Home Blog Page 669

Tonga unaware of legal action taken by PGC against its cancellation of Games host

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Tongan government was unaware of any legal action yet after Pacific Games council said it had taken legal action against its decision to pull the plug on hosting the 2019 Pacific Games.

The Council formally terminated its host agreement with Tonga for the Games,  after the kingdom said it could not afford the enormous challenge of mobilising finance and the impact of the cost on Tonga’s budget deficit.

The Council has begun legal proceedings against the kingdom in July, Radio New Zealand reported.

But one month after the announcement Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva told Parliament last week no official information had been communicated to the government regarding the issue.

The Council’s CEO Andrew Minogue told media they had engaged a solicitor in Tonga and “will now pursue damages through the court”.

Tonga said previously the cabinet had passed a resolution to hire a top lawyer from New Zealand to assist it in any legal challenges after the Council reportedly threatened it would take legal action against its move to cancel the host.

“Meanwhile, Guam had joined Samoa in expressing interest to host the 2019 Pacific Games.

“Guam last hosted the Games in 1999 in Santa Rita and previously in 1975 at Tumon.

“The Pacific Games Council said French Polynesia would also bid to hold the games after Tahiti missed out on winning hosting rights to Tonga.”

New Zealand may open up places for higher earning workers under RSE

By
Philip Cass
-

The New Zealand government will investigate opening up the Recognised Seasonal Employment scheme to semi-skilled and higher income occupations.

The RSE has offered places to seasonal workers in agriculture in New Zealand in unskilled areas.

New Zealand Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Gerry Brownlee, said the changes could allow access to higher level jobs where jobs could not be filled by local labour.

He said Pacific Island nations had asked for more opportunities for their workers that went beyond what was currently available.

Brownlee made the announcement at a conference, Strengthening Pacific Partnerships Phase Two,  which concluded in Auckland last week.

CEO of Tonga’s Ministry of Internal affairs, Tonga’s Ana Bing Fonua and Kolotia Fotu from the Ministry of Labour and Commerce attended the meeting.

The RSE scheme is a decade old and involves 10,500 workers.

However, while the number of Pacific states taking part had risen, the number of workers from some states, notably Kiribati, Tuvalu, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, and Nauru, remained low because of their distance from New Zealand and the high cost of airfares.

The goal of the scheme over the next 10 years was to help Pacific countries by providing more opportunities for workers and help their economies by increasing the flow of remittances from RSE workers.

He said the design of the second phase of the scheme was based on interviews with a wide range of senior officials from Pacific states, employers and workers, community leaders and studies of Pacific labour carried out by the Ministry of Foreign affairs and Trade.

As part of the second phase the New Zealand government would look at ways to develop opportunities for woman and for people to work in sectors requiring industry-specific skills and qualifications.

Earlier this year Tuvalu called for more opportunities for skilled workers and Samoa said it wanted the cap on the numbers of RSE workers lifted.

The main points

  • The New Zealand government will investigate opening up the Recognised Seasonal Employment scheme to semi-skilled and higher income occupations.
  • The RSE has offered placed to seasonal workers in agriculture in New Zealand in unskilled areas.
  • New Zealand Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Gerry Brownlee, said the changes could allow access to higher level jobs where jobs could not be filled by local labour.
  • He said Pacific Island nations had asked for more opportunities for their workers that went beyond what was currently available.

For more information

New Zealand looks to extend RSE scheme

Pacific nations want to review numbers on the RSE scheme

Search for boy who vanished into the ocean in Vaotuʻu

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tongan authorities were searching for a boy who went missing Saturday while at the shore of a Vaotuʻu beach, in Tongatapu.

Salesi Limoni, 8, was reported missing after his parents failed to locate him according to reports.

Further details were not immediately available.

Meanwhile heartbreaking photos uploaded to Facebook by friends and family showed dozens of people combing the water off the Kele’amaka beach in an effort to find the missing boy.

Some photos showed a crowd of people linking arms while some, appeared to be family members, can be seen holding and consoling each other on the shore.

Tokaikolo President’s son takes care of children as Schaaf’s body laid to rest

By
Kalino Latu
-

The son of the Tokaikolo church’s president pledged to look after five children as their father’s body was laid to rest yesterday at Niumata cemetery in Lavengamālie, Tofoa.

Tala’ofa Schaaf, who was also known as Tala’ofa Saafi, died suddenly in his sleep on July 24.

Sangstar Saulala, the Tokaikolo President’s son,  told Kaniva News his family was honoured when Schaaf’s paternal and maternal family offered the honour  of performing the fahu (man’s sister’s children, regarded as holding the highest respect, to sit in front of the corpse) to one of his children.

The rare move was a show of great respect and appreciation towards the close relationship the deceased had with the Saulala family, Sangstar said.

Saulala, a former MP and government Minister, took to Facebook yesterday to thank Schaaf’s mother Lesieli and Latu Sisifa from the deceased’s paternal side for the offer and honour.

Schaaf’s burial service was attended by Benhur Kivalu, an international Tongan rugby union player, staff of the Tongan Rugby Union office and many others from the rugby community in Tonga, Saulala said.

As Kaniva News reported on July 24, Schaaf, 37,  worked as a Senior Development officer at Tonga Rugby Union office.

He also worked as a registrar at the Lavengamalie Institute of Technology and coached  the Lavengamalie Hurricanes.

TRU boss Fe’ao Vunipola described Schaaf as an “outstanding employee”.

Schaaf and his family stayed at the Tokaikolo church’s property, Lavengamalie, where the Saulala family reside.

Saulala described him as a “brother”.

Yesterday the Lavengamalie Hurricanes defeated the Marists champs after their rugby match at Halaano.

Saulala said they were really pleased with the result as it was intended to mark and honour the death of Schaaf.

Schaaf is survived by his wife Judy Lauaki Schaaf and children.

The main points

  • The son of the Tokaikolo church’s president pledged to look after six children as their father’s body was laid to rest yesterday at Niumata cemetery in Koloua ‘o Kolomotu’a.
  • Tala’ofa Schaaf, who was also known as Tala’ofa Saafi, died suddenly in his sleep on July 24.
  • Sangstar Saulala, the Tokaikolo President’s son said his family was honoured when Schaaf’s paternal and maternal family offered the honour of performing the fahu (man’s sister’s children, regarded as holding the highest respect) to one of his children.
  • Saulala, a former MP and government Minister, took to Facebook yesterday to thank Schaaf’s mother Lesieli and Latu Sisifa from the deceased’s paternal side for the offer and honour.

For more information

Rugby Community reels at death of Tala’ofa Saafi

Pago Pago Court told Tongan woman admitted parcel contained drugs

By
Philip Cass
-

A Tongan woman admitted to customs officers that a parcel she tried to collect contained drugs worth nearly TP$200,000, a court has been told.

Giving testimony in a remand hearing in American Samoa, the customs officers said woman, Mele Moimoi Mapu, told them the parcel contained crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as ice.

A sniffer dog detected the drugs and customs officers at the post office in Pago Pago waited for her to collect the parcel last week.

Mapu faces up to 10 years in jail under American Samoan law.

She has been remanded in custody and will appear in the High Court on the charges.

Police estimated there were more than two kilograms of the drug with an estimated street value of US$90,000, equivalent to TP$198,000 or NZ$120,000.

Mapu told the remand hearing she bought the methamphetamine from a man she met on Facebook, but had never met in person.

Judge Gwen Tauiliili remanded the case to the High Court.

Apart from imprisonment, a conviction could also incur a penalty of $US10,000.

Samoa News reported that a total of four kilos of methamphetamine and four kilos of marijuana were detected being smuggled through the Fagatogo post office in American Samoa in February this year.

And in December last year, Radio New Zealand reported that a woman had been arrested in the US territory after sniffer digs detected drugs with an estimated street value of US$150,000 being smuggled in a parcel of computer parts.

The American Samoan legislature passed laws in 1999 making the possession of even small amounts of illegal drugs punishable by long jail terms with no possibility of parole.

The main points

  • A Tongan woman admitted to customs officers that a parcel she tried to collect contained drugs worth nearly TP$200,000, a court has been told.
  • Giving testimony in a remand hearing in American Samoa, the customs officers said woman, Mele Moimoi Mapu, told them the parcel contained crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as ice.
  • A sniffer dog detected the drugs and customs officers at the post office in Pago Pago waited for her to collect the parcel last week.

For more information 

Ice found in mail valued at $90,000

Sniffer dog finds drugs in mail in American Samoa

Fagatogo Post Office drug bust involves postal worker

Five in hospital, two remain in stable condition after two separate crashes in Tongatapu

By
Kalino Latu
-

Five passengers were rushed to hospital after two separate car crashes in Tongatapu early this morning Saturday 5.

Two of them remained in Vaiola hospital in a critical but stable condition after a car they were in hit a sign post in Teʻekiu.

Three passengers including another person from the Teʻekiu crash and two victims from a crash in Veitongo were still being processed at the outpatient ward with minor injuries when  Kaniva News was talking to a Ministry of Health spokesperson.

The Teʻekiu victims were travelling along the Hihifo road with two other persons including the driver before the incident occurred, the spokesperson said.

Alcohol was believed to be a factor in that accident.

The spokesperson said no one was killed in these crashes according to the hospital’s record.

The other two passengers were currently being processed in hospital after their vehicle hit a power pole in Veitongo.

The driver of that vehicle was allegedly asleep and he was unhurt.

Custom boss apologises as corruption complaint laid against staff at airport

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Revenue and Customs, Kulu ‘Anisi Bloomfield, has apologised to a complainant who accused his staff at Fu’amotu International airport of bribery and corruption.

Bloomfield said the complaint could have been resolved quickly if the complainant had spoken to the officer in charge of the airport so they could work directly with him there and with those who were involved.

Bloomfield said it was difficult to investigate the allegation without any concrete evidence although the Ministry would look at the complaint if its office received any solid information.

Auckland-based Sylvester Tonga alleged that he was told when he flew into the airport recently  that he and others who were queued to clear their luggage would have their luggage cleared more quickly depending on how much money they paid staff.

Tonga told Kaniva News he was surprised to see how the alleged corruption was conducted in front of the travellers.

He has lodged a complaint with the Ombudsman’s office.

Tonga alleged a man paid money to the staff and he was removed from the queue straight away and allowed to pick up his luggage and go.

He also alleged two men in front of him in the queue gave a carton of cigarettes and alcohol to two customs staff who policed the queue. These travellers were then allowed to go without having their luggage scanned in the x-ray scanner.

Tonga claimed a female custom officer approached him and others and asked if there was any stuff in their luggage that could pose a danger, to which he replied in the negative.

The woman then looked at another customs officer who told the woman jokingly that Tonga was a rich man.

Tonga replied he was not and had no money because he was poor.

The man then indicated to another man who stood by the scanner to take Tonga’s luggage and scan it.

Tonga claimed he was told to pay TP$100 at a booth, but when he asked the cashier for a receipt he was told there was none.

He said when he was asked by the ombudsmen for concrete evidence to support his complaint he asked them to check the log book at the airport to see who were working on June 29 when their flight arrived.

Bloomfield called on travellers who arrived at the airport to take pictures and videos if they could to support any complaint against staff at the airport.

He said the Ministry would wait for a contact from the Ombudsman’s office regarding Tonga’s complaint.

The main points

  • The Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Revenue and Customs, Kulu ‘Anisi Bloomfield, has apologised to a complainant who accused his staff at Fu’amotu International airport of bribery and corruption.
  • However, Bloomfield said the complaint could have been resolved quickly if the complainant had spoken to the officer in charge of the airport so they could work directly with him there.
  • Auckland-based Sylvester Tonga alleged that he was told at the airport recently that he and others who were collecting their luggage were told they could clear it quickly if they paid the staff.
  • Tonga told Kaniva News he was surprised to see how the alleged corruption was conducted in front of the travellers.

Supreme Court orders repayments in three currencies for breach of contract

By
Philip Cass
-

The Supreme Court has ordered a man who promised to grow and market crops for three overseas investors to make substantial reparations in three currencies.

The court met to decide what payment should be paid after an earlier court case found in favour of the complainants.

Siosifa Koloti Seluini and his company were found guilty of breaching an agreement to plant, farm, harvest and sell crops for ‘Isileli Saluni, Fifita Saluni and Sione Saluni by the court on November 21, 2016.

The court was told that the Salunis met Seluini in 2014. He convinced the plaintiffs to allow him to assist them and he and his company were engaged to act as their agents to plant, grow, harvest, export and sell their crops.

Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said the Salunis incurred significant expenditure to purchase seeds, pay  for labour, equipment and for  travel/accommodation  costs  in  respect  of  the venture.

The defendants breached the agency contract as they failed to account to  the plaintiffs for any of the  proceeds  of  sale of the plaintiffs’  crops.

They retained valuable equipment and plant provided by the plaintiffs for the purposes of the  venture  and did  not return it.

Seluini did not comply with a court order to provide a full account in English of financial transactions, original documents and details of the whereabouts of missing equipment.

The plaintiffs sought to recover costs for money lost as a result of Seluini’s breach of contract in Tongan pa’anga and New Zealand and Australian dollars depending on where expenditure was incurred. Total costs sought were TP$66,455.55, NZ$40,840.70 and Aus$3263.12.

Lord Chief Justice Paulsen did not allow all claims, saying that some were too old and others not justified.

However, he ordered the following costs to be paid:

TP$64,020.11 and NZ$15,263.80 for production and labour costs.

TP$1789 and the sum of NZ$7250 for equipment.

TP$646.44, NZ$755 and Aus$3263.12 for travel and communication.

In addition, the Salunis were entitled to costs and  reasonable  disbursements  as fixed  by the Registrar of the Court.

The main points

  • The Supreme Court has ordered a man who promised to grow and market crops for three overseas investors to make substantial reparations in three currencies.
  • Siosifa Koloti Seluini and his company were found guilty in an earlier trial of breaching an agreement to plant, farm, harvest and sell crops for ‘Isileli Saluni, Fifita Saluni and Sione Saluni.
  • Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said the Salunis incurred significant expenditure to purchase seeds, pay for labour, equipment and for  travel/accommodation  costs  in  respect  of  the venture.
  • The defendants breached the agency contract as they failed to account for any of the proceeds  of  sale of the plaintiffs’  crops and kept valuable equipment and plant.

Lord Tuʻilakepa accuses Prime Minister of bad mouthing him to US embassy

By
Kalino Latu
-

Lord Tuʻilakepa claimed in Parliament yesterday that his application for a visa to the United States was declined because the Prime Minister had reported on him adversely to the US embassy.

In response, the Prime Minister told Parliament the Sydney Morning Herald had reported that Lord Tuʻilakepa had been bribed by an international crime syndicate headed by Colombians as part of a plot to import tonnes of cocaine into Australia.

Hon. Pohiva implied this was what he told the US embassy in Fiji when he was asked to give a recommendation about Lord Tuʻilakepa’s visa application.

While Hon. Pohiva was speaking Lord Tuʻilakepa interrupted and said he knew something about Pohiva which if revealed would be the end of him.

The noble made personal remarks about the Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pohiva, alleging he should quit the premiership because he was terminally ill.

But the Speaker repeatedly stopped the noble and told the House to adjourn for a break.

The incident emerged after Tuʻilakepa made a long speech this morning in which he accused the government of not sticking to their election campaign for proper use of government vehicles.

Lord Tu’ilakepa then launched an attack on MP for Ha’apai 13 and Chair of the Whole House Committee, Veivosa Taka, accusing him of using his Parliamentary vehicle when he was finished work.

He said he took photos of Taka’s van parked outside a kava club at night while he was inside drinking kava.

Lord Tu’ilakepa then called on the government to confess to their voters and told them they had breached their promises.

Taka told Lord Tu’ilakepa he was spying on him and had reported unnecessary things to the House.

He lashed out at the noble and said he was just returned from Fiji after his application was declined.

“It was declined because of the Prime Minister”, Lord Tu’ilakepa told the House in Tongan.

The Prime Minister told the House he could tell there was a big improvement in how the government vehicles were currently used in comparison to former governments.

Hon.Pohiva said he understood what the noble was talking about, but they tried to keep after-hours usage to a prudent level.

The Herald article

On December 17, 2011, the Sydney Morning Herald, citing Australian Federal Police, reported that a Colombian drug syndicate allegedly bribed the then Speaker of the Tongan Legislative Assembly, Lord Tu’ilakepa, to sponsor a Colombian drug boss to come to the Pacific island.

“The drug boss, Obeil Antonio Zuluaga Gomez, wanted to direct an alleged operating hub from Tonga and oversee cocaine shipments,” the Herald reported.

“Despite having never met Gomez, Lord Tu’ilakepa wrote that he would ”guarantee that I will be providing the necessary housing and financial support to this person [Gomez] and take full responsibility for him during the duration of his stay.”

”I can also vouch that the aforementioned is an honest, trustworthy and law abiding person.”

“Gomez has been previously imprisoned for drug trafficking.

As a result of raids prompted by the Australian investigation, Lord Tu’ilakepa was charged with drugs and weapons offences.

The main points

  • Lord Tuʻilakepa claimed in Parliament this morning that his application for a visa to the United States was declined because the Prime Minister had reported on him adversely to the US embassy.
  • In response, Hon. Pohiva said the Sydney Morning Herald had reported that Lord Tuʻilakepa had been bribed by an international crime syndicate as part of a plot to import tonnes of cocaine into Australia.
  • Pohiva implied this was what he told the US embassy in Fiji when he was asked to give a recommendation about Lord Tuʻilakepa’s visa application.
  • While Hon. Pohiva was speaking Lord Tuʻilakepa interrupted, but the Speaker repeatedly stopped the noble and told the House to adjourn for a break.

For more information 

Tongan Speaker helped drug team, say police

PACER plus function

By
Kaniva Staff
-

The New Zealand Tonga Business Council is hosting an event focussing on PACER Plus.

The Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations Plus (PACER Plus) agreement was signed in Nuku’alofa, Tonga on June 14.

The event on August 22 is aimed at Tongan small and medium enterprises.

New Zealand’s Chief Negotiator at PACER Plus, Tessa Te Mata, will be the guest speaker the event.

It precedes the PACER Plus update at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Auckland office ion Quay Street on August 23.

It is open to the public.

For more information 

New Zealand Tonga Business Council

1...668669670...953Page 669 of 953