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United States takes Tonga off list of countries eligible for H-2A and H-2B seasonal work visas

By
Philip Cass
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Tonga has been taken off the list of countries whose citizens are eligible for  American seasonal and guest worker visas.

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The H-2A and H-2B visa programmes allow employers to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary agricultural and non-agricultural jobs, respectively. 

Tonga has already lost the chance to take part in the January recruitment for New Zealand’s RSE scheme. 

The New Zealand government wanted all RSE workers repatriated  before Tonga could be allocated a  new share of the 2000 employees who were expected to arrive in New Zealand this month.

Tonga was the only Pacific nation with RSE workers left in New Zealand. 

The Trump administration raised the number of guest worker visas to 101,000 last year.

However, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency has designated Tonga as “At Risk of Non-Compliance” with American requirements.

This is because of Tonga’s refusal to accept ICE charter flights for the repatriation of its nationals who have been ordered removed from the United States. 

Human rights groups and media investigations have found evidence of deportees being shackled for most of the deportation flights, poorly fed and not provided with adequate medical support.

There have also been reports of deportees with Covid-19 being flown by ICE, spreading the virus through detention centres.

The Guardian has reported that despite warnings from activists and medical professionals, ICE has continued flying immigration detainees across the United States and around the world on its network of private planes throughout the pandemic. 

“Tonga’s inconsistent co-operation with the United States regarding the return of its nationals and citizens with final orders of removal does not serve the U.S. Interest,” the agency said.

“Therefore, the Secretary of Homeland Security, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, is removing Tonga from the list of H-2A and H-2B eligible countries.” 

Statistics show that the United States deported 700 criminals to Tonga between 1992 and January 2016, an average of 29 criminals a year. 

In 2018 former Deputy Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni said about 400 Tongans had been deported from the US, Australia and New Zealand since 2012. 

Government ships out heavy machinery for ‘blessing ceremony;’ freight company told to forfeit equipment until gov’t pays TP$100,000 bill

By
Kalino Latu
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Heavy earth moving equipment that had been impounded for non-payment of freight costs was  removed at the request of Prime Minister Dr Pōhiva Tu’onetoa so it could be included in a ‘blessing ceremony’ in the Hahake District, Tongatapu.  

(L-R) Lawyer Nalesoni Tupou, Sione Foaki Fifita and PM Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa

As Kaniva News reported earlier, the  machinery belongs to New Zealand-based Tongan business man Sione Foaki Fifita, who has strong family connection with Prime Minister Tu’i’onetoa. 

Last week Fifita said the government had agreed to pay for his shipping costs from the money the government would pay him for the contract it awarded to him to build roads and work on the foreshore and causeway in Ha’apai. 

However, the freight charges of $110,025 were not paid and the equipment, which included a Mack Tractor Unit, Komatsu Excavator and a D8R Bulldozer, was held at the wharf.

The New Zealand-based Friend Islands Freight company attempted to seize the machinery for the second time, after the Tonga government failed to pay the freight costs. 

Its director Angina Fīnau previously told Kaniva News he was baffled by the government’s failure to keep to its promise which hugely affected his business.

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The company’s lawyer, Nalesoni Tupou, told Kele’a Voice this morning Wednesday 13  that arrangements had been made to seize the equipment in Tongatapu, but when company representatives arrived at the holding area, they discovered the heavy machinery had already been shipped to the Ha’apai Islands. 

Tupou said it was difficult to maintain and support the equipment in Ha’apai because it lacked proper tools and facility to house it. 

Another victim

Tupou claimed the Friendly Islands Freight was not alone as another freight company was chasing  another government contractor which shipped its heavy equipment from New Zealand to Tonga using its services.

That company was also awarded one of the contracts to build roads under the Prime Minister’s controversial multi-million road project. 

Tupou said it took months for that company to pursue the government contractor before the debts were paid in November last year. Tupou said he would not go into details about that case.  

Tupou complained Hon. Tu’i’onetoa did not respond to his repeated attempts to contact him. 

Forfeit 

He criticised Hon Tu’i’onetoa for allegedly authorising in a letter to the Friendly Islands Freight, the release of the machinery on the condition that the government would pay for it later. 

Tupou accused Hon Tu’i’onetoa of showing favouritism in the letter to Finau and asked which law allowed the Prime Minister to authorise the release of the machinery to be displayed in his blessing and prayer service while other people had to pay their freight charges first. 

The letter appears to have been signed by Ministry of Customs’ CEO Kelemete Vahe on September 4, 2020. 

The text of the letter says: 

“Dear Angina,

I am writing to inform your good office that the Prime Minister Dr Pohiva Tu’onetoa  requested the immediate release of the above shipment today so that the heavy machinery be included in the blessing ceremony that will be conducted tomorrow at  Hahake District. I was also advised that Ministry of Finance is currently processing the payment of the freight cost of the shipping and hopefully it will be ready by early next week. 

I fully support the release of the said machinery on the condition that the payment must be made before the closing of the business on Friday 11 Sept 2020. 

Failure to honour such payment your good office is hereby urged to forfeit the machinery until the freight charges are fully settled.“

The Prime Minister and Minister of Finance had been contacted for comment.

Analysis: Did  feelings of betrayal leave Hon.  Fā’otusia feeling so sick he missed vote of no confidence?

By
Kalino Latu
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Kaniva Analysis

Was Vuna Fā’otusia betrayed by his close friends from the nobility and Cabinet while being the Deputy Prime Minister? 

Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Vuna Fā’otusia. Photo/Kalino Lātū

Was he set up by some of the Cabinet because of his outspoken nature? He was reported in Parliament today to be unwell before he was absent from the Vote of No Confidence ballot. 

Did a last minute realisation that no one from the government and the nobility would cross the floor and join him and the PTOA lead him to a situation where he felt so sick this afternoon? 

It would have been better if, at the beginning, Hon. Fā’otusia had asked those who, he said, promised to stand with him in an attempt to oust Tu’i’onetoa to resign together with him as proof of their intentions.

As we reported earlier, the Prime Minister survived the Vote of No Confidence after the motion was rejected by 13-9. 

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When Hon. Fā’otusia was interviewed by Kaniva News in the wake of the vote of no confidence motion he claimed there were members in Cabinet who supported them and  would vote for them. He said these Cabinet ministers did not agree with what the Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa and disgraced former Cabinet Minister ‘Etuate Lavulavu have been doing for Tonga.

“I also know that once the members of the nobles in Parliament know that the king is not happy with the government of PM Tu’i’onetoa and Lavulavu, they will vote for us!” he declared.

“I believe that once the vote of no confidence is cast, only Hon. Tu’i’onetoa and Akosita Lavulavu, will be on the other side.”

The comment from Fā’otusia was not new to Kaniva News. We have heard the same optimistic claims before votes of  no confidence in the past, but no government has been defeated by a vote of no confidence since legislation to allow them was introduced as part of the 2010 political reforms.

Kaniva News has a role to bring awareness and boost independent and healthy debates in any significant issues including politics. 

So following Fā’otusia’s comment we wrote an analysis article under the heading: Analysis: ‘Does appointment of Lord Ma‘afu mean PM has lost trust in his independent Cabinet Ministers?’

In that analysis we said that the PTOA needed to do some very clever horse trading if they wanted to win back some of the independents. One suggested outcome was that the PTOA and Hon. Fā’otusia would have to trade the Premiership and Deputy position  to Hon. Tu’i’onetoa’s independents. 

If they did that there would have been a high possibility of getting two independents on side. Hon. Tu’i’onetoa would also have tried his best to offer his independents the best deal. However, it appears that Hon. Tu’ionetoa could not step down and allow one of his independents to become Prime Minister, which would have benefitted the PTOA.

We also said that Noble MPs would not cross the floor to side with PTOA. 

And we were right. Last week we ran another  article under the heading: ‘Horse trading continues as vote of no confidence looms; PM appears confident he will survive.’ 

In that article we said the PTOA was focusing on only three Independent Cabinet members in particular to join their attempt to oust the Prime Minister.  We wrote that after interviewing reliable sources who were very close to the PTOA and nobility. They said the Nobles would not support Fā’otusia and the PTOA. It was clear the PTOA would find it hard to get the numbers. 

Some of the reasons why it was hard for any Nobles to cross the floor was because of the PTOA ‘s democratic principles of reforming the political system of Tonga to allow the taxpayers to rule and make decision for their taxes. The king and the nobles do not like democracy because it diminishes their powers and traditional entitlements. 

Upset

There was no way the Noble MPs would  side with the democrats because it would be a slap in the face for the king, who has the power to appoint his nobles. 

Cabinet members have been tied to Hon. Tu’i’onetoa by a legal agreement and manifesto. They felt secure and safe politically in his hands. 

Their constituencies benefitted greatly from Tu’i’onetoa’s policy of working with close friends and allies. 

On the other hands, the PTOA party has been accused of being disorganised and not legally registered as a legal entity. This will always allow its senior members to control the party and sack MPs who did not agree with them.  This has led to disarray in the past. 

In the end it was difficult to convince the independents in the Tu’i’onetoa government, who  live in the lap of luxury, to join a party which could not guarantee to provide the same benefits.

Man arrested following Chinese shops armed robbery in Tongatapu

By
Sisi Latu
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A 23-year-old Fangaloto man has been arrested in connection to armed robberies of several Chinese retailers in Tongatapu this week.

Nuku’alofa Central Police Station. Photo/Kalino Lātū

The suspect and an associate allegedly robbed Chinese shops in Houmakelikao, Kapetā, Tofoa and Maúfanga starting on Saturday 9 January.

Police said two men wearing masks entered the shops armed with a machete and a piece of metal.

Cash and goods were stolen before the offenders fled in a car, a black Nissan cube, Police said.

A search warrant was executed at a residence at Fangaloto resulted in the arrest of the main suspect and the recovery of some of the stolen goods and cash as well as the machete that was allegedly used in the robberies.

“Our investigations team has worked tirelessly over the last three days together with help from the public and the Chinese community to make an identification and gather information.”

“We hope this arrest brings some reassurance to the community, who may have been alarmed by this incident.”

Police alleged the suspect and his associates were involved in the recent spate of armed robberies.

“This spike is in contrast to recent trends over the last two years when only one armed robbery was recorded in 2019. Partnerships between the Chinese community, Tonga Police, and the Community Patrol volunteers have helped to keep these incidents rare and our communities safe.”

Police investigations continue with the search for all other accomplices. Anyone with information that may assist this investigation is urged to call 7401634 or 23713.

MP Fā‘otusia absent in VONC ballot due to illness; Noble appeals to gov’t to return him to NZ for medical treatment

By
Kalino Latu
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Former Deputy Prime Minister Vuna Fā’otusia was reported in Parliament this afternoon to be unwell.

Minister of Justice Hon. Vuna Fā’otusia. Photo/Kalino Lātū (Kaniva Tonga News)

He was present in the House during morning sessions but could not make it to the ballot of the Vote of No Confidence against the Prime Minister.

Former Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakanō asked the government to help transfer Fā’otusia to a New Zealand hospital for medical treatment.

Responding, the Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa told the House he was late to the session because he was talking with Fā’otusia, implying he was outside Parliament with Fā’otusia while he was suffering from what appear to be a medical event.

Fā’otusia was admitted to a hospital in New Zealand last year for medical treatment. He returned to Tonga in December before resigning to support the PTOA Democrats by joining them to get the number of 10 MPs required by the law to sign a Vote of No Confidence before it was submitted to the House.

Fā’otusia said he was concerned about what he sees as the undue influence of disgraced former MP ‘Etuate Lavulavu on the Prime Minister and the cost of the government’s prayer and fasting excursions to the outer islands.

As Kaniva News reported earlier today, the Prime Minister Tu’i’onetoa will remain in power after the no-confidence vote was defeated in parliament this afternoon.

Hon Tu’i’onetoa has come under fire amid accusations his government has designed the tendering process for its multi-million roading project so the contracts would be given to three of its friends.

All the tenders have been awarded to companies with links of varying strength to the government, a conflict of interest that would raise red flags in Australia and New Zealand.

Hon Tu’i’onetoa, the second commoner elected to lead the country, has been prime minister for just over a year.

PM Tu‘i‘onetoa survives no-confidence vote

By
Kalino Latu
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Tongan Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa will remain in power after a no-confidence vote was defeated in Parliament this afternoon.

PM Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa. Photo/Kalino Lātū (Kaniva News)

Hon Tu’i’onetoa has come under fire after his government was accused of designing the tendering process for its multi-million roading project so the contracts would be given to three of his friends.

All the tenders have been awarded to companies with links of varying strength to the government, a conflict of interest that would raise red flags in Australia and New Zealand.

Hon Tu’i’onetoa won the vote of 13 noble and Cabinet legislators. Nine MPs from the PTOA Party voted against the Prime Minister.

Hon Tu’i’onetoa, the second commoner elected in September 2019 to lead the country since 2010 political reforms, has been prime minister for just over a year now.

Baby shower on Houma rugby ground praised for novelty and being held in the Tongan way

By
Kalino Latu
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What has been claimed to be the first baby shower in Tonga has been praised for being conducted in a Tongan manner.

Decoration was made using Tongan handicrafts

A group in Houma is claiming to have held the first such event in the kingdom.

While it is not known whether any baby showers have been held before in Tonga like this one in Houma, the live streaming of the ceremony has attracted viewers from Tonga and overseas.

A baby shower can fulfill many roles, including  gift-giving to the mother, a revelation of the baby’s gender, a ceremony to celebrate the delivery or expected birth of a child or the transformation of a woman into a mother.

Guest and family members are served with food during the baby shower ceremony

It is common in New Zealand, Australia, the United States and other foreign countries. It is not a traditional Tongan cultural ceremony. 

Some Tongans overseas have held baby showers. 

“Excellent! This is a normal ceremony in foreign countries and it is now being conducted in Houma, Tongatapu,” a Houma Facebook page spokesperson wrote in Tongan.

The Houma ceremony was live streamed by one of the most popular livestream service in the kingdom, Livestream Tonga, which has more than 70,000 followers on Facebook.

Salina Vakameilalo speaking to the guests during the ceremony

The ceremony drew praise from viewers in Tonga and  overseas. 

By today it had garnered 312 reactions, 208 comments and 30 shares. 

Many viewers applauded the idea and marveled at how it was conducted in the Tongan way. 

It was performed on the town’s rugby field where marquees were set up for the family members and guests.

Both families of the parents, Paea and Salina Vakameilalo attended and the programme included speeches from both families and a prayer service. 

Some baby shower games were played during the event and prizes were awarded before the food was served. 

“What fun, what a great idea – a gender reveal and baby shower at the same time,” a commenter wrote. 

Some made jokes and told other villages and towns in Tonga that Houma was the first to perform a baby shower ceremony in the kingdom.

“Tonga….you first saw it in Houma! Gender reveal and baby shower” another commenter wrote. 

“Bravo Houma you have baby shower and gender reveal ceremony.”

Horse trading continues as vote of no confidence looms; PM appears confident he will survive

By
Kalino Latu
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Horse trading continues as the vote of no confidence approaches, with the PTOA Party approaching Independent MPs in Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa’s Cabinet. 

Outgoing Deputy PM Vuna Fa’otusia (L), PM Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa

It is understood the PTOA is focusing on three Independent Cabinet members in particular to join their attempt to oust the Prime Minister. 

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister appears confident he will survive.

He said nothing about the Vote of No Confidence in his New Year message to the nation last week, instead talking about his Cabinet’s agenda for this year and Bills to be submitted to the House.

This appears to imply that he believes his Cabinet and the Nobles will stand by him and outnumber the PTOA in the vote

Parliament will reconvene next Tuesday, January 12, and Members of the Privilege Standing Committee are expected to meet to discuss the vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister.

MP for Tongatapu 2, Sēmisi Sika filed a motion for a vote of no confidence in Hon. Tu’i’onetoa on December 10.

The motion was supported by 10 MPs.

The vote of no confidence detailed a list of concerns, including the allocation of road building contracts, Covid-19 preparedness and what was seen as selective government support for businesses.

Deputy Prime Minister Sione Vuna Fā’otusia’s resigned in the wake of the motion, citing concerns about what he sees as the undue influence of disgraced former MP ‘Etuate Lavulavu on the Prime Minister and the cost of the government’s prayer and fasting excursions to the outer islands. 

No government has been defeated by a vote of no confidence since legislation to allow them was introduced as part of the 2010 political reforms.

The first motion for a Vote of No Confidence in Tongan history was tabled in June 2012 when the late ‘Akilisi Pohiva tabled a Vote of No Confidence against Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakano. The motion was unsuccessful.

In 2016 amendments were introduced to require that any motion of no confidence must be signed by 10 MPs and that it must be put to the vote within five working days of it being tabled.

In February 2017, Hon. Pōhiva defeated a vote of no confidence tabled by the Nobles and opposition MPs.

Because the current motion was tabled on the final day of the last Parliamentary session,  the Speaker, Lord Fakafanua, ruled that it be tabled on the next sitting day, January 12. 

Unpaid freight saga continues with road contractor saying gov’t agreed to pay his expenses

By
Kalino Latu
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Auckland-based Tongan businessman Sione Foaki Fifita claimed this week the government had agreed to pay his freight expenses for the shipment of heavy machinery from New Zealand.

Prime Minister Tu’i’onetoa (far left) and Sione Foaki Fifita (far right) after the Prime Minister’s first meeting in New Zealand with the Tongan community in 2019. Photo/Kalino Lātū (Kaniva Tonga News)

Speaking to FM 87.5 Broadcom, he said the money was supposed to come from the money the government would pay him for the contract he had been awarded to build and repair roads and the foreshore on Ha’apai. 

Fifita implied that this was the reason he did not pay the shipping company bill himself. 

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Fifita was responding to questions from the radio about a complaint from the New Zealand-based Tongan company, Tripac International Ltd, which is also known as the Friendly Islands Freight, after he and the government failed to pay the shipping fee of more than TP$100,000. 

The complaint was previously reported by Kaniva News after we talked to Friendly Islands Freight Ltd Director Angina Fīnau, who confirmed the government still owed him the money.

In our story last month we reported that Fīnau was considering suing the Tu’i’onetoa government over the fees. 

It is understood the equipment was held at Tripac’s facility at the Queen Sālote wharf when the freight charges were not paid. The equipment was later released after a request from the government, it has been claimed. 

The Minister of Finance and Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa were contacted for a comment for our December story, but did not respond.

The controversy surrounding the government’s deal with Fifita included complaints that the government had awarded a contract to a person with close ties to Hon. Tu’i’onetoa.

Critics have claimed that Fifita and Hon. Tu’i’onetoa come from the same village, Talafo’ou , and have strong family connections. 

Critics said local companies had their own equipment in Tonga to do the work. 

They said the local companies had been investing in Tonga for years and could not believe the government could award it to a New Zealand-based company.  

Tonga Rugby Union has a new CEO

By
Kaniva Staff
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This story originally appeared on RNZ.co.nz and is republished with permission.

The President of the Tonga Rugby Union, Siaosi Pohiva has confirmed Peter Harding has been selected as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Tonga Rugby Union.

Matangi Tonga reports the appointment of Harding, taking from the vice president Fe’ao Vunipola, marks the beginning of the reforming of the troubled union.

On 25 September 2020, a tripartite agreement was signed by World Rugby Ltd, the Government of Tonga, and the Tonga Rugby Union.

David Carrigy signed the agreement for the World Rugby Ltd, Poasi Tei signed for the Government of Tonga, and Siaosi Pohiva signed for the Tonga Rugby Union.

“We agreed this agreement outlines the objectives, high level requirements and performances measures for the Tonga high performance programme and the responsibilities for all parties during the 2020-2024 period,” said Siaosi.

There was also an understanding that once a new CEO was selected, World Rugby would proceed with its program to provide strategic input, administration leadership and governance to the Tongan Rugby Union high performance program to maximise the potential for sustained international success by Tonga Rugby.

Peter Harding has been in affiliation with the development of Tongan Rugby, since 2012, either as the high performance general manager for the Tongan Rugby Union or the team manager for the ‘Ikale Tahi, Tonga’s National Rugby team.

Peter Harding, new CEO of Tonga Rugby Union
Peter Harding, new CEO of Tonga Rugby Union Photo: World Rugby
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