SPONSOR: [For a piece of the Kingdom, and Your Own Domain Name, http://www.tonic.to easily the Tonic.to Domain Name headaches.]

Welcome to the re-release of the Island Snapshots newsletters. Some call this re-branding ?

For those of you new to our offering, Island Snapshot was published by Tonga on the 'NET between October 1996 and March 1998 whereupon we felt that we were not providing adequate resources to this information release and other Tonga focussed websites were doing a much better job. The focus of the Island Snapshot Newsletters have always and will continue to be for the provision of Tonga Island information with a preference for Current Affairs.

[iSnapShot] is a continuing evolution of publishing information on the Internet and we hope that it gives you information on how and what we do here in Tonga. We hope to provide a regular release of updated information to your mail-box (and you can always check-it-out online.) Although we continue to have problems with the logistics of publishing to the Internet from Tonga it has been valuable experience on the practicalities of providing Internet Information Services from Tonga.

When next in Tonga bookmark the Royal School of Science as a must-visit. The Royal School of Science is the only Cyber Cafe currently running in Tonga and is an invaluable place for those staying here in Tonga for way too long (and for those who would like to avoid the high long distance charges.)

[iSnapShot] Tonga on the 'NET

Apparently the Government operates another website http://www.tongatrade.to which supposedly gives visitors information about trade opportunities with organisations in Tonga. Check-it-Out if you're interested in that kind of thing.

[iSnapShot] on the News

The Government of Japan has formally handed over facilities developed for Marine Research to the Kingdom of Tonga. Construction began on the facilities in 1978 with the purpose of developing and protecting local marine resources. After spending over USD $2 million on the facility the Marine Research Centre was handed over to the Government of Tonga during ceremonies this week.

Tonga's Under 19s Ruggers (Rugby Union) travelled last Saturday to France to compete in a Rugby Tournament between April 13 ~ 20. The squad comprises 26 players plus officials (Coach: Vaitaa Ueleni, Trainer: Rocky Fotu, Manager: Tevita Palefau, Asst. Manager: Vilai 'Ilolahia.) The tournament is part of the Under 19s World Cup preparation (or it could be the tournament, i'm having problems translating this bit of the news.)

Four teams from Tonga will attend the Samoa Games in Apia. Tonga will be sending teams to compete in Tennis, Netball, Taekwando, and Athletics. The Tennis Association was running local competitions to select a team but just recently announced delays in the tournament due to inability to gain confirmation from Samoa concerning more information about the Games' organisation.

The Bank of Tonga (ownership: 40% Government of Tonga, 30% WestPac [Australia], 30% Bank of Hawai'i) released their annual report and were happy to announce a profit of $4,263,353 for the 1999 review. Brian Harris has been recieved as the Bank's new Managing Director and Alan Walter as the new Chairman of the Board during the Bank's Annual General Meeting held this week.

Queen Salote College recieves 1,500 chairs for use by the school in their assembly hall. Commemoration service was attended by members of ex-students from QSC, Tupou College, students, staff and parents. The chairs are a gift from the Ex-Students of NSW.

Princess Royale Festival continues festivities of Tongan dances and compositions. Sponsored and organised by the tourism industry the festival hopes to provide further incentives for tourists to visit the country during off-peak travel periods. Contestants are showing their skills on Thursday, Friday at the Memorial Hall/'Apifo'ou College and the finals to be held Saturday at the Dateline Hotel.

The FWC's Tongatapu Regional Conference has completed which finalises the formal steps to setting the agenda for the church's annual general assembly set for May. The invited voting members and observers have been broadcast, likewise the allocation of food provision requirements.

The Annual Inter-College Athletics has shown a marked improvement in many of the schools. It is sad to note that students of LDS schools were unable to attend due to some conflict between the events dates and their academic program.

Tonga College (boys only school) recorded a 1st in the tournament's history by placing best sports person for each of the male grades and taking out the best performance for males. 'Apifo'ou College performed well in all grades and took out the highest medal tally.

Outstanding Athletes for the tournament were: boys: Tokaikolo Latapu (open, Lavengamalie), Piliote Hafoka (Senior, 'Atele), Palei Lemoto (Intermediate, 'Atele), Jack Tome (Junior, 'Atele), Viliami Afu Pahulu (Midget, 'Atele), girls: Greylynn Liu (Open, Diploma THS), Latai Sikuvea (Senior, Tailulu), 'Isapela Hopoi (Intermediate, 'Apifo'ou), 'Akosita Fua-'i-'api Holani (Junior, TupouHS), Elizabeth Ledger (Midget, 'Apifo'ou.)

Closing arguments were heard in the Government's case against former Prison's Administrator Semisi Tapueluelu.

Pulu 'Anau returned to the United States after over a year's service at Tupou High School where he has been instrumental in the development of the Diploma Program. Mr. 'Anau was raised in the United States and chose to give part of this year and last year to visit Tonga and contribute his skills to the country. While at Tupou High School Mr. 'Anau installed the systems and network for the Diploma program as well as extending the network to link from the new facilities to the old high school computer lab. Connecting the school's computers to the Internet has only been possible through Mr. 'Anau's technical prowess.

Two further television broadcast licenses were given by the Government on april 7. Joseph Ramanlal picks up another license, this one to broadcast an NTSC channel with his Ramanlal Broadcasting Television. The stated aims of the broadcaster is to focus on sports, local programming, religious events and news. Duolos Television picks up the 2nd license and intends to focus on non-commerical broadcasts of Religious programs.

'Esau Namoa and Chris Racine were fined for bringing the courts to disrepute (this is definately not a legal translation of the charges as shown in the paper.) 'Esau Namoa while a panelist on the Current Affairs program shown on OBN Channel 7 made comments to which the court has taken offense and as such has fined Mr. Namoa. Mr. Racine as the owner of the television station was fined for not editing the comments off the air.

Obituary: Rev. Siaosi Niumetolu (MD) passed away recently after a long fight with illness. Dr. Niumeitolu leaves a legacy of 36 years in the medical service of his country and 35 years in the pastoral care work of the Free Wesleyan Church. The Doctor is grieved by his widowed wife, Saulilo, six children and the church.

Obituary: Mr. Carl Edelhoff passed away during a swimming accident while visiting Tonga. Carl had apparently left the housing at the resort they were staying at for another early morning snorkling and was not discovered until later by friends and locals.

Obituary: Ms. Mafi Tu'amoheloa of Longolongo passed away after a fatal road accident. Ms. Tu'amoheloa was employed at the Tonga Visitor's B. The vehicle in which Ms. Tu'amoheloa was travelling into town was hit as they were turning the bend at Havelu by a vehicle travelling in the opposite direction but on the wrong side of the road. Witnesses say the on coming vehicle which hit the vehicle in which Ms. Tu'amoheloa was travelling had been attempting to pass another vehicle around the bend. Insinuations abound as police seem to be slow in response as the offending vehicle was driven by an off-duty police officer a son of a prominent Prison's Officer.

Obituary: Ms. Mele Lola Moimoi, passed away 7:00 pm April 12 at Vaiola Hospital and will be buried at Lavengamalie on Saturday 15th April.

Rev. 'Alifeleti Mone D.Min of the FWC has been elected as the chair of the National Council of Churches. Rev. Siketi Tonga continues as the Treasurer.

NZ Book Fund. The Fefine Fekumi Trust in New Zealand are raising funds and trying to collect discarded, unwanted books for shipping to Tonga to asssist the needs of school libraries. For further information please contact the group at (64) 9 274-7158

SPONSOR: Visit Barne's and Noble's collection of books and learn more about the Kingdom of Tonga from those in print.

[iSnapShot] JOBS

A brief summary of job positions advertised in Tonga's local news papers.

* Finance Manager - Level 2A, Tonga Water Board, TOP 22,574 pa
* Accountant, Fund Management Ltd/Western Union/Taufonua Travel, TOP 15,000 pa
* Service Assistant, Fund Management Ltd/Western Union/Taufonua Travel, TOP 4,160 ~ 6,240 pa
* Processing and Packing Staff, Discovery Corporation Ltd, na, bansal@kalianet.to
* Office Staff, Discovery Corporation Ltd, na, bansal@kalianet.to
* Part-time Translator, New Zealand High Commission, na
* Lecturer in Geography, University of the South Pacific, F$34,739 to F$45,709 pa +, nunn_p@usp.ac.fj, http://www.usp.ac.fj
* Lecturer in Economics, University of the South Pacific, F$34,739 to F$45,709 pa +, mailto:forsyth_d@usp.ac.fj http://www.usp.ac.fj

[iSnapShot] SITEupdates

QSC - I've grabbed a few articles from Queen Salote College's 1999 school magazine and re-published them on the site. The articles are reflections by two new teachers to the college and a short biography of a valueable ex-student.

Cosmetic updates to some of the pages.

Housing and Accommodations for visitors. I've just recieved a copy of the Goverment's Business & Product Directory and I have entered a number of available accommodations into the website. A few of the places have e-mail contact so if you intend to visit, try searching one of these locations for a place to stay.

Note: There may be some delay between receipt of this newsletter and the newsletter being available online. This is due to one of those "IN TONGA" production problems, please bear with us.

[iSnapShot] UpCOMING Events

20th May 2000 is the announced starting date for the Women's Hockey Tournament run by the FWC Christian Education Department. The tournament provides girls/women with an opportunity to continue in a sports program.

[iSnapShot] Legalese

Disclaimer: Please make use of the information provided at your own risk. Although we make some effort to faithfully transcribe information we recieve we do not perform any research as to the validity of the information we recieve. Do not invest resources solely on the information provided by these releases.

News for this newsletter is gathered from available print news publications, conversations with locals and non-print broadcasts.

For a more 'researched' report on current events in Tonga, please find yourself a copy of the local media releases. Reference to Media Publications are in our Media pages. Of course you can always ask for specifics on the