A collection of news-briefs from The Tonga Chronicle, Ko e Kele'a, Taimi 'o Tonga, Radio Tonga. For more details of these stories, feel invited to buy a paper from one of the locations mentioned in our Tonga Media pages

 The Kingdom was taken by the tragic story of the death of Princess Diana of Wales. People listened intently to their radios, stopped regular activities to watch the CNN broadcasts to hear more about the tragic loss of a special human being. The national flag was set at half mast to honour Princess and locals laid wreaths at the gates of the British High Commissioner's office.

The imported papers headlining the Princesses death, and the later publications in Tongan, were all sold out within hours of their availability.

Formal messages of condolences were sent by the King and the people queued to sign a book of condolence to be sent by the British High Commission as a token of the people's heartfelt commisserations.

The date for the Parliamentary debate on the impeachment of the Minister for Law, Tevita Tupou, has been delayed due to a deadlock in parliament on the date for which the hearings should begin. The deadlock during the voting for the date to hold the hearings must be broken by the chair of the house, who has not yet announced his decision.

Deliberations focused on the request by members for an early hearing to ensure a completed investigation before the close of parliament this year, as the impeachment process has been in the works prior to parliament's early closure last year.  The Minister in question had requested a later hearing to allow for his lawyer to be present, who is currently unavailable for the dates previously debated by the house.

The motion for impeachment is being debated as a result of the Minister's attendance at the Olympic Games in Atlanta when his request for leave had been denied. The issue was further complicated by Minister receiving remuneration for his duties to the house, even though he was absent.

 The New Zealand Prime Minister came through Tonga on a whirl wind visit through the Pacific Islands where he affirmed that Tonga's political future rests in the hands of its own government and it is not the New Zealand government's approach, or policy, to interfere in another sovereign state.

The Prime Minister was asked to consider granting rights to pensions for those wishing to spend their last years on the islands. Niue, which has its own agreements with New Zealand, already has the privilege of New Zealand still supplying pensions to those wishing to leave New Zealand to live in Niue.

 The Tonga Dairy Processing Co., exhibited milk produced locally during the Tongatapu Agricultural. Because the local testing laboratories have not been completed the milk was sent to Rewa Dairy in Fiji and the NSW Dairy Cooperationfor final quality testing.

The TDPC has completed surveys of local milk consumption and will focus marketing on key outlets determined through their survey. TDPC is headed by Ms. Mele 'Amanaki and she hopes to make an impact on the TOP$3.7 million in trade lost to importation of milk and dairy products.

Samiuela Vete's pirate radio station has gone legal and is already encrouching on Radio Tonga's FM customers in an effort to attract advertisers and a customer base. Sam Vete's Radio 2000 A3V studio operates out of  their residence in Kolomotu'a (across from the Free Wesleyan Centenary Church) broadcasting popular music, 122 hours a week.

Sam Vete has licensed two FM broadcasting frequencies, one for Tongatapu and another for Vava'u. Before the end of the year Sam hopes to increase the height of his antennae to a height where his broadcast can reach Ha'apai. Sam's current antennae current has a greater broadcast field than Radio Tonga's FM station.

 The Statistics Department released figures indicating a trade deficit of TOP$21.8m for this year's April-June quarter. Australian TOP$8 m was the main supplier of imports which were principally moto vehicles and parts, fuels, timber, mutton flaps, poultry pieces, soft drinks, and corned beef. Tonga's exports were primarily fish, kava, copra, yams and handicrafts.

• The expansion of the Dateline Hotel, after a delay of four months, is set to continue after the National Development Corp. Ltd signed a loan agreement with Pacific International Development of Utah (a financing company)
• Baron Vaea, Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Forestry, expressed his gratitude to farmers, entrepreneurs, and to women for their exhibitions during the two-day Royal Agricultural and Industrial Show.
• Aug. 28 marked 30 years of cooperative work with the US Peace Corps when the first volunteers arrived in 1967
• US Ambassador Don Gevirtz presented a gift of books, educational materials, and medical supplies collected by the US Navy and Marine Corps. Transport of the goods to Tonga was provided by the USS Fredrick, currently involved in joint military exercises with the Tonga Defence Services.
• 120 water tanks have been installed, courtesy of the Australian Government, in Tongoleleka, Ha'ato'u, Navea, and Holopeka. The gift is valued at more than TOP$200,000
• New Zealand based Tongans graduate, Fatafehi Lilika Palu, Bcom; Nunia Mone, BSc; Semisi Tapueluelu, LLM; To'iata Lolohea, BA; Helen Hulufe Manukia, BA; Malakai Talakai, BA; Telusila Mausia, Bed.
• High School members of Scripture Union weathered the stormy conditions jeapordising their annual camp, to hold a happy camp at 'Eua High School with special guests Graeme Aldom, and Rev. Kelepi Langivia from Australia.

• USP advertises a number of positions that should be noted in their website http://www.usp.ac.fj
• Posts from last weeks news papers have been repeated again.
• Head, External Affairs Section, International Telecommunications Union, $61,090 Swiss Francs.
• Principal Economist, Ministry of Finance, TOP$11,120-13,976 pa

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