A woman threatened to jump from a building in Ma’ufanga this afternoon.
Woman threatens to jump from a balcony. Photo/Viliami Mahe
No further details are available about the incident.
Eye witnesses said this afternoon the Asian woman was threatening to jump from the balcony of a building at the waterfront facing Fāua wharf.
A passer-by, Viliami Mahe saw the incident and took photos.
He told Kaniva news the woman appeared distraught.
After a few hours of coaxing by onlookers and family, she was eventually talked down from her precarious.
It is believed that she is now in the care of her family.
Police could not be reached for comment.
The news comes after a Police Emergency Services team persuaded a man who had threatened to jump from a tower at Vaiola hospital last year. In that incident, the man, who was not identified, had finally agreed to climb down with the help of some Police officers.
KANIVA COMMENT The nobility have demanded the Prime Minister and his Minister of Foreign Affairs resign immediately in order to assuage His Majesty’s disappointment with their ministerial roles.
Lord Tu’ivakanō
The letter which was purportedly signed by Lord Tu’ivakanō described PM Hu’akavameiliku’s refusal to accept the king’s show of power as very concerning and intimidating the peace of the country.
“We are the king’s cultural preservers (‘aofivala). Therefore, we propose that you and your government respect the king’s desire”, the letter read in Tongan.
“The king has withdrawn his confidence and consent from you as Defence Minister as well as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism Fekitamoeloa ‘Utoikamanu.
“We urge you to resign immediately from the Ministry of Defence as well as Fekitamoeloa ‘Utoikamanu to resign from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism”.
The letter demanded a response from the Prime Minister no later than February 27.
The letter came after the King said earlier this month in a memo that he no longer supported Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku as the Minister for His Majesty’s Armed Forces and Hon. Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu as the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Tourism.
Responding, the government said the Prime Minister was still confident in the Minister of Foreign Affairs and that the King’s wish clashed with the Constitution.
While the King’s nobles are free to express their opinion on the issue some people may think that the lack of references to the Constitution to support their argument in their letter was more provoking and inciting than what they allege PM Hu’akavameiliku has done.
This is because the Prime Minister said he was responding according to what the related clause in the Constitution said about His Majesty’s concerns. It is the Constitution which ensures that those who make decisions are making them on behalf of the public and will be held accountable to the people they serve.
Some people may see that the nobility’s departure from the constitution and citing the Tongan practice of faka’apa’apa’i e finangalo ‘o e tu’i (respecting the King’s wish) means the nobles are urging us to dump Tonga’s Constitution and live by the law of the jungle in which those who are strong and apply ruthless self-interest are most successful.
Our Tongan tradition of faka’apa’apa (respect the King no matter what) has no clear system of rules, limits and boundaries for us to follow, which leaves the door open for the powerful to practice immorality and unlawful activities.
Since the king’s memo was leaked to the public, some have argued that it was explicitly unconstitutional. There is nothing in the constitution to say that the King has to show that he gives his consent or has confidence in a ministerial nominee proposed by the Prime Minister before he appoints them.
PM Hu’akavameiliku
However, some argued that there was nothing wrong with the King’s expressing his wish as he did to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The problem with this kind of attitude is that it urges the King to publicly show his disagreement with the Constitution whenever he wants.
The King could be seen in such a situation to be breaching his royal oath which, according to the Constitution, clause 34 it says: “I solemnly swear before Almighty God to keep in its integrity the Constitution of Tonga and to govern in conformity with the laws thereof.”
The word “integrity” included in the Constitution is worth mentioning here.
It is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as: “the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles that you refuse to change”.
Some people may believe that for the King to have integrity in the constitution, he must have a strong sense of judgement and trust in his own accord.
To keep the constitution honestly the King must desist from saying things to the public which are not written in the constitution and may cause concern and confusion.
The best example was his memo. It has caused a stir among the public but what was most concerning is that no one knows what was the reason behind the king’s withdrawal of his consent and confidence in the Prime Minister and his Minister of Foreign Affairs.
We have previously seen His Majesty make several wrong decisions which are said to have been influenced by his Privy Councillors or his nobility members including Lord Tu’aivakanō’s abortive advice to dissolve the government in 2017.
The nobility must do the right thing and advise the king according to the Constitution and not our old fashioned cultural practices.
It was the Tu’ivakano government which hired the Commonwealth Legal Consultant Peter Pursgloves to review our 2010 constitution, which he said it was the poorest written constitution among all Commonwealth countries.
The Tu’ivakanō government vowed to follow Pursglove’s report and made significant changes to the constitution which was said to have been agreed by the King in 2014.
When the ‘Akilisi Pohiva government ousted the Tu’ivakanō government in late 2014 they processed the Pursglove’s report and submitted it to Parliament through six new bills to be approved. However, it was the same people in the Tu’ivakanō government who strongly opposed the submission from the Opposition bench. They went further and falsely accused Pōhiva of secretly trying to remove some of the king’s powers.
Critics argued that this was because of the nobility’s long-time hatred against Pōhiva because of his tireless campaign to remove the executive power of the King and give it to a democratic government. The nobles later apologised and withdrew their accusation against Pōhiva in the House after months of debates and public consultations. They finally said they wanted to support the submission after Pōhiva revealed in the House his government has lodged an application for a judicial review of the decision made by Lord Tu’ilakepa to block the new bills.
That submission has yet to be approved by the House and the nobility has a duty to push for it to be approved. This would bring Tonga a more democratic system that would help keep the king and the government at peace. The nobles must refrain from using cultural practices to resolve our constitutional issues as that would send us back to the dark ages.
Tonga’s Auditor General, Sefita Tangi, says that documents submitted by the government as proof of its ownership of Lulutai airlines were not what was required for its 2022 report.
Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku
He told Kaniva News last week the audit of the Public Accounts for the year ended June 30, 2023 was in progress and due for release this week.
The government says the Ministry of Finance has now been given copies of the airline’s share certificates. We have asked the Ministry to give us a copy of the share certificates and are awaiting a response.
Prime Minister Hu‘akavameiliku told Kaniva News that Lulutai was important enough to warrant his direct involvement and that the Retirement Fund Board’s (RFB) involvement would help financially.
The Auditor General confirmed that his office had not seen share certificates for the airline. He said this was the proof required for auditing purposes to show ownership of the company.
“The records that we expected and looking for were the shares certificates,” Mr. Tangi said.
“These certificates are to be completely kept and filed. They are to be consistent with the independent confirmations from the Ministry of Public Enterprises.”
In its original Financial and Compliance Audits reports for 2020/2021 and 2021/2022, the Auditor General’s office made this comment on Lulutai airlines:
“Audit issue still outstanding from previous years – No confirmation of government shares from the companies listed above. The Audit has no proof of the government ownership of these companies”.
The Ministry of Finance told us it had provided the auditor General with “ other records to justify government ownership such as a copy of the unaudited Financial Statements for the FY2022, the related bank statements etc, which stated the value of GOT share ownership ($13.5m) in the Lulutai Airline and the related transaction. Company registry and related Cabinet decisions were also available to confirm ownership.”
In response to questions from Kaniva News Mr. Tangi said: “The key record for our verifying and confirming the ownership issue is the share certificate. Unaudited financial statements, bank statements, registry, and Cabinet decisions are obviously not the records to directly and reliably confirm the ownership issue and they were seldom included in the report, because they did not help. Thus, our audit conclusion drawn from the sufficient and appropriate audit evidence was that there was no share certificate.”
Auditor General Sēfita Tangi
On the question of whether it had been able to update its records for Lulutai Airlines, Mr Tangi said: “Our last audit of the Government financial statements (Public Accounts) was for the financial year ended 30th June, 2022. The audit of the Public Accounts for the year ended 30th June 2023 is currently in progress, for which the statutory due date is 29th February, 2024.
“We sincerely hope, as always, that appropriate actions have been implemented to resolve the issues raised in previous audits.”
According to the Tonga Business Registry record Lulutai Airlines Ltd. has only one shareholder: the Government of Tonga, holding all five million shares in the company. The last filing of an Annual Return to the registry was on August 11, 2023.
It shows the directors of the Lulutai Airlines are Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku, Minister of Finance Tiofilusi Titiuti, Minister of Civil Aviation Sevenitiini Toumo’ua and Deputy Prime Minister Sāmiu Kiuta Vaipulu.
Details held by the Business Registry were submitted as part of a filing of the company’s Annual Return for March 2023.
In its budget statement ending in June 2024, the government revealed it had guaranteed a loan of $3.5 million by Lulutai, apparently for the purchase of the Twin Otter.
The budget statement also showed $800,000 with ‘Lulutai’ written beside the amount and ‘Fiji Airways’ bracketed with it.
Call for investigation
Opposition MP and Former Minister of Finance Dr ‘Aisake Eke has called for an urgent investigation into the ownership of Lulutai, saying the lack of evidence about the airline’s ownership was a “serious issue.”
Dr Eke said the Auditor made his comment after the government’s budget for 2021/2022 revealed that the government had shares worth $13.5 million in the airlines.
Dr ‘Aisake Eke. Photo/Tonga Broadcasting Commission (Facebook)
Dr Eke said the problem with the government becoming a guarantor for the Lulutai loan with the RFB was that the Prime Minister was the chairman of both Lulutai and the RFB. The Minister of Finance was a member of the two boards.
Dr Eke said: “There is a conflict of interest there and it could compromise the independence. and due process of the loan”.
Dr Eke had also been concerned about the government’s failure to inform Parliament of the agreement to guarantee the Lulutai loan on time as required by the law.
The Ministry of Finance told Kaniva News that Parliament was informed about the Government’s decision to act as guarantor of loan for Lulutai Airlines “in the Budget Statement FY 2021/22 (page 76, paragraph 3)”.
Prime Minister’s response
PM Hu’akavameiliku said his chairmanship of Lulutai was a continuation of arrangement from previous government.
“I believed Lulutai is important enough for the Prime Minister to chair its board, setting direction and ensuring it is sustainable,” he told Kaniva News.
He said the partnership between Lulutai and the RFB helped Lulutai financially to acquire more additional capacity to serve Tonga. The RFB would get a good return for its investment, he said.
PM Hu’akavameiliku said Lulutai had begun selling its shares to the private sector, including a 27% share sold to the RFB.
The Prime Minister previously said the government considered the “fragility and safety of the flight services” as something of paramount importance and claimed the best option was to keep it as a registered company.
He said the government saw its continued involvement in the airline as the “wisest decision” to make sure the company continued to operate smoothly after the Hungas eruption and tsunami and the Covid-19 pandemic.
Government intentions questioned
Auditor General Tangi’s statement that he had been unable to find evidence the government had shares of TOP$13 million in the national airline for the 2022 comes amid mounting concern at what is claimed to be the government’s obstruction of attempts to hold the airline to account.
Parliament set up a select committee to inquire into the airlines, but PM Hu’akavameiliku initially opposed it.
Trade Minister Dr Lātū warned that if Parliament passed a resolution to set up a committee to investigate Lulutai it would be a breach of the Companies Acts.
Dr Lātū said businesses registered as companies were protected under the company’s confidentiality information rules and Parliament would breach these rules if a select committee was set up.
However, Speaker Lord Fakafanua confronted Dr Latu, saying it was the government’s tax money which was used to fund Lulutai and it must be reported to the Parliament.
“Are we going to use that company confidentiality law to hide the financial statements?” the Lord Speaker asked Dr Latu, who did not respond.
While telling today’s Palestine solidarity rally in Auckland about “good news” over creative humanitarian aid plans to help Palestinians amid the War on Gaza, New Zealand Kia Ora Gaza advocate and organiser Roger Fowler also condemned Israel’s genocidal conduct. He was interviewed by Anadolu News Agency after a Freedom Flotilla Coalition planning meeting in Istanbul with his views this week republished here.
By Faruk Hanedar in Istanbul
New Zealand activist Roger Fowler has condemned the Israeli regime’s actions in the Gaza Strip, saying “this is definitely genocide”.
A Pacific cohort at the Palestinian solidarity rally and march at Te Komititanga Square today . . . they also gave an eulogy and sang a waiata for the loss of beloved Green MP and Pacific community advocate Fa’anānā Efeso Collins who died suddenly this week. Image: David Robie/Asia Pacific Report
“The Israeli regime has not hidden its intention to destroy or displace the Palestinian people, especially those in Gaza, from the beginning,” he said.
“They are committing a terrible act — killing tens of thousands of people, injuring more, and destroying a large part of this beautiful country.”
The death toll from the Israeli War on Gaza topped 29,000 this week – mostly women and children – and there were reports of deaths from starvation.
Fowler demanded action to halt the attacks and expressed hope about the potential effect of the international Freedom Flotilla — a grassroots organisation working to end the illegal Israeli blockade of Gaza.
He noted large-scale protests against Israel’s actions in Gaza and emphasised efforts to pressure governments, including through weekly protests in New Zealand to unequivocally condemn Israel’s actions as unacceptable.
Long-standing mistreatment He stressed that the “tragedy” had extended beyond recent months, highlighting the long-standing mistreatment endured by Palestinians — particularly those in Gaza — for the last 75 years.
Fowler pointed out the dire situation that Gazans faced — confined to a small territory with restricted access to essential resources including food, medicine, construction materials and necessities.
He noted his three previous trips to Gaza with land convoys, where he demonstrated solidarity and observed the dire circumstances faced by the population.
“Boycott is a very effective action,” said Fowler, underlining the significance of boycotts, isolation and sanctions, while stressing the necessity of enhancing and globalising initiatives to end the blockade.
“I believe that boycotting has a great impact on pressuring not only major companies to withdraw from Israel and end their support, but also on making the Israeli government and our own governments understand that they need to stop what they are doing.”
Fowler also criticised the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) “genocide decision” for being ineffective due to the arrogance of those governing Israel.
South Africa brought a genocide case against Israel to the ICJ in December and asked for emergency measures to end Palestinian bloodshed in Gaza, where nearly 30,000 people have been killed since October 7.
World Court fell short The World Court ordered Israel last month to take “all measures within its power” to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza but fell short of ordering a ceasefire.
It also ordered Israel to take “immediate and effective” measures to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance in the Gaza Strip.
Fowler said all nations must persistently advocate and exert pressure for adherence to decisions by the UN court.
Fowler acknowledged efforts by UN personnel but he has concerns about their limited resources in Gaza, citing the only avenue for change is for people to pressure authorities to stop the genocide and ensure Israel is held accountable.
“It’s definitely tragic and heartbreaking. Women, children, and families have no food. They are trying to drink water from puddles. People are eating grass. This is a very desperate situation. No one is talking about the children. Thousands of people are under the rubble, including small babies and children,” he said.
Roger Fowler is a Mangere East community advocate, political activist for social justice in many issues, and an organiser of Kia Ora Gaza. This article was first published by Anadolu Agency and is republished with permission.
A ballot in the Parliament before MP Piveni Piukala was suspended last week has divided the democratic bloc MPs and their supporters.
(L-R) MP Piukala, MP Tapueluelu and MP Lanumata. Photo/Supplied
Piukala was initially suspended for seven days which bound him to return to the House on February 28.
His punishment, however, was later reduced to only five days after the Speaker accepted his request for a re-consideration.
A Parliamentary investigation found Piukala was liable for a breach of the Parliamentary code of conduct after he confronted the Prime Minister and told him that the only thing he was at liberty to use whenever he wanted things which were not his was his grandfather’s inheritance.
In Tongan he said: “Ko e koloa pē ho’o kuí ‘oku ke fa’iteliha ki ai”. While the statement was not swearing, it is contextually classified as offensive and inappropriate.
The suspension meant the MP was barred from entering the Parliament, his district Parliamentary office and using Parliamentary equipment. He was also ordered to have the days’ pay deducted from his salary.
The suspension came after PM Hu’akavameiliku filed a formal complaint against Piukala in August last year following a heated exchange between them. During the stir the MP for Tongatapu 7 alleged that the Prime Minister had spent public funds on buying the Lulutai airlines’ new aircraft which was commissioned in December.
A report on the investigation was submitted for a ballot in the House on Tuesday last week.
MP Mo’ale Finau told the House he was not happy with the report because Piukala was not given a chance to tell his side of the story.
MP Kapeli Lanumata, for whom Piukala campaigned during the election, surprisingly told the House he was grateful for the Committee’s report and wanted it passed.
“Ko u fokotu’u atu ke tali e lipootí” he said in Tongan.
Speaking on the Committee’s report before the Speaker made his decision against Piukala some MPs appealed to the Prime Minister to pardon him.
Piukala also asked for the Prime Minister’s forgiveness but was ignored.
In Tongan he said: “Sea, ‘oku ou kole fakamolemole atu ki he Palēmiá kapau ‘oku mamahi hono lotó he lea na’a ku fai”.
He said he wished he was called by the Committee to hear his side of the story.
He said he had no personal intention against the Prime Minister when he made the statement.
“This is the first time for me to know that what I was saying was swearing,” he said.
The Speaker said the suspension was not the same as impeachment which would have meant Piukala had to be given a chance to respond to the accusation against him.
The Minister for Trade told the House Piukala had already been given the chance to withdraw his statement against the Prime Minister, but he did not do it.
When the Speaker called for a ballot, all MPs voted against Piukala, including three of the PTOA MPs namely Mateni Tapueluelu, Mo’ale Finau and Kapeliele Lanumata.
Tonga has yet to accept the political party system. However, the Democrats styled themselves as a political party known as the Democratic Party of the ‘Otu Anga’ofa also known by the abbreviation PTOA.
A post following Piukala’s suspension on a PTOA Facebook group, known as Ma’u ‘a e Ma e He Kakava, called on the PTOA MPs who voted against him to front up and explain their actions.
“It is now clear that the PTOA has only one MP in the House”, a commentator wrote, referring to Piukala.
“They spoke in support of Piukala, but when the ballot was called, they voted against him”.
“I do not know whether they still have a brain or not”.
Some commenters argued that the PTOA MPs’ split in the ballot appeared to show bitterness and bad blood among them.
Some called the three PTOA MPs traitors and accused them of crossing the floor to side with the Prime Minister for their own advantages.
Supporters of the trio said there must be a reason for their vote.
Moral conscience
Tapueluelu told Kaniva News he voted against Piukala based on his moral conscience.
He said he put himself in the Prime Minister’s shoes and he could see that if Piukala’s remark was made against him he would experience the same disappointment as the Prime Minister.
He said he met Piukala and advised him to apologise to the Prime Minister. Tapueluelu also spoke tearfully in Parliament and appealed to the Prime Minister to pardon Piukala.
Tapueluelu also said he reminded the Speaker to allow them after the ballot to speak and express their views on how they wanted Piukala’s punishment to be, according to the law.
Tapueluelu said immediately after the ballot the Speaker went ahead and announced that Piukala must be suspended for seven days without further discussion with the MPs.
He said the Speaker followed the Tongan version of the law which says the Speaker made the decision to punish or not, while the English version says it is for the House to decide the decision.
Here are the two versions:
49 (3) Neongo ‘a e ngaahi Tu’utu’uni ‘oku hä ‘i he Tuʻutuʻuni siʻi (2) ‘e ngofua ki he ‘Eiki Sea ke ne fakahifo fakataimi ha memipa kuo ne fakahoko ‘a e ngaahi maumau lao ‘oku hä ‘i ‘olunga ́ ‘o ‘ikai laka hake ‘i he ‘aho ‘e hongofulu ma fa (14).
English version:
49(3) Notwithstanding the provisions in sub-rule (2), the Legislative Assembly may order a member who has breached these Rules to be suspended from the Legislative Assembly for a period not exceeding 14 days.
“The best advice for Piukala must be made clear and honest,” Tapueluelu told Kaniva News.
“He should be told to be selective in the language he uses, considering the atmosphere of the House. If he was given the wrong advice and he received a more severe punishment, who are we going to blame?”
He said there were more complaints pending with the Committee.
He also said that being on the same political stance did not necessarily mean they had to protect each other in the House no matter what.
He said he wanted to clarify his stance when it came to situations like this.
“I told the Speaker previously I was taking legal action against him after he allegedly breached the renumeration law,” Tapueluelu said.
“He is the noble of my estate. But that’s what my conscience was telling me to do”.
With Piukala’s case, Tapueluelu said it was not an easy choice as they were campaigning together with Piukala.
“That does not mean our relationship had been cut off”.
Piukala told his social media followers the trio’s ballot showed how Parliament really worked.
Kanva News contacted MP Lanumata and Finau for comments.
Three men have been jailed over the death of a South Auckland grandmother – two of them for murder, and one for manslaughter.
Meliame Fisi’ihoi, 57, died when she was shot at her home on Calthorp Close, Favona. Photo/Facebook
Meliame Fisi’ihoi, 57, was killed in her home in Calthorp Close in Mangere, in January 2020, when she answered a knock at her window. She was shot dead at point-blank range. Their target was her son, Stephen Fisi’ihoi, who was not home at the time.
Police on Friday described her murder as “callous”.
Brothers Viliami and Falala Iongi were found guilty of Fisi’ihoi’s murder in the High Court at Auckland in December, and their cousin Manu Iongi was found guilty of manslaughter.
At their sentencing on Friday, Viliami was jailed for life with a non-parole period of 15 years; Falala also received a life sentence, with a non-parole period of seven years.
Manu Iongi was sentenced to eight years and six months for manslaughter. He had originally been charged with murder too.
Viliami and Falala had previously also been found guilty of reckless discharge of a firearm, as well as wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm in relation to a separate incident in December 2019.
Detective Inspector Tofilau Fa’amanuia Va’aelua said the investigators welcomed the sentences.
“Today the Operation Truro team acknowledge Meliame’s family who have lost a mother and grandmother in tragic circumstances. We are pleased to reach this point some four years after Meliame was senselessly murdered at her home.
“This now brings an end to the court proceedings and we hope that this brings some closure for the family so that they can try to move forward with their lives.”
KANIVA COMMENT: What can we expect from Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku’s strong reaction to the king’s memo rejecting the appointment of two Cabinet Ministers?
(L-R) PM Hu’akavameiliku, Late Former Finance Minister Mahe ‘Uli’uli Tupouniua, Dr Hu’akavameiliku Snr
As Kaniva News reported earlier, the Privy Council issued a letter saying King Tupou VI had withdrawn his “confidence and consent” in Defence Minister Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni – who is also the Prime Minister – and Foreign Minister Fekitamoeloa ‘Utoikamanu.
In response, Hon. Hu’akavameiliku told the king he was still confident in the Minister of Foreign Affairs and they both still retained their ministership in those two portfolios up to now.
President of the Tonga Law Society, Lopeti Senituli, who was media adviser to ‘Akilisi Pohiva from 2018-2019, told Radio New Zealand it was plausible that the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Prime Minister had clashed with the King on some issue of foreign policy and defence.
RNZ said the King’s action could signal a constitutional crisis.
Kaniva News believes King Tupou VI’s action was extraordinary and could be seen as a declaration of his lack of confidence in the Prime Minister, who was elected to the position.
Tonga’s Parliamentary processes may not be perfect, but they are intended to place power in the hands of its elected representatives.
This is not the first time King Tupou VI has publicly criticised his Ministers and the Prime Minister. His predecessors also had form in this matter.
Former Finance Minister rejects king’s demand
In 1982 King Tupou IV fired the then Minister of Finance Mahe ‘Uli’uli Tupouniua. Tupouniua was the first commoner to be appointed by the late king Tupou IV as his regent.
Reports at the time claimed Tupouniua Snr was dismissed because he rejected His Majesty’s demand for money which had not been allocated in the government’s budget.
Democrat supporters in New Zealand said the government’s response to the King’s memo helped promote democracy. They said the power given to the people must not be taken away, but there were indications that King Tupou VI was not in favour of democracy.
In 2017 the King tried to revoke the government of long-time democracy campaigner ‘Akilisi Pōhiva’s .
Members of the Democracy and Media for Tonga’s Political Reform 2010 Comiitte said the King also responded negatively in 2019 when the then Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa asked His Majesty to let him join the Privy Council so he could inform him on government matters.
King Tupou VI
Hon. Tu’i’onetoa also asked the King to transfer the Privy Council’s power to choose the Commissioner of Police and give it to the Minister of Police .
The committee told Kaniva News: “The King lectured Hon. Tu’i’onetoa and told him in Tongan “taki taha tu’u pe ‘i hono laini”, figuratively meaning “just stay in your Cabinet and I will keep to my own Privy Council.”
Last week Deputy Prime Minister Samiu Vaipulu repeatedly said the matter should be left to the Prime Minister.
He said the letter was not addressed to Parliament and that the government was dealing with it. The question is what Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku will do now?
If he follows in his father’s footsteps, the results could be quite interesting. The late Dr Hu’akavameiliku was a strong advocate for reform when many people considered the subject unthinkable.
Dr Hu’akavameiliku Snr was the first scholar and Cabinet Minister as well as Deputy Prime Minister to make a proposal to King Tupou IV Privy Council asking His Majesty to set up a commission to review the constitution in 1975. King Tupou IV was king Tupou VI’s father.
Dr Hu’akavameiliku Snr’s proposal must have been a very tough move at a time when the monarch’s right to rule was strongly seen as taboo in all respects.
Kenneth Bain quoted Dr Hu’akavameiliku Snr (Dr Langi Kavaliku) in his book The New Friendly Islander: A Voice from Within, as saying:
“…in 1975 I put up a specific proposal to His Majesty for constitutional change, designed to give people a greater voice in the course of their affairs. It was debated in cabinet at 12 separate meetings, deferred time after time and eventually dropped… It aimed to change to a fully elected system over a period of time not less than nine and not more than fifteen year …Now (1991) sixteen years later time may be running out. It is vital in my opinion that the government takes that initiative and announces a Constitutional Review Commission. It should just accept the principle of examining these matters and start the process publicly. ..But sometimes I don’t know whether we can afford to wait too long.”
The Late ‘Akilisi Pohiva said in an interview that his group of Tongan scholars at the University of the South Pacific, known as the Loma group, undertook to pursue Dr Hu’akavameiliku Snr’s proposal to change the monarchical system in 1975 to a fully elected political system. The Loma group’s persistence saw its fruition in 2010, after King George V agreed to relinquish his executive power to the people.
Will King Tupou VI’s actions prompt the Prime Minister to continue his father’s reforms?
Police have charged MP Vātau Hui who allegedly indecently dealt with a woman, Tongan media reported.
MP Vātau Hui
The MP for the Niuas is facing allegations from a Ha’ateiho woman of having subjected her to sexual harassment and assault, the reports said.
No further details are available about his charges.
Kaniva News has contacted Hon Hui and is awaiting an answer.
In 2018 Hon Hui was convicted and fined in the Fasi Lower Court after pleading guilty to failing to submit a report of his financial campaign expenses.
As we reported at the time, a local Magistrate fined him a total of $US129.
The court was told an Electoral Commission investigation found Hui failed to report his campaign spending and police were alerted.
Candidates can spend up to a maximum of just over $US4,000 on election advertising and are required to file a financial report after every election.
Hui unseated a former Minister of Internal Affairs, Fe’ao Vakata, during the 2017 November election.
A suspended senior police officer who is currently under investigation has fled to the United States, Tongan Police have confirmed.
Pita Tahitu’a
Senior Police Officer Pita Tahitu‘a was recently suspended after complaints following alleged inappropriate workplace behaviours, Kaniva News has learnt.
Police previously said an internal investigation was being conducted by its Professional Standards Unit into Tahitu‘a’s “behaviour and into the circumstances where these behaviours have occurred”.
The news of his suspension and the complaints were leaked to the media last month with some reports on social media sharing his photo and identity.
Police Commissioner Shane McLennan publicly expressed his disappointment after he discovered Tahitu’a’s identity had been shared online.
Commissioner McLennan reminded the public the importance of preventing undue prejudice to a person before the prosecuting authority decided if they had to face prosecution.
“I was disappointed to learn that the suspended officer has been identified and ridiculed via social media posting,” McLennan said.
“I ask those posting and sharing such material to reconsider their actions. It would be most appropriate to remove the officer’s name and identifying details. Everyone is entitled to a course of natural justice.
“I can advise that the welfare of members affected by the alleged behaviour is also being attended to”.
Kaniva News contacted the Commissioner last week and told him we understood that Tahitu’a was the officer who had been suspended, but had left the country and was now in the United States.
In his response Mr. McLennan said: “Mr Tahitu’a has left Tonga and is currently believed to be visiting friends and relatives in the USA”.
We wanted to know why Mr Tahitu‘a was able to leave the country given that he was currently being under investigation.
“While he is on suspension from Tonga Police, there is no compulsion for him to remain in Tonga; he is free to travel wherever he wishes”, McLennan told Kaniva News.
“The investigation is still underway and the outcome of the investigation will determine further actions concerning Mr Tahitu‘a”.
Since Tahitu‘a fled the country while he was being investigated and his case is now a matter of public interest, we decided to identify him and publish his photo.
Tahitu‘a was in the news in November last year after he appeared in a streamed video arresting political activist Vilisoni Tauelangi, who had been charged with attempted murder.
