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Public outcry after heavy rains flooded houses; residents call on Lavulavu to ā€œcome and remove rocksā€ to lessen flooding impacts

By
Kalino Latu
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Dramatic flooding in Haā€™alaufuli, Vava’u this morning sent residents into panic as houses became uninhabitable and the only drain became blocked.

Kaloni’s house in Ha’alaufuli was flooded after a heavy rain this morning. Photo/Screenshot

The water washed away rocks being used to fill the new roads which are being built as part of Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoaā€™s controversial multi-million road project.

Haā€™alaufuli residents called on road work contractor, disgraced ā€˜Etuate Lavulavu to come and work on the roads to help ease the flooding.

They said they had warned about possible problems when the road works began.

ā€˜Asinate Fifita Tuā€™akalau shared a video of the flooding to social media this afternoon, which was seen by Kaniva News.

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She told us the flooding occurred this morning.

Neiafu Town Officer Vāvā Lapota described the rain as ā€œhugeā€ and said it lasted from 7am until 4pm.

Kaloni, a local widow, who spoke on the video, said she had pleaded with Lavulavu to be careful about how the roads were built and was scared any heavy rain might flood her house.

She said Lavulavu did not appear to listen.

ā€œNo one listened to me,ā€ Kaloni said.

The video showed her walking on a verandah in what appear to be floodwater.

ā€œLook at this,ā€ she invited viewers to look at the water.

She said there was no flooding like that before to her property.

Kaloni, who appeared emotional, said on the video she went to the estate holder as well as the district officer and complained to them about the road construction.

She invited viewers in the video to see the state of the road works.

ā€œKovi ā€˜aupito (very bad),ā€ she said.

She said before her husbandā€™s death he told her that if the road was built it would cause flooding.

She said the road was higher than the stone fence of her property, which Kaniva News estimated from the video as about a metre high.

The Prime Ministerā€™s road project was announced as Tongaā€™s biggest project.

It was estimated to have cost taxpayers TP$300 million, to be completed in four years.

Critics of the project claimed the contractors did not have enough experience.

There have been repeated complaints about the awarding of the contracts to people with close tie to the government.

In his New Year’s speech the Prime Minister praised the project and said it was built solidly to last for a long time.

The new roads in Vavaā€™u and in Tongatapu have been previously reported to have been damaged by heavy rains and tropical cyclones.

Lavulavu could not be reached for comment.

PTOA Global New Zealand will not support protest in favour of vote of no confidence

By
Kalino Latu
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Tensions between both the two major PTOA chapters in New Zealand have been running high this week, as authorities for PTOA Global New Zealand declared they would not support the protest organised for this Saturday.

PTOA Supporters protesting in Mangere, South Auckland in 2019 while PM Tu’i’onetoa was holding a meeting with members of the Tongan community in a church hall from across the road. Photo/Kalino Latu (Kaniva Tonga)

The president of the PTOA Global New Zealand said he declined a request from the PTOA International New Zealand to join the rally.

Vainikolo Tāufa told Kaniva News his chapter saw the protest differently from the organisers and the International.

He said his chapter still believed in democracy and the push for Tonga to be more democratic.

As Kaniva News reported earlier this week, a protest to support the vote of no confidence against Prime Minister Pōhiva Tuā€™iā€™onetoaā€™s government will be held in Auckland this Saturday, January 9.

The peaceful protest is being planned by the PTOA International supporters in Auckland.

The supporters are expected to parade along Auckland Centralā€™s Queen Street if an application is allowed by the Auckland City Council.

It is expected the marchers will end up at One Tree Hill with a barbecue.

ā€œThe protest on Saturday is not supported by PTOA Global New Zealand,ā€ the chapterā€™s treasurer ā€˜Ilaiasi Lelei ā€˜Ufi said on his Facebook page.

Supporters of the PTOA International said they respected the response from the PTOA Global.

International vs Global

The two chapters became divided after the Global Chapter publicly criticised the PTOA Party in Tonga known as the Core Team, which included all Party MPs, about the way they operated the Party.

The Global chapter, containing the PTOA Global New Zealand and the US PTOA Global, has repeatedly called on the Core Team to remove MP Mateni Tapueluelu after he was accused of causing chaos within the Party leading to its loss of power in September 2019.

The Global chapter has elected New Zealand Tongan-based Money Lender ā€˜Ilaiasi Lelei ā€˜Ufi as PTOA candidate to replace Tapueluelu in the upcoming general election in November, something the International did not support. The Global leaders have often criticised Party Leader Sēmisi Sika and Secretary Siaosi Pōhiva.

The International Chapter still supports Tapueluelu and the Party’s 10 MPs and the leadership of Hon. Sika

Global division

In a bizarre twist, the US PTOA Global frontliner Sharon Sēkona broke away from the US chapter last month and declared she no longer trusted Leader Tilila Siolaā€™a Shumchai.

Sēkona alleged there were serious mismanagement and financial irregularities in the groupā€™s financial management.

She and her followers set up a new group called PTOA Kolope.

President Tāufa told Kaniva News they would hold a meeting this Saturday to decide their future with the US Global.

In May last year Prime Minister Tu’i’onetoa, himself a former member of the PTOA, predicted that the Party would row about who would have the power and end up in disarray.

Prime Minister tells listeners kingdom’s economy and finances are fine, praises road project and says government’s airline is making money

By
Kalino Latu
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Prime Minister Tu’i’onetoa has told a radio audience that Tonga’s economic and financial status was fine – ā€œfaingamālie pe.ā€

Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa. Photo/Broadcom (Screenshot)

The Prime Minister, who holds a Doctorate of Christian Ministry from Faith Evangelical Lutheran Seminary in the United States, said the kingdom’s budget relied heavily on God.

Hon. Tu’i’onetoa made the claim in his New Year’s address, which was transmitted by Broadcom.

He said the projected budget deficit would be less than the forecast TP$60 million.

The nationā€™s financial status would be better, he said.

Tonga’s financial status had already been badly affected by the damage caused to the tourism industry by Cyclone Gita at the beginning of 2020. The closure of Tonga’s borders, the reduction in income from Tongans working on farms in Australia and New Zealand and the drop in exports were all expected to lead to financial hardship.

The International Monetary Fund has predicted that Pacific Island economies as a whole would suffer from what it termed ā€œdeeper wounds than even the worst natural disasterā€ caused by prolonged loss of revenue.

As a sign of Tonga’s financial health, the Prime Minister said the government-owned Lulutai airline was making money, although he did not provide any figures to show the level of profit being generated.

Hon. Tu’i’onetoa said there were times when the company’s aircraft were full.

Lulutai was created by the government after the kingdom’s previous airline, Real Tonga, shut down its operations after becoming mired in debt. The privately-owned airline had sought government assistance.

Even before Lulutai got off the ground there was considerable controversy over attempts to undermine its first CEO, Captain Maikolo Faasolo, an internationally experienced pilot with a Masters degree in Air Transport Management from City University, London.

The Prime Minister attributed the success of Lulutai to a new economic model he said was recently approved by his Cabinet.

Lulutai is using the same fleet as Real Tonga, including the Saab S340B and the Harbin Y-12. Aircraft. The Saab had to be heavily repaired after a bird strike while flying out of Vava’u in early May last year.

Hon. Tu’i’onetoa, praised his government’s multi-million pa’anga road project and said it was running well. He said the roads were built solidly so they would function for a long time. Roads in Vava’u and Tongatapu have been badly affected by recent heavy rain.

Finally, the Prime Minister said the government was planning to continue repatriating Tongans stranded overseas. A flight from New Zealand was expected on January 14.

More than 5000 Tongans are still stranded overseas including about 1475 RSE workers in New Zealand.

The Tongan government said recently it had to give a fair chance for all Tongans to return to Tonga.

‘Umukisia Fiva death: Accused due to appear in Auckland High Court on February 3

By
Kalino Latu
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A Tongan man charged with killing a Tongan woman in South Auckland last year is due to appear in court next month.

‘Umukisia Tu’iono. Photo/Facebook

An Auckland High Court spokesperson told Kaniva News this morning the ā€œdeceased was ā€˜Umukisia Fiva who died on the 27th September 2020 at Manurewa.ā€

It said ā€œthe accused is appearing at the High Court on the 3rd February 2021 at 9.00am.ā€

ā€œThe charge is manslaughter.ā€

Fiva, who was also known by the name ā€˜Umukisia Tuiono died after being allegedly assaulted by the accused.

Police arrived at the Smedley Street property at 3.20am and the accused was arrested a short time later. .

Fiva died at the scene. Her body was later laid to rest in Auckland.

The accused’s identity is known to Kaniva News and it was shared on Facebook last year while the victim’s death was reported, but we could not release it even at this stage for legal reasons.

It is understood the deceased and the accused were in a relationship and they were visiting families in New Zealand before the fatal incident occurred.

Auckland PTOA supporters plan peaceful rally in support of no confidence motion on January 9

By
Kalino Latu
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A protest to support the vote of no confidence against Prime Minister Pōhiva Tuā€™iā€™onetoa’s  government will be held in Auckland next Saturday, January 9.

PTOA Supporters peaceful protest against Prime Minister Pōhiva Tuā€™iā€™onetoa in South Auckland in December 2019 turned violent after some of the Prime Ministerā€™s supporters launched themselves at the protesters from across the road. Photo/Kalino LātÅ« (Kaniva News)

The  peaceful protest is being planned by the Tonga Democratic Party (PTOA) supporters in Auckland. 

The supporters are expected to parade along Auckland Central’s Queen Street if an application is allowed by the Auckland City Council. 

PTOA Auckland frontliner Lihai Lui announced the event yesterday.

ā€œI am asking all Tongans who believe in the principle of good governance to march peacefully to support our MPs who submitted this vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister Tuā€™iā€™onetoa government,ā€ Lui said in Tongan. 

In December 2019  PTOA supporters rallied in South Auckland during a visit by Hon.  Tuā€™iā€™onetoa. Lui asked supporters to demonstrate peacefully and lawfully.

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Unfortunately, events took an ugly turn when some of the Prime Minister’s supporters launched themselves at the PTOA members who were singing hymns and holding up banners  on the other side of the road from the church where the meeting was being held.

Several police cars were called to the scene.

The motion for a vote of no confidence uncovered many areas of concern about the government, including the granting of roading contracts to companies with very close ties to the government.

The motion was tabled by leading Democrat Sēmisi Sika and was signed by 10 MPs. 

Parliament is expected to reconvene on January 12.

Deputy Prime Minister Sione Vuna Fāā€™otusia subsequently resigned and criticised the government over what he said was the undue influence of disgraced former MP ā€˜Etuate Lavulavu on the Prime Minister and the cost of the governmentā€™s prayer and fasting excursions to the outer islands.

Among the motion’s other main concerns were the apparent lack of planning for Covid-19. 

There were also charges that the government had been extremely selective in its allocation of financial support for business, including money for a boat operation in ‘Eua and the refusal to help Real Tonga Airlines, effectively shutting them down, yet starting a new airline owned and funded by Government.

There were also questions about where the TP$610,600 set aside from the Prime Ministerā€™s Office current budget under the heading ā€˜announcements for media,ā€™ had been spent.

Waikeria Prison protesters surrender to authorities

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

The 16 protesters at Waikeria Prison have surrendered to authorities after a six-day stand-off.

Smoke coming from Waikeria Prison, on the 6th day of a destructive protest.
Photo: RNZ/ Riley Kennedy

The news the men had ended the stand-off came in a statement from Māori Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi, who said he escorted the prisoners out about 12pm today.

Waititi said the prisoners were ready to come down.

“Naturally, they were tired and hungry but still very determined to see change.

“They have achieved what they set out to do when they embarked on bringing attention to their maltreatment in prison.”

Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis said the men received food and water and will soon be transported to other prisons around the country.

A plume of smoke could still be seen rising from the fire-damaged buildings at Waikeria Prison this morning.

The 16 inmates had been protesting at the prison since Tuesday, when several fires started. Corrections has said there’s been widespread destruction of buildings and property, and the men have acted violently.

But the men had said they were protesting unacceptable conditions at the prison, after complaints about inhumane treatment had not been listened to.

Supporters of the protesters outside Waikeria Prison
Supporters of the protesters outside Waikeria Prison Photo: RNZ/ Riley Kennedy

Davis said the protesters had done a lot of damage to the part of the prison they were in and it was now unusable.

The arson, violence and destruction carried out by the men were reckless criminal acts, and the responsibility for laying charges was with police, he said.

There are many legitimate avenues for prisoners to raise concerns about their conditions, Davis said.

Five of the men involved in the disorder are deportees from Australia, and three are subject to returning offender orders because of their criminal convictions.

At a press conference this afternoon, Davis said he was involved from the outset, but wanted to give professionals the space, time and resources to do their ob.

He said the “true heroes” were the negotiators who spent six days at this site working with the prisoners.

Davis said he had noted before that he did not like the state of the upper part of the prison, but that did not excuse the actions of the protesting inmates.

He said he had “total confidence” all prisoners across the network were being looked after in accordance to the Corrections Act.

Department of Corrections chief executive Jeremey Lightfoot said there was “no excuse” for what the men did, and there were multiple ways for prisoners to complain, including to the Ombudsman.

“Let me be clear, there are many channels to complain.”

He said it was not appropriate to take this action as a way of complaining, and it was a criminal act.

Lightfoot said he was proud of the collaboration between Corrections staff, police and other emergency colleagues, as it was a very complex matter in a dangerous area that took a lot of effort and planning to ensure it was resolved safely.

Prisoners’ supporters on site

Several family members of the prisoners were outside the gates again today and were calling for a peaceful end to the protest.

One told RNZ that their cousin who was protesting didn’t care if he lives or dies, because he was standing up for his rights.

She said he had become fed up with conditions in the jail, and was determined to stick it out.

“He was agitated, he was hungry, he was thirsty… but he said he’d stick it out… at least he knows he’s standing up for his rights and the rights of others who are going to be incarcerated in this prison.”

The woman said her cousin was only on remand for non-payment of fines and had a 6-month-old baby at home.

Corrections had said the men have been given opportunities to negotiate, and would not be given water unless they surrender.

In a statement earlier this morning, Corrections said the situation remained “incredibly volatile”.

“The prisoners have continued to light fires within the facility overnight, make threats toward our staff and police and throw debris at them from the roof of the buildings.

“Our options for intervention are limited due to the dangers present.”

Waititi, who previously tried to negotiate with the prisoners at their request, had said an Ombudsman’s Report, published in August, supports the men’s claims about the conditions at the prison, and has called on the government to resolve the situation and end basic human rights breaches.

He said today that while people that do crime must serve their time, they must also be treated in a just and humane way.

“Even prison guards acknowledged to us that the state of the unit was unacceptable.

“These men are not animals, they are humans; they are brothers, fathers and sons and are deserving of better treatment.”

More thunder, rain on the way, and possibility of hail and tornadoes

By
Kalino Latu
-

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

MetService is warning of thunderstorms and heavy rainfall in many parts of the country, and the risk of “large, damaging hail and possibly a small tornado” in eastern parts of the North Island.

no caption
Photo: 123rf

Many roads are closed today due to flooding in Otago and Southland, where some campers remain stranded.

MetService has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for most of the North Island, from Northland down to Wairarapa, and for several areas in the South Island, including north and central Otago, Dunedin, Clutha and Southland.

The weather authority said in a statement there was a risk thunderstorms may become severe, resulting in surface and/or flash flooding.

It said there was a “moderate risk of large damaging hail and possibly a small tornado” in the far eastern parts of Taupō, Taihape, Hawke’s Bay and the Tararua District.

There was also a risk of large hail in eastern Otago, and possibly hail larger than 20mm in diameter in South Canterbury.

Campers stranded

About 200 festival goers are stranded at a camping ground in Otago with the main road out flooded.

It is the last day of the five-day-long Whare Flat Folk festival but people might have to stay at the Waiora Scout Camp for another night.

Festivals promotions manager Annabel Roy said there is plenty of food and everyone is safe and keeping themselves well entertained.

The floodwaters in Middlemarch on Saturday night.
The floodwaters in Middlemarch on Saturday night. Photo: Supplied / Robin Thomas

Southland District Mayor Gary Tong said while the region had been spared major damage Waikaia locals were looking after several campers who had to be evacuated.

“They certainly can’t get out of Waikaia yet, but I understand the river is receding rather quickly, so hopefully people will be able to return to their normal life by the end of the day as long as the rain keeps away.”

A helicopter would fly over the area affected by floods today, to search for any stranded campers remaining in the Waikaia valley.

Another severe thunderstorm warning had been issued for the area this afternoon.

Otago’s Waitaki district was hit especially hard by the flooding, with the Otematata River overflowing its banks, after a hasty evacuation of campers there. But there had been heavy local downpours across much of the South Island as well as Northland, the Coromandel Peninsula, eastern Waikato and Taupō.

Risk water system may become contaminated

Boil water notices were in place for many places in Otago due to the flooding, especially for those using a bore water supply, and people should check for updates about water warnings on their local council website before using tap water.

Dunedin City Council said the waste water system may have been affected by heavy rain, so the flood waters should be treated as contaminated.

RNZ reporter Sarah Robson is in the Otago town Middlemarch and says many of the town’s roads remain closed, some with knee-deep flood water, and others covered in mud and silt.

Middlemarch this morning.
Middlemarch this morning. Photo: RNZ / Sarah Robson

The council is asking Middlemarch residents not to flush their toilets until further notice after a lightning strike cut power to the area. The power cut means the town’s sewerage system won’t operate as usual, and there’s a risk wastewater flooding will occur. Power is expected to be restored about 4.30pm today.

From midday, a tanker would provide water to residents wanting to fill up containers beside the Strath-Taieri Community Centre.

Many roads closed in Otago, Southland

The Transport Agency has closed sections of State Highways 83, 87 and 90 due to flooding, with various detours in place.

The floodwaters in Middlemarch on Saturday night.
The floodwaters in Middlemarch on Saturday night. Photo: Supplied / Robin Thomas

Many local roads were affected, and in Otago, there were still closures on State Highway 87 between Kyeburn and Outram, and between Otematata and Aviemore due to flooding and a washout; as well as on State Highway 90 between Waikoikoi and Tapanui.

In the Bay of Plenty, State Highway 2 was also closed between Nukuhou and Kutarere, and between Opotiki and Gisborne, because of flooding and slips after heavy rain last night.

MetService said 150mm of rain had fallen on some parts of Otago in the last 24 hours, with one weather station in the hills recording more than 200mm between midday on 1 January and midnight last night.

Otago Civil Defence controller Matt Alley said motorists should be particularly careful on the roads today, and should highwaycheck conditions before heading out, as well as the state of local roads, which were posted on local council websites.

Thunderstorms could take place this afternoon that might bring localised downpours and flash flooding, which could be severe from Clutha to North Otago, with Dunedin within the area that could be worst hit.

Travellers from UK, US must test negative for Covid-19 before flying to NZ from next week

By
Kaniva Staff
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This story originally appeared on TVNZ and is republished with permission

Pre-departure testing will be introduced from Friday week for all travellers from the UK and US coming to New Zealand, the Minister responsible for the Covid-19 response announced today.

Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said the new measures are in response to a growing number of cases worldwide. Source: 1 NEWS

From 11.59pm on January 15, travellers from these countries will have to return a negative Covid-19 test in the 72 hours before they depart.

Chris Hipkins said travellers would need to have certified proof from a laboratory of their test result, or another form of approved evidence.

ā€œIt reduces the risk of infected passengers on international long haul flights infecting other passengers with Covid-19.ā€

Regardless of the results of the pre-departure test, returnees would still stay in a managed isolation facility for 14 days, he said.

Hipkins said work was also underway to extend the requirement to other long-haul flights to New Zealand.

ā€œWe expect to be in a position to provide more details within the next week ā€“ after we get a more complete picture of testing regimes and capabilities in overseas jurisdictions.ā€

Hipkins first signalled the change at the end of last month.

A change will be made to New Zealandā€™s Air Border Order to enforce the changes.

ā€œWe know this will add to the stress of travellers wanting to get to New Zealand and have made this decision carefully,ā€ Hipkins said.

“Whilst New Zealand is in a very fortunate position and we are all enjoying a summer … we can’t ignore the fact that Covid-19 continues to spread around the rest of the world.

“We want to do all that we can to reduce the overall number of positive cases that we have to deal with in our managed isolation facilities, and also reduce the risk of Covid-19 spreading on planes and in transit.”

An additional day zero or one test will also apply for those coming from the UK and US, alongside current routine day three and 12 testing.

The early testing would allow people to be transferred to quarantine facilities earlier, if required, Hipkins said.

He said a ā€œvery limited numberā€ of people may be exempt from pre-departure Covid-19 tests for medical reasons and if they donā€™t show symptoms of Covid-19.

The new requirements will come into force on flights arriving in New Zealand after 11.59pm on January 15.

Pulu says unless Lavulavu was stopped by Cabinet secretary or PM, he had a right to speakĀ 

By
Kalino Latu
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Former MP and Cabinet Minister ā€˜Isileli Pulu has defended ā€˜Etuate Lavulavu and asked what was wrong with the disgraced former MP speaking on behalf of the government.

Disgraced ‘Etuate Lavulavu and ‘Isileli Pulu

Pulu was responding to a story we published last month under the heading ‘Lavulavu will not say who authorised him to speak regularly and publicly on behalf of Prime Minister TuŹ»iŹ»onetoaā€™s government.’

Pulu also asked what law Lavulavu breached.

At the time, we contacted Lavulavu, but he told us his answers could be found in interviews with FM 88.9 or Tonga Broadcasting Commission.

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Local people asked what his position in government was.

Last month in Vavaā€™u, Lavulavu spoke almost everywhere the Prime Minister and his government delegates went to promote the Prime Ministerā€™s taxpayer-funded fasting and prayer service to combat Covid-19.

During a celebration in Tuā€™anekivale, Vavaā€™u  last week, Lavulavu introduced a donation and a Tongan entertainment item sponsored by Prime Minister Pōhiva TuŹ»iŹ»onetoa, his family and members of his delegation.

He was making jokes about the Prime Minister during his introduction which many observers felt showed how confident and close he was to  Hon. TuŹ»iŹ»onetoa. They felt Lavulavu could  say anything he wanted in front of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet Ministers.

The Chief Secretary General and some of the Cabinet Ministers, including senior staff of the Prime Ministerā€™s Office were there. Critics asked why a former Minister, who was barred from Parliament after being found guilty of bribery, was allowed to speak at an important event that was shown on Facebook as well as being broadcast.

Kaniva News contacted Pulu and asked whether he did not believe we had the right to publish a story which raised questions about why Lavulavu spoke on behalf of the Prime Minister when he was not a Cabinet member or civil servant.

Pulu agreed that Kaniva News had the right  to ask such question about Lavulavu.

However, he said he was concerned that the story appeared to accuse Lavulavu of wrongdoing when he spoke at government ceremonies.

ā€œThe question is whether Lavulavu was repeatedly asked to stop speaking and disobeyed the request,ā€ Pulu said.

ā€œIf he was not stopped by the Chief Secretary and the PM it was clear they were willing to allow him to speak.ā€

The Prime Minister told the media his Peopleā€™s Party, of which Lavulavu was Deputy Chair, was affiliated with the Cabinet.

He said Lavulavu was free to speak on behalf of the government.

Kaniva News has not accused Lavulavu of breaking any law.

Like any citizen, Lavulau can speak anytime to support the Prime Minister and Cabinet. He operated a local Tongan newspaper Kalonikali and the broadcasting radio station 88.9 FM. These media were propagandist and Lavulavu used them to attack the governmentā€™s critics and support PM Tuā€™iā€™onetoa and the Cabinet.

However, as we have reported, people have  been concerned when Lavulavu appeared to speak on behalf of  the Prime Minister and the government at events attended by the Prime Minister, his Cabinet Ministers and Chief Secretary. One example was the event at Tuā€™anekivale, Vavaā€™u last month.

A number of citizens have been concerned that an unelected individual should not appear to act as if he is a herald or official spokesman for the Prime Minister of the government.

Such concerns are clearly a matter of public interest and we have reported them as such.

The Prime Minister’s statement appears to make it clear that he is happy for Lavulavu to speak for the government.

That is of course his right, but it raises an issue we dealt with last night, which is the nature of public perception.

Voters want to see open, honest and fair government. They also want to see that the government and the people around it abide by the highest standards.

With a vote of no confidence looming and an election ahead, Prime Minister  TuŹ»iŹ»onetoa must be concerned about how taxpayers, voters and the ordinary person in the street perceive his government’s  behaviour.

The people may become very concerned if the government appears to be giving free reign to controversial figures or those with convictions.

It is a matter of public record that Lavulavu has been before the courts several times over the years. He lost his Parliamentary seat and Cabinet position in 2016 after being found guilty of committing bribery.

Lavulavu is currently involved in legal dispute over leased land, in which he is accused of forging a landlordā€™s signature in Vavaā€™u.

He is also awaiting a court hearing after he and his wife ā€˜Akosita Lavulavu, the Minister of Tourism, were charged with knowingly dealing with forged documents and obtaining credit by false pretences, after irregularities in an audit of the ‘Unuaki ‘o Tonga Royal Institute in 2016.

In a case in 2000, Lavulavu was sued by the Late Prince Tuā€™ipelehake for damages and unlawful cultivation of his land. In his summing up of the trial, Lord Chief Justice Ward said Lavulavu ā€œwas willing to say almost anything that seemed to suit the moment with a repeated disregard for the truth.ā€

Huge flooding in Vavaā€˜u last week underlines Islanders’ concerns about state of infrastructureĀ 

By
Kalino Latu
-

Neiafu Town officer Vāvā Lapota  said the media should continue to expose damage caused by natural disasters and poor infrastructure in Vavaā€™u.

A burst of heavy rain caused flooding in Vava’u, damaging roads and causing traffic chaos. Photos/Vāvā Lapota

He said Vavaā€™u was steep and it only took a day of heavy rain for damage to occur.

The flooding last week worsened the damage caused by cyclone Zasu last month to the new roads built by the government under the Prime Ministerā€™s multi-million road project.

The floods were caused by poor or no drainage at all, he said. Houses in Neiafu were damaged and some vehicles had to avoid certain roads because they were overwhelmed with water.

He said only one of two drainage systems in Neiafu were working, with the others blocked by vegetation.

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Lapota said the drains were built about 10 years ago, but did not work properly.

He said there would have been no flooding if they had been built and maintained properly.

He said there was about a kilometre-long stretch of low-lying land that always flooded after heavy rain. If there was drainage  the water could be drained into the Vaipua sea.

complaining

Lapota said he complained to an officer at the Ministry of Infrastructureā€™s office in Vavaā€™u about the problems. He said the officer told him the problems occurred because people did not build the foundations of their houses high enough so flooding was not be a problem.

ā€œI told him that was wrong,ā€ Lapota said.

ā€œIf they built drainage it could resolve the problem. Not only that, but these houses were built when the roads were low. But since they repeatedly filled in the roads with layers of rocks to cover potholes it caused more problems,ā€™ Lapota said.

Last week’s flooding came after heavy rain has caused flooding on many homes in Neiafu in November 2020.

The town officer described it as the worst flooding since the last 10 years.

MOI staff

Lapota said locals were concerned that those in the MOI office in Vavaā€™u may not have enough experience or qualifications to do their job.

He said the issue was raised with Prime Minister Tuā€™iā€™onetoa when he first visited Vavaā€™u to hear about their urgent needs early last year.  He said  former Parliamentary candidate Viliami Pasikala asked Hon. Tuā€™iā€™onetoa to send a civil engineer from Tongatapu to work on Vavaā€™uā€™s infrastructure including the roads.

Pasikala said the government infrastructure in Vavaā€™u built in the past was still standing because it was built by qualified civil engineers.

During that meeting, Former Director of the Ministry of Agriculture Haniteli Faā€™anunu told the Prime Minister the level of government senior staff at Vavaā€™u should be upgraded from officers in charge (OIC) and additional people should be employed at deputy levels.

He said developments in Vavaā€™u were stalled and it was a pity to see it reflected in what he described as the worrying status of the tourism industry and the labour and commerce sectors.

He told the Prime Minster to bring better educated and young government staff to Vavaā€™u.

The Prime Minister always said the reasons he visited the outer islands and met people was to give him an opportunity to see the problems they encountered.

He gave an example by saying that when he stepped down from the big boat into a small boat to travel to an island, coupled with being wet in the sea, he felt and experienced the problems the islanders faced from time to time.

Infrastructure Minister Akosita Lavulavu has been contacted for comment.

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