Tonga on the 'NET - Island Snapshot 970306

970306

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

Taimi 'o Tonga License renewed

After payment of license fees, the Ministry of Labour, Commerce and Industries has renewed Taimi 'o Tonga's license to trade.

Tourism business

$8.8 million earnings from tourism between Jan-Jul (presumably 1996). Previous earnings results for a calendar year have been:

1995 - $14 million
1994 - $12.2 million
1993 - $12.4 million
1992 - $11.5 million
1991 - $10 million

Japanese Cruise Ship Visits

Jan. 28^th, the Japanese cruise ship Fuji Maru, laden with 315 passengers became the first Japanese cruise ship to visit Tongan waters. Minister of Labour, Commerce and Industries, Dr. Giulio Masasso Paunga who received his PhD in Japan addressed the ship passengers in their own language and together with other guests of the captain (Minister of Police, Minister of Works) were serenaded by passengers as they enjoyed their special luncheon.

Murder Trial to go ahead

Police have charged two men with the murder and causing grievous bodily harm to off-duty Police Officer, Constable Anthony Strand Holani of Kolomotu'a Jan. 11^th.

Mr. Tu'ilavoni Fungavaka, 34, of Holonga will face a jury trial in the Supreme Court charged with murder and previously administering bodily harm by striking Mr. Holani with a piece of wood.

Mr. Naeata Tapu of Ha'apai, residing at Haveluloto, faces the same charges with eye witnesses claiming they saw Mr. Tapu throw the punch that knocked Mr. Holani to the ground.

Hihifo Growers Promising a bounty season

Mr. 'Esau Namoa, owner and managing director of 'Ala-ki-Hihifo Motors says that if the Ministry of Labour, Commerce, and Industries grants the Hihifo Multi-purpose Co-operative Society a license to export pumpkin this season, the Society will provide financing, organisation, and shipment of goods for growers.

Mr. Tadaie Higuchi, president of Suzan Trading Co. Ltd, an import/export firm in Kumagaya, Japan announced he is willing to purchase more than 2,000 tonnes of pumpkins from the Society.

Japan government to fund women's centre

A T$73,289 home economics centre, primarily for rural women, is to be constructed at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's Women's Development Headquarters at 'Old Vaiola."

The centre will be used to train representatives from about 200 women's groups throughout the Kingdom in nutrition and sanitation.

The Women's Development Training Centre Project is being funded by the government of Japan under its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects programme through its Embassy in Suva, Fiji. Some T$2,000 will be used for audit purposes, the rest for construction.

Foul weather means foul news for consumers
Tonga's rain is causing problems with communications and power supply. An already unstable domestic communications service is facing more problems with continuing heavy rains. Telephone customers waiting new connections are facing longer delays as staff are facing continued problems with existing lines with consumers having either noise filled lines, or lost connections for up to three weeks.

The Telecom Communication's aging lines with aging switches combine with pouring rain to give everyone headaches.

Tonga's power supply isn't facing a better situation with unannounced power black outs being a consistent part of the past month. House holders are facing repair bills as the unstable power generates surges that burn through most domestic appliances including expensive luxuries such as audio and video home entertainment systems.

News Shorts

The Tonga National Cultural Centre will open a week long exchibition of the art work of Queen Salote Tupou III, including paintings during her reign from 1918-1965.
Mr. Tu'i Liava'a of Ha'avakatolo received an automobile as the Door Prize at the recent Hihifo Growers Society. The Automobile was donated by Mr. 'Esau Namoa of 'Ala-ki-Hihifo Motors.
Lawyers attended a four day workshop to review court room practices and preparation.
The Revs. Frs 'Aipolo Vea and Moimoi Fakahua were ordained into the Anglican ministry by the Most Rev. Viliami Hala'api'api, Suffragan Bishop of the Diocese of Polynesia.
Chefs in the Kingdom attended a 3 week course on cookery which the First Secretary for AusAID hopes will "set higher standards for both international cuisine and traditional cookery."
A petition for the winding up of Weco Tonga Ltd, Nuku'alofa Tonga was filed with the Supreme Court of Tonga on Feb. 12, 1997.
Tonga's National Rugby Union team are poised to tour Africa with test matches in Namibia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa beginning in April. Mr. Phil Kinsley-Jones, better known on the islands as manager to Jonah Loumu was appointed by the Tonga Rugby Football Union Committee to negotiate terms of the tour.
Mar 20-22 will be an opportunity for traders to show their wares during a Business Trade Show expected to draw between 5,000 to 10,000 visitors.

[ref: http://www.tongatapu.net.to]