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Siaosi Pohiva declares victory in tight Tongatapu by-election

By
Kalino Latu
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Siaosi Pohiva has declared victory in the Tongatapu 1 by-election after he secured the democrats’ seat over his opponent Dr Netatua Pelesikoti Taufatofua by 16 votes.

Siaosi won 1160 votes against 1144 for Dr Taufatofua.

The election was held to fill the vacancy left  by the death of former Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva, Siaosi’s father.

Dr Taufatofua lost to the former Prime Minister in 2017. ‘Akilisi won it by 1376 votes.

Siaosi is an educational assessment specialist who has worked for the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.

A total of 4,382 voters have registered for the election.

This is 126 more than registered for the general election in 2017.

By-election results:

  Siaosi ‘O Vailahi Pohiva Dr Netatua Pelesikoti Taufatofua
Longolongo 239 270
Halavave 253 153
Sopu ‘O Taufa 312 111
Kolomotu’a 222 454
Tongataeapa 102 134
Ha’apai 14 6
Vava’u 11 10
Eua 4 5
Niuafoou 1 0
Niuatoputapu 2 1
TOTAL 1160 1144

‘No foul play’: Police report clears company at centre of Tonga cable cut

By
Kaniva Staff
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By Mackenzie Smith , RNZ

Tongan police have concluded there was no foul play in the cutting of the country’s only undersea internet cable in January.

The finding eases blame on ship owners who were accused of being part of a sabotage plot after a dragging anchor left Tonga with drastically limited internet and phone services for 12 days.

The incident on 24 January sparked widespread panic and cost Tonga an estimated $US200,000.

Police launched an investigation in February to assess whether the damage to the cable was deliberate or accidental. A report was due back in July but police have refused to release the document or comment on the investigation.

A police spokesperson could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.

However, a May briefing prepared by New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) said the report “concludes there was no foul play and a ship had dragged its anchor”. The briefing, which was obtained under the Official Information Act, did not include a copy of the report.

The owners of the ship – identified by Tonga as the Duzgit Venture – have said they were assisting investigations.

RNZ Pacific reported in August that the Turkey-based Duzgit had previously admitted it could have “trapped a cable with its anchor” in Tonga on the day the internet cable was cut. Duzgit could not immediately be reached to comment for this story.

The director of Tonga Cable, which manages Tonga’s internet cable, Paula Piukala told RNZ Pacific in July that the ship’s actions were “intentional” and “clearly sabotage” by a powerful but unknown actor, but has not provided any evidence to support his claims.

Mr Piukala did not respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.

Tonga’s Police Minister, Mateni Tapueluelu, has said Tonga’s government would seek costs against anyone responsible for the cable cut. Mr Tapueluelu did not respond to requests for comment.

“It is likely the government will seek compensation from the shipping company,” the May MFAT briefing said.

As of September, the Duzgit Venture was still making oil shipments to Tonga, according to its local agent, Dateline Shipping.

PTOA advocates mock Melino Maka as his death threats against Tonga’s PM complaint case closed

By
Kalino Latu
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The Chair of Tonga Advisory Council in Auckland Melino Maka has been mocked after New Zealand police announced his complaint has been closed without anybody being charged.

Maka has been also accused of attempting to make malicious allegations against the democrat supporters (PTOA) after he linked them to the online threats against Prime Minister Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa.

The PTOA supporters have denied any involvement.

Maka laid the complaint last week saying the threats had upset many members of Tonga’s community in New Zealand.

As we reported last week, the complaint was made after what appeared to have been part of a post on Facebook alleging there was a threat to also kill Hon Tu’i’onetoa’s political colleague ‘Etuate Lavulavu.

In a statement on Wednesday, police said they spoke to the person involved and found they were “remorseful and meant no harm”.

A police spokesperson said threatening a person was a serious crime that could result in prosecution.

“This is true regardless of who is making the threat or what medium they use. Making these threats can cause serious harm to the victims, whether it is acted upon or not.”

Maka took to Facebook last week and posted a comment which was accompanied by a screenshot of what appeared to be the original post on which he based his complaint to Police.

In that screenshot the threat was made by a person who goes by the name of Moana Fameitau.

Maka told his followers he had been busy that “morning with calls from our community here in NZ about this threat to kill Hon Tu’ionetoa (PM Kingdom of Tonga) and Lavulavu.” 

When Tonga Broadcasting Commission asked how many callers he received Maka said there were four of them.

He also accused the PTOA advocates of making the threat.

“To the NZ PTOA committee, like it or not you have to understand and respect democracy. So you have now deal with the police,” Maka wrote.

But a PTOA spokesperson in Auckland denied any involvement and said the poster was not a member of their group.

The PTOA advocates have applauded the closure with many saying the complaint was made in jest and it should have not been addressed by Police.

In the PTOA chatroom on Facebook, of which has been viewed by Kaniva news, the supporters welcomed the New Zealand police’s announcement that the case had been closed.

“It should have been thrown to the rubbish bin in the first place,” a messenger wrote.

“Shame on you Melino,” another wrote.

“Police should then investigate Maka,” a commenter wrote.

Princess Angelika named patron of United Nations’ organization for the Pacific

By
Kaniva Staff
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Her Royal Highness Princess Angelika Tuku’aho has become patron of the United Nations Population Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) for the Pacific.

She’s also patron of the Nairobi Summit on ICPD25, a high-level conference that aims to mobilize the political will and financial commitments necessary to implement the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) programme of action.

 “UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. Our mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.”

Her Royal Highness led a Tongan delegation and Pacific participation to the Nairobi Summit and ICPD25 in Kenya on 12-15 November 2019, a statement said.  

It said the Under-Secretary General and Executive Director for UNFPA Dr Natalia Kanem visited Tonga in February 2019 and she personally sought the approval of the royal family and government for the princess’ new role.

 “Her Royal Highness, is looking forward to engaging and to champion the work of UNPA in Tonga and the Pacific to set of global commitments that would collectively advance the ICPD agendas and for sustainable development through genuine and durable partnership.”

UNFPA’s Pacific Sub-Regional Office, located in Fiji, assists 14 countries and territories: the Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. The office additionally provides technical assistance to Papua New Guinea.  

Princess Angelika served as Tonga High Commissioner in Canberra since 2012 and advocating for government to achieve National Plan TSDF II2012-2025, Samoa Pathway, Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals, in collaborations with other governments including Australia and partners.

Drama over Piukala sacking widens as he defends his stance on TBC staff suspensions

By
Philip Cass
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Sacked chair of the Shared Communication Boards Piveni Piukala said the Prime Minister had not provided enough evidence to justify his recommendation to suspend three TBC staff members.

The Tongan Broadcasting Commission has cited a letter of termination sent to Piukala in which his refusal to suspend the three officers was given as a reason for his sacking.

TBC said the grounds for the termination in the termination letter were incompetence, failure to assist the Public Enterprises to act according to its principal objective and acting in bad faith.

The  Broadcaster said the termination followed Piukala’s decision to decline to the PM order to suspend three staff members and investigate them for alleged misconduct.

The staff members are two news reporters Salamo Fulivai, Vilisoni Tu’inia and the Station Manager Setita Tu’i’onetoa.

Piukala said if sufficient evidence had been provided he would have sacked the staff members straight away.

The Prime Minister claimed that Piukala’s actions had caused the  broadcaster’s business to be carried out in a manner likely to create a substantial risk of serious loss to TBC’s customer’s and government.

This morning’s statement widens the controversy surrounding Piukala’s dismissil from several government positions.

Kaniva news reported yesterday that Prime Minister Tu’i’onetoa said Piukala has been removed as chair of the Shared Communication Boards because of underperformance.

The Shared Communication Boards included the Tonga Broadcasting Commission (TBC), Tonga Communication Cooperation (TCC), and the Tonga Post & Fast Print Ltd (TPFPL).

The government had already revoked his appointment as head of the government’s electronics reform programme.

The main points

  • Sacked chair of the Shared Communication Boards Piveni Piukala said this morning the Prime Minister had not provided enough evidence to justify his recommendation to suspend three TBC staff members.
  • The Tongan Broadcasting Commission has cited a letter of termination sent to Piukala in which his refusal to suspend the three officers was given as a reason for his sacking.

For more information

Director of Shared Communication Boards Piveni Piukala fired, PM says he was ‘incompetent’

Director of Shared Communication Boards Piveni Piukala fired, PM says he was ‘incompetent’

Piveni Piukala responded to allegations made by Public Enterprises

Piveni Piukala responded to allegations made by Public Enterprises

Tongatapu bus driver pleads guilty to sodomy and awaits sentencing

By
Kaniva Staff
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A Ha’atafu school bus driver has pleaded guilty to sodomy.

Taniela Lelenoa remains in jail expecting sentencing this week.  

Lelenoa dropped off all his passengers except the victim, local media have reported.

He reportedly told the school boy he had a crush on him.

The court was told Lelenoa bought the victim food and gave him alcohol before sodomising him.

Arrests following assault outside Auckland bar that left Tongan man in coma

By
Kalino Latu
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(NZ) Manukau police have arrested and charged two men after a serious assault that has left a Tongan man in a coma.

The pair were arrested yesterday and will be appearing in the Manukau District Court on 3 December.

A 36-year-old man has been charged with wounding with reckless disregard for the safety of others, and a second man, aged 45, with assault.

As Kaniva news reported last month, the assault was caught on CCTV and was featured on Police Ten 7 programme and has also been uploaded to Facebook video clip.

Police said their first suspect “threw a cowardly punch, instantly knocking out the victim.”

He was then seen walking off down the East Tamaki road, Papatoetoe.

The second suspect saw the victim  on the ground and slapped him on his head while the victim was still unconscious, Police said.

Kaniva news can reveal that the victim’s name was Sioeli ‘Otukolo.

Investigators appealed through Police Ten 7 earlier this month about the incident which happened outside Weighbridge bar in Papatoetoe in the early hours of Sunday, 13 October.

” Information from Police Ten 7 viewers combined with detective work has led to the arrests of two men in relation to an alleged serious assault in Papatoetoe which hospitalised a man with head injuries. “

Police thank Police Ten 7 and the public for their help.  The victim has been advised of the arrests.

Trees cleared on Vava‘u International Airport runway

By
Kalino Latu
-

Trees that blocked the Lupepau’u airport runway this afternoon have now been cleared.

The airport services are returning to normal tonight, a statement said.

It said a suspension to airport services had been due “to trees and obstacles infringing the approach areas from the sides of the runway (i.e the Leimatu’a and Holonga side).”

Works conducted to remove these trees and obstacles are now confirmed to be completed, it said.

“The Civil Aviation Division of the Ministry of Infrastructure wishes to thank the people of Leimatu’a and Holonga for their cooperation and support that enable this project to proceed smoothly till the end.”

Online attack on Electoral Commission ahead of Thursday’s by-election “a fabrication”

By
Kaniva Staff
-

An online attack on the Tongan Electoral Commission was designed to disrupt Thursday’s by-election, the Commission said today.

It described the attack on the commission as a fabrication.

The commission said a Facebook post by somebody using the name Takaeafe alleged impropriety  by the supervisor of elections.

“It is a blatant attempt to interfere with and disrupt the democratic process on the eve of a Parliamentary by-election in the Tongatapu 1  constituency,” the commission said.

It is also a libelous and untrue attack on the integrity and independence of Tonga’s Electoral commission.”

The commission said the Facebook post had been referred to the police.

The election is being held to fill the vacancy left  by the death of former Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva.

Mr Pohiva’s son Siaosi is standing against environmental scientist Netatua Pelesikoti Taufatofua, who lost to the former Prime Minister in 2017.

Dr Taufatofua is a Director of the Climate Change Programme at the regional environmental group, SPREP.

A total of 4,382 voters have registered for the election.

This is 126 more than registered for the general election in 2017.

Director of Shared Communication Boards Piveni Piukala fired, PM says he was ‘incompetent’

By
Kalino Latu
-

Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa said the chair of the Shared Communication Boards is getting the axe for underperformance.

An official statement sent to media outlet said: “The grounds for the termination are incompetence; failure to assist the Public Enterprises to act accordingly with its principal objective; acting in bad faith, and failure to follow the due process in appointing of CEO for Tonga Broadcasting Commission.”

The Shared Communication Boards included the Tonga Broadcasting Commission (TBC), Tonga Communication Cooperation (TCC), and the Tonga Post & Fast Print Ltd (TPFPL).

His Majesty’s cabinet decided on 22 November, 2019 to terminate Piukala’s contract.

It came after a direction by the late ‘Akilisi Pōhiva government to appoint Piukala to lead its electronic government reform process has been recently revoked.

In that termination, it said “the proposed appointment of Mr Piveni Piukala was handpicked and without proper due processes.”

It said there was “no agreed Terms of Reference in place,” a cabinet statement said.  

“Mr Piukala did not meet the set criteria of the World Bank, the funding agency for the project i.e. the educational and professional work achievements stipulated by the World Bank policy that the Lead Consultant should have.”

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