The U.S Peace Corps office in New York has declined to answer questions regarding the conditions of its staffer who was recently been discharged from a hospital in New Zealand.
As Kaniva News reported at the time, Nancy Gehron, 56, was seriously injured after she was attacked while jogging along a footpath behind one of the houses on the waterfront in Sopu on July 16 this year.
She was admitted to Vaiola hospital before she was flown to New Zealand for medical treatment.
Two accused, Sione Lau’i and Hemaloto Makafilia, appeared in court in relation to the attack.
Gehron appeared publicly in Tonga last week, apparently the first time since she was hospitalised.
Speaking at a swearing-in ceremony for 22 new US Peace Corps volunteers who volunteered to work in the kingdom last week, Gehron said she still had “hope” and that meeting Tongans and the way how they hugged her was “beautiful” and “unforgettable.”
She told the volunteers that her “bandages are gone and each day I feel lighter with hope”.
“It wasn’t until after my assault that I truly felt its power,” Gehron said.
“Tongans I knew well and Tongans I hardly knew would come to me and embrace me, they would hold that embrace long and meaningfully and it had tremendous curative powers.
“I love that feeling, I hope you all learn to hug like a Tongan, that will help you through your service as it has helped me through my journey.”
Gehron told the volunteers they could help Tonga in many ways, especially teaching literacy in Tongatapu schools and the outer islands.
Kaniva News wanted to know about Gehron’s condition and whether or not there had been any change to her living and working circumstances since she was discharged from hospital.
She offered condolences by many Tongans on professional and social media for the injuries she received in the attack.
Tongans overseas planned to raise funds for a reward for anybody who could help locate the assailants.
However in a very short response from the US Peace Corps Office in New York yesterday a spokesperson told Kaniva News: “Thank you for your message. However, Peace Corps is prohibited by law, including the Privacy Act, from providing this information”.
According to Peace Corps it will celebrate its 50 anniversary in Tonga next year.
There are 41 Volunteers in Tonga working with their communities on education projects. During their service in Tonga, Volunteers learn to speak Tongan. More than 1650 Peace Corps Volunteers have served in Tonga since the program was established in 1967.
The main points
- The U.S Peace Corps office in New York has declined to answer questions regarding the conditions of its staffer who was recently been discharged from a hospital in New Zealand.
- As Kaniva News reported at the time, Nancy Gehron, 56, was seriously injured after she was attacked while jogging along a footpath behind one of the houses on the waterfront in Sopu on July 16 this year.
- She was admitted to Vaiola hospital before she was flown to New Zealand for medical treatment.
- Two accused, Sione Lau’i and Hemaloto Makafilia, appeared in court in relation to the attack.
For more information
“Peace corps operations continue as normal,” US office says as police follow leads after attack
Fundraising to find US Peace Corps’ attacker as fury surges among Tongan community
