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The vote of no confidence to oust Tonga’s Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku was defeated in Parliament this afternoon with a vote of 14-11.
The motion was submitted by 10 people’s MPs including two members of the nobility.
The motion detailed a series of allegations against Hu’akavameiliku, mostly around government spending, mismanagement, lack of financial reports and non compliant activities surrounding government’s business services especially the Lulutai airlines.
Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku. Photo/Screenshot (Radio FM87.5)
Hu‘akavameiliku denied all accusations against him. He is the fourth Prime Minister to still hold on to office after a vote of no confidence.
The results came after it took two days for the House to read out a 223-page report of 46 points of accusations against the Prime Minister as well as 46 points of response from Hu’akavameiliku.
Those who voted against the Prime Minister were:
1. ‘Uhila mo e Langi Fasi
2. Māteni Tapueluelu
3. ‘Aisake Eke
4. Piveni Piukala
5. Kapeliele Lanumata
6. Taniela Fusimalohi
7. Mo’ale Finau
8. Vātau Hui
9. His Serene Highness Prince Kalaniuvalu Fotofili
COMMENTARY: Deputy Prime Minister Sāmiu Vaipulu could have told Parliament a lot more about how closely he has been involved in the crises surrounding Tonga’s domestic air services for the past 10 years.
Deputy Prime Minister Samiu Vaipulu
Hon. Vaipulu was speaking recently in the Parliament in response to a motion to stop the Hu’akavameiliku government from buying a new aircraft for its troubled Lulutai airlines. The new aircraft was expected to arrive in Tonga this month.
Hon. Vaipulu said he and other Cabinet Ministers made a proposal while they were ministers in the late Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa government to set up Lulutai airlines as a solution to the domestic airlines problems which ultimately stretched back to the shutting down of Royal Tongan Airlines.
The doomed national airlines’ flight services collapsed in 2004 before the government sided with the then Crown Prince Tupouto’a and created a one airline policy to give his Peau Vava’u airlines the sole right for the domestic air services, forcing the popular Fly Niu airlines from the kingdom.
He said a decision by Parliament at the time to shut down the Royal Tongan Airlines caused a lot of trouble for travellers from outer islands.
What Hon. Vaipulu failed to say was the fact that the domestic airlines crisis after the fall of the Royal Tongan airlines venture and the closure of the airline Peau Vava’u in early 2007, had already been resolved after the New Zealand’s Pacific Chatham airline began serving Tongan domestic airlines in 2008.
This was four years after the Royal Tongan international flight services closed. The Peau Vava’u operation had caused many complaints and safety concerns about its 60 year old DC-3 aircraft as well as bad customer services and unexpected flight cancellations and schedule changes.
Chatham airlines started operation and servicing the domestic flights in April that year after the controversial Peau Vava’u airlines was shut down in January.
Domestic air services revival
It was Air Chatham which came to the kingdom at the invitation of the Tongan government and revived the domestic flight services.
It reached a point where the domestic services were described by the owner of Air Chatham Craig Emeny as “reliable and sustainable”.
“This has given the inbound tourist operators confidence to promote Tonga as a destination, and Tongan people have been provided with a safe and affordable airline with the lowest domestic seat cost per kilometre in the region”, Emeny said in a statement republished by Kaniva News on February 2013.
That article came after Emeny expressed his disappointment following an announcement by Hon. Vaipulu, who was then Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Civil Aviation, that a new Chinese MA 60 aircraft would arrive in Tonga shortly as part of the government’s plan to set up a new airline to compete with Air Chatham.
Emeny said at the time he was concerned that “Tonga simply is not large enough to support two airlines”.
He also said Hon, Vaipulu “did not include or consider my airline in anyway”.
“I am not able to maintain financially viability in the Tonga market with the introduction of another airline operating a 50 seat (MA-60) and a 17 seat (Y12) aircraft in competition to me”.
After the arrival of the MA60 aircraft the government set up its new domestic airlines in partnership with Real Tonga in March 2013 and air Chatham withdrew its services from the kingdom. The MA60 proved to be a source of continuing controversy.
At the time Hon. Vaipulu said publicly that Real Tonga would provide cheaper airfares.
MA60 troubles
Controversy surrounded the MA60, after it was revealed that it had a troubling safety record.
The New Zealand government suspended millions of dollars in tourism aid to Tonga over concerns about the safety of its domestic airline service.
The New Zealand government also issued a travel warning to New Zealanders about flying on the aircraft.
Hon. Vaipulu was removed from the Minister of Civil Aviation in 2014 after a report to the International Civil Aviation Organisation was found to have errors. The details of the report were not released to the media.
The government’s initiative with Real Tonga failed in many respects, including failures to fulfil Hon. Vaipulu’s promise of cheaper fares.
There were lots of ongoing complaints about customer service issues, flight schedules unexpected changes and cancellations. Real Tonga finally ceased operation in 2020 after the government took back its aircrafts.
Lulutai airlines
Hon. Vaipulu, who had supported the setting up of Real Tonga, proposed to the Tu’i’onetoa government that it be closed down and Lulutai airlines be established in 2020.
Hon. Vaipulu is now trying to defend the purchase of a new aircraft for the troubled Lulutai airlines, even though many in the House are unconvinced it will improve domestic services.
Lulutai has caused a lot of trouble to the tourism industry by providing uncertain flight services and reaching the point where it has only been able to survive because Australia has been paying Fiji airlines to run Tonga’s domestic services.
Vaipulu rejects king’s advice
As Kaniva News reported previously in 2021 the king said the government should not run businesses, a statement opposed at the time by Hon. Vaipulu.
“A question was raised in the Cabinet whether the king’s concerns included the government’s operating the Lulutai Airlines,” Vaipulu said in Tongan.
He also said: “I told the Prime Minister Lulutai Airlines is our means of transportation from Tonga to Vava’u. It is the responsibility of the government to create that route so we can use it. As a result, the aircraft must fly in that route we have prepared. And that’s the answer to His Majesty.”
The Department of Internal Affairs is lodging an application for SkyCity’s casino operator’s licence to be temporarily suspended in the wake of a complaint from a customer.
It would affect the company’s flagship casino in Auckland as well as SkyCity Hamilton and SkyCity Queenstown.
The Gambling Commission will rule on the application and the length of any suspension.
“A decision may not be forthcoming for a number of months,” the statement read.
It comes after a complaint in February last year. The complainant — described as a “former customer” — gambled at SkyCity’s Auckland casino between August 2017 and February 2021.
The DOIA’s secretary alleges in the application that SkyCity “did not comply with requirements in its SkyCity Auckland Host Responsibility Programme relating to detection of incidences of continuous play by the customer”.
“SkyCity will fully cooperate with the [DOIA] Secretary in relation to the application and process,” the statement said.
“Given that the application is before the Commission it would be inappropriate for SkyCity to comment further on the application and allegations at this stage.
“Should the Commission determine to grant an order to suspend SCML’s [SkyCity Casino Management Limited] casino operator’s licence, this would not impact SkyCity’s non-gaming operations, including its hotels and restaurants.”
By Iliesa Tora, RNZ Pacific Senior Sports Journalist and is republished with permission
This is the second article in RNZ Pacific’s series on the three Pacific teams competing at the Rugby World Cup in France. In this piece, we look at Tonga’s ‘Ikale Tahi.
Tonga has defeated Canada 28-3 in the first of two-Test matches at Te’ufaiva Park in Nuku’alofa on Thursday. 10 August 2023. Photo: Canada
They say the only mountains one will find on Tongatapu are the people.
Strong-willed, diehards who never give up.
Tongatapu is the only major island in Tonga that does not have mountains, just hills.
Tonga’s motto ‘Ko e Otua mo Tonga ko hoku Tofia’ translated is ‘God and King are my inheritance’.
If you understand these you will understand why the Tongans refuse to give up on a rugby field.
Service to God and King are what the friendly islanders, as the late Captain James Cook called them, is what they believe in.
They take pride in that.
It’s what has brought home players like former All Blacks George Moala, Vaea Fifita, Malakai Fekitoa and Charles Piutau, and former Wallabies Israel Folau and Adam Coleman.
It is what is driving them as they prepare for the Rugby World Cup in France starting next week.
Having struggled to get all their players on time for their July camp in Nuku’alofa and then having to face numerous injury challenges, head coach Toutai Kefu has put together a squad of 33 for the world meet.
Folau has missed out because he still needs another six weeks to fully heal from a knee injury that saw him play only against Australia A at Te’ufaiva Park in early July.
He missed all the other Test matches against Fiji, Japan, Samoa and Canada after that.
The ‘Ikale Tahi or ‘Sea Eagles’ are in a pool where they will have to be at their best throughout.
Pool of death
Defending World Cup champions South Africa, current world No.1 Ireland, world No.5 Scotland and Romania make up the pool.
Kefu, a World Cup player at the 1999 event for the Wallabies, has described it as a pool of death.
But he believes the team can cause upsets if they click on the day.
Tonga has competed in every Rugby World Cup since the first one in 1987, except for 1991 when they failed to qualify.
Their best performances were in 2007 and 2011.
In 2007 they finished third in their pool behind England and South Africa after wins over Samoa and the United States.
They defeated France in 2011, though it wasn’t enough to progress to the knockout stages.
Their build-up to this year’s event has been mixed, so there is a feeling of uncertainty about what they can do in France.
They won matches against Australia A and the two-Test series against Canada.
However, all their Pacific Nations Cup matches resulted in losses to Fiji, Japan and Samoa.
But they have some key players who can, as a team, cause upsets in their pool.
Array of talent
Big Ben Tameifuna, who was on the fringe of All Blacks selection while with the Chiefs in the Super Rugby Championship some years back, is a key player.
Siua Maile, Sitiveni Mafi, Tanginoa Halaifonua and Samiuela Louisi do do not step back from the challenge in tight plays and will be key for the side in set pieces.
Crusaders’ Sione Havili, Moana Pasifika captain Solomone Funaki, Vaea Fifita and Sione Vailanu are key ball winners in the breakdowns and good carriers of the ball.
Tongan captain Sonatane Takulua leads the Sipitau against Canada on 10 August 2023. Photo: Sevenitini Tomoua
Good understanding between them has seen them improve and they will be the key in winning possession off the ground and in tackle-ball situations.
Veteran captain Sonatane Takulua does not back down from any challenge.
He is Tonga’s most capped player having amassed 52 tests under his name.
His combination with William Havili, younger brother of All Black David Havili, will be the key to setting the experienced backline alight.
Havili has improved in the position but could face some tough challenges from both South Africa and Ireland, who like to test halves combinations with big forward charges and short interchanges directed at the number 10.
Tonga defeated Australia A 27-24 in Nuku’alofa on Friday, 14 July 2023. Photo: Sevenetini Tomoua
Midfield is an area where the Tongans have so much depth with Pita Ahki, Malakai Fekitoa, George Moala and Afusipa Taumoepeau all having proven themselves.
With Moala due to miss at least the first three pool matches, a lot will fall on Ahki and Fekitoa to hold that midfield together.
Former Warriors league star and Mate Ma’a Tonga strike weapon Solomone Kata is one player that could be doing more damage than expected if he gets good possession and set-ups.
A great finisher, Kata has proven to be a revelation in rugby union when he switched codes three years ago.
Tonga also has the young Kyren Taumoefolau, drafted in from the Tonga 7s team, and Moana Pasifika winger Anzelo Tuitavuki, who are both growing in their game as well.
The No.15 jersey will no doubt belong to experienced former All Black Charles Piutau.
He will be the key man in defence and they can count on him to set up counter attacks from the back.
Ireland will be the team’s first match in Nantes on September 16.
COMMENTARY: Will PM survive vote of no confidence on Tuesday, but be ousted at next election?
Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku
Will history repeat itself?
When Parliament meets next Tuesday MPs will decide on a vote of no confidence based on growing dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni Hu’akavameiliku’s performance.
The motion was submitted by MP Dr Eke of Tongatapu 5, supported by 10 MPs altogether which included two nobility MPs Lord Nuku and Tu’ivakano.
The question is whether enough MPs will vote against him, or will he survive, only to be cast out at the next election, like his predecessor?
Hon. Hu’akavameiliku has been heavily criticised for his handling of ousted Ministers, government appointments and scandals surrounding the National Reserve Bank and the crisis-ridden Lulutai airlines.
It was only by reading Kaniva News that MPs discovered that the Prime Minister had bought a new aircraft, a revelation that led to heated debates. His handling of the kingdom’s budget has also been a big issue of concern for most MPs.
This Prime Minister and most of his Cabinet Ministers were members of late Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa’s Cabinet. However, they were disappointed with Tu’i’onetoa because of his close connection with disgraced politician Etuate Lavulavu, who was seen as having too much influence on Cabinet matters.
Hon. Tu’i’onetoa survived the Vote of No Confidence because the submission was not well organised. It was mostly organised by PTOA (Democrat) supporters in New Zealand, but failed to gain much traction among MPs in Tonga.
Hon. Tu’i’onetoa was widely criticised for the highly questionable tactics surrounding the roading project, his failure to act against the Lavulavus and his “prayer cruises” around Tonga which were meant to ward off Covid-19, but which saw politicians benefitting from feasts, gifts and travel allowances.
After the next general election he was dumped and support switched to Hon. Hu’akavameiliku, who now faces his own vote.
Comment
This is one of the most interesting Votes of No Confidence in Tonga’s Parliamentary history given that 10 MPs now support the vote of no confidence and they only need two MPs to complete the 13 MPs needed to win the vote.
Reports this week show that 11 MPs now support the vote.
At the same time, the Prime Minister only has 10 Ministers in his Cabinet. However, two of them cannot vote for him since they were appointed from outside by the Prime Minister.
PM Hu’akavameiliku therefore only has eight MPs and has to get five from the people and nobility benches to support him to survive the vote.
Meanwhile, there are two ministerial posts which are still vacant and the king has yet to appoint the PM’s nominations of two new ministers for those posts. This is another issue for PM Hu’akavameiliku to face, as it appears the king is unhappy with him.
Rules of votes of no confidence
Every motion for a Vote of No Confidence tabled in the House must be signed by at least 10 MPs.
The VONC rules also stipulate the motion be put to a vote within five working days from the time it is tabled.
Parliament will meet next Tuesday, September 5 at 10am Tongan time.
The Prime Minister submitted a written response to the motion on Friday. It will be read out in Parliament before MPs debate the motion.
Tuesday’s sitting will be livestreamed on the Legislative Assembly’s Facebook Page and YouTube Channel.
The final suspect in a high-profile conspiracy to murder a veteran Samoa politician was flown into Apia this morning from Australia after three years of fighting his extradition there.
Talalelei Pauga (file image) Photo: RNZ/Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia
Talalelei Pauga arrived early Friday morning from Australia and has been formally charged with conspiracy to murder according to deputy police commissioner, Papalii Monalisa Tiai-Keti.
Two local officers travelled to Australia to facilitate the handover of Pauga from the Australian authorities and accompanied him back to Samoa.
He has been remanded in custody until Monday September 4 for mention.
Pauga is the fourth co-defendant and is yet to be dealt with by the Supreme Court for allegedly conspiring to murder the former prime minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi.
He has been in the custody of Australian police since August 2020 when a formal extradition application was lodged so he could answer to the charges in Samoa.
Earlier this month the Supreme Court sentenced co-defendants Malele Paulo, also known as King Faipopo, and Lemai Faioso Sione after they were found guilty of conspiring to murder Tuilaepa.
Paulo is serving four years while Lemai was given a custodial sentence of four years and six months.
Taualai on the other hand pleaded guilty to the charge in 2020 and is halfway serving his five-year jail term and also eligible for parole.
Evidence before the court stated the men had planned to murder Tuilaepa at the Siusega Catholic Cathedral in August 2019.
(News Channel Nebraska) – Police in Nebraska pulled over a driver with an unusual passenger: a full-sized Watusi bull named “Howdy Doody.”
The full-sized Watusi bull is named “Howdy Doody.”
The Norfolk Police Division responded to a call around 10 a.m. Wednesday of a man driving on 275 with a Watusi bull in his passenger seat.
“The officers received a call referencing a car driving into town that had a cow in it,” said Police Capt. Chad Reiman. “They thought that it was going to be a calf, something small or something that actually fit inside the vehicle.”
And the vehicle was big enough – well, technically.
The Parliament has demanded that Kaniva Tonga News retract what it described as “misleading articles”.
Speaker Lord Fakafanua. Photo/Fale Alea ‘O Tonga
In a press release yesterday evening the Tonga Legislative Assembly said it wanted to make corrections to information currently being circulated in some news and social media regarding the live radio broadcasting of Parliamentary debates.
Kaniva News stands by its story and has rejected Parliament’s demand for a retraction.
The Parliament’s warning yesterday mostly targeted an article published by Matangi Tonga Online on August 22, claiming that radio broadcasts had been silenced during debate on the Auditor General’s Report for 2021-2022.
The Auditor General’s report warned that the government had not learned from previous reports and that the same failures had been reported in its findings for the 2022/23 fiscal year.
This included the government’s failure, among others, to reconcile the Ministry of Finance financial records with the bank’s records of government accounts. It said there were issues caused by a problem in the government payroll system, lack of extra information needed to clearly describe financial particulars, and no official records of the government’s investments in its business services.
The Parliamentary press release said Matangi Tonga’s report about silencing the broadcasts was “False and Misleading”.
However, in the last paragraph of the release the Parliament mentioned Kaniva Tonga news as one of the news outlets it demanded retraction.
Kaniva news can confirm that it did not publish anything about the claims that the radios were silenced during debate on the Auditor General’s Report for 2021-2022.
It appears that Parliament was referring to a story published by Kaniva News this week on Monday, August 28, titled “Senior Tongan journalist concerned by Parliament’s “media blackout”. The story was first published by the New Zealand radio station 531pi Pacific Media Network (PMN) after it interviewed Kaniva News editor Kalino Latu.
In that story Mr Latu told PMN he was saddened by Tongan parliament effectively staging a “media blackout” – blocking the public and media from getting access to Parliamentary sessions and debates because the Parliament stopped updating its website with official Parliamentary records and debates in June 2023.
Mr Latu was responding after the 531pi reporter asked about the news that the Speaker, Lord Fakafanua, announced that the House was no longer funding daily radio broadcasts of the proceedings of the House.
Mr Latu told the radio that the pubic believed this was a media blackout with critics believing it was politically motivated.
We reported that the last time the Parliament updated its Hansards on its website was in June 2023. Kaniva News stands by its report. This was what happened before and after the 531pi radio interviewed Mr Latu and published the story of that interview on its website. The story was republished by Kaniva News on its website the same day.
Kaniva News had checked out the Parliament website on that day and on the morning of Tuesday 29 and there were still no updates of the minutes. The last Hansard on the Parliament website was still the Minute number 25 of June 28, 2023. However, on another check out on Tuesday we noticed that the minutes of August 16 and August 17 had finally been uploaded. Later on we noticed that further two minutes of August 8 and August 14 had been uploaded.
The Parliament’s press release yesterday did not deny our report that it had stopped updating the Hansard to its website in June. It also did not deny our report that the Speaker had said the Parliament no longer paid for the live broadcasting of the debates.
As of this morning the Hansards for August 7, August 9, August 10 and August 11, August 15, August 18 as well as August 28 have yet to be uploaded to its website.
Kaniva News obtained a copy of the Parliament sittings calendar for 2023 titled in Tongan as Tohi Māhina Ngāue ‘a e Fale Alea 2023.
It shows that for this month the Parliament must hold its sitting days on August 7, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 28, 29, 30 and 31. The Parliament owes the public an explanation on why it did not have all the Hansards for these days on its website except the Hansards of August 30 and 31, which are expected to be uploaded later this week or early next week.
It also owes the public and Kaniva News an explanation on why it only started uploading the August’s Hansards this week after our story was published on Monday.
The Speaker told the House on August 16 that it would only take one or two days (“’aho ‘e taha pe ‘aho ‘e ua”) before the Hansards were available on the Parliament’s website.
This is contrary to the minutes of August as the Hansards of August 8, August 14, August 16 and August 17 were only uploaded this week, about two weeks after those sittings, and after Kaniva News ran its story on Monday. This was why Mr Latu said the public saw this as a “Media Blackout”.
We also reported that the House no longer paid for broadcasters to air Parliament’s debates live. This was a fact and the Speaker admitted it during a Parliament sitting saying that the House no longer afford it. According to the Hansard number 30 of August 16 page 9, the Speaker Lord Fakafanua made the admission in Tongan as follows:
“Ko e palopalema ko ení ‘oku ‘ikai ko ha me’a fo’ou koe’uhí na’e kamata maí na’a tau totongi ‘etautolu e letiō. Pea ‘alu pē taimí ia ‘o lahi ange e pa’anga ia ‘oku mole ki he letiō he pa’anga ‘oku tuku mai ke fai ‘aki ‘etau ngāué”.
In English (translated by Kaniva News) he said:
“This problem is not new because in the beginning we paid for the radio. As time went by it was over budget”.
The Speaker also said in Tongan:
“Pea ‘i he’ene pehē ‘oku ‘ikai ke tau totongi ‘a nautolu pea ‘oku nau fa’iteliha pē nautolu pe te nau fie nofo pe te nau fie ‘alu ka ko e tu’unga ia ‘oku ‘i ai he ‘aho ní”.
This translates into English as follows:
“As a result, we do not pay them (radio stations) and they are free if they want to broadcast it or not that’s the situation today”.
The Speaker also told the MPs if they wanted to pay for it, they could donate to or sponsor the radio stations.
However, the Parliament and the Minister of Finance finally agreed, after a motion from the people’s bench supported by the Nobles’ MPs, that the government would increase the Parliament’s budget to fund the broadcasting and make sure the House debates continued to be publicised as a matter of public interest.
The Supreme Court is to hold a special sitting to farewell Lord Chief Justice Michael Hargreaves Whitten ahead of his retirement from the bench next month.
Michael H Whitten KC
An invitation to media this morning says: “Please be advised that a special session of the Supreme Court will be held tomorrow to farewell the Hon. Lord Chief Justice Whitten KC. It will take place in Court 1, at 10AM”.
Mr Whitten was Tonga’s Supreme Court Chief Justice since September 2019, replacing former Chief Justice Owen Paulsen.
Paulsen was the kingdom’s top jurist since 2015 and has led the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal in the last four years.
Mr Whitten’s departure comes after Tongan lawyers called on the king to revoke the appointment of lawyer and Privy Council’s Lord Chancellor Tavake Afeaki as Acting Lord Chief Justice to fill the gap left by Whitten’s absence on holiday in Australia in October 2021.
The lawyers were concerned about whether Lord Afeaki has sufficient legal experience to hold such an important position.
The lawyers’ complaint came as part of a big concern about the country’s judiciary which had been described as lack of accountability and transparency.
A review of the 2010 constitution which was used to implement the democratic reforms showed it made sweeping changes to the Judiciary.
These changes created a unique judicial structure not found anywhere else in the Commonwealth, said the report by Peter Pursglove, a legal consultant in Constitutional Law.
The report said Tonga’s 2010 constitution is poorly written, promotes secrecy, has compromised the role of the judiciary and parts of it may be illegal.
According to the Pursglove report, which was endorsed by the Tu’ivakanō government in 2014:
Tonga’s 2010 constitution does not uphold democracy
The Privy Council lacks any democratic composition or accountability
The judiciary lacks accountability and transparency.
Changes to the judiciary are inefficient, ineffective, unaffordable and possibly illegal.
No public discussions were held regarding the reforms to the judiciary or why they were considered necessary.
“The present Constitution of Tonga can lay claim to being the most poorly structured and drafted Constitution of any Country in the Commonwealth,” the report says.
A father and his son are in custody after illicit drugs and utensils were found in their possession.
Police van in Nuku’alofa. Photo/Kalino Lātū
Police said the 42-year-old man along with his 14-year-old son were arrested and charged for possession of illicit drugs and utensils following a police search of their residence at Popua.
Police seized 10 packs of methamphetamine (11.72 grams), five packs of cannabis (33.34 grams), drug utensils, and TOP$395 cash.
Stolen items were also recovered from this Popua residence, which helped solve several burglary cases that Police were investigating.
The 42-year-old male is also charged for reckless driving after a hit-and-run incident.
On Friday 25 August 2023 Police raided a house at Hofoa where they arrested a 28-year-old male and a 25-year-old female of Hofoa for distributing illicit drugs.
Items seized along with the pair included 15 packs of methamphetamine (4.89 grams), a pack of cannabis, drug utensils, and TOP$650 cash.
Acting Deputy Commissioner Operations Kalisi Tohifolau acknowledges the responsible Police teams and the public for their collaborative efforts to bring forward those involved in illicit drug supply.
She said that, “Drugs and alcohol are drivers of crime; they have contributed to the recent spike in housebreakings and thefts. Tonga Police will continue to bring before the courts those who are involved in distributing and selling of illicit drugs as to minimize harm to our people and communities.”
