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A collection of news-briefs from The Tonga Chronicle, Lao & Hia, Taimi 'o Tonga, Ko e Kele'a, Radio Tonga. For more details of these stories, feel invited to buy a paper from one of the locations mentioned in our media pages http://www.tongatapu.net.to/tonga/news/media/default.htm
'Akilisi Pohiva, People's Representative for Tongatapu, and the Times of Tonga editors were released by Chief Justice Nigel Hampton, ruling the detention as illegal. This judgement differs from the earlier ruling by Acting Chief Justice John William Lewis who rejected the first two applications from the defendents on the grounds of habeas corpus.
The Justice ruled as unconstitutional the procedures by which the applicants were arraigned and subsequently judged by Parliament. The Justice acknowledged that in Tonga's unique constitution the Supreme Court has no rights to investigate the proceedings of the Legislative Assembly, in this situation Parliament did not follow the Standing Rules & Orders of Parliament which reflect the Constitution's clause on contempt of Parliament. By not following these procedures, Parliament has violated the defendant's constitutional protection of due process.
The appellants were represented by NZ Lawyer, Barry Wilson, on assignment for the Commonwealth Press Union.
Siaosi Naufahu, Nuku'alofa, has submitted a court case against 'Akilisi for $50,000 for defamation.
Average wholesale prices to growers are between 30 & 50 seniti, well below the growers expected price mark of $1.20. A great impact on prices seems to be the volume shipments of Squash from Mexico. For the month of November, 22,000 tons of squash are expected to reach Japan from Mexico alone.
At least one director blames the governments quota system since 1994 as a major cause for the development of the Mexican squash industry.
Tonga again participated in the World Food Day observance, emphasising balanced and nutritious food consumption. This year's theme was Fighting Hunger and Malnutrition. Nationwide programs, including a request for religious leaders to make an emphasis of appropriate nutrious intake during religious activities.
Other activities included essay competitions with prizes ranging from T$100 to T$25.
Clive Edwards says that Tonga does not sell passports--except for the T$15 application fee. Tonga does allow foreigners to obtain naturalized citizenship after paying higher fees.
Apparently Fiji has changed its policy on Tongan Passports. Where previously Fiji discrimminated against Tonga Passport holders who did not look like Tongans, Fiji has now communicated to all airlines, Fiji will honour all Tongan Passports.
'Utungake, Vava'u has opened a new water well. The well, 116 feet deep, was drilled by the Ministry of Land, Survey, and Natural Resources.
JOCV (Japan Overseas Co-operation Volunteers) have donated T$17,000 worth of terminal boxes, and a T$11,699.32 cheque to assist Telecom Tonga improve line quality problems. It is expected line problems will be reduced by at least 60%
October 9, to highlight the work of the Post Office system, the Tonga Postal Service recently ran a competition where all letter writers posting letters during the week went into a draw for prizes. The prizes were $20 of stamps 1st, $10 in stamps 2nd, $5 in stamps 3rd and was run concurrently in Tongatapu, Ha'apai, Vava'u, and 'Eua.
The Army band (Royal Corp of Musicians) are in Australia participate in the Barossa Music Festival held in Adelaide. The band is on a cultural exchange visit, and will be involved in a number of concerts in Australia and New Zealand before returning to Tonga.
The band will be in Melbourne, Oct 21, where they will participate in some cross training with the Royal Australian Army. Two concerts have been scheduled Oct. 22, 24 with two further concernts (Oct. 25) to be held in Marrickville (NSW).
Two Australian dentists and a technical team are spending two weeks in Tonga as part of the continuing Twinning program between St. John of God Hospital in Ballarat, Australia and Vaiola Hospital. The team have brought new equipment to be installed, along with donated medical supplies valued at over $8,000.
The team will spend some time in Vava'u and Ha'apai and is hosted in Tonga by the Rotary Club of Nuku'alofa, and the Vaiola Hospital.
The fifth annual Tonga International Game Fishing Tournament wound down Oct. 12 after hosting 70 anglers in 19 boats making 48 strikes; 29 hookups, 8 tags, and release, and three catches. The next tournament will be held Sept. 22-27, 1997.
Tongatapu Fax Service: 676
23 553
Vava'u Fax Service: 676 70-351
TESS is continuing to improve communications services for Vava'u businesses by announcing the availability of a reliable inter-island, international fax service to and from Vava'u.
The inter-island Troposcatter used by the local telecommunications carrier is fraught with continued line noises which make it extremely difficult for facsimile machines to connect and transfer pages. Voice lines are just as noisy, but people have learned to accept the poor quality service, unfortunately fax machines are not as forgiving.
One new subscriber to TESS was excited when she could send a fax to her mother in England. "I haven't been able to fax her for over six months. It was really exciting to get a phone call from her saying she received my fax without any problems." More importantly, business communications needs have been resolved. Many Vava'u businesses need to regularly communicate with international partners, customers.
The horror Troposcatter made it impossible and very expensive
to send inter-island communications. With the TESS fax service
online and running, faxes get through (island to island, and island
to international destination.)
[ref: http://www.tongatapu.net.to]
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