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No word on coronavirus test; WHO warns lack of protective gear endangers health workers

By
Philip Cass
-

Tonga has yet to receive results of the suspected coronavirus sample sent to New Zealand.

And while Tonga waits, the World Health Organisation has warned that the shortage of masks and other protective equipment was putting the lives of health wormers at risk.

As Kaniva news reported earlier this week, Prime Minister Pohiva Tu‘i‘onetoa  confirmed that health authorities have identified the kingdom’s first suspected case of coronavirus.

The suspect is a 21 year-old Tongan woman who flew into the kingdom from Sydney. on Monday.

The woman had flu-like symptoms in Australia, but her symptoms became worse when she got to Tongatapu. The woman went to Vaiola Hospital last week where she was diagnosed with pneumonia.

Health authorities are looking for people the woman has had contact with in Tonga, as well as passengers on the aircraft she arrived on.

Risk

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation has confirmed that Tonga is one of 46 countries to receive additional supplies of personal protective equipment from the international body.

Other Pacific nations to receive help include Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.

The WHO warned that severe and mounting disruption to the global supply of personal protective equipment– caused by rising demand, panic buying, hoarding and misuse – was putting lives at risk.

“Healthcare workers rely on personal protective equipment to protect themselves and their patients from being infected and infecting others,” the WHO said.

“But shortages are leaving doctors, nurses and other frontline workers dangerously ill-equipped to care for COVID-19 patients, due to limited access to supplies such as gloves, medical masks, respirators, goggles, face shields, gowns and aprons.”

Cruise ship ban

Weeks after Tonga turned away three cruise ships, Customary authorities in Wallis and Futuna have banned a planned visit by a German cruise ship to protect the population against the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus.

The cruise ship Soleal is scheduled to sail from French Polynesia via the Cook Islands, Samoa and Wallis to Fiji.

The main points

  • Tonga has yet to receive results of the suspected coronavirus sample sent to New Zealand.
  • As Kaniva news reported earlier this week, Prime Minister Pohiva Tu‘i‘onetoa  confirmed that health authorities have identified the kingdom’s first suspected case of coronavirus.

Acclaimed Tongan documentary about family differences to be shown in United States

By
Philip Cass
-

Tongan documentary For My Father’s Kingdom will be screened in the United States.

The film, which has already been screened  at the Berlin and Auckland international films festivals, is being toured through the United States with support from the Pacific Cooperation Foundation.

The film has been described as ”an intimate, clear-eyed documentary centred on the faith, love and fatherhood of Saia Mafile’o, and his four children.”

In the film Mafile’o remains dedicated to his island culture and gives everything he can to his church, something which has caused deep divisions in this family

The Auckland Film Festival said last year: “In trying to understand her father, director Vea Mafile’o and Jeremiah Tauamiti capture a moving story about generational difference, resilience and unconditional love.”

Last November the film was screened to US-based Tongan Methodist Ministers and community leaders who believed the film would provide an opportunity to bring different generations of the Tongan diaspora together.

The ministers were former classmates of Saia.

Vea Mafile’o said although the film examined her father’s unwavering love for Tonga, the documentary was a universal story that all viewers could identify with.

“This movie really shows the different issues that a lot of our Pacific people face, be it cultural identity, generational disconnection, sacrifice, faith, family and the challenges we face as the diaspora and the children of the diaspora,” she said.

 “The film doesn’t have all the answers, but it provides a space and gives permission for hard tricky things to be talked about. It covers a number of themes but our main take away would be that communication is key, take down the barriers, make real connections, young and old but always come from a place of love.”

Film makers

PCF CEO Don Mann said he hoped For My Father’s Kingdom would encourage a generation of Pacific filmmakers to produce their own stories.

“Advances in technology enables those in the creative sector to think globally,” Mann said.

“As natural story tellers, there is a real opportunity for Pacific filmmakers to have a meaningful place in the global creative sector.”

For My Father’s Kingdom was funded by the New Zealand Film Commission and is distributed by Rialto Distribution.

The main points

  • Tongan documentary For My Father’s Kingdom will be screened in the United States.
  • The film, which has already been screened at the Berlin and Auckland international films festivals, is being toured through the United States with support from the Pacific Cooperation Foundation.

For more information

For My Father’s Kingdom Facebook page

For My Father's Kingdom Official Trailer

🇱🇷🚨Update: We are coming to the USA! Saia his son Robert & daughter Vea will be screeing in San Francisco, Utah, L.A, Los Vegas, Rino, Arizona, Texas & Hawaii 🚨Stay tuned for updates!! Ofa atuWe are so excited to finally launch the trailer for our film – FOR MY FATHERS KINGDOM! 🇹🇴This is an authentic Tongan🇹🇴 and Pacific story honouring the legacy and sacrifice of our parents. Help us spread the word far and wide by tagging your siblings cousins, Kainga, and village! 🙌🇫🇯🇳🇺🇼🇸🇨🇰🇹🇻🇵🇬🇸🇧🇰🇮🇳🇿🇺🇸🇭🇲🇹🇴#ForMyFathersKingdom #fmfk #TonganFilm #pacificwomenfilmmakers #pacificfilm #Tonganpride #pacificpride #secondgenerationislanders #loveourelders #polynesian #micronesians

Posted by For My Father's Kingdom on Thursday, June 20, 2019

New Zealand International Film Festival

https://www.nziff.co.nz/2019/archive-5/for-my-fathers-kingdom/

Italy Closes Down Schools in New Virus Containment Effort: Ansa

By
Kaniva Staff
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By Alessandro Speciale and John Follain; Bloomberg.com

Italy will shut down schools across the country until mid-March to curb the spread of the coronavirus epidemic, newswire Ansa reported.

The closure, which starts Thursday, is aimed at tackling the outbreak of the highly contagious disease, which has killed 79 people in the country and crippled the rich northern regions.

As many as 8.7 million children and students will be affected from kindergarten to high schools and universities, as well as their families. Many in the afflicted regions, from Milan to Venice and Bologna, are already confined at home.

The Italian decision follows up on Japan, which is enforcing a complete school shutdown due to last until April. It will will deal a further blow to an economy that was already headed for recession. The government, according to an official, is studying a stimulus package worth 3.6 billion euros ($4 billion) and pushing its deficit above 2.4% of gross domestic product.

Prime Minister confirms first suspected case of coronavirus; WHO staff treating patient

By
Kalino Latu and Philip Cass
-

The Tongan government has confirmed that health authorities have identified the kingdom’s first suspected case of coronavirus.

The suspect is a 21 year-old Tongan woman who flew into the kingdom from Sydney on Monday, the Minister of Health, Prof ‘Amelia Afuha’amango Tu’ipulotu told Kaniva News this evening.

The Minister said samples were being sent to New Zealand for testing.

The woman had flu-like symptoms in Australia, but her symptoms became worse when she got to Tongatapu. The woman went to Vaiola Hospital last week where she was diagnosed with pneumonia.

The Minister’s comments came after she and Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa held a press conference this afternoon in Nuku’alofa to brief media on the Covid-19 coronavirus response.

Ministry of Health CEO, Dr Siale ‘Akauola said World Health Organisation staff were in Tonga to train staff in handling the coronavirus. They were now treating the patient.

Ministry officials were tracing people she might have had contact with in Tonga.

Border controls

Tonga has already introduced strict border controls and  turned away visitors.

The government recently told three cruise ships not to dock after the virus broke out on another cruise liner, Diamond Princess, which was eventually quarantined in Japan.

The Ministry of Health has said an outbreak of coronavirus in Tonga was likely to cause a high death toll and have serious economic consequences.

On Tuesday the World Health Organisation warned of a global shortage of protective equipment to fight the disease.

The main points

  • The Tongan government has confirmed that health authorities have identified the kingdom’s first suspected case of coronavirus.
  • Tongan media reported this evening that the suspect is a 21 year-old Tongan woman who flew into the kingdom from Sydney on Monday.

Gov’t appoints new faces to senior roles

By
Kalino Latu
-

Two new chief executive officers and an eye doctor have joined those at government’s senior positions.

Dr ‘Ōpeti Pulotu has been appointed as Tonga National Qualifications and Accreditation Board (TNQAB) new Chief Executive Officer effective from 21 February 2020.

Dr Pulotu, from Toula, Vava‘u, recently completed a PhD in Educational Assessment from Durham University in the United Kingdom. He has been the Principal Qualifications Officer at TNQAB since it was established.

Tonga’s sole Ophthalmologist, Dr Duke Mataka has been announced as the new leader of the Ministry of Health’s Ophthalmology Division after obtaining a Masters’ degree in Ophthalmology in 2018 from the Pacific Island Institute, Fiji.

The post had been left vacant for about 10 years.

Government’s partly owned Tonga Cable Limited has appointed Sēmisi Pānuve as its new Chief Executive Officer effective from 2 March.

Pānuve is an engineer by profession and was Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Friendly Islands Satellite Communications Ltd or Tongasat, owned by Princess Pilolevu Tuita, sister of King George Tupou VI.

Three suspended TBC journalists on their 7th week suspension; case still being investigated, board director says

By
Kalino Latu
-

The complaints lodged against three journalists suspended by Tonga Broadcasting Commission (TBC) board in January were still being investigated, a TBC board of director has told Kaniva News.

Sētita Tu’i’onetoa, the TBC Station Manager along with two other television anchors Vilisoni Tu’iniua and Salamo Fulivai were suspended with pay after the national broadcaster board received complaints from former Cabinet Minister and MP ‘Etuate Sungalu Lavulavu.

As the investigation dragged on for seven weeks now, the TBC Board Director Keith Moala said the trio had been suspended after the board received legal advice from its lawyer.

A committee outside the board was then set up to probe accusations which included allegations the journalists did not contact Lavulavu for his comment and televising a news piece which was without merit and being falsified.

Tu’i’onetoa previously told Kaniva News they did not break any laws and she had consulted two lawyers before the news was released.

Meanwhile, the Pacific Media Forum co-chair Ofani Eremae said the forum was calling for “transparency” over the suspensions, which had added to the ongoing history of “intimidation” at the broadcaster.

In 2017, the Prime Minister removed TBC news editor Laumanu Petelo and news manager Viola Ulakai from their positions in the newsroom, accusing them of “unfair reporting” of the government.

Tongan evacuees leave UK for kingdom; world events Tonga expected to join cancelled amid coronavirus fears

By
Kalino Latu
-

The first group of 26 athletes previously stranded in China due to the coronavirus outbreak have begun leaving some quarantined rooms in a hotel in the UK this morning.

They were expected to start arriving in Tonga tomorrow March 5.

The last group of 25 athletes was expected to leave UK on Thursday, said Tongan medical doctor in UK, Dr Faka’osi Pifeleti.

The sport teams included boxing, table tennis, swimming and weightlifting trainees who were being trained in China before they were evacuated to London.  

The Tongan authorities have previously announced that after being quarantined for 14 days in London the sport teams were expected to leave via Dubai and Auckland and will arrive in Tonga on March 5 and 7.

Meanwhile the epidemic has cancelled international upcoming world events in which Tonga was expected to participate.

These included the ITB Berlin Travel Fair, the world biggest travel show which was scheduled for this week, Former Acting Prime Minister Semisi Sika said on Facebook.

He said the Pacific Art Festival in Honolulu which was set to begin in three months time just got canceled.

Vava‘u planned protest withdrawn after authorities diverted cruise ships amid coronavirus fears

By
Kalino Latu
-

A protest planned in Vava’u to force authorities to divert cruise ships coming to their port has been scratched.

Neiafu town officer Vāvā Lapota said they took back their notice yesterday after government announced a diversion order has been put in place to block four cruise ships from docking in Tonga over fears of coronavirus ongoing outbreak.

He told Kaniva News some of those ships had been scheduled to visit Vava’u.

He said the governor met with all district and town officers of Vava’u to discuss the cruise ships upcoming visits and  they all agreed to turn the ships away.

The diversion order came after the kingdom allowed MS Amsterdam to dock in Nuku’alofa on Friday saying it has been cleared by the Ministry of Health.

Asked whether authorities have put any preventive coronavirus measures in place for yachters sailing to the group Lapota said he understood the governor’s office was talking to Nuku’alofa about diverting all yachts to Tongatapu for screening procedures before returning to port in Vava’u.

He said it was normal for yachts to start arriving in Vava’u after next month.

The Maasdam, Silver Whisper, Artania and Carnival Spirit were scheduled to stop in the kingdom on March 9, March 23 and March 31.

“I have reasonable grounds to believe that it is necessary to divert them to a place outside of Tonga,” Health CEO Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola said.

Last month four cruise ships including a yacht – the Astor, Columbus, and Crystal Serenity and a super-yacht Windstirid, were all refused entry in Tonga due to health warnings following the global coronavirus outbreak.

Wealthy investors, tax and land reform part of IMF’s recipe for Tonga’s financial growth

By
Philip Cass
-

Tonga should try to attract wealthy investors, the International Monetary Fund said in its latest report on the kingdom’s economy.

The IMF recommended a raft of polices to improve the country’s economy and to help it face what it said would be a spike in debt repayments from 2024.

The IMF said the kingdom was in “high debt distress.”

It recommended the government build up a budget surplus to allow a sufficient build-up of fiscal buffers for debt repayment.

It also needed to rationalise  the taxation regime to allow for sufficient reserves

The IMF also recommended increasing the emergency fund to meet unexpected climate  related shocks

Among its other recommendations were to introduce policies and schemes on land issues and investment policies to attract large and wealthy investors.

“The complexity and non-transparency and delays in the operation of the land market is critical to attracting of large investors and strategically expanding the production and economic base of Tonga,” the IMF said.

The financial institution said Tonga’s economic performance was gradually growing and could grow more strongly if it implemented its policies.

It said the kingdom’s economic growth was three percent in the 2019 financial year.

This was driven by consumer demand, overseas remittances and effective monetary policy, and credit growth.

However, it noted that economic growth was slower due to market losses after Cyclone Gita.

The IMF also noted low inflation, a fourth consecutive budget surplus and a stable financial sector.

The main points

  • Tonga should try to attract t wealthy investors, the International Monetary Fund says in its lest report on the kingdom’s economy.
  • The IMF recommended a raft of polices to improve the country’s economy and to help it face what it said would be a spike in debt repayments from 2024.

Tonga Ma‘a says support for TRNL body could jeapordise country’s future in world game

By
Philip Cass
-

Any attempt to declare the Tonga National Rugby League as the governing body of the game in Tonga is unlawful.

That is the latest salvo in the ongoing struggle over the future of League in the kingdom.

Saia Penitani of the Tonga Ma’a Tonga Rugby League Inc said the Supreme Court had declared in October last year that there was no law giving the TNRL the right to solely govern rugby league in Tonga.

Penitani’s comments come ahead of a hearing later this month at which full members of the international body will decide whether to uphold the expulsion of TNRL.

As Kaniva News reported last week, Tonga’s Prime Minister has written and asked IRL and its member countries to readmit TNRL to the international body’s membership.  

“That we seek a review and lifting by the board of IRL and its member countries of the expulsion of the TNRL,” the Prime Minister said in a copy of his letter seen by Kaniva.

As we reported last month, the TRNL is appealing its expulsion.

A decision to reverse the expulsion of TNRL would require a 75% agreement of the full membership.

READ MORE:

The expulsion came after a three  month investigation of the TNRL.

“TNRL is a duly registered body as is TMTRL; the crucial difference is the membership of TMTRL far exceeds that of TNRL,” Penitani said.

“We question the legitimacy of any endorsement of TNRL in light of the clear fact that in doing so it promotes the interests of the minority in TNRL at the expense of the interests of the majority in TMTRL, our rugby league players and rugby league in Tonga.”

Claims by the TRNL that it wanted to foster inclusivity and harmony appeared to be contradicted  by statements that the Tongan government was advocating for the TNRL whose support consisted of a small minority of rugby league clubs.

“To foster harmony is to cede with grace to the will of the majority, that is the will of the majority of clubs and of fans who support our international players, players who have repeatedly made clear their refusal to work with or play under TNRL,” Penitani said.

“Any insistence on dictating that TNRL is the governing body is blatant interference that could jeopardises Tonga’s future participation in the rugby league international community and competitions.

“It is entirely the prerogative of the RLIF to decide who the rugby league member Federation in Tonga is.”

The main points

  • Any attempt to declare the Tonga National Rugby League as the governing body of the game in Tonga is unlawful.
  • That is the latest salvo in the ongoing struggle over the future of League in the kingdom.
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