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Technical help sought for e-government projects; $400,000 donated to Api Tonga

By
Kalino Latu
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A visit by a high level Tongan delegation to the University of the South Pacific in Suva has been described as a success.

A team of two cabinet ministers and government officials were at USP to seek helps for Tonga’s e-government project.

Minister of Finance Dr Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa described the visit as “joyous and successful.”

The team was welcomed by the Director of the University’s Computer Centre, Kisione Finau.

Finau conducted a three-day workshops for the team while they were in Suva.

The World Bank and the Asian Development Bank have provided U$11 million for the project.

The World Bank has donated US$4.5 million to build a secured data centre for the project, mapping and linking all the government’s ministries and creating a government online registry for the public.

The ADB donated U$7 million for a project to computerise hospital patients’ records.

Hon. Tu’i’onetoa said the projects were expected to start in the 2019/20 financial year.

A national unit for the projects would be established to recruit experts for the works.  

The unit could bring together all the government’s ICT to work on the e-government services.

The Minister claimed Tonga was the first of USP’s Pacific partnership countries to visit the newly established Japan-Pacific ICT centre.

The team also visited the  ‘Api Tonga centre in Fiji which is currently under reconstruction.

The government has donated TP$400,000 for the centre which was established to host Tongan students at USP. 

The main points

  • A visit by a high level Tongan delegation to the University of the South Pacific in Suva has been described as a success.
  • A team of two cabinet ministers and government officials were at USP to seek helps for Tonga’s e-government project.

Three arrested after John Herman Tonga shot dead

By
Kalino Latu
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KEARNS, Utah (AP) — Authorities say three people have been arrested in connection with a Kearns shooting that left one man dead and another seriously wounded.

Unified Police say a 38-year-old man from Kearns and a 37-year-old woman and a 45-year-old man from Salt Lake City were taken into custody Saturday.

The names of the three haven’t been released, but police tell the Salt Lake Tribune that two of the suspects are facing aggravated murder, aggravated robbery and weapon charges.

Police say 34-year-old John Herman Tonga was found dead outside a home in Kearns on Wednesday.

An emergency clinic reported a second man who suffered a gunshot wound at the home came in for treatment.

Police appeal for witnesses after stolen car spree in Auckland

By
Kalino Latu
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By Radio New Zealand International

Police said a man was behaving erratically in the suburb of Mount Wellington about 8.40am, reportedly following a family harm incident.

Senior sergeant Graeme Fleming of Counties Manukau Police said a blue Holden Commodore was reportedly driving dangerously in the Ōtāhuhu area on Great South Road, and continued through Papatoetoe and Ōtara.

The vehicle collided with a motorcycle and injured the rider at the intersection of Te Irirangi Dr and Dawson Rd, Clover Park.

Police believe the driver continued down Dawson Road then crashed into another vehicle, but jumped out and stole another vehicle.

The driver then crashed again in the Murphys Road area and proceeded to steal another vehicle.

He continued to drive dangerously toward the Howick area before being involved in another crash at the intersection of Bleakhouse Road and Ridge Road about 10am.

The man tried to steal another car, but was located and taken into custody by police in Howick after calls from the public.

“The man was driving dangerously at excessive speeds that caused serious risk to the public and it is incredibly fortunate that nobody was seriously injured,” Mr Fleming said.

Anyone who witnessed the man’s driving or were involved in any of the incidents are being urged to contact police.

Ninety Mile Beach meth trial: woman wrongly accused of import, court hears

By
Kalino Latu
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By Denise Piper, stuff.co.nz

A woman accused of co-ordinating the largest meth importation in New Zealand was wrongly accused, the High Court in Whangārei has heard.

Selaima Fakaosilea is accused, along with Stevie Cullen, of importing methamphetamine and participating in an organised criminal group.

The charges relate to the landing of 501kg of methamphetamine at Ninety Mile Beach in the Far North in June 2016, the country’s largest ever drug bust.

Six people have already pleaded guilty to their part in the case, including Ulakai Fakaosilea, Ms Fakaosilea’s brother.

But just because her brother knew what was going on, did not mean she knew, Fakaosilea’s counsel Maria Pecotic told the jury.

Unlike Cullen, Fakaosilea was not in the Far North in the lead-up to the June 2016 landing. The Crown alleges she was an organiser and financier of the operation from Auckland.

But there was no evidence in the case to show she knew what was going on, Pecotic said.

Text messages between Fakaosilea and her brother about “clothes” were not proven to be code talk about money, as the Crown alleged, and were literally about clothes, Pecotic said.

The Crown’s key witness, Witness X, made an incorrect assumption that Fakaosilea went by the codename Blaze, as she was never introduced to him as Blaze, she said.

Pecotic suggested Blaze was Jermiah Iusitini, also known as Thugga. Iusitini pleaded guilty to importing methamphetamine and participating in an organised criminal group.

Witness X, who was caught by police driving a campervan with 449kg of the methamphetamine, was not the naive 19-year-old the Crown suggested, she said.

“I would suggest he’s a savvy and street-wise young man.”

WILLING TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY

In relation to a different operation, Fakaosilea pleaded guilty to charges of supplying methamphetamine and cocaine, both Class A drugs, in September and November 2016.

Pecotic said those events took place many months after the time period being considered by the jury.

After the arrest of her brother, Fakaosilea was in turmoil and got into a relationship with a drug dealer.

“The charges that she has pleaded guilty to show she’s a person who’s prepared to acknowledge and face her responsibility, and accept when she’s done something wrong,” Pecotic said.

“She does not say that she’s done anything wrong in this action, and she says that she’s been wrongly accused.”

Justice Christine Gordon QC will sum up the five-week case on Monday, before letting the jury out to decide a verdict.

Stuff

Folau files law suit over Rugby Australia sacking

By
Kaniva Staff
-

This story appears on rnz.co.nz

Sacked Wallabies star Israel Folau has launched legal proceedings against Rugby Australia over the termination of his contract.

Folau, a fundamentalist Christian, was sacked by Rugby Australia last month for a post on social media that said hell awaited “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers” and other groups.

He says he’s taking the action in the pursuit of his “right to religious freedom.”

Folau wants Australia’s Fair Work Commission, an industrial relations tribunal, to rule that his employment was terminated because of his religion.

In a statement Folau said “no Australian of any faith should be fired for practising their religion,” he said in a statement that confirmed his case had been lodged.

“Ours is an amazing country built on important principles, including freedom of religion.

“A nation made up of so many different faiths and cultural backgrounds will never be truly rich unless this freedom applies to all of us.”

Rugby Australia was unable to provide immediate comment.

Folau confirmed this week that he had engaged commercial law firm Macpherson Kelley and a prominent industrial relations barrister to act for him in his dispute.

He was found guilty of a “high level” breach of Rugby Australia’s code of conduct by a three-member tribunal after a prolonged hearing last month.

His four-year contract, worth up to $AU5 million according to local media reports, was torn up but he waived his right to an appeal, saying he had “no confidence” in Rugby Australia’s judicial process.

His statement on Thursday said his termination had prevented him from playing at the “peak of his career” and on the cusp of a Rugby World Cup, which could have generated greater exposure and opportunities.

“Accordingly, Mr Folau is seeking substantial remedies from his former employers should they be found to have breached the Fair Work Act in terminating his employment,” it said.

A dual code international, Folau switched to rugby union in 2013 and scored 37 tries in 73 tests, while claiming the John Eales medal as the country’s best player a record three times.

Local media have reported that he is seeking a return to the 13-man code in Australia’s National Rugby League but the sport’s boss Peter Beattie said he would not sanction his return.

-Reuters

Possible partner in Tonga-Brisbane direct flight under investigation by Australian authorities

By
Philip Cass
-

Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority is investigating Nauru Airlines, which has been in talks with the Tongan government about setting up a direct flight to Australia.

Last December Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva met a delegation from Nauru Airlines to discuss the possibility of a service between Tonga and Brisbane.

Hon. Pohiva met Nauru Airlines chairman Trevor Jensen and the managing director of Real Tonga, Tevita Palu, about a potential partnership.

Radio New Zealand reported Mr Jensen as saying that the airline said what it had seen and was keen to pursue the matter further.

According to Australian media reports the CASA received complaint about Jensen from the airline’s former CEO Peter Sheehan, safety systems manager Brian Douglas and the chief pilot.

They claimed he had not allowed the CEO to do his job properly and presided over a toxic workplace environment where staff were bullied and abused.

Jensen has denied the allegations. It is understood he has now taken over as CEO while remaining chairman.

There has been speculation that the airline could post a multi-million dollar loss this year.

It is believed the Nauru government recently gave the airline $10 million.

Nauru Airlines is wholly owned by the Government of Nauru and currently flies to Brisbane, Nadi, Tarawa, Majuro, Pohnpei and Guam.

It owns a five Boeing 737-300 aircraft.

About 6000 Tongans live in Brisbane and up to 600 Tongans work on Queensland farms and orchard under the Seasonal Workers Program.

The main points

  • Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority is investigating Nauru Airlines, which has been in talks with the Tongan government about setting up a direct flight to Australia.
  • Last December Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva met a delegation from Nauru Airlines to discuss the possibility of a service between Tonga and Brisbane.

Parliament denies Kaniva’s report on Police Minister’s claims about Acting Speaker

By
Philip Cass
-

The parliament has denied our story last night reporting claims that the appointment of an Acting Speaker may have been unconstitutional.

The story was originally carried on Television Tonga more than two weeks ago.

The Parliament did not deny it at the time or in the two weeks since.

The Parliament only responded after we ran the story last night.

We were quite clearly reporting what the Police Minister said about the legal advice the government had received from it legal adviser in New Zealand on the interpretation of the Constitution and it relation to the rules on Parliamentary procedures.

In our story we said: “Lord Tu’ilakepa’s appointment as Acting Speaker may have been unconstitutional, the Police Minister has claimed.

Hon. Tapueluelu told Television Tonga the government had been told by its legal advisor in New Zealand that according to the Constitution, an acting speaker could only assume the position if the Speaker had resigned, died or been sacked.” 

The Parliamentary Office released a statement saying it refuted the report that Lord Tu’ilakepa’s appointment as Acting Speaker may have been unconstitutional according to Clause 61(4) of the Constitution.

 “An Acting Speaker appointment was not made as claimed because the Constitution of Tonga does not provide for appointment of an Acting Speaker,” Chief Clerk of the Tonga Parliament, Gloria Pole’o said.

“When the Speaker of the House Lord Fakafanua travels overseas, the Deputy Speaker Lord Tu’ilakepa performs the duties of the Speaker.”

Pole’o said Section 16(3) of the Legislative Assembly Ac provided that when the Speaker was absent or not presiding in a meeting of the Assembly, the Deputy Speaker would preside over the Assembly and perform the duties of the Speaker until the Speaker was able to resume the chair.

 “The Deputy Speaker Lord Tu’ilakepa, was duly appointed to the position of Deputy Speaker, and he performs the duties of the Speaker Lord Fakafanua whenever he is absent,” he said.

“Clause 61(4) of the Constitution applies only when the position of Speaker of Parliament is vacant. The same provision clearly outlines occurrences that will result in a vacancy, which includes death, resignation or revocation of appointment of the Speaker.

“If the Speaker is not in the country or absent from meetings of the Assembly for reasons other than those spelled out in Clause 61 of the Constitution, it does not result in a vacancy.

“Therefore, Clause 61(4) of the Constitution does not apply. There is a very clear distinction between “vacancy” in the position of Speaker which invokes Clause 61(4) of the Constitution, and “absence” of the Speaker which invokes section 16(3) of the Legislative Assembly Act.”

We stand by our story as an accurate representation of what Hon. Tapueluelu said.

The main points

  • The government has denied our story last night reporting claims that the appointment of an Acting Speaker may have been unconstitutional.
  • The story was originally carried on Television Tonga two week ago.
  • Neither the Prime Minister’ Office, Cabinet nor Parliament denied it at the time or in the two weeks since.

For more information

Appointment of Acting Speaker who blocked bills may have been unconstitutional, Minister claims

Appointment of Acting Speaker who blocked bills may have been unconstitutional, Minister claims

Police name man found dead after shooting at US home as John Tonga

By
Kalino Latu
-

(United States) Police have identified a man found dead in a Kearns front yard Wednesday and are looking for three men they say are persons of interest in connection to the shooting.

The shooting victim is John Herman Tonga, 34, of Midvale, Unified police said Thursday. He was found in the front yard of a home at 4805 S. 4720 West after a shooting inside the house.

Six other people were inside the home at the time of the shooting, about 7:30 a.m.

About 7:40 a.m., another man arrived at the St. Mark’s Taylorsville Emergency Center with a gunshot wound and was taken to Intermountain Medical Center in serious condition.Comment on this story

Police are now looking for three men and two cars recorded by security cameras. Investigators released images from the footage Thursday.

A spokeswoman for Unified Police Department said the department has no other identifying information for the persons of interest beyond what can be seen in the photos. The department has received some tips regarding the men, the spokeswoman said, but has not yet confirmed any information.

Investigators are asking anybody with information on the three men or two cars in the security camera footage to call the Unified police at 801-743-7000.

Appointment of Acting Speaker who blocked bills may have been unconstitutional, Minister claims

By
Kalino Latu
-

Lord Tu’ilakepa’s appointment as Acting Speaker may have been unconstitutional, the Police Minister has claimed.

Hon. Tapueluelu told Television Tonga the government had been told by its legal advisor in New Zealand that according to the Constitution clause 61, an acting speaker could only assume the position if the Speaker had resigned, died or been sacked.

Clause 61 (4) says: ” The King shall appoint a Speaker within 7 days of the occurrence of a vacancy.”

Lord Tu’ilakepa was Acting Speaker of the House while the Lord Speaker Fakafanua was travelling overseas.

However, the Speaker could not be replaced if he was traveling overseas, Hon. Tapueluelu said.

In his role as Acting Speaker, Lord Tu’ilakepa blocked six new Bills the government submitted in March and which it wanted dealt with urgently.

Hon. Tapueluelu has confirmed the government would impeach and also take court action against the king’s noble

The Police Minister was responding after he was questioned by the Television on the government’s position during a second public consultation on its new Bills.

Hon. Tapueluelu said Parliament’s rule book and its clauses about the urgency of the laws was simple enough to be interpreted, but he thought there was something else behind the Opposition’s attack on the Bills.

“Ko e ‘uhinga pe ia ‘oku ha’u kiate au he anga ‘eku faka’uhinga atu mate ni’ihi ko ‘eni he ilifia he lao fo’ou,” he said in Tongan.

This translates into English as: “The only reason that comes to me in the way how I think about it was that these people were really scared of the new Bills.”

As Kaniva news reported earlier, Hon. Tapueluelu said the government’s lawyer has advised that the Parliament’s law book must be “clear cut.”

Lord Tu’ilakepa’s controversial decision

In March the government submitted to the House the Bills which were due to be returned to Parliament after they had been discussed in a two-week public consultation.

The government submitted the Bills under the law of urgency according to the law clause 131 which says:

“The Legislative Assembly shall not proceed upon a Bill after its first reading for a period of two weeks or such longer time that the Assembly decides is needed to allow members to scrutinise the Bill, and for the public to make submissions, but this shall not apply to –

(a) Appropriation Bills; and

(b) Bills certified by the Prime Minister to be urgent.”

However, Lord Tu’ilakepa, disregarded the way in which the government benches interpreted clause 131, which requires the Prime Minister to certify the urgency of the Bills.

The Acting Speaker said  that when the Prime Minister certified that the six new Bills were urgent, he should have also explained why were they urgent.

The government disputed this, saying the law did not require the Prime Minister to give the reasons why the Bills were urgent.

Lord Tu’ilakepa then used Clause 31 of Parliamentary rules to justify his interpretation and ordered the government’s new Bills be passed to the Parliament’s Standing Committee, from which they were later taken for more public consultation.

The main points

  • Lord Tu’ilakepa’s appointment as Acting Speaker may have been unconstitutional, the Police Minister has claimed.
  • In his role as Acting Speaker, Lord Tu’ilakepa blocked six new Bills the government submitted in March and which it wanted dealt with urgently.

Tributes flow as community rocked by death of young Tongatapu DJ

By
Kalino Latu
-

The death of a young Tongatapu DJ has rocked a community as hundreds of tributes flow for the “friendly and kind hearted” man who always had a smile.

Manu Vailahi Mitsen Huakau, 32, died when the vehicle he was driving crashed into a gate and a power pole on Taufa’ahau Road at Mailetaha on June 4.

A passenger sustained minor injuries and has been released from Vaiola Hospital, reports said.

Police believe alcohol and speeding were factors in the crash.

Also known as DJ Menu, the news of his death spread quickly over Facebook, with hundreds of friends and community members posting tributes and memories.

“RIL DJ Menu, you were one of the reason that made Reload the best bar in town with your music and swagg,” a commenter on Facebook wrote.

“This day could have not happen without your help and Christ like care and love. Huakau Mitsen Menu. i know i will see you again. Rest in love tokoua. It breaks my heart to see you leave. But Heavanly Father loves you more. He needs you more,” another commenter wrote on a photo they posted to Facebook which featured what appears to be a married couple posing with the deceased.

“Huakau Mitsen Menu, you will be missed. It was a pleasure and an honor to have served the Lord with you in Hawaii. I will never forget your love for life and generosity to others.”

“Rest easy my friend, for you are now with our Father in Heaven and will have the rewards of your faith and kindness you always expressed while here on earth. ’Ofa atu my friend.”

“You are in a better place Huakau Mitsen Menu heaven has gained a very talented angel so keep it rockin up in there toko will surely miss seeing you play at #reload.”

A closed friend of the deceased said on Facebook that he was one of the first people to have arrived at the scene but he did not know the driver of the crashed vehicle was DJ Menu.

“I got out [with] 3 of my mates to help not even knowing it was Manu in the drivers seat passed away already. It was him and another guy as he fell out of the vehicle as it turned upside down as it flipped from the Mormon fence. Stood there helped the survivor to the ambulance wit the cops and as the put a white sheet on the driver i was so scared and no sign at all to see that it was my brother laying there as the firemen tried to get him out of the car. Until this morning when the news came out it was Manu i felt so sad as i couldnt by any chance do anything to revive him as he passed away on the spot but was happy to save his cousin that fell out of the car. Rest in Peace brother until we meet again. Ofa lahi atu ❤❤”

He was remembered by many as a friendly and kind-spirited DJ.

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