POLITICS

Nuku’alofa, Tonga – In a recent court case that captured attention due to its implications for the public service sector, the Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emerged victorious as the court ruled in her favour. The case revolved around the lawfulness of the Commission’s decisions to initiate disciplinary action and suspend her […]

In a recent interview with Tonga Independent, Piukala, a member of the Opposition in Parliament, expressed confidence in their ability to secure a Vote of No Confidence Motion against Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni’s leadership. Piukala argues that there is a significant level of dissatisfaction and irregularities, which can be seen as a euphemism for corruption,

For the past two to three years, the Tongan community has been relentlessly pursuing its mission to convince the New Zealand government to issue amnesty for overstayers – individuals who exceed their visa’s expiry and continue to stay in the host country. Despite their tireless efforts, the community acknowledges that the quest for amnesty may

Ko e tuai e kemo ‘a e mahino ‘a e fili si’i ‘a Tongatapu 10 kuo ikuna ‘e he Kapeli Lanumata mei he paati ‘a e PTOA, kuo ‘asi mai ‘a e nga’unu ‘i he kau fili tau’ataina he fili lahi kuo ‘ikai ‘iai hanau lakanga Minisitaa pea mo e kau poupou ‘a e PTOA,

ANTHONY Blinken, the Secretary of State of the United States of America, will be making a historic visit to Tonga, a first for a US Secretary of State, on a short regional island-hop en route to New Zealand and Australia. Blinken will be in Tonga to officiate the opening of the new US Embassy in

Amid a flurry of festivities, including the annual Heilala Festival, Tonga High School Diamond Jubilee, and Pasifika Medical Association’s 80th conference, the Kingdom of Tonga is experiencing pivotal political changes. The Tongatapu 10 by-election has cast a spotlight on the political landscape, revealing both surprising and worrying trends that could shape the future of the

In August 2021, New Zealand made history when its government formally apologized for the infamous ‘Dawn Raids’ of the 1970s. These raids, predominantly targeted at the Pacific community, saw immigration officials invade homes in the early hours of the morning, waking families and detaining those who were suspected of overstaying their visas. The Dawn Raids

With the Tongatapu 10 by-elections fast approaching, the need for voters to understand each candidate’s vision, policies, and commitments is more critical than ever. Recently, we had the unique opportunity to conduct an exclusive interview with one of the notable candidates, Daniel K. Fale. He provided detailed answers to our questions, offering a clear outlook

In parliamentary democracies, the Vote of No Confidence (VoNC) stands as a crucial tool for ensuring government accountability and responsiveness. This mechanism allows the legislative branch to express its lack of faith in the Prime Minister or ruling government, potentially triggering a reconstitution of the executive branch. The Kingdom of Tonga, which transitioned to a

On June 20th, 2023, the Tonga Parliament witnessed a fiery discussion following the presentation of the 2023-2024 budget by the Minister of Finance, Hon. Tiofilusi Tiueti, earlier on June 14th. The budget, titled “Partnership for greater resilience and sustainability to restore inclusive growth,” was not received unanimously and sparked sharp exchanges among the parliament members,