22nd August 2016 Directors and representatives from the seven departments under the Ministry of MEIDECC met at the Scenic Hotel Conference Room last Friday to review the new draft of the Meteorology Policy Framework and Meteorology Bill.
Director of the Meteorology Department Mr ‘Ofa Fa’anunu said the meteorological services started in Tonga since 1928 under the Telegraph and Marconi Department and later under the Ministry of Civil Aviation and then Transport and MOI . Currently, the Meteorology Department operate under the Civil Aviation Act and the Emergency Act.
Fa’anunu stated that its main function at the time was to provide information and weather forecasts to the public.
“Since the meteorological observations started in 1928 the Meteorological Service has undergone numerous stages of change. From the beginning up to about 8years ago, the primary functions of the National Met Service were to collect, record and disseminate Tongan weather observations as well as relay weather forecasts and warnings for Tonga produced either in Fiji or New Zealand,” he said.
He stated that now the meteorological service more and more services and there is a need for a legislation to establish the department and legislate its functions and responsibilities not for its services but also to govern and safeguard the department.
“Since 2014, the government has established its own Tsunami Warning Centre for Tonga within the National Met Service as well as a Weather Forecasting and Severe Weather Warning Centre in 2007 and a Climate Centre in 2008 serving the Tonga’s needs for meteorological and ocean services in support of Tonga’s main economic sectors as well as safeguarding people’s safety and property.”
“Now, with more and more disasters, year in and year out occurring from climate change, induced extreme weather and climate events so the role of the Met Service has become extremely important and therefore different elements are included in this legislation to guide us in delivering our services,” he explained.
Fa’anunu stated that the department has carried out consultations with government officials, NGO’s and stakeholders in drafting the legislation and their input was considered on the information reviewed by the Directors and representatives of each respective department under MEIDECC.
“The final Consultation with stakeholders in reviewing the Meteorological Bill will be done on the first week of September before the submission of the Bill and today gives the different departments of MEIDECC to provide their inputs which every department has its own inter-related functions.”
With Climate Change now threatening the livelihoods of Small Islands States, the Government has realised that having a robust Meteorological Service for the development of Tonga. In June 2016 the Government of Tonga in partnership with the World Bank launched a USD$16.7M Resilience Project to build Tonga’s resilience to disasters.
USD$11.5M of this project was allocated to strengthen the Early Warning Systems and Preparedness including a new joint NEMO/Met Service facility in Tongatapu and the other islands, upgrade to communications systems, capacity building and institutional strengthening.
The drafting of the Meteorology Policy Framework and a Meteorology Bill was approved by His Majesty’s Cabinet earlier in June 2016.
ENDS
Issued by the: Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications