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Candidate complains
of Tonga election censorship
10 April 2008 -
Source:
ABC Radio Australia
A candidate in Tonga's upcoming election has voiced
concern about restrictions imposed on the Tonga
Broadcasting Corporation.
The government-controlled broadcaster is being
restricted by new regulations on political content
ahead of this month's general election.
The Tonga Broadcasting Corporation says its staff
are not permitted to broadcast any election
programs.
Tonga's election, on April 24, will see 71
candidates running in the polls.
MP Clive Edwards, has complained about the
censorship, saying government interference with the
democratic process might call the eventual election
results into question.
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ADB Vice President
Makes First Trip To Tonga
06 April 2008 -
Source:
Pacific Magazine
Asian Development Bank (ADB) Vice-President C.
Lawrence Greenwood Jr., in his first visit to the
Kingdom of Tonga, met with Prime Minister Dr. Feleti
Sevele and members of his Cabinet to discuss ADB’s
assistance program. Vice President Greenwood also
met representatives of other development partners
and banking executives.
Vice President Greenwood and senior officials of the
Government reaffirmed the priorities set out in
ADB’s Country Partnership Strategy for Tonga, which
are (1) providing infrastructure, roads, drainage,
and sanitation in the peri-urban areas of Nuku’Alofa,
(2) supporting pro-poor policies through effective
and prudent macroeconomic and fiscal management, and
(3) promoting private sector development.
ADB’s assistance will support the development of an
enabling business environment, focusing on
state-owned enterprise reform and identifying
opportunities and modalities for private sector
participation in infrastructure asset management.
Together with the World Bank Group, ADB will also
support reform of the companies law, modernization
of the companies registry, and development of a
secured transaction framework.
ADB is also supporting programs to provide economic
opportunities for the youth, particularly through
development of youth micro-enterprises, to address
Tonga’s high unemployment rate among young people.
“I come away from my talks with the leadership in
Tonga impressed with their commitment to prudent
fiscal policies, further public enterprise reform,
pro-poor investment in urban infrastructure, and
creation of economic opportunities for Tonga’s
youth”, said Vice President Greenwood.
The recently released 2008 Asian Development Outlook
Report noted that GDP contracted in FY2007 due to
the November 2006 civil unrest that destroyed large
parts of the commercial district and had far-ranging
impacts on commerce, tourism, transport, real
estate, and light manufacturing. The tight fiscal
policy, as the Government reduced its civil service
by 20%, also contributed to the modest GDP growth.
In FY2008, the Asian Development Outlook projected
modest growth of the economy.
ADB is a leading donor to Tonga and has provided
$57.8 million in loans and $15.4 million in
technical assistance grants since 1972. ADB’s
programs in the 1970’s and 1980’s focused on
infrastructure and outer-islands development. ADB
changed its operational emphasis in 1992 toward a
greater focus on macroeconomic policies, public
sector performance, and improving the investment
climate.
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Candian seabed mining
survey begins in Tonga
02 April 2008 -
Source:
Trading Markets.com
Canadian deep sea mining company Nautilus Minerals
has begun the first stage of its mineral exploration
for high-grade minerals in Tongan waters, Matangi
Tonga reports.
Nautilus country manager, Paula Taumoepeau said an
exploration ship, Kilo Moana from the Hawaii
Institute of Geophysics and Planetology of the
University of Hawaii had arrived to conduct surveys.
Mr Taumoepeau said the first phase would involve the
mapping and surveying of the seafloor, environmental
monitoring, oceanographic work and water quality
studies of the specific areas that they are
exploring.
The exploration is being held in the seabed area
known as the Lau Basin, which is about 100
kilometres from Nuku'alofa at the depth of about
2,000 metres.
Exploration surveys will end next month and data
will be taken for analysis any decision is made on
mining the minerals.
Because we have only an exploration licence we
cannot do any mining at this stage, so as an
explorer we gather data and information, by
conducting different types of surveys and studies,
he said.
Nautilus Minerals Inc is a Canadian registered
company that was issued a licence to explore for
minerals in Tonga in December last year.
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Tonga to host
regional volleyball championships during coronation
29 March 2008 -
Source:
ABC Radio Australia
Tonga will host the largest ever Oceania indoor and
beach volleyball championships in July.
Australia and New Zealand will compete in the
regional trials for the first time, along with eight
other Pacific countries.
Tonga Volleyball's president, Sione Fonua, says the
beach section of the tournament will be held during
the week of the king's coronation.
"We've timed the competition for the indoors to be a
week before the coronation, for the crowning of our
new king," Mr Fonua said.
"Beach volleyball will be held during the
coronation, right on the water front, here in Tonga.
"It is going to be a busy time for Tonga, the
international media will be here and it is a good
way for us to promote the sport."
Mr Fonua says the event is an important stepping
stone, and will be larger and more competitive than
the Samoa Pacific Games volleyball tournament.
"This is an important stepping stone for us to
improve, for example, Tonga has only one
international stadium and the whole of Tonga comes
to play there, and if we want to improve and play
there, we have to look to New Zealand, which is the
first step and then, Australia, well it's too far
ahead for us, but we can try," he said.
Volleyball is a minnow sport compared with the
dominant and well funded rugby union.
"As a small nation, we have had the burning here in
Tonga, so it is a struggle to develop the sport, we
are too small, 100 thousand people all together,"
Fonua said.
"Business, business wise rugby is the first
consideration for sponsors, so we are a minnow
sport, even though both genders play, and young and
old can play, but it is hard to get the attention.
But, volleyball will get there."
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Gold and Possibility
of Oil in Tonga and Fiji
25 March 2008 -
Source:
Solomon Times Online
While mining is set to begin on the Tongan seabed
after valuable minerals were discovered there, a
discovery on a Fijian village seashore has villagers
testing for oil.
According to the Tonga Broadcasting Commission, a
local mining company has confirmed that Tonga has 'a
wealth of valuable minerals deep beneath its seabed
which include gold, silver and copper' following a
'result of surveys carried out by different
companies over the last 50-years where numbers have
shown the presence of these valuable minerals'.
The local company is now waiting to apply for a
mining license and with sixteen confirmed locations
to survey, the work is expected to take about one
month.
Meanwhile, in Fiji, villagers of Nasawana in Bua,
Vanua Levu, discovered an oil-like substance oozing
out of its seashore.
According to the report by Fiji Times Online,
'villagers have called on the interim regime to
speed up the testing process to enable them to lay
out business strategies'. A team from Fiji's Mineral
Resources Ministry had collected samples of the
substance to determine if it is oil. However, the
villagers have yet to receive results. But according
to the report, village headman, Serupepeli Catana,
said that 'a relative who works in an oil dump in
Iraq visited the site last month and told the
villagers the substance was crude oil'. The relative
has also taken some samples over to Iraq for
testing.
The villagers are awaiting response from the
authorities so they could plan on the next course of
action if the substance is indeed oil.
According to the Fiji Times Online, Mr. Cautana said
that whenever villagers dug sand pits, oil would
gush out.
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Sharks import Tongan
beef
21 March 2008 -
Source:
IOL
After weeks of being missing in action in Japanese
club rugby, the Sharks' much-anticipated Tongan
signing, Epi Taione, is finally in Durban in the
flesh, and quite a mountain of it there is too.
In fact, there is not just one of him but three, in
a manner of speaking. He has brought his heavily
pregnant wife and in a month or so we could quite
possibly have the first Tongan baby born with a
South African passport.
Taione was on show to the media in the Sharks'
boardroom at the Absa Stadium on Tuesday and at
1.93m (six foot four) and 123 kgs, the relaxed,
wise-cracking 29-year-old was literally no shrinking
violet.
Taione is certainly a man of the rugby world, having
played at a host of European clubs since leaving
Tonga as a youngster, and he lit up the Rugby World
Cup in France when he dyed his hair green and
changed his name by deed poll to Paddy Power to give
mileage to the Irish bookies that sponsored the
impoverished islanders.
The humourless IRB ordered him to take the dye out
of his hair before the Pool match against South
Africa and refused to acknowledge his change in
name, and "Epeli Taione" is what appeared in the
match programme.
It was during his time at Newcastle that he met one
Mark Andrews, who on his return to Durban sang the
praises of the giant islander. And Andrews was at
the airport on Tuesday to meet his former teammate
at the Falcons.
"Mark and Warren Britz (who also spent time at
Newcastle) planted the seeds of a move to the
Sharks," Taione said. "I liked what I heard about
big stadiums with great atmospheres, and then Tony
Brown told me that he loved Durban and had a special
time there with the Sharks."
Brown and Taione played together in the Sanyo Wild
Knights team that won the Japanese knock-out
competition last week. Taione says he played No 8
and flank in the competition but during the league
season he was at inside centre.
So what will he play for the Sharks?
"I fancy flyhalf, Michalak move over," he joked.
"Seriously, it makes no difference to me whether I
am a forward or back. I consider myself a rugby
player. That is my position: rugby player. On the
Islands, it tends to be that way. Most of the time,
anybody can play anywhere."
Dick Muir cleared up the matter.
"We contracted him as a forward, but obviously we
will take advantage of his versatility if we need
to," the coach said. "It also means that with us
being restricted to 26 players for our tour, we can
take 15 forwards and 11 backs because of the
versatility of Epi and Craig Burden (the hooker who
was a wing until a few months ago)."
Muir said that Taione's arrival was timeous for the
Sharks.
"It has been a long wait, and getting here after
four rounds was the worst case scenario when we
contracted him with the agreement that he would come
when his team's cup run was over, but he can make a
big impact on the Super 14 during our tour when we
hope to play our best rugby."
Taione said it would be interesting to tour New
Zealand and Australia as "the enemy".
"Growing up in Tonga, you support teams from those
countries, so I suppose I am in the enemy camp, but
proudly so. The Sharks are a world famous team and I
believe the challenge to break into this team is the
toughest one I have faced so far in rugby."
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Princess launches
Child Cancer Foundation of Tonga
17 March 2008 -
Source:
Matangi Tonga
When a child is diagnosed with cancer the family has
to change overnight and the priority becomes the
life of that child, HRH Princess Nanasipau'u said
today, stressing that supporting a child and family
with cancer requires the involvement of the
community.
As the keynote speaker in launching the Child Cancer
Foundation of Tonga (CCFT), the Princess noted three
main types of support were the practical family
support, financial support and community awareness.
Speaking to an audience colourfully dressed in
yellow to signify the important day, she stressed
that family members of a child with cancer need
special emotional and spiritual support during their
journey especially if their journey ends, as so many
do, in the death of a child.
"The challenges for the future are limited financial
resources, lack of support and information. We can
most certainly sit back and come up with abundance
of excuses but giving back to the community has its
rewards, amazing rewards, so let us support a child
with cancer," she concluded.
The foundation, which was formed by a group of
concerned parents of children suffering from cancer
and medical doctors, has two confirmed child cancer
survivors, Yukiko Nakao Afeaki (8) and Kulaea Lavaki
(15).
There are five children who are still suffering from
cancer, three who were present included Filipe Kaho
(13), Semisi Sisifa (4) and Ikuna Vunipola (10). The
other two are Tae Kami and Siola'a Hausi'i who are
overseas.
Second cause of death
Dr Siale 'Akau'ola the Medical Superintendent at
Vaiola Hospital said that 500 deaths were recorded
in Tonga every year.
He said the number one killer diseases are heart
problems, strokes and other diseases that we
contract by living an unhealthy lifestyle such as
not eating healthy food and failing to exercise.
The second killer disease is cancer, which is at 20
percent of deaths, claiming more lives than other
diseases such as pneumonia, he said.
Simon Lala, the Chairman of the International
Confederation of Childhood Cancer Parent
Organisations, and former Chairman of Child Cancer
Foundation of New Zealand, who was present at the
ceremony, said over 200,000 children die of cancer
worldwide and 20 percent of them do not have access
to treatment. The Pacific Islands fall into that
category.
"Our mission is that every child should get access
to treatment and it is my personal goal as a New
Zealander to see treatment coming into the
developing countries in the Pacific and it is now
coming into realisation."
"The Child Cancer Foundation of New Zealand
congratulates you and we will work with you to
provide practical support," he said.
Dr Jane Skeen, a Paediatric Oncologist and Board
member at the Child Cancer Foundation of New Zealand
presented a $2,000 pa'anga cheque and certificate to
Moala Sisifa, the CCFT President.
Also present were had Dr Scott Macfarlane, the
Chairman and Paediatric Oncologist and Gilli
Sinclair the Executive Officer of a New
Zealand-based Paediatric Oncology Steering Group who
has been working in partnership with Tonga to find a
way to develop services to assist in caring for
children with cancer.
CCFT
CCFT is a new initiative set up at the end of 2007.
It is now a registered legal entity consisting of
nine founding members of parents who have lost loved
ones to cancer and parents of children who are still
suffering from cancer.
The President said they came together as a response
to the need to support families whose children were
suffering from cancer.
The foundation also has in place a 2008 Annual Plan
and will hold fundraising, public awareness program,
provide support for families in children with cancer
and work out a plan for financial and medical
support.
Members include Sinai Tu'itahi, Silia Grewe Tupou,
Robina Nakao, Sina Kami, Taholo Kami, Dr Sione Latu,
Mele Pongi, Dr Toa Fakakovi and Mele Lavaki.
Other cancer support groups in Tonga are the Tonga
Breast Cancer Society and the Tonga Cancer Society.
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Russia, Tonga donate
to China for snow disaster relief
13 March 2008 -
Source:
Xinhua
Russia and Tonga recently provided assistance to
China for disasters relief in snow stricken areas,
sources with the Chinese Foreign Ministry said here
Friday.
The Russian government decided to donate 10
large-scale diesel generators and 16,500 pieces of
quilts to the affected regions. Part of the relief
materials on Friday afternoon was sent to Guiyang,
capital city of southwest Guizhou Province, one of
the worst ice-stricken regions in south China.
The materials would also be transported to Hunan,
another worst-hit province.
The government of Tonga decided to donate 25,000
U.S. dollars to China.
Snow and ice storms plagued eastern and southern
China since mid-January, leading to widespread
traffic jams, structural collapses, blackouts and
crop losses in 19 provincial regions, leaving 129
people dead and causing 151.65 billion yuan (21.3
billion U.S. dollars) of losses. It was the worst
snow disaster for the country over the past five
decades.
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Tonga Kalia Yacht
Rally 2008 with Mariner Boating
09 March 2008 -
Source:
Sail World.com
Tonga Kalia Yacht Rally 2008 on July 20 – 31 is an
unbeatable combination of a little racing, a lot of
relaxing, island style feasting, whale watching,
snorkelling, sea kayaking and lazing around on pure
white sand beaches. From $4,195 per person based on
eight crew sharing a Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 494
including return International flights and much
more.
Only two catamarans are left so be quick!
The easy pace of life in this South Pacific
billabong will be your holiday tonic during a cruise
that will add just a little racing to ten days of
island style feasting, whale watching, snorkelling,
diving, fishing, sea kayaking and lazing around on
pure white sand beaches….and the spontaneous humour
of the locals will add enormously to your
experience.
The 60 islands of the Vava’u group create the
perfect setting for a yacht rally. The air
temperature in July will be about 26°C; the water
temperature about the same and the warm
South-Easterly trade wind will waft gently at about
10 – 15 knots across the flat water of these 220
square miles of sailing nirvana. Humidity during
July is at the lowest for the year. You’ll be lucky
to see a wave because the barrier reef along the
Eastern edge of the archipelago breaks the Pacific
Ocean swells. Many of the locals will tell you that
July is the very best time to visit Tonga.
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Tonga's general
election attracts 71 candidates
05 March 2008 -
Source:
Matangi Tonga
SEVENTY-ONE candidates were registered yesterday to
compete for the nine People's Representative seats
in Tonga's April 24 Parliamentary General Election.
The 71 candidates include 28 for Tongatapu, 22 for
Vava'u, nine for Ha'apai, eight for 'Eua, and four
from the remote islands of Niuatoputapu and
Niuafo'ou.
There are seven more candidates in this year's
election than the 64 candidates who were registered
for the last general election in 2005.
There are eight women candidates. The three women
candidates for Tongatapu are Mele 'Amanaki, 'Akanete
Lauti and 'Alisi Pone Fotu. The two women candidates
for Vava'u are Temaleti Faka'osi and Tongovua Tae
Appleton; one for 'Eua, Veisinia Tupou Tu'itakau
Kaho; and two for the two Niuas, Lepolo Taunisila
and 'Ofa Simiki.
All nine incumbent People's Representatives are
standing for re-election.
To register as candidates, individuals must be
Tongan nationals and need 50 signatures of
endorsement from their registered district before
paying a registration fee of $200 to the registrar
of electors.
There are no political parties in the registration
system and candidates stand as individuals.
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Tonga establishes
anti-corruption commission
01 March 2008 -
Source:
ABC Radio Australia
Tonga's solicitor general says a number of
allegations involving blackmail prompted the
government to set up an independent Anti-Corruption
Commission.
Solicitor-General Linda Folaumoetu'i says the new
commission will have extensive powers allowing it to
investigate and prosecute civil servants and
authorities suspected of corruption.
Ms Folaumoetu'i has told Radio Australia's Pacific
Beat program the government's idea was prompted by a
lack of power to deal with abuse of office cases.
"Government decided that this was an area in which
legislation was to be put in place," she said.
"This was an area in which a lot of allegations were
put forth but because there was no legislation to
address such an area, government policy then was
formulated and hence the legislation."
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Tonga to get
anti-corruption commission
26 February 2008 -
Source:
ABC Radio Australia
Tonga's solicitor general, Linda Folaumoetu'i, says
an anti-corruption commission will be set up in the
country by the end of the year.
The Matangi Tonga reports the commission will have
extensive power, "to investigate suspected
corruption, and prosecute civil servants."
The establishment of the commission will be
co-funded by the Australian government.
The solicitor general says the commission will have
the power to investigate and prosecute corrupt
conduct in relation to government ministers,
officials and a member of the legislative assembly.
The commissioner position is currently being
advertised and an appointment is expected in March.
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Tonga power company
increases electricity charges by 21 percent
22 February 2008 -
Source:
Radio New Zealand International
The Tonga power company, Shoreline, has increased
its electricity charges by 21 percent to offset an
increase in the price of fuel this week.
The King is a major shareholder of Shoreline, but
the government is trying to raise money to return
the company to public ownership.
Shoreline says it’s aware that the increase of 8 US
cents a unit is high.
But its chief operating officer, David Dunkley, says
it must be done because it’s paying more for fuel.
“It’s very expensive. But at the same time, fuel
costs have gone up by 40 percent. The cost for us in
generating electricity goes up exactly the same way.
All fuel costs need of course to be paid for. If
it’s not paid for by the tariff then the only other
option would be for the government to subsidise it.”
David Dunkley says he proposed that Tonga look into
generating electricity through wind energy.
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Event Polynesia to
market and promote Toa Samoa RLWC campaign
18 February 2008 -
Source:
eventpolynesia.com
Samoa Rugby League has announced the appointment of
Event Polynesia to market and promote Toa Samoa for
the upcoming Rugby League World Cup, to be held in
Australia starting in October. The arrangement
includes marketing, promotion and fundraising,
starting as soon as possible and includes all
commercial arrangements from now up to and after the
Rugby League World Cup. Details of the partnership
are yet to be finalised, but the two parties are
keen to work together for the betterment of Toa
Samoa’s World Cup Campaign and commercial
arrangements going forward.
“We are so delighted to be working with Event
Polynesia for the World Cup and going forward" said
SRL President Mr Peter Paul.
Toa Samoa RLWC Fundraising will kick-off in mid
April with corporate fights pitching rugby league
legends against those from other sports. It will
also include fights between corporate professionals
pitching CEO’s of the public and private sector
against one another. This will be the first time for
corporate Samoa to enjoy corporate fights, including
wining and dining and cheering on a professional
partner, while at the same time, contributing to and
fundraising for Toa Samoa’s Rugby League World Cup
campaign.
“It is such a relief for us to bring in a
professional event company to take care of marketing
and commercial matters whilst we concentrate on the
administration side of things for the World Cup”
said SRL Secretary General Fritz Tuiavii.
The local Samoa Rugby League competition kicks-off
in early April, with trials set for July and the
World Cup squad to be finalised in August. With the
high interest and participation of our premier
Samoan professional rugby league stars from all over
the world, Toa Samoa stands a very positive chance
to make the Semi Finals of the World Cup.
Jamaican appointed
CEO of Digicel Tonga
14 February 2008 -
Source:
Caribbean Net News
Digicel, the fastest growing mobile operator in the
South Pacific has appointed Jamaican Tanya Menzies
as Chief Executive Officer of Digicel Tonga. As CEO,
Menzies will be responsible for ensuring that
Digicel delivers the best value, customer care and
network coverage to the people of Tonga.
Digicel Pacific Ltd, a sister company to Digicel
Group in the Caribbean, acquired the Tonga mobile
operator TONFON in November 2007. Digicel already
has a presence in Samoa and Papua New Guinea and is
committed to building a seamless network spanning
the entire South Pacific region.
Menzies joined Digicel in 2001 as a customer care
agent just one month after the company’s inaugural
launch in Jamaica. As Digicel grew to become the
number one mobile operator in the region, Menzies
worked on the rollout of Digicel operations across
the Caribbean holding a number of positions
including Customer Care Support Manager in Trinidad
& Tobago. She joined Digicel Pacific as Customer
Care Director in September 2006.
According to Vanessa Slowey, CEO of Digicel Pacific:
“We are delighted that Tanya has taken the challenge
of establishing our footprint in Tonga and confident
she can lead her team to become the number one
mobile provider in the country. Tanya brings to the
role an inherent sense of what Digicel is all about
– the customer is number one. This customer-centric
focus has led Digicel to success both here in the
South Pacific and the Caribbean.”
To date a total of ten Caribbean staff have taken
opportunities with Digicel Pacific Ltd to help in
the rollout of new operations there.
Menzies has a Diploma in Business Administration and
attended the Shortwood Teachers’ College in Kingston
for three years, studying Early Childhood Education.
“I joined Digicel Jamaica in May 2001 as a call
centre agent” said Menzies, “that and subsequent
roles have contributed to my overall development. I
have now taken these experiences to the South
Pacific in pursuit of achieving the same success
Digicel is experiencing in the Caribbean. I consider
this appointment as an opportunity and a great
achievement and I would say to anyone, don’t limit
yourself, believe and you will achieve.”
“I feel very much at home here in Tonga and I am
committed to ensuring that Digicel delivers the
excellent mobile service the people of Tonga deserve
as well as becoming an active member of the Tonga
community,” added Menzies.
With a population of 102,000 people and mobile
penetration currently at just 35%, Digicel looks
forward to maximizing the strong growth
opportunities in the Tonga market. The entry of
Digicel into Tonga also expects to bring significant
benefits to the local businesses and the tourism
industry in Tonga while at the same time increasing
the competitiveness of Tonga as a regional business
center.
Flash flooding hits
Tonga over weekend
10 February 2008 -
Source:
Radio New Zealand International
The quick reaction team from Tonga’s Defence Force
had to be called out over the weekend to help with
flash flooding.
The Matangi Tonga newsite says a freak storm dumped
more than a month’s average rainfall in less than 24
hours.
Buildings, including the Australian High Commission,
and houses in the main city of Nuku’alofa were
flooded after roads turned into rivers.
A duty forecaster, Ofa Taumoepeau, said it was the
the greatest rainfall the Kingdom had ever had.
There were no reports of anyone being harmed.
Mining survey to
begin off Tonga in May
06 February 2008 -
Source:
ABC Radio Australia
A Canadian firm has won approval to begin exploring
the deep sea-bed off Tonga for high grade copper,
gold, zinc and silver deposits, in what could become
one of Tonga's biggest mining operations.
Its Tongan arm, Nautilus Minerals Tonga, will begin
surveying the sea in May.
The Canadian company has just completed its first
surveying project, 50 kilometres off the coast of
Papua New Guinea, and will begin mining operations
next year.
While the PNG survey has taken more than 17 years to
complete, the newly-approved Tonga survey is
expected to use knowledge gained from the PNG
experience and should take only two years.
Country manager for Nautilus Minerals Tonga, Paula
Taumoepeau, has told Radio Australia the economic
benefits to Tonga are signficant.
"It will be all foreign dollars coming in with no
cost to the government," he said.
Ten Samoan boxing
pioneers receive honorary awards
02 February 2008 -
Source:
eventpolynesia.com
Ten recipients of the Samoa International Pro-Am
Boxing Honorary Awards were presented their awards
at the Pre-fight Cocktail on Friday 1st February
2008.
According to Mr. Puni, “It is fitting that the
pioneers of Samoa boxing are honoured at the
inaugural Samoa International Pro-Am Boxing event
for their service in boxing. This weekend Samoa will
not only host representatives from the four main
world boxing bodies, but will make boxing history
with local referee and judges officiating the WBO
Oriental Cruiserweight title.”
“Contrary to what most think, it is very hard to
raise funds in Samoa to promote boxing and
especially to stage international fights here. This
is the first and very likely to be the last time
Event Polynesia Boxing will bring such an
international boxing gathering here to Samoa.”
“Event Polynesia Boxing is committed to promoting
Samoan boxers. However, the international title
fights will have to be in Auckland where we stage
our New Zealand fights because of the huge expenses
that we incur to bring such events to Samoa.”
Mr. Puni and boxing officials made a courtesy call
to personally thank the Prime Minister, Hon.
Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi and to thank
the Samoa Government for the financial assistance
towards the amateur expenses of this event.
Mr. Reginald Leca, President of Oceania Boxing
Association and representative for PABA and WBA at a
media conference yesterday, compared Samoa to Cuba
as a force in world boxing. But unlike Cuba, Samoa
needs to move its amateur boxers to professional
boxing earlier rather than very late as is the case
with Maselino Masoe.
“This requires amateur boxing to work together with
professional boxing in Samoa in association with
promoters such as Event Polynesia Boxing, who are
helping Samoan professional boxers to get ranking
for title fights.”
The 10 recipients of the Samoa International Pro-Am
Boxing Honorary Awards are:
Hon Peter Paul – Promoter, Hon Sala Ulugia Suivai –
Promoter / Coach,
Savaiinaea Malo Slade – Boxer / Trainer / Coach,
Oscar Meredith – Trainer / Coach,
Hon Fa’asootauloa Sam Saili – Promoter,
Galumalemana Afeleti Betham – Trainer / Coach /
Promoter,
Hon Polataivao Fosi Schmidt – Boxer / Promoter /
Coach,
Lesa Eric Fatupaito – Trainer / Coach,
Maposua Rudolf Keil – Promoter, and
Ulugia Elijah Stanley – Promoter.
Police in Tonga want
information on illegal firearms
29 January 2008 -
Source:
Radio New Zealand International
Police in Tonga are calling for information on
firearms following a rise in the use of illegal
weapons.
It also follows the killing of two people in
Nuku’alofa last week and an increase in shooting
incidents.
The Assistant Police Commander and Officer in
Command of Crime and Operation ’Unga Fa’aoa told
Matangi Online that he believes the use of weapons
in recent crimes is an indication of the number of
illegal firearms are held in the community.
Tonga has 500 properly licensed guns.
Police are appealing for information about those who
might be in possession of an illegal firearm, and
are promising discretion over the source of
information.
Special accommodation and
rental car deals announced for boxing fans
25 January 2008 -
Source:
eventpolynesia.com
Overseas interest in the upcoming Samoa
International Pro-Am Boxing event in Apia on
Saturday 2nd February 2008 will see up to 200 boxing
fans and supporters arriving in Samoa next week.
Many more are expected to book a ticket to Samoa
with the announcement over the week end of special
accommodation and rental car deals for boxing fans
and supporters.
Hotel Kitano Samoa is offering an accommodation
special $200 SAT per room per day for up to three
people with ELAVA at Vaitele is offering $120 SAT
per room per day up to two people with continental
breakfast included.
Apia Rental is offering a 15% discount to all their
vehicles with DAT Car Rentals is offering a special
$165 per day for their Hyundai Tucson fleet.
This was confirmed by Mr. Teleiai Su’atapulolo’o
Edwin Puni, Managing Director of Event Polynesia,
“For the next two weeks, Hotel Kitano Samoa and
ELAVA Resort will be the home of international
boxing with Apia Rental and DAT Car Rentals as the
preferred rental car service.”
The inaugural Samoa International Pro-Am Boxing is
an initiative of Event Polynesia Boxing in
association with SPBI and SABA to provide our Samoan
boxers both amateur and professional a pathway to
boxing world titles by setting up the needed top
international competitions right here in Samoa.
Mr. Puni credits the support from media partners
Samoa Observer, Le Samoa Post, SBC, TV3, Vaiala
Beach TV and Radio Polynesia in promoting the
upcoming fight.
Mr. Puni goes on to say, “Staging international
title fights in Samoa is very good for tourism and
local businesses and also allows for our people to
see the action LIVE and up close.”
WBO Oriental Cruiserweight title contender and
current IBF Australasian Cruiserweight champion Mr.
Lawrence Tauasa arrived in Samoa on Sunday with his
manager Mr. Lincoln Hudson to prepare for the
upcoming fight.
For more information contact Mr. Tuilagi Maiava
Saipele Esera on (+685) 751-9458 or email:
saipele@eventpolynesia.com.
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