18 Dec 2002

Tongan youth Parliament shows desire for law changes

4:51 pm on 18 December 2002

Tonga's first youth parliament is today debating whether the country's Government should be asked to put aside two percent of next year's Budget to fund activities for Tongan youth.

The young want the money for the Tongan National Youth Congress which currently has four and a half thousand US dollars to run activities for the country's fifty thousand youth.

If passed by the Youth Parliament the recommendation will go the Parliament proper next year.

During debate yesterday they passed amendments calling for tougher penalties on liquor licence holders who break the law, including fines of up to1800 US dollars for those who repeatedly sell alcohol to people under the age of 18.