The Prime Minister, Hon. Dr. ‘Aisake Valu Eke, has announced during the press conference held on Thursday, January 30th, 2025 that His Majesty’s Cabinet has approved a new initiative, and that is to allow essential services in all Government Ministries to remain open during the official lunch hour, and to be effective Monday 3rd of February, 2025.
The purpose of this initiative is to make Government services more accessible to the public. This will be advantageous to people from the Hahake and Hihifo villages who travels to Nuku’alofa, and sometimes have to wait until around the lunch hour is over and Government services open. This will allow the public to know that Government essential services will be available all day during the normal working hours.
Some of the essential services to be included in this initiative is the Treasury Services, Ministry of Finance; One Stop Shop and related services, Ministry of Revenue and Customs; Immigration Services, Ministry of Foreign Affairs to name a few. Other services will be announced by each Ministry.
The Hon. Ministers will immediately work with all Chief Executive Offices to assess and identify essential services within their respective Ministries to be made available during the lunch hour. The public will be informed of these services and to start next week on Monday 3rd of February 2025.