Tonga’s Prime Minister leads Tonga Delegation to UN General Assembly in New York ^Featured

The Prime Minister, leading a delegation which include the Minister of Health Dr. the Hon. Saia Piukala, the Chair of the Whole House Committee Mr. Semisi Sika MP, the Chief Secretary and Secretary to Cabinet Dr. Palenitina Langa’oi, the Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Trade Mr. Va’inga Tone, Health Official Mr. Sione Hufanga, and the Secretary-General of the Public Service Association Ms. Mele T ‘Amanaki, is in New York to attend the Summit to Adopt the Post-2015 Development Agenda from Friday, 25th – Sunday, 27th September, and the annual general debate of Leaders from Monday, 28th September – Saturday, 03rd October 2015.

The Prime Minister will also conduct other bilateral meetings on Tonga’s behalf with partners, and as Chair of the Pacific Small Island Developing States. Joining the Prime Minister in New York is the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Tonga to the United Nations H.E. Mr. Mahe ‘U. S. Tupouniua and staff members of the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Tonga to the United Nations T. Suka Mangisi and Odette Tupou’ohomohema.

On Thursday, 24th the Prime Minister chaired the inaugural meeting of the PSIDS (Pacific Small Islander Developing States) Leaders to discuss ways forward in terms of the implementation of the post-2015 development agenda known as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as well as climate change issues before the climate change summit meeting in December in Paris. A Chair’s Summary is to be made available and circulated to the Leaders as an outcome of the meeting. The PSIDS are a group of 12 Pacific Island countries with presence at the United Nations. Tonga has been chair of PSIDS since October 2014.

On Friday, 25th the Prime Minister led the delegation at the inaugural address of Pope Francis to the United Nations, as well as at the opening of the Summit to Adopt the Post-2015 Development Agenda. In addition, at a special panel meeting of the World Health Organization (WHO) on the topic “Transforming the World: Promoting Healthy Lifestyles and NCD Control”, the Minister of Health led the discussion as a key panelist together with fellow panelists which included the Director-General of the WHO.

The Prime Minister delivered Tonga’s statement to the Summit on Saturday, 26th September. The Prime Minister also delivered a statement at the interactive dialogue on protecting the earth and climate change on Sunday, 27th September. The Prime Minister is also scheduled to deliver Tonga’s statement at the General Debate of Leaders on Tuesday, 29th September and on behalf of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders at their annual meeting with Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon on Thursday, 01st October. The Prime Minister will also make a courtesy call on the Secretary-General of the United Nations on Friday, 02nd October. Tonga is also waiting on confirmation of a time from UNDP for a courtesy call of the Prime Minister on the UNDP Administrator Ms. Helen Clarke to present Tonga’s third MDG Report.