8 Feb 2010

Tonga's Transport Minister expected at Ashika inquiry this week

11:54 am on 8 February 2010

The Royal Commission into the sinking of the Tongan Ferry Princess Ashika resumes today, and it's expected the Minister of Transport will this week be questioned about the disaster.

The ship sank last August with the loss of 74 lives.

Each of the board members of the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia, which operated the ferry, has given testimony which admits the sinking was down to poor governance.

The Transport Minister is expected to appear on Friday, with the Prime Minister before the Commission next week.

The inquiry is expected to finish at the end of this month, with the report due at the end of March.