Editor's Note: This important piece of history about the close historical ties between Tongans and the people of Nadroga was taken directly from The Fiji Times Online. This story by Ernest Heatley titled "The Tongans of Nadroga"  is changed here to "Descendants of Tongan Chief Maile Latamai in Nadroga, Fiji" for easy of reference.

Editor’s Note: The letter below is a letter by Mr. ‘Ikani Loneli Taliai to the Chairman of Tonga Electoral Commission in support of the investigation into alleged corrupt and unlawful electoral activity during the recent 2014 Tonga General Elections. Mr. Taliai is the son of the renowned Rev. Siupeli Taliai a key advocate of Democracy in the kingdom.

Composed By Late Queen Sālote III

Ko e maa'imoa 'eni 'a e Ta'ahine Kuini Sālote Tupou III 'i He'ene Hā'ele ki he Hilifaki Kalauni 'o Kuini 'Elisapesi II ‘i Lonitoni Pilitānia Lahi. Na'e fakahoko 'a e Katoanga ko'eni ‘i he mahina ko Sune Ta’u 1953. Na’e hoko atu ‘Ene Hā’ele Fakahauē ki he ngaahi fonua tupu’a mo ‘iloa 'o 'Iulope 'o a'u ai ki he Kolomu'a 'o Suisisalani (Switzerland) 'a ia ko Siniva (Geneva) mo hono fu'u ano 'iloa (Geneva Lake).

This composition was composed during Her Majesty Late Queen Salote Tupou III official visit to attend the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the month of June 1953. The Queen after the Coronation visited othe European Countries including Geneva the capital of Switzerland. She was impressed with the beauty and vastness of the Great Geneva Lake.

27 March, 2015
Sendai, Japan

Supporting Climate and Disaster Resilient Development in the Pacific - Forum Secretariat involvement at the 3rd World UN Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction

The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat recently attended the 3rd World UN Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction. At the meeting, the focus of many Forum island countries has been on promoting disaster and climate resilient development.