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.
