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Ceremony was wrong time and place for speech against bullying say critics, but former winner says she is “relieved”

By
Kalino Latu
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The speech by Miss Heilala 2018 Kalo Funganitao at this year’s award ceremony has been criticised for being made at the wrong time and the wrong place.

During the final stage of the competition, Funganitao criticised the competition’s organisers for not supporting her when she became the victim of cyber bullying following her win last year.

Her speech and the uproar surrounding it have polarised the South Pacific media and divided the online public.

Some said the incident had been politicised by the government opposition’s supporters, especially the followers of anti-government social media Facebook groups. 

Funganitao was making the speech before she was expected to crown the Miss Heilala 2019/20 but her microphone was turned off after organisers realised she was launching an attack against them.

“Enough is enough. If you have guts to attack a person as a group in such a cowardly way then you can deal with the consequences when she shares her experiences with the entire world,” Funganitao said on the night.

Today she told Stuff: “In all honesty, I am feeling very relieved post pageant. I’m actually pretty good at the moment.”

Tourism businesswoman Yvette Guettenbeil Paea said discrediting the organisers did not do any good.

In Tongan she wrote online: “He ikai ke ma’u ha lelei hono tapalasia e kakai ne nau fai honau lelei tahaa pea mo ngaue’i mai he ngaahi ta’u lahi ke a’u kiha tu’unga ma’olunga pehe ni.”

She said she valued the time and money spent to prepare the celebration for the public to enjoy. She thanked the Minister of Tourism, the Heilala Organising Committee, the sponsors and families of the contestants for spending on the pageant every year.

In Tongan she said: “Kaikehe koe me’a oku ou mahu’inga’ia au aii, koe fu’u ngaue moe fakamole taimi moe $ ki hano teuteu oe Katoanga ni, ke tau alu atu o fiefia ai, ikai ketau hela’ia hano palani pe ko hano ngaue’i. Maloo e ngaue lahi ‘ae Minisita TakiMamata mo ene Potungauee, kae’uma’aa e kau Komiti Uike Heilala, moe kau Sponsors mo kinautolu kau Misi mo honau family, ne fakamole honau taimi moe $ ke tokoni kihe Katoanga faka’ofo’ofa he ta’u kotoa.” 

She said Funganitao may have been right, “but I don’t agree that it was the right place and time.”

Reverend Olympia Kaumatule Vake of the United Methodist Church in US said Funganitao was at fault. She said she was representing the whole of Tonga not just her and her family.

Commenting online, she said: “Ko Kalo pe ia ‘oku to nounou ‘ene fai fatongia … oku ke represent e koe ‘a Tonga Katoa …. Ko e Miss Heilala koha taha ‘oku sio kihe fonua fklukufua ‘o ‘Ikai ko ia pe mo hono Famili.”

There were also reports that some racist comments made during the incident.

Some online commentators believe they were made by people who were drunk.

One commentater, Fotu Kuliha’apai, said in response to a post which supported Miss Funganitao: 

“Miss Heilala is always controversial, but the racist comment is what I am more interested in. I need the fact before we call for his head. Can’t trust any of your sources. I have good sources in Tonga who hates the current government and they haven’t said a thing about it so…I’ll wait.

Support

Some commentators stood by Miss Funganitao:

” I see the pros and cons of what Kalo shared and the occasion on which she shared it,” a commenter wrote.

“Many argue if this was the correct platform to bring to light cyber bullying and the reality of being in a pageant? Was it necessary for her to take it there on this night?

“I agree with everything Kalo said.

“What I wish she did was stand still and complete her duty as the reigning 2018 Miss Heilala and crown the next 2019 Miss Heilala. In such a situation and platform, you must be able to speak your mind but also stand your ground and do your duty.

“She would have gotten her point across while passing the light on to the next Miss Heilala 2019.

“But…I was not there to understand and feel the vibe and her reasoning to immediately leaving after her speech.”

Another wrote: “Lucky Kalo wasn’t my daughter I would sue every friggin one of them for lack of duty of care and being negligent in every way possible! Stop the pageant until the problems are fixed and the DPM needs to check himself…what if that was his daughter? God bless Kalo and her family.”

Prepared

Funganitao told Stuff there were people who did not agree with her action on the night and described the situation as “tense.”

However, she said she had been prepared to face that ahead of the speech. 

“My mother and I had gone to see a lawyer, just to keep her in the loop with some of the things that had been happening,” Funganitao.

“Then then we talked to a lot of our family and friends and people whose opinions we really valued. The decision was that I would just tell everything during my final address. 

“The chances were they were going to cut off the live stream, cut off my mic, but I would just continue regardless and that’s exactly what I did.”

The main points

  • The speech by Miss Heilala 2018 Kalo Funganitao at this year’s award ceremony has been criticised for being made at the wrong time and the wrong place.
  • During the final stage of the competition, Funganitao criticised the competition’ organisers for not supporting her when she became the victim of cyber bullying following her win last year.

For more information

Deputy PM slams Heilala speech, but contestants linked arms in apparent display of solidarity 

Deputy PM slams Heilala speech, but contestants linked arms in apparent display of solidarity

Statue of first king of Tonga installed in front of St George palace

By
Philip Cass
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A controversial statue of Tonga’s first ruler, King ‘Aho’eitu, has been installed in front of St George Palace in Nuku’alofa.

It is believed that this is a temporary installation and that the sculpture is supposed to be installed at the Popua National Park.

King Tupou VI’s birth name is king ‘Aho’eitu.

As Kaniva news reported in May, Associate Professor Viliami Tolutaʻu from Brigham Young University in Hawa’i met Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva in Tonga and told him he wanted to construct a bronze sculpture of king ‘Aho’eitu in the park.

Tolutaʻu is from Pangaimotu, Vavaʻu.

The Prime Minister agreed with the proposal, but the government was shocked to receive  a bill from Toluta’u saying he wanted for US$100,000 if it wanted him to go ahead with the work.

Chief Secretary Edgar Cocker said Toluta’u later wrote to say the government should ignore the invoice because he had found somebody to fund the project.

The statue of King ‘Aho’eitu is shown holding a sika, javelin. He won a javelin throwing competition between him and his brothers.

Several kupesi, or geometric designs, are carved on his tapa cloth. One of them is the footprint of the tuli bird – a symbol of the Tangaloa clan.

There is also a depiction of the hoi plant, which is poisonous.

ʻAhoʻeitu is depicted wearing a fāʻonelua necklace.

The main points

  • A controversial statue of Tonga’ first ruler, King ‘Aho’eitu ha been installed in front of St George Palace in Nuku’alofa.
  • It is believed that this is a temporary installation and that the sculpture is supposed to be installed at the Popua National Park.

For more information

US$100,000 “unexpected invoice” for ‘Aho’eitu image shocks government, Chief Secretary says

US$100,000 “unexpected invoice” for ‘Aho’eitu image shocks government, Chief Secretary says

Deputy PM slams Heilala speech, but contestants linked arms in apparent display of solidarity

By
Philip Cass
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Tongan Deputy Prime Minister Semisi Sika has slammed comments made at last night’s Miss Heilala crowning ceremony by the 2018 winner as disgraceful.

Hon. Sika was reported to have ordered that loud music be played to drown out a speech by last year’s winner, Kalo Funganitao.

“She disgraced the dignity of the Miss Heilala pageant,” he said.

However, during her speech this year’s contestants linked arms in an apparent display of solidarity with Funganitao.

During the closing event in Nuku’alofa, Funganitao, launched an attack on the pageant for not doing anything after she was bullied by pageant committee members and members of the public.

She said he had been the victim of cyberbullying ever since he won the title and pageant organisers had not supported her.

The incident, which was livestreamed,  showed Funganitao saying she and her mother had been cheated and lied to.

Funganitao was supposed to crown this year’s Miss Heilala winner, Miss Yehenara Soukoup from Hawai’i.

Speaking to Kaniva news, Hon. Sika said the Auckland University law student had “misconducted herself.”

He said it was “inappropriate”  for her to criticise the Heilala Pageant Committee and its work on stage.

“Her final speech and walk on stage should have been a time to give thanks and be positive,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

“It was not an opportunity for her to make negative criticisms as she discredited the Pageant and the Miss Heilala 2019.

“It was inappropriate for her to make a political and personal statements.”

However, the 2019 Miss Heilala contestants came onto the stage and joined her brother and mother.

They linked arms and formed a line across the stage as Funganitao spoke.

Local reports said Sika ordered technical staff to play loud music to drown out Funganitao while she was speaking.

Her microphone was then turned off by organisers.

“If you have guts to attack a person as a group in such a cowardly way then you can deal with the consequences when she shares her experiences with the entire world,” Funganitao said.

“There needs to be an upheaval of the restricting current framework because it is not working.”

The main points

  • Tongan Deputy Prime Minister Semisi Sika has slammed comments made at last night’s Miss Heilala crowning ceremony the 2018 winner as disgraceful.
  • Hon. Sika was reported to have ordered that loud music be played to drown out a speech by last year’ winner, Kalo Funganitao.
  • However, during her speech this year’s contestants linked arms in an apparent display of solidarity with Funganitao.

Tribunal orders minor adjustment in pay after hearing appeal on starting salary

By
Philip Cass
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The Public Service Tribunal has ruled partially in favour of a salary appeal, but has ordered only a small increase.

However, it said the ruling could not later be used as a precedent.

Eileen Elizabeth Fonua lodged an appeal against her starting salary following her appointment as Principal Fisheries Officer with the Ministry of Fisheries.

The Ministry determined that she be paid at the minimum point of $30,240 a starting salary.

Fonua argued that she should be paid a basic salary of $37,806 as this was being the closest entry point to her current salary on the recommended scale.

A former teacher, she worked as a Project Coordinator at the Ministry of Lands, Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources.

She was then employed as national co-ordinator of a Marine and Coastal Biodiversity management scheme for the Ministry of Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications.

There was extensive correspondence between Fonua and the Public Service Commission over her starting salary, with the PSC arguing that he was not entitled to a higher salary on the pay range for her new job.

It argued that regulations governing the potion did not allow her teaching experience to be taken into consideration because it was not deemed to be relevant to her new work.

In it finding, the Tribunal said there was no evidence of any offer and acceptance letter having been sent prior to Fonua’s appointment.

“This was a crucial step in the appointment process,” the Tribunal said.

“It would have prevented the appellant from making any claim if she had already accepted the terms and conditions of employment.”

The PTS said the result of this case was restricted to its own facts and could not be used as a precedent for future cases.

The Tribunal ruled that she should be paid $32,843 effective from the date she started work.

The main points

  • The Public Service Tribunal has ruled partially in favour of a salary appeal, but has ordered only a small increase.
  • However, it said the ruling could not later be used as a precedent.

Former ambassador wrong about $36 million Chinese fund, says Finance Minister as public meetings continue

By
Kalino Latu
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Tonga’s Former Ambassador to China, Siamelie Lātū, has questioned how the government used what he has claimed was a grant of $36 million dollars from China to Tonga every year.

Lātū wanted the government to allow people to borrow from the money to help their standard of living.

But the Finance Minister Hon. Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa said Lātū was wrong as Tonga did not receive the donation as cash.

The Minister said what the former Ambassador was talking about was an “in-kind project.”

Hon. Tu’i’oonetoa said China and Tonga had agreed that the kingdom would ask help from China for projects if needed.

In the 2019/20 government budget Tonga has asked China for heavy machinery to help construct and renovate its roads.

Through this in-kind project agreement, China will buy the machinery and send it to Tonga, the Minister said.

If Tonga also wanted the Chinese to help with labourers and construction crew to conduct the project China would send their own people to do the work, he said.

While the Minister was responding and clarifying Lātū’s queries the former Ambassador left his seat and walked out of the meeting.

The debate emerged during a recent public meeting led by the cabinet ministers at the Fatu hall in Lapaha.

The government wanted to discuss questions from the public about its policies and guidelines.

The meeting began on June 20 and will continue in every constituency, Hon. Tu’i’onetoa said.

The main points

  • Tonga’s Former Ambassador to China, Siamelie Latu, has questioned how the government used what he has claimed was a grant of $36 million dollars from China to Tonga every year.
  • Latu wanted the government to allow people to borrow from the money to help their live.

USAID supports programme to develop climate change monitoring skills in Tonga

By
Philip Cass
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The Tongan government is launching a course to develop its climate change monitoring system.

The course, the Climate Resilience Monitoring and Evaluation course, is being delivered in partnership with the University of the South Pacific.

The course was designed by USP’s School of Geography, Earth Sciences and Environment to strengthen climate resilience monitoring and evaluation in the Pacific islands.

The training programme is being supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

USAID is working on projects to help governments and institutions to develop and implement effective environmental and disaster mitigation policies, strategies and projects.

The CEO of the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC), Paula Ma’u described the training programme as a landmark.

Tonga’s Minister for Climate Change, Poasi Tei, said Tonga was exposed to multiple natural hazards and the effect of climate change.

He said there was an increasing trend of drought, sea level rises, temperature increases, changing rain patter and severe cyclones.

Hon. Tei said Tonga was ranked a one of the most at-risk countries from climate change in the world.

The main points

  • The Tongan government is launching a course to develop it climate change monitoring system.
  • The course,  the Climate Resilience Monitoring and Evaluation course, is being delivered in partnership with the University of the South Pacific.

Junior Fa puts positive spin on knockdown by older fighter: “I wanted to be tested”

By
Philip Cass
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Junior Fa has told reporters he felt ‘fulfilled’ after Friday night’s fight in which he was knocked down by an opponent described by some boxing commentators as past his prime.

Fa said he had wanted to be tested.

While Fa eventually won the game, not many people saw the match.

US reports said only about half the seats were occupied for the Fa-Guinn fight.

It was held late in the evening after the main bout in which Richard Commey knocked out Raymundo Beltran.

The fight was held in the ballroom of the Pechanga Resort Casino in California.

Fa, who currently holds the interim WBO Oriental Heavyweight title, was up against Dominck Guinn, who has had 50 fights in a two decades-long career.

Guinn, 44, knocked the 29 year-old Fa down in the fourth round.

Video of the knock-down showed Fa going very briefly under part of the ropes, but he was quickly on his feet and came back swinging.

Fa, who has been training with WBC heavyweight belt-holder Deontay Wilder, pummelled Guinn for the rest of the match, but without managing to land a knock-down punch of his own.

Fa won 97-92, 98-91 and 98-91. This makes 18  victories for the Tongan-descended boxer.

Despite Fa’s win, the fact that he was knocked down by the older boxer has been widely noted by boxing commentator.

However, the New Zealand-based pugilist put a positive spin on the fight in post-match comments.

He told ringside reporters he enjoyed the fight and was proud of the way he “came back strong.”

“I feel very fulfilled because I’ve faced some adversity now,” Fa said.

“For this fight, I really wanted to be tested and I got that tonight.”

The main points

  • Junior Fa has won his latest match in the United States, despite being knocked to the canvas  by his opponent.
  • Fa, who currently holds the interim WBO Oriental Heavyweight title, was up against Dominck Guinn, who has had 50 fights in a two decades-long career.
  • Guinn, 44, has been described as past his prime, but knocked the 29 year-old Fa down in the fourth round.

For more information

WBO #7 Junior Fa dropped, but beats Dominick Guinn

WBO #7 Junior Fa dropped, but beats Dominick Guinn

Police arrest eight people, seize meth, paraphernalia and ammo in Tongatapu

By
Kaniva Staff
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Tongatapu Police arrested eight people and seized five packs of methamphetamine, drugs paraphernalia, live bullets and cash from two different locations in ongoing drug operation. 

On Monday evening July 1, 2019 the Police Drug Enforcement Taskforce arrested seven people, five men and two women, from a residence in Kolomotu’a with four packs of methamphetamine (2.07 grams), drugs paraphernalia, cash and 17 live bullets.

The seven arrested range from the age of 22 to 48 from Kolomotu’a, Kolofo’ou, Tokomololo and Havelu.

Following this arrest, at around 9:00 pm the Drug Enforcement Taskforce arrested a 44-year-old man from Kolomotu’a with one pack of methamphetamine (0.38 grams) and drugs paraphernalia.

All eight suspects have been charged with possession of illicit drugs and are in police custody to appear at the Magistrate Court at a later date,

“We encourage anyone who may have information about drug related offending to contact their nearest Police station, Police emergency Number 922 or 22782.” 

Tonga holds week of celebrations to mark king’s birthday; Heilala festival underway

By
Philip Cass
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The Miss Tau’olunga competition is being held in the Queen Sālote memorial hall in Nuku’alofa this evening.

The Tau’olunga is the dance component of the Miss Heilala competition.

The island creation and sarong segment will be held tomorrow night, with the talent competition on Thursday and the grand Heilala ball and crowning on Friday.

The winner of the Miss Heilala competition is expected to assist the Tonga Visitors Bureau/Ministry of Tourism and the Kingdom of Tonga’s tourism industry in tourism promotions both locally and abroad.

In addition, the Miss Heilala will also be the Kingdom of Tonga’s entrant in the Miss South Pacific Pageant.

King’s birthday

The Miss Heilala competition is being held against a backdrop of celebrations to mark Tupou VI’s 60th birthday.

The king’s birthday is officially celebrated today.

Last night the former principal of Tupou High School and academic, Rev Dr Geoffrey Cummins presented  a lecture on the making of a nation to launch the celebration.

Other celebrations scheduled for this week include marches, traditional dance and music competitions, games and sporting activities, as well as prayer meetings and choir singing.

Conference

This week also saw the end of the annual conference of the Free Wesleyan Church, Tonmga’ main religious denomination.

The conference avoided a possibly confrontational discussion on homosexuality.

Radio New Zealand reported that the conference organisers refused to let delegates from Australia put the issue on the agenda.

Instead, participants were told the issue would set aside for further work to be done by the President’s office and a definitive position to be presented next year.

Conference leaders affirmed that the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga stood on its traditional doctrine.

The kingdom’s LGBTI community has long called for reforms to Tongan legislation.

Meanwhile, delegate elected Reverend Dr ‘Ahio for an 11th year as president of the Free Wesleyan Church.

The main points

  • Tonga has begun a week-long celebration to mark Tupou VI’s 60th birthday.
  • The Heilala Festival is also underway,  with the Miss Tau’olunga competition being held in the Queen Salote memorial hall Nuku’alofa since this evening.

Tonga urged to continue its support for West Papua’s struggle for independence at the UN

By
Philip Cass
-

West Papuan human rights activist Rosa Moiwend has asked Tonga to continue its support or her people’s struggle for independence.

She told Kaniva news it was important to support Vanuatu’s effort to prepare a resolution to have West Papua placed on the agenda of the United Nations Decolonisation Committee.

Moiwend, who has been on a speaking tour of New Zealand and last night addressed a meeting at the St Columba centre in Auckland, said there had been a continuing effort to have West Papua put on the list of countries under consideration by the committee.

Last year the committee refused to accept a petition, reportedly supported by70% of West Papuans, asking the UN to appoint a special representative to investigate human rights abuses by Indonesian soldiers and police.

The petition called for the UN “to put West Papua back on the decolonisation committee agenda and ensure their right to self‐determination … is respected by holding an internationally supervised vote.”

Indonesia’s representative to the UN, Dian Triansyah Djani, is a vice-chair of the Decolonisation Committee.

Moiwend said Tonga was one of seven Pacific nations which spoke out on behalf of West Papua at the UN General Assembly in 2015.

The seven nations which form the Pacific Island Council on West Papua, are Tonga, Vanuatu, Nauru, Palau, Tuvalu, the Marshall Islands and Solomon Islands.

Speaking to the General Assembly that year, Prime Minister ’Akilisi Pohiva called on the UN to help West Papua, whose people have suffered under a brutal Indonesian occupation for nearly 60 years.

“Tonga does not condone the injustice, cruel violation of human rights and dignity and brutal treatment in West Papua,” Hon. Pohiva said.

“The United Nations has a duty to closely follow up this West Papua case and [take] necessary action to stop these brutal and inhumane activities.”

He said world leaders should work together against what was happening in West Papua.

Humanitarian

As Kaniva news reported at the time, West Papuan representative Rev Socratez Yoman praised Hon. Pohiva, saying: “These are humanitarian issues and he is concerned. He sees with his heart and knows it is not a good situation. As the leader of an independent state he should support West Papua.”

Last year Indonesia launched a multi-million dollar programme to influence Pacific nations, including a trade expo which open in Auckland on July 11-14.

Radio New Zealand has reported that Tonga’s Deputy Prime Minister, Semisi Lafu Kioa Sika is expected to attend.

New Zealand

The New Zealand government’ attitude toward the West Papuan issue remains uncertain.

West Papua Action Auckland described the situation in West Papua since the Indonesian take-over in 1963 as ‘slow genocide,’ but said the New Zealand government was all but silent on the mounting crisis.  

While Labour MPs Jennie Salesa and Carmel Sepuloni met with Rev Yoman when he visited New Zealand in 2016, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Winston Peters, said last year New Zealand recognised West Papua as part of Indonesia.

The main points

  • West Papuan human right activist Rosa Moiwend has asked Tonga to continue its support or her people’s struggle for independence.
  • Moiwend told Kaniva news it was important to continue supporting effort to have the West Papuan issue properly acknowledged  by the UN.
  • She said Tonga was one of seven Pacific nations which had spoken out on behalf of West Papua at the UN General Assembly in 2016.

For more information

https://www.ipwp.org/uncategorized/hon-akilisi-pohiva-true-pacific-leader-speaks-for-west-papua-at-the-un-by-gary-juffa-governor-of-oro-province-papua-new-guinea/
Rev Socratez Yoman: ‘Akilisi Pohiva is the only Polynesian leader who has publicly shown support for West Papua
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