970522

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

Sopu's Free Wesleyan congregation opened their new hall which includes billiard and ping pong facilities for youth On May 20^th. The new hall, informally known as 127, was formally christened as the Siosaia lausi'i Tu'itavake Mafile'o Hall after the former district officer of the area.

The opening was presided over by the President of the Free Wesleyan Church, secretary and other executives of the church, while the dedication service was performed by Sopu resident, Rev. Dr. Sione 'A. Havea.

Parliament officially opened, although the parliament house was not yet ready for session. The official opening, was instead moved to the Queen Salote Memorial Hall and official parliament meetings should return to the house May 26. The opening was broadcast on radio and television while children from the high schools lined the streets from the Palace to the Memorial Hall as a guard of honour.

Lawyers representing businessman Dr. Wong have notified business's using the Finefekai property to vacate the premises by December 1997, and to pay a schedule of rental to that time while they continue to use the premises. Dr. Wong has long been rumoured to have proposed to the King that he will build a mall on the property, and has many times had consultants brought into the country apparently to review the location.

This year's annual general meeting of FITA to initiate a credit union with an initial funding of T$10,000 from the associations coffers. Finau Tutone (president) explained that $5.00 from each member will be solicited as minimal share requirements and afterwards normal credit union conditions will apply for loans and savings.

During this year's conference, the Church of Tonga has elected Rev. Sami Veikoso, 75, of Ha'afeva Ha'apai has the president, replacing Rev. Finau Katoanga of Ha'ano, Ha'apai. Rev. To'a Tonga'onevai was re-elected secretary.

Protesting harsh and unreasonable punishment, students from Tonga College presented a petition May 15 to the Ministry of Education requesting action be taken against the unnecessary harrassments. Students emphatically stated they were not against punishment but were concerned that behaviour towards students by some staff members were brutal. Peacefully marching on the Ministry of Education head office, student representatives handed their protest listing teachers and claims of brutality against these teachers.

Ministry of Education officers stated that these accusations will be raised with the teachers and action will be taken where found necessary. Although most of the borders joined the walk-out, programs were run for those who remained. Students involved in the walk-out have apparently returned to school, awaiting the Ministry's pledged investigations.

The national side defeated the Zimbabwe Barbarians 42-13 in the first of its three international tests during its three-nation, eight-game African continent tour.

• Workshops out of our ears. USP held a 'successful' seminar series soliciting input from locals regarding the future direction for the USP center in Tonga.
• Workshops out of our ears 2. Tonga Telecom (funded by some international tax payer funded body) hosted a seminar on telecommunications and disaster relief planning.
• Workshops out of our ears 3. The World Bank (another tax payer funded body) hosted a series of workshops, and interviews, introducing and preparing case studies on the use of information technology and telecommunications in Tonga for Tonga organisations.
• Workshops out of our ears 4. The NZ High Commission funded a workshop on the effects of economic development on the environment. Apparently it was for the private sector, (ed. but I guess my services are not private enough because we didn't find out about it until it was all over.)
• Workshops out of our ears 5. The Fishing industry was host to another workshop on the "hazard analysis technique" for assuring quality control of catch, store, sale of fish.
• The Australian High Commissioner opened a centre for the Tonga Pre-school Association at Mata'aho Kindergarten on May 15. The centre contains a stove, refrigerator, and cooking equipment, and was provided through the efforts of the Australian and New Zealand High Commissions, USP, UNICEF, and the US Government.
• The BYU-Hawai'i choir finished its successful tour with packed crowds and a handsome donation on behalf of the 'Alonga Disabled Centre.
• 1996 Trade deficit stands at T$76.8 million

• Corporate Finance Manager, Sea Star, T$20,000 pa
• Energy Officer - Renewable, Ministry of Lands, Survey & Natural Resources, T$6,348-9,570 pa.
• Assistant Graduate Geodetic Surveyor, Ministry of Lands, Survey & Natural Resources, T$6,348-9,570 pa.
• Survey Trainee, Ministry of Lands, Survey & Natural Resources, T$1,800-2,376 pa
• Rugby League Development Officer, Tonga Rugby League Association, T$8,000 pa
• Computer Operator Grade II, Ministry of Works, $4,505-57,93 pa
• Computer Operator Grade III, Ministry of Works, $3,654-4,984 pa
• Director, Institute of Justice and Legal Studies, USP, F$44,397-49,008 pa, (grimes_r@usp.ac.fj)
• Lecturer II/I Population Studies and Demography, USP, F$23,930 pa
• Planning Officer, USP, F$23,930 (mann_r@usp.ac.fj)
• Planning Assistant, USP, F$17,884 (mann_r@usp.ac.fj)
• Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Education, USP, F$23,930, F$34,786
• Co-ordinator, Oceania Sports Information Centre, USP, F$23,930
• Construction Foreman, Fletcher Royco Join Venture, T$14,000-T$17,000 pa
• Launderer, Ministry of Health Vava'u, $T2,586 pa

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