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Tonga to repay Chinese loan in the wake of its Reserve Bank warning

By
Kalino Latu
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Tonga will start repaying its Chinese loan of  TP$266 million to China’s Export-Import (EXIM) Bank to pay for the rebuilding of Nuku’alofa after riots in 2006.

The repayment comes after the Tonga National Reserve Bank warned in April that it could affect the positive status of foreign aid and higher levels of remittance.

In his report Bank Governor Dr Sione Ngongo Kioa said “foreign aid and higher levels of remittance meant levels of foreign reserves would remain at comfortable levels.

The Bank warned that this would be offset by the beginning of the government’s repayment of the principal loan to China’s Export-Import Bank.”

Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva said the government has so far paid around $16 million (US$6.9 million) in interest.

“Our journey now into future is that we would keep on asking China to divert this loan into a grant,” he said.

In September 2013, former Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakano told parliament they received a letter from the People’s Republic of China regarding Tonga’s request to defer its loan repayment scheduled to start on September 21,  2013 for 10 years.

He said “in their interpretation, China has approved Tonga’s request” although the Chinese authority said at the time they have yet to confirm it.

In 2015 in a meeting in Auckland Hon Pōhiva has warned that China will not forgive the debt.

Tonga Chief Justice rejects Lord Sevele’s judicial review application

Employee of company which illegally dumped human waste in Vava’u speaks out

By
Kalino Latu
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A former employee of the company which illegally dumped human waste into the sea in Vava’u has spoken out.

Akoli Lihau of ‘Utungake said he worked for Australian businessman Ian Jones, who was convicted and fined for the dumping in June this year,

Lihau said he worked for Jones from June to September 2017 as a driver of his septic tank truck.

He claimed they dumped more than 50 septic tank trucks of human waste in the mangroves near Pangaimotu.

At one stage Lihau took pictures of Jones and the truck while they were dumping the waste. He said he later shared the pictures with some people.

He claimed on that day they dumped three septic tanks into the mangroves.

He said on one occasion the truck broke down and he helped Jones use a hose pipe and a generator to drain the human waste out into the mangroves.

Lihau said a tourist from the UK asked what he was dumping and he said he told them it was water.

Lihau said he was lying to cover it up but in fact he was dumping human waste.

He said tourists used to swim and kayak near the dumpsite.

Jones was convicted by a Vava’u court and fined TP$1000 on June 20 after an inspection by the Health Authority following the dump found infectious disease from the waste in the sea near the dumping site.

Fishing and swimming in the area has been banned, affecting residents of Pangaimotu, Toula, ‘Utungake, ‘Utulei, Talihau and Neiafu.

Lihau claimed he went to Australia in November last year and received a phone call from Jones complaining that he found out Lihau had reported the dumping to the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC).

He claimed Jones demanded he pay him TP$800 as he has paid a TP$4000 to MEIDECC.

Lihau claimed he only paid TP$200 after Jones threatened to report him to Australian Immigration.

For more information

Vava’u residents react with fury at fishing ban as accused free to leave Tonga

Person dead after powerpole crash in Mangere, South Auckland

By
Kaniva Staff
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One person has died after their car hit a power pole in south Auckland.

Police said they believed the driver, who was the sole occupant of the car, may have suffered a medical event before hitting the pole in Steven St, Māngere East.

The serious crash unit is investigating and the road has been closed.

Samoa MMR vaccine deaths warn Tonga, says Health CEO

By
Kalino Latu
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UPDATED: An inquiry in Samoa following the deaths of two infants last week gave Tonga an opportunity to pay more attention to its immunisation process, Health CEO Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola said.

Samoa’s Government has seized supplies of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine as a result.

Dr ‘Akau’ola said Tonga only used the vaccine for measles and rubela (MR).

“It is important for us to wait for the results of the investigation into the Samoa cases which involved WHO and UNICEF,” ‘Akau’ola said in Tongan.

The babies were brought to Safotu Hospital in Savai’i on Friday, where they died within minutes of the receiving the MMR vaccine, Television New Zealand reported.

Dr Helen Petousis-Harris, the University of Auckland’s Director of Research at the Immunisation Advisory Centre, told Stuff deaths associated with vaccines were extremely rare.

“This is an exceptional event … we shouldn’t fly into a panic,” she reportedly said.

The Cook Islands has lifted a suspension on the MMR vaccine which was announced after the Samoa deaths.

The Cook Islands Secretary for Health, Josephine Aumea Herman, reportedly said checks had revealed that stocks of the MMR vaccine in the Cooks did not come from the same batch that had been recalled in Samoa.

Dr Aumea Herman said the Cook Islands had a 100 percent MMR infant vaccination rate.

Two top government officials quit

By
Kalino Latu
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‘Emeline Tuita, CEO of Tonga Tourism, is quitting the government Ministry after less than a year.

A reliable source said that working relationship issue was behind her resignation.

It said Tuita had been thinking about her departure for quite some time.

Tuita’s resignation will be effective sometime this month, it said.

Meanwhile, Tonga’s Chief Secretary and Secretary to Cabinet Dr Palenitina Langa’oi Tiueti has also quit her job.

Dr Paletenitina has resigned to join her husband Rev Dr Silivēnusi Tiueti who is being sent to California by the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga.

A government source claimed Dr Palenitena’s husband has also sought medical treatment in the United States.

The Prime Minister’s media spokesperson, Tuita and Dr Palenitina had been contacted for comment.

Dr Siliveinusi had been teaching at Tonga’s Sia’atoutai Theological College but the church’s 95 Conference last week has  moved him to a parish in California.

Dr Palenitina would pursue studies for the ministry, Radio New Zealand reported.

Prime minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva reportedly said he supports her choice and wishes her well.

Tongan X-Factor “can’t believe” her old family home was where a girl’s body found

By
Kalino Latu
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Former Tongan X-Factor contestant Ashely Tonga couldn’t believe the house she had lived in for 10 years has become a target of a homicide investigation this week.

A body of a 17-year-old girl was found at the house in Buckland Rd, Māngere, on Tuesday.

Tonga and her mum moved out of the home about two weeks ago.

“This is beyond sad. Love and light to the family of the young girl,” she wrote on Facebook yesterday.

Since they left, her neighbours had seen people going inside, Newshub reported.

Ms Tonga said when she went back to pick up post from the house early Sunday evening, something didn’t feel right.

“I just got that … hair standing on the back of my [neck], that was while I was at the back [of the house] and I ran [out],” she said.

The next day Ms Tonga received news that a body had been found at the house.

“I was just shocked when I was talking to the neighbour [because] she had said the body was there for a while,” she said.

Police Detective Inspector Tofilau Faa Vaaelua said a formal identification of the victim has now been completed but Police are not in a position to release the name of the deceased as next of kin are yet to be informed.

A scene examination, including a forensic analysis of the scene, has been completed over the past two days at the address as we seek to piece together what has taken place, he said.

A post-mortem examination has been completed.

Initial indications from enquiries are that the death occurred sometime during the day on Saturday 7, July.

Inspector Vaaelua said the investigation was in its early phases, however Police were speaking with several individuals in relation to this matter.

“Any homicide case is a tragedy, however this case involves a vulnerable young female and we are determined to establish the circumstances surrounding her death, which is the priority in our investigation.

“We are also offering support to the family of the victim,” says Detective Inspector Vaaelua.

“We appreciate that there is media interest in this matter, however this is a very complex matter and for investigational reasons, we are only able to release limited information at this time.

“We will provide further information as soon as we are in a position to do so.”

“Alo will always be in our heart,” Tongan politician says

By
Kalino Latu
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A Tongan Member of Parliament said her first cousin Alo Ngata was a family guy and had a lot of respect to his siblings and relatives.

MP Akosita Lavulavu said Ngata, who died in Auckland last week after Police tasered him multiple times, was a dear brother to them all.

“He is the kind of person who would accept anybody with open arms, respected the elderly, and you could always count on him to make you smile and be happy,” MP Lavulavu said.

“He was a joyful character.

“A huge loss to our Ngata Family. Most of us still can’t even get over the fact that he has passed on.

“We are grieving in so much pain because of our loss, our love and greatest memories of not only a son, but a brother, an uncle and soon to be father.

The memories of Alo will always be in our hearts. He was a blessing to us all. and he will surely be missed.”

A wake was being held tonght at 11 Bolderwood place, Wiri for Ngata.

His body will be laid to rest tomorrow at the Manukau Memorial Garden, Papatoetoe.

According to his Facebook, Ngata studied “Criminology” at Tangaroa College.

He was arrested on Sunday allegedly violently assaulting an elderly person in Auckland’s Freemans Bay.

Police said he was found kicking the victim in the head several times as he lay unconscious.

Ngata then “lunged” towards the officers before he was Tasered multiple times.

“During the arrest process the offender violently struggled, which required two more back-up officers to assist to apply necessary restraints and a spit hood,” Superintendent Karyn Malthus said.

Read more

Tongan man died after being tasered by police in Auckland named

Homicide investigation after girl, 17, found dead in Māngere

By
Kalino Latu
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Police have launched a homicide investigation following the death of a 17 year old girl at an address in Buckland Road, Mangere over the weekend.

Police have been conducting a scene examination at the address and are following lines of enquiries to establish the circumstances around the death.

The victim is yet to be formally identified and a post-mortem is being carried out today, said Detective Inspector Tofilau Faa Vaaelua, Counties Manukau Field Crime Manager.

There are no further updates at this stage.

Two deaths shock Tongans in New Zealand

By
Kalino Latu
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The death of two men in Tonga last night has left family and friends in New Zealand devastated.

As Kaniva News reported last night, Tēvita Filikitonga, 38, also known as Tēvita ‘Uhila and Molisoni Kioa Moeakiola, 49, died instantly after a car they were in crashed into a tree in Holonga at about 9pm.

Filikitonga spent sometimes in New Zealand before he returned to Tonga recently.

Filikitonga and Moeakiola were brothers in law.

Filikitonga’s partner is Molisoni’s young sister.

Molisoni’s young brother Tevita Moeakiola and his wife Paea Sime Moeakiola who were currently staying in Auckland told Kaniva the news of their death had shocked the family in New Zealand.

Photos provided to us showed the couple appeared devastated and tearful after they received the sad story.

Filikitonga’s friends and relatives in New Zealand could not believe the news.

” OMG can’t believe this sis..Rip to the one of my bros best friend Tevita,” a commenter wrote on Filikitonga’s Facebook page. 

“What?” a neighbour member of Filikitonga in Tonga wrote on Facebook when he saw the tragic news.

“We missed you Teita. Rest in Peace,” another wrote.

Read more

Two men die in Tongatapu crash, reports say

Suspected meth dealers arrested after suspicious parked van spotted  

By
Kalino Latu
-

Three suspected drug dealers had been arrested in Tongatapu after reports of suspicious parked van spotted between Fatumu and Lavengatonga on June 25.

Police also found one plastic bag of methamphetamine, one .22 rifle and ammunition in the accused’s possession.

The Pea and Folaha suspects have been charged with possession of the illicit drug, a firearm and ammunition without a license.

They are expected to appear at a Magistrate’s Court.

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