Fale Alea 'O Tonga Photo: Facebook.com/Sioto Fine
Tonga - allegations
The Speaker and the Legislative Assembly of Tonga are facing judicial review proceedings brought by seven MPs over allegations related to parliamentary procedures during the recent vote of no confidence against the Prime Minister Hu'akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni.
A statement issued by the Legislative Assembly chief clerk said it had received notice of the judicial review proceedings against the pair.
"It contains allegations arising from parliamentary procedures that was followed in respect of the motion for a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister, Hon. Hu'akavameiliku, which was considered by the Legislative Assembly last month."
The statement said the review is from seven of the 10 MPs who had signed the motion of vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Hu'akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni.
Matangi Tonga reports the Speaker and the Legislative Assembly of Tonga are considering their responses to the matter under advisement from legal counsels.
The chief clerk said this judicial review proceeding is the second judicial review involving the Legislative Assembly in the current parliamentary term.
Samoa - reinstate
The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Samoa has advised that Parliament has accepted, for the time being, the decision of the Supreme Court to reinstate two opposition MPs.
The court declared that parliament's suspension of the leaders of the Human Rights Protection Party, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and party Secretary Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi, were unconstitutional.
Papali'i Ta'eu Masipa'u told Parliament on Tuesday that he has already lodged an appeal with the Appeal Court of Samoa, and while they await the outcome, the two MPs have been allowed back to take their seats in the House.
Both members were not present in the House for this morning's session as they are both overseas and will be back later this month.
Nauru - airline
Nauru Airlines is increasing its services in the Central Pacific.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the carrier said it is adding Palau to its weekly "island hopper" route.
From November 30, the weekly flights will depart Brisbane on Thursday night, travelling each Friday via Nauru, Tarawa, Majuro and Pohnpei to Palau.
The return flight from Palau departs on Saturday.
Nauru Airlines Chair Dr Kieren Keke said he hopes it will reduce the isolation Pacific nations experience.
Samoa - donation
In Samoa, over 800 seasonal workers, under the Falealili seasonal work programme, donated over US$3,000 of goods and cash to three local organisations.
The donations went to the Samoa Victim Support Group, Goshen Trust of Samoa as well as the Mapuifagalele Home for the Eldely.
The programme's founder, Tuatagaloa Joe Annandale told the Samoa Observer that this is the first time they've donated, adding that it won't be the last.
Tuatagaloa said it was the workers and the community who took the initiative to donate to the three non-profit organisations.
Northern Marianas - reimbursements
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved approximately US$22.1 million in reimbursements for Covid-19 related expenses the CNMI incurred in its response to the pandemic.
That brought to US$36 million the total that the Northern Marianas has received over the past 10 months of the administration of Governor Arnold Palacios.
Governor Palacios says given many of the financial challenges the CNMI is facing and the critical expenses we need to address to maintain essential government programs and services, the approval has come at a good time.
He says FEMA has also confirmed that it has US$58 million pending reimbursements for the CNMI.
Papua New Guinea - refugees
The Guardian is reporting the Australian-sponsored program to care for refugees exiled to Papua New Guinea has been driven by corruption, fraud and nepotism.
A whistleblower within the PNG government's immigration authority made the allegations in a complaint sent to Prime Minister James Marape.
The Guardian story also reports PNG's chief migration officer Stanislau Hulahau rejecting the allegations as "malicious".
Melbourne correspondent Rebekah Holt told RNZ's Morning Report there are still 64 refugees in Port Moresby who were suffering.
Earlier this month, the New Zealand's Refugee Quota Programmes head Qemajl Murati told RNZ Pacific that 29 refugees who had been in PNG had arrived in New Zealand, while another 30 cases were being processed.