Public Notice: Public Warning on COUNTERFEIT $100 PA’ANGA BANKNOTES IN CIRCULATION

NUKU’ALOFA TONGA– 20th July 2026

The public is alerted that the National Reserve Bank of Tonga (NRBT) has identified a number of counterfeit $100 paʻanga banknotes purporting to be from the latest 2023 series, King Tupou VI banknotes, that are currently in circulation.

The counterfeit banknotes do not contain the following security features found on a genuine $100 paʻanga banknote:

1. Watermark – The genuine banknote displays a watermark of His Majesty King Tupou VI together with the lighter text “NRBT”, which is visible when the banknote is held up to the light.

2. Security Thread – A genuine $100 paʻanga banknote contains an embedded Nexus security thread featuring the heilala flower, Tongan kupesi, and the denomination “100”.

3. Ultraviolet (UV) Fluorescent Features – Under ultraviolet (UV) light, the front of the genuine banknote displays the serial number and denomination on the left side, and the denomination value at the bottom right together with the letters “NRBT” at the top right.

4. Banknote Dimensions – The counterfeit banknotes do not match the dimensions of a genuine $100 paʻanga banknote.

NRBT Governor Moeaki warns “that the public should be more alert in conducting cash transactions particularly during this festive period to ensure genuine banknotes are being used as he believes there could be more counterfeit $100 paʻanga banknotes that are still in circulation. Businesses that primarily deal in cash are especially encouraged to remain vigilant.”

Information on the security features of genuine banknotes is available on the NRBT website, and printed pamphlets may be obtained free of charge from the Bank’s office.

The production, possession, distribution, or knowing use of counterfeit currency is a serious criminal offence. Anyone who receives a counterfeit banknote or suspects that they have received a counterfeit banknote should report the matter immediately to the NRBT or the nearest police station.

For more information, contact the National Reserve Bank of Tonga on (+676 24057) or email: nrbt@reservebank.to , website: http://www.reservebank.to

Fakatokanga ʻa e Pangikē Pule: Kei Tufaki Holo ʻa e Lauʻi Paʻanga $100 Loi ʻi Tonga

Kuo tuku mai ʻe he Pangikē Pule Fakafonua ʻo Tonga ha fakatokanga ki he kakai ʻo e fonua hili hono fakapapauʻi kuo toe maʻu ha ngaahi lauʻi paʻanga loi ʻi he paʻanga $100 ʻo e paʻanga foʻou naʻe tuku atu ʻi he 2023, ʻa ia ʻoku ʻi ai ʻa e ʻīmisi ʻo ʻEne ʻAfio, Tupou VI.

Fakatatau ki he Pangikē Pule, kuo ʻiloʻi ʻoku lolotonga ngāueʻaki mo tufaki holo ʻa e ngaahi lauʻi paʻanga loi ko ʻeni ʻi he ngaahi fefakatauʻaki ʻi he fonua. ʻOku ʻikai ke ʻi ai ʻi he ngaahi paʻanga loi ni ʻa e ngaahi fakaʻilonga maluʻi fakapulipuli ʻoku totonu ke maʻu ʻi ha lauʻi paʻanga moʻoni.

Naʻe fakamatala ʻa e Pangikē Pule ko e ngaahi meʻa mahuʻinga ke vakaiʻi ʻi ha lauʻi paʻanga moʻoni ʻoku kau ai:

1. ʻI he tafaʻaki toʻohema ʻo e lauʻi paʻanga, ʻoku totonu ke hā ʻa e ʻīmisi ʻo ʻEne ʻAfio Tupou VI mo e foʻi lea “NRBT” ʻi he watermark, ʻa ia ʻoku toki hā lelei pē ʻi hono puke hake ki he maama.
2. Ko e filo maluʻi lanu pingikī (security thread), ʻa ia ʻoku hā feliliuaki ai ʻa e matalaʻi heilala mo e kupesi ʻi ha laine tuʻu mei ʻolunga ki lalo ʻo e lauʻi paʻanga.
3. ʻI hono huluʻi ʻaki ha maama valeti (UV light), ʻoku totonu ke hā ai ʻa e mahuʻinga totonu ʻo e lauʻi paʻanga.
4. Ko e fālahi mo e loloa totonu ʻo e lauʻi paʻanga, ʻa ia ʻoku faikehekehe mei he ngaahi paʻanga loi.

Naʻe pehē ʻe he Kovana ʻo e Pangikē Pule Fakafonua ʻo Tonga, Tatafu Moeaki, ʻoku mahuʻinga ke toe tokanga ange ʻa e kakai ʻi hono tali mo ngāueʻaki ʻa e paʻanga pepa, tautautefito ʻi he ngaahi taimi kātoanga lalahi, koeʻuhí ʻoku tui ʻa e Pangikē Pule ʻoku kei ʻi ai pē ha ngaahi lauʻi paʻanga loi ʻoku tufaki holo ʻi he fonua.

Naʻá ne toe fakatokangaʻi foki ʻoku tuʻu laveangofua ange ʻa e ngaahi pisinisi iiki ʻoku nau fakahoko ʻa e tokolahi ʻo ʻenau fefakatauʻaki ʻaki ʻa e paʻanga pepa, pea ʻoku totonu ke nau vakaiʻi fakalelei ʻa e ngaahi lauʻi paʻanga kotoa pē ʻoku nau tali.

Kuo fakahā ʻe he Pangikē Pule ʻoku lava ke maʻu ʻa e ngaahi fakamatala mo e ngaahi tohi fakahinohino fekauʻaki mo hono ʻiloʻi ʻo e paʻanga moʻoni mo e paʻanga loi ʻi hono ʻofisi pea pehē ki heʻene uepisaiti.

Naʻe toe fakamanatu ʻe he Pangikē Pule ko hono paaki fakafufū, tauhi pe ngāueʻaki ʻo ha paʻanga loi ko ha hia mamafa ia ʻi he lao. ʻOku kole atu ki he kakai kapau ʻoku nau maʻu ha lauʻi paʻanga ʻoku nau masalosalo ai, ke nau lipooti leva ki he Pangikē Pule Fakafonua ʻo Tonga pe ki he ʻapi Polisi ofi taha.

Ki ha toe fakaʻekeʻeke, ʻe lava ke fetuʻutaki ki he Tafaʻaki Paʻanga ʻa e Pangikē Pule Fakafonua ʻo Tonga ʻi he telefoni 24-057 pe ʻimeili nrbt@reservebank.to. ʻOku toe maʻu foki ʻa e ngaahi fakamatala lahi ange ʻi he uepisaiti ʻa e Pangikē Pule.

Tonga Launches First-Ever Nurse Vaccinator Training Pathway

MINISTRY OF HEALTH, TONGA- A major milestone in Tonga’s healthcare sector was marked this week with the launch of the Kingdom’s first-ever Nurse Vaccinator Pathway, as 28 registered nurses gathered at the House of Tonga Conference Centre in Nukuʻalofa to begin the inaugural training programme.

The nurses, representing communities throughout Tonga, including ʻEua, Haʻapai, and Vavaʻu, were carefully selected to ensure equitable participation and strengthen immunisation services across the Kingdom.

The first cohort is undertaking the Vaccinator Foundation Course, developed through a collaborative partnership between the Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC), the Tonga Ministry of Health, and New Zealand’s Ministry of Health through the Polynesian Health Corridors Programme. The course is designed to establish a structured and sustainable vaccinator training pathway for registered nurses in Tonga while strengthening the country’s immunisation workforce.

The initiative is the result of four years of collaboration between the Immunisation Advisory Centre, the Tonga Ministry of Health’s Nursing and Public Health Divisions, the Queen Sālote School of Nursing at Tonga National University, and the Tonga National Qualifications and Accreditation Board. It also builds on the achievements of UNICEF’s Expanded Programme on Immunisation in the Pacific.

Throughout the programme, participants will receive specialised training on vaccine safety, best practice immunisation techniques, and effective communication with patients and communities. The course aims to equip nurses with the knowledge, practical skills, and confidence to engage in informed talanoa about immunisation while addressing questions and concerns surrounding vaccine safety and effectiveness.

The next phase of the programme is scheduled for September and will focus on Training of Trainers, creating a local network of qualified trainers and supervisors. This will help ensure the long-term sustainability of the Nurse Vaccinator Pathway and strengthen Tonga’s capacity to deliver high-quality immunisation services for years to come.

The launch of the programme marks another important step in Tonga’s ongoing commitment to strengthening its health workforce and improving access to safe and effective vaccination services for communities across the Kingdom.

Foaki ʻa e Ngaahi Ki ki he Fale Foʻou ʻe 57 ʻi he Polokalama Tapanekale

Naʻe fakahoko lelei ʻi he ʻaho Monite, 13 ʻo Siulai 2026, ʻa hono foaki ʻo e ngaahi ki ki he fale foʻou ʻe 57 naʻe langa ʻi he malumalu ʻo e Polokalama Tokoni Fale ʻa e Puleʻanga, ʻa ia ʻoku ʻiloa ko e Polokalama Tapanekale.

Ko e ngaahi fale ko ʻeni ʻoku ʻi Tongatapu mo ʻEua, pea naʻe foaki fakakatoa ʻa e ngaahi ki ki he kau maʻu fale ʻi ha ouau makehe ke fakaʻilongaʻi ʻa e kakato ʻo e polokalama.

Naʻe fakataumuʻa ʻa e polokalama ki hono tokoniʻi ʻo e ngaahi famili naʻe maumauʻi pe mole honau ngaahi ʻapi nofoʻanga tupu mei he ngaahi fakatamaki fakanatula mo e vela afi, pea pehē foki ki he ngaahi famili ʻoku nau nofo ʻi ha tuʻunga masivesiva ʻo ʻikai malava ke langa haʻanau fale ʻaki pē ʻenau ngaahi maʻuʻanga paʻanga.

Naʻe fakahaaʻi ʻe he tokolahi ʻo e kau maʻu fale ʻenau houngaʻia mo e fiefia lahi ʻi hono maʻu ʻo e ngaahi ʻapi foʻou ni, ʻa ia ʻoku kakato ai ʻa e loto fale, konga ki he peito mo e loki mohe ʻe ua. ʻI he niʻihi ʻo e ngaahi fale, naʻe toe fakakakato ai ʻa e falemalolo, faletolo mo e filita vai ke tanaki ai ʻa e vai melie. Ka ʻoku kei ʻi ai pē ha niʻihi ʻoku teʻeki ai ke kakato ʻa e ngaahi ngāue ko ʻeni, pea ʻoku ʻamanaki ke fakakakato ia ʻi he ngaahi poloseki mo e tokoni ʻi he taʻu fakapaʻanga lolotonga.

Naʻe meʻa tonu ʻi he ouau ko e ʻEiki Minisita ʻo e Potungāue, Hon. Semisi Kioa Lafu Sika, fakataha mo e Talekita Pule Leʻoleʻo, Dr. Vinolia Salesi, pea mo e niʻihi ʻo e kau talekita ʻo e Potungāue, ke fakahoko ʻa e foaki ʻo e ngaahi ki mo fakaʻilongaʻi ʻa e tokoni mahuʻinga ʻoku fakahoko ʻe he Puleʻanga ki hono fakaleleiʻi ʻo e tuʻunga moʻui ʻa e ngaahi famili ʻoku nau fiemaʻu tokoni lahi taha.

ʻOku hoko ʻa e Polokalama Tapanekale ko ha konga mahuʻinga ʻo e ngaahi ngāue ʻa e Puleʻanga ke fakaleleiʻi ʻa e nofo ʻa e kakai, tautautefito ki he ngaahi famili kuo uesia ʻe he ngaahi fakatamaki pe nofo ʻi ha tuʻunga faingataʻa fakapaʻanga. ʻOku fakahaaʻi ʻe he polokalama ni ʻa e tukupā ʻa e Puleʻanga ke fakapapauʻi ʻoku maʻu ʻe he ngaahi famili ko ʻeni ha ʻapi nofoʻanga malu, lelei mo taau ke nau nofo ai, ʻo tokoni ki hono fakaleleiʻi ʻa e lelei fakalukufua ʻo ʻenau moʻui.

HOUMA, TONGATAPU- I he efiafi Pulelulu 15 ʻo Siulai, na’e  fakahoko ‘a e ouau tanu pou I he kekele o Vaea ‘I Houma ke faka’ilongai aki a e kamata ‘a hono langa ‘o e fuofua senita tokangaekina ‘o e kau toulekeleka ‘I Tonga.  Ko e senita foki koeni koe taha pe ‘eni ‘o e senita e 4 ke fokotu’u ‘I Tonga ni ‘o fakataumu’a ki hono tokangaekina ‘a e kau toulekeleka.

Ko e fokotu’u foki e ngaahi Senita koeni, ‘oku fokotu’u ihe malumalu ‘o e  Poloseki Integrated Aged Care Facility ʻoku feʻunga hono mahuʻinga mo e US$16 miliona (tatau mo e TOP$38 miliona nai), pea ʻoku fakapaʻanga fakataha ia ʻe he Pangikē Fakalakalaka ʻEsia (ADB) mo e Puleʻanga Siapani.

Ko e taumuʻa ʻo e poloseki ke fakaivia ʻa e polokalama maluʻi fakasosiale ʻa Tonga pea mo fakaleleiʻi ʻa e lelei ʻo e ngaahi tokoni mo e tauhi ʻoku ʻoatu ki he toulekeleka I hotau fonua.

Naʻe tataki foki ‘a e ouau koeni ‘aki ha tapuaki moe tokoni fakalaumalie meihe faifekau Taufahema Maumau moe kau hiva meihe Siasi Uesiliana ‘o Houma.  Koe ouau koe ni na’e fakaafei a e Eiki Sea oe Falealea koe Nopele ‘o ene Afio, Lord Vaea.  Neongo pe na’e ikai fakakoloa ‘e eiki Nopele Lord Vaea ‘ae tanupou, na’e me’a mai hono fakafofonga, ko Eiki ʻAtuamuʻa Vaea, ‘I he hili ‘o e fakakoloa ‘o e aho na’e me’a ‘a Eiki Atuamu’a Vaea ʻa ʻene houngaʻia ʻi he poupou ʻa e ADB mo e Puleʻanga Siapani ki he poloseki ni.

Naʻe pehē ʻe he Pule ʻo e Poloseki Integrated Aged Care (IAC), Manu Manuofetoa, ko e senitā tokangaekina ʻo Houma ko e ʻuluaki poloseki sivi (pilot project), pea ʻe hoko atu ai hono langa ʻo ha ngaahi senitā ʻe tolu kehe ʻi Tongatapu mo Vavaʻu, ʻa ia ʻe ua ʻi Tongatapu pea taha ʻi Vavaʻu.

Naʻá ne toe fakamatala ko e ngaahi senitā ko ʻení ʻe lava ke nau ʻoatu ha ngaahi tokoni hangē ko e tokoni fakaakeake (rehabilitation), ngaahi polokalama fakasosiale, pea mo e ngaahi tokoni ʻoku fakahoko mei ʻapi ki he toulekeleka.

Naʻe pehē foki ʻe he Pule ‘o e Poloseki, Manu Manuofetoa ko e senitā ʻo Houma ʻe hoko ko ha senitā mahuʻinga ki he kakai ʻo Houma pea pehē ki he vahenga hihifo ʻo Tongatapu.

Ko e poloseki ni naʻe fokotuʻutuʻu hono tisaini pea mo hono tokangaʻi ʻe he kautaha iTS Pacific Ltd, pea ʻoku fakahoko hono langa ʻe he ʻOfa Construction Services.

Naʻe pehē ʻe he ʻAmapasitoa ʻo Siapani ki Tonga, H.E. Inagaki Hisao:

“ʻE hokohoko atu pē ʻa Siapani ʻi hono vahevahe ʻa ʻene ngaahi taukei, mo e poto ‘e aonga ki h hono tauhi ‘a e Tonga ke ma’uma’uluta pea mo kumi ha ngaahi founga foʻou ke poupouʻi ʻa e moʻui malu mo e moʻui tauʻatāina ʻa e kau toulekleka. ʻOku ou fiefia lahi ʻi he lava ʻa Siapani ke tokoni ki he ngāue mahuʻinga ko ʻení ʻo fakafou ʻi he Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific.”

Naʻe pehē ʻe he ʻOfisa Pule Leʻoleʻo ʻo e Potungāue Paʻanga, ʻAivi Fakahua, ʻa ia naʻá ne fakafofongaʻi ʻa e ADB, ʻoku toe lahi ange ʻa e ngaahi pole ʻoku fehangahangai mo e founga tukufakaholo ʻo hono tauhi ʻo e kau toulekleka koeʻuhí ko e hiki ʻa e kakai ki muli pea mo e liliu ʻi he faʻunga ʻo e ngaahi fāmili.

Naʻá ne pehē ʻi he taʻu 2022, naʻe fakafuofua ki he peseti ʻe 9 ʻo e kakai Tonga naʻe taʻu 60 pe lahi ange, pea ʻoku ʻamanaki ke toe hiki ʻa e fika ko iá ki he peseti ʻe 13 ʻi he taʻu 2050.

Naʻá ne toe pehē:

“Ki he ADB, ʻoku fakahaaʻi ʻe he Poloseki Integrated Aged Care ʻa e tukupā lke tokoni ki hono langa ʻo ha ngaahi sosaieti ʻoku kau fakataha ai ʻa e kakai kotoa pē, ʻoku mālohi mo lava ʻo matuʻuaki ʻa e ngaahi faingataʻa, pea ʻe lava ai ke moʻui ʻa e kakai kotoa ʻi he ngeia mei heʻenau kei siʻi ʻo aʻu ki heʻenau motuʻa.”

Naʻe kau ʻi he kau fakaafe makehe ʻa e Minisitā ki he Ngaahi Ngāue Fakalotofonua, Hon. Fane Fotu Fituafe, Palemia Leʻoleʻo Hon. Dr. Viliami Latu, kau ʻofisa pule ʻo e ngaahi potungāue ʻa e Puleʻanga, kau fakafofonga fakapolitikale mei muli, pea mo e niihi e  fakafofonga NGO.

Ko e senitā tokangaekina ko ʻeni koe fuofua senita pehe  eni ke fokotu’u ‘I Tonga ni.

‘Oku tuku atu ‘a e ongoongo lavame’a ‘a e Paati Kominiusi ‘a Siaina, ‘i he konga ‘e ua, ‘a ia ko e ‘uluaki konga eni pea ‘e toki faka’osi ‘i he uike kaha’u.

Na’e kātoanga’i ‘e he Paati Kominiusi ‘o Siaina (CPC) ‘a e ta’u eni ‘e 105 ‘o hono fokotu’u´, ‘i he ‘aho 1 Siulahi 2026. ‘I he ta’u ‘e 105 kuo hili´, kuo tupulekina ‘a e CPC mei he memipa ‘e 50 na’e fokotu’u ‘aki´, ‘o ne hoko ko e paati fakapule’anga lahi taha ‘i  māmani´, mo e kau memipa ʻoku laka hake ʻi he toko 101 miliona, ʻo ne tataki ha fonua ʻoku nofo ai ʻa e kakai ʻoku laka hake ʻi he toko 1.4 piliona. ʻI he fononga fakaofo ko ʻeni´, kuo paionia ʻa e CPC pea muimui taʻeueʻia ia ʻi he fa’unga fakapolitikale mo faka’ekonomina ‘oku pule’i fakasosiale mo e ngaahi ʻulungaanga fakafonua faka-Siaina. ʻI loto pē ʻi he taʻu ʻe nimangofulu, naʻe fakakakato ʻe Siaina ha fononga fakangaue’anga, ‘a ē na’e laungeau ta’u pea toki a’usia ia ‘e he ngaahi fonua fakalakalaka´. Na’a ne fakahoko ha mana fakaofo ‘e ua: tupulaki faka’ekonomika vave mo tu’uloa pea mo e ma’uma’uluta fakasosiale taimi loloa.  

ʻOku ʻikai ngata pē ʻi hono liliu ʻe he Paati Komiunisi ʻo Siaina (CPC) ʻa e fōtunga e fonua ʻo Siaina´, ka kuo ne toe fakahoko ha ngaahi tokoni mahuʻinga ki he melino mo e fakalakalaka ʻo māmani´. ʻI he kuonga ní, kuo tataki ʻe he CPC ʻa e kakai Siaina ʻi hono paioniaʻi ha hala ki he fakaonopooni ‘o Siaina, ʻo ne ʻomai ai ha ngaahi sipinga ki he ngaahi fonua kotoa ‘i mamani´ ‘oku fakakaukaua ‘enau hala fononga fakaonopooni pe ‘anautolu. ‘Oku fakatupu fifili eni pe ko e hā e founga ‘a e Paati  Fakakominiusi ‘a Siaina ‘i hono tataki e fonua´ ki he a’usia e ngaahi lavame’a makehe ko eni? Fekumi ki he Mo’oni mei he Ngaahi Mo’oni’i Me’a pea Tauhi ki he Ngaahi Ngaue ‘oku Malava ia ke Fakahoko.

Na’e ‘ikai fakatātā ‘a e Paati ia kiha tokateline muli. Kā ʻoku ne ngāueʻaki ʻa e ngaahi tefitoʻi fakakaukau ʻo e Mākisí (Marxist) ki he ngaahi moʻoniʻi tuʻunga ʻo Siaina´, fakalakalakaʻi ai ha ngaahi fakakaukau foʻou fakalotofonua, pea tanaki atu ai ha ngaahi kupu fo’ou ki he fakakaukau Mākisí.

Na‘e ‘omai ‘e he Sea ko Mao Zedong ‘a e ngaahi founga liliu ki he ikuná, ‘o kau ai ‘a e “ngaahi koló mei he tafa’aki fonua takatakai” mo e “puke ‘a e mafai fakapolitikalé ‘aki hono ngaue’aki e ivi fakakautau.” Na’e ‘i ai ‘a e taimi na’e fakahingoa ‘e he Kominiusi Fakavaha’apule’anga ko e ngaahi teolosia fakafepaki, kā na’e iku fakamo’oni’i kimui ange ‘oku nau fu’u fe’unga mo e ngaahi tu’unga fakafonua ‘o Siaina´, ‘o hoko ia ko e ngaahi lavame’a mavahe, ‘i hono ohi ‘o e tui faka-Makisi ki he tu’unga ‘o Siaina´. ‘Oku ‘ikai ko Siaina pē ‘okú ne fai iá. Na’e toki fakamanatua ‘e Tonga ‘a e ta’u 150 ‘o ‘ene konisitūtone´ ‘i he ta’u kuo ‘osi´. Ko e pule’anga fakatu’i pe ‘e taha ‘i he vahefonua Pasifiki´, kuo fa’u ‘e Tonga ha hala  fakalakalaka ‘oku aka ‘i he makehe ‘o hono ngaahi ‘ulungaanga fakafonua´.

Lolotonga ʻa e tipeiti pe ʻoku muimui ʻa e liliu faka’ekonomika mo e fakasosiale ʻi ha hala fakakepitolisi pe fakasosiale, pea pehē ki he fetuʻutaki totonu ʻi he vahaʻa ʻo e palani´ mo e maketi´, naʻe fokotuʻu ʻe Deng Xiaoping hā ngaahi meʻa ke fakafuofuaʻi ki ai. Naʻa ne fakamamafaʻi, ko e fakamamafa ke palani pe maketi´ ʻoku ʻikai ko e tefitoʻi faikehekehe ia ʻi he vahaʻa ʻo e fakasosiale mo e kepitolisi´. Naʻa ne vilitaki taʻeueʻia ke fakatupulaki ʻa e ʻekonomika fakasosiale ʻoku makehe ki Siaina, ʻo hiki hake ʻa e ʻekonomika fakapolitikale ‘a Makisi (Marxist) ki ha tuʻunga foʻou.

ʻOku maʻu ʻe he visone´ ʻa hono langa ha komiuniti ‘aki ha kahaʻu fevahevaheʻaki maʻa e faʻahinga ʻo e tangata´, ʻa e ueʻi fakalaumalie mei he ngaahi fakakaukau ʻa Confucian hange ko e ” ko e mamani´ ‘oku ʻa e tokotaha kotoa ia” mo e “melino ʻi he lotolotonga ʻo e kehekehe´”.

ʻOku toe fakaongo mai ʻe he fakakaukau fakalakalaka ʻoku fakatefito ʻi he kakai´ ʻa e lea ʻiloa ʻa Mencius: “Ko e kakai´ ʻoku mahuʻinga taha´; ʻoku fika ua ʻa e fonua´; ko e tokotaha pule´, ko ia ʻoku siʻisiʻi taha hono mahuʻinga´.” Ko e meʻa tatau pe ʻi Tonga´, ko e poto tukufakaholo hange ko e Loto Tō, Mamahiʻi Meʻa, Feveitokaiʻaki mo Fakaʻapaʻapa ʻoku ne takiekina ‘a e puleʻanga fakalotofonua´ pea pehe ki he tuʻutuʻuni ngaue ki muli´. 

2. Fakamu’omu’a ‘a e Kakai´ Ma’u Aipe

ʻOku tupu ʻa e lavameʻa ʻa e Paati´, mei he fakatefito e fa’unga founga tataki´ ‘i he kakai´. Naʻe ʻikai fuʻu fuoloa atu hono fakaʻosi ʻe he kau fakafofonga falealea ʻo Tonga ʻenau ʻaʻahi ki Siaina´. Hili ʻenau foki mai´, naʻe talanoa ʻe he kau fakafofonga tokolahi, ko e meʻa naʻe ongo taha kiate kinautolu ko e founga ʻoku kapui ai ‘e he fakakaukau fakatataki ko eni ‘oku fakatefito mo’oni ‘i he kakai´, ‘a e tapa kotoa ‘o e mo’ui ‘i Siaina´.

Na’e fokotu’u ma’u ‘a e fakakaukau ‘o e Paati Fakakominiusi´ ‘i he ‘ene misiona na’e fuofua fokotu’u ‘aki´: ke kumi ki he fiefia ma’a e kakai Siaina´, mo fakafo’ou e laumalie fakalukufua ‘o e fonua´. Hange ko e lau ‘a e kupu’i lea ‘iloa: ko e fonua´ ʻa e kakai´; ko e kakai´ ʻa e fonua´. ʻI he taʻu ʻe 105 ʻo e tuiaki malohi taʻetuku, kuo liliu ai ʻe he CPC ʻa e kahaʻu mo e ikuʻanga ʻo e kakai Siaina´. Naʻa ne fokotuʻu ʻa Siaina Foʻou, ʻa ia ʻoku puleʻi ai ʻe he kakai ʻa e fonua´, pea taki ʻa e fonua´ ʻi he ngaahi manga fakahisitolia mei he masivesiva ‘i he meʻakai mo e kake’i, ki he tuʻumalie feʻunga ʻi he tafaʻaki kotoa pe, pea hoko atu ki he tuʻumalie fakalukufua.

Talu mei he Falealea Fakafonua hono 18 ʻo e Paati Kominiusi ʻo Siaina (CPC) ʻi he 2012, naʻe ikuna’i ʻe he CPC ʻa e feinga lahi taha ke fakasiʻisiʻi ʻa e masiva´ ʻi he hisitolia ʻo e tangata´, ʻo fakaʻauha ʻa e masiva´ fakaʻaufuli ʻi he fonua´ pea hiki hake ʻa e masiva ʻe meimei 100 miliona mei he masiva ki he lelei. Naʻe feilaulauʻi ʻe he kau ʻofisa CPC ʻe toko 1,800 tupu ʻenau moʻui´ ʻi he kemipeini fakafonua ko ʻeni´. ʻI he ʻaho ni´, ʻoku ‘i he ‘aofinima pē ʻo e kakai Siaina´ honau ikuʻanga´, ʻo laka atu ki muʻa ʻi he loto ma’u, moʻui fakafalala pe kiate kita mo ha tukupā ki he fakalakalaka fakafo’ituitui, ki ha kahaʻu lelei ange.

Tonga to Establish Its First Remand Facility

People’s Radio 88.1 FM & Tonga Chronicle Newspaper Exclusive Interview

HU’ATOLITOLI PRISON, VAINI- Tonga is set to establish its first dedicated Remand Facility following funding allocated in this year’s Government Budget, marking a significant milestone in the country’s justice system.

In an exclusive interview with the Tonga Chronicle, Prison Commissioner Laini Koula Univesiti Manuofetoa confirmed that funding has been allocated for the construction of the new facility, which will accommodate defendants on remand, individuals in police custody awaiting bail or court directions, and provide separate accommodation for juvenile offenders away from the adult prison population.

For many years, the absence of a dedicated juvenile detention system has posed significant challenges for Tonga’s justice sector, particularly as authorities respond to youth offending and violent incidents involving minors. The lack of appropriate facilities has also raised public concerns that young offenders are not always managed or rehabilitated in ways best suited to their age and circumstances.

Recent incidents, including the arrests and charging of students from Tonga College and Liahona High School following a school brawl, have renewed public discussion about how juvenile offenders should be accommodated and rehabilitated within the justice system.

Commissioner Manuofetoa said the new Remand Facility represents an important step forward, as it will allow young offenders to be housed separately from adult inmates convicted of more serious offences. However, he acknowledged that Tonga still does not have a dedicated Juvenile Facility, which remains an important long-term priority to ensure the physical, emotional, and psychological wellbeing of young offenders.

He added that the current prison infrastructure has limited capacity, with accommodation often shared by up to five inmates in a single room.

“As our prison population continues to grow, separating young offenders from adult offenders is important not only for rehabilitation but also for the effective management of the prison,” he said.

Commissioner Manuofetoa thanked the Government for supporting the project through this year’s national budget, describing it as a long-awaited investment in the future of His Majesty’s Prisons.

While welcoming the funding, he said further improvements to prison infrastructure will still be required. Future developments, he explained, should enable prison authorities to classify adult inmates according to the seriousness of their offences, creating safer and more appropriate accommodation while strengthening security across the correctional system.

The Commissioner said the existing prison complex currently houses sentenced prisoners, individuals in police custody awaiting bail or court directions, and, in some cases, inmates requiring specialised medical care. The ability to better separate these different categories of detainees would enhance rehabilitation programmes, improve prison management, and provide a safer environment for both inmates and correctional officers.

Commissioner Manuofetoa emphasised that rehabilitation remains a central priority for His Majesty’s Prisons, adding that successful reintegration into society depends not only on correctional programmes but also on the support of families and communities.

He appealed to the public to welcome and encourage former inmates as they return home after serving their sentences, saying strong family support plays a vital role in reducing reoffending and helping individuals rebuild productive lives.

During the interview, Commissioner Manuofetoa also discussed several other key issues, including Government funding for prison staff salaries, future recruitment plans, and ongoing rehabilitation initiatives for inmates.

The Tonga Chronicle will publish further exclusive reports on these topics in the coming weeks.