POLITICS

Tonga is set to host the esteemed Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt. Hon. Patricia Scotland KC, marking her inaugural official visit to the Kingdom. Scheduled to arrive on March 30th, she will in Tonga to April 3rd, 2024, her visit holds significant promise for Tonga’s engagement with the Commonwealth. During her stay, the Rt. Hon. Patricia […]

Dr Mo’ale ‘Otunuku of Longomapu has won the Vava’u 14 By-election with 709 votes, securing his seat as a new People’s Representative in the Legislative Assembly of Tonga. Sione Fataua Halatanu ran a distant second with 353 votes. Dr ‘Otunuku is a Research Fellow and Head of the Institute of Education’s Research and Development Programme

Recent revelations surrounding the sale of shares in Lulutai Airlines have once again thrust Tonga’s governance into the spotlight. The sale, conducted in August 2023, has ignited concerns amongst MP’s regarding accountability and transparency within the highest echelons of power.At the crux of this controversy lies Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku’s dual roles as Chairman of Lulutai

Tonga Independent has received reliable information that Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni (Huakavameiliku) has surrendered the Defence Ministry portfolio, and Fekita Utoikamanu has surrendered the Foreign Ministry portfolio as per His Majesty Tupou VI’s decision in Privy Council. Sovaleni remains Prime Minister, retaining control of numerous other ministries including Police and Education, while Utoikamanu retains the

Recent developments have led to unnecessary public political smearing and undermining of His Majesty’s authority as Head of State, risky decisions using national retirement funds, and questionable ethics behind secretive government commercial operations. These issues have called into question Prime Minister Sovaleni’s ability to lead with competency and integrity. The Opposition’s stillborn motion for a

Lulutai Airlines Limited, a government-owned entity, made headlines when it sold a significant bundle of shares to the Retirement Fund Board in August 2023. This strategic move aimed to fortify the airline’s capital for acquiring a new twin otter aircraft, yet it sparked discussions about potential conflicts of interest and calls for transparency during the

Tonga’s Prime Minister, Siaosi Sovaleni over the week-end on X, expressed his concern regarding the ongoing developments at the University of the South Pacific (USP), especially given the significant number of Tongan students enrolled there. The situation revolves around potential strike action by USP staff unions due to unresolved issues with management. The Association of

The Prime Minister and Acting Minister for MEIDECC, Hon Hu’akavameiliku, took charge of the National Disaster Risk Management Committee (NDRMC) emergency meeting held at the National Disaster Risk Management Office today, Sunday 17th of March 2024. The focus of the meeting was to address the pressing issue of ongoing flash floods affecting various parts of

What amounts to an own goal, previous statements by Foreign Minister Fekita Utoikamanu has caused questions and concern for misrepresenting the country to the world. Recent remarks by Utoikamanu on 531pi FM in New Zealand, and expanded on by an article on Pacific Media Network, portrays Tonga’s laws are aimed as oppressing women and their

Tonga finds itself amidst a notable political narrative, shedding light on the complexities of a young democracy navigating the terrain of leadership and governance. At the core of this unfolding drama lies a clash between His Majesty (HM) King Tupou VI, represented by his Privy Council, and Prime Minister (PM) Siaosi Sovaleni, along with his