Tonga passes Budget with record $US26.4m deficit

Nuku’alofa: Tonga’s Parliament has unanimously passed a $US260 million National Budget for the coming year with a biggest ever deficit of over $US26.4 million

The Ministry of Finance receives the biggest allocation with $73 million, while education and health get over $32 million and around $31m respectively.

The COVID-19 economic impacts have struck the kingdom as well as uncertainty over a change in government approach since the death of the late prime minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva last September. Since coming into power seven months ago Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa declared the formation of a new political grouping and selected a new cabinet.