIME MP ‘Isileli Pulu says the Democratic Party of the Friendly Isles accepts and supports the bid for two leading members to become Cabinet ministers. Pulu and Party leader ‘Akilisi Pohiva have reportedly been offered Cabinet portfolios in the new government. The final list of Cabinet ministers is due out… Read More
PM confirms Cabinet selection
PRIME MINISTER Lord Tu’ivakano has confirmed he has made a final selection of ministers for Tonga’s new Cabinet. “We have only three nobles including myself. Lord Ma’afu has been given Lands portfolio according to law [whereby a noble must hold the post], and the other is Lord Vaea. The rest… Read More
