Tonga Roundup: Volcanic activities, budgeting, short-staffed prisons
Volcanic activities
The Tonga Geological Services has reported a decline in the Volcanic Radiative Power (VRP) of the Home Reef volcano, based on observations from the MODIS-MIROVA satellite system, as of today, June 24. The volcanic activity currently presents a minimal threat to the communities of Vava’u and Ha’apai, reports MTO. However, mariners are advised to heed the ongoing hazard warning in the vicinity. "The Home Reef Volcano monitoring continues due to ongoing volcanic activities being detected. In the past sixteen (16) hours since the last Public Notice, VOLCAT has detected a total of five (5) thermal anomalies with the most recent thermal anomaly observed at 8:06 AM this morning (Figure 1)," TGS stated. “The latest satellite image from MODIS-MIROVA shows a decrease in the Volcanic Radiative Power (VRP) value with a non-numeric reading displayed (Figure 2) compared to the values recorded on the previous public notice.”
Budget discussions
The parliamentary budget discussions are ongoing, with the Legislative House of Tonga working diligently to approve the Government's financial projections for 2024-25 before the June 30 deadline. The Whole House Committee has approved preliminary budget figures for seven government ministries, including the Legislative Assembly's Office, after a week-long intensive review of the budget statement. MTO reports that the ministries that have cleared their budget drafts include the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Auditor General’s Office, the Ombudsman Office, the Anti-Corruption Commissioner’s Office, His Majesty’s Armed Forces, the Prime Minister’s Office, the Palace Office, and the Office of the Legislative Assembly. Deliberations continue on June 24 as Parliament tackles the budget for the Ministry of Finance, marked as Vote number 8. A special session was held on June 21 to expedite the budgetary process.
Lack of staff in Tonga's prisons
There are growing worries over the insufficient staffing levels at Tonga's correctional facilities, which have come under scrutiny after a violent assault on a psychiatric nurse on June 8th. Tragically, the nurse succumbed to his injuries and passed away in the hospital on June 16th. This information was provided by RNZ Pacific's Tonga correspondent, Kalafi Moala, in a conversation with Koroi Hawkins of RNZ Pacific.
$32m undersea cable project
The "Tonga Hawaiki Branch System," a new international submarine communication cable for Tonga, will benefit from a joint investment of USD$32 million by Australia and New Zealand. The implementation of this project is anticipated by the end of 2025. The collaborative funding initiative was revealed in Nuku'alofa on Friday, June 21, by the Prime Minister Hon. Hu’akavameiliku alongside the High Commissioners of Australia and New Zealand, reports MTO.
First national standardisation roadmap
The Minister for Trade & Economic Development, Hon. Dr. Viliami Uasike Latu, unveiled the inaugural National Standardisation Roadmap for Tonga and his ministry on Wednesday, June 19, at the Liku’alofa Centre in Tofoa. According to MTO, this strategic plan is set to establish quality benchmarks for Tonga's development, in collaboration with Pacer Plus and Standards Australia.
