Sir Michael spends New Year in Tonga with family

Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare and his family are currently on holidays in Tonga.
The family trip to Tonga is privately funded, according to Chief of Staff Dr Theo Yasause.
Sir Michael and his entourage, which included PNG’s High Commissioner to Tonga, Bernard Narakobi, spent the New Year in the capital, Nuku’alofa, as guests of prime minister Dr Feleti Sevele and princess Salote Pilolevu Tuita.
Sir Michael fell in love with the island of Vava’u while there for the Forum Leaders Retreat last October, and had promised to return.
Sir Michael also met Dr Sevele to discuss regional issues including how best the Pacific Islands Forum can help Fiji to return to full democracy and to assess the situation in Solomon Islands after the change in leadership in Honiara.
While in Vava’u, Sir Michael and his family visited historical and tourist sites on the island as well as some of the smaller islands in Vava’u.
Sir Michael also made a commitment of A$20,000 for Vava’u which will be used to build a hall for Vava’u youths.
Sir Michael is in Tonga with his wife and two daughters, and the usual protocol.
Sir Michael and his family will leave Tonga today.