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King dismisses Tonga’s Minister of Internal Affairs

The king of Tonga has dismissed the kingdom’s Minister for Internal Affairs, Hon Sosefo Fe’ao Vakata effective yesterday, 14 September 2016.

The dismissal came after the Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pohiva wrote to the king and recommended that he revoked the minister from his ministerial post.

Kaniva understands the Ministry’s Director of Women Affairs Tupou ‘Ahau Fakakovikaetau has lodged a complaint with the Prime Minister’s Office against Vakata.

She claimed the Minister was involved in an incident in Vava’u last month  in which a wine glass was thrown at her.

It was also alleged the Minister was drunk.

A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office received by Kaniva News this morning read:

On 10 September, 2016, the Prime Minister, Hon. Samuela ‘Akilisi Pohiva wrote to the Minister for Internal Affairs Hon Sosefo Fe’aomoeata Vakata and requested that he voluntarily resigns from his position as Cabinet Minister, by 12 noon on Monday 12 September, 2016.

The Hon Prime Minister did not receive any response from the Minister for Internal Affairs after the deadline. As such, the Hon Prime Minister submitted his recommendation to the King on the evening of 12 September 2016, pursuant to clause 51 (3) (a) of the Constitution, whereby the Hon Prime Minister recommended to His Majesty The King, to revoke the appointment of the Minister of Internal Affairs with effect from 13 September, 2016.

On 14 September, 2016, a letter from the Lord Chamberlain conveyed that His Majesty The King has been pleased to assent to the Hon Prime Minister’s recommendation to revoke the Ministerial appointment of the Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon Sosefo Fe’aomoeata Vakata and to be effective from 13 September 2016.

On the same day, 14 September 2016, the Hon Prime Minister received the Hon Sosefo Fe’aomoeata Vakata’s letter of resignation, as Minister of Internal Affairs.  Nevertheless, as per the legal advice received by the Hon Prime Minister, the revocation of the appointment of the Minister for Internal Affairs was duly made by His Majesty The King on 14 September 2016 and to be effective from 13 September 2016, by virtue of Clause 51(3)(a) of the Constitution. This is regardless of the fact that the Minister of Internal Affairs later submitted his resignation.

Accordingly, the Honourable Prime Minister Samuela ‘Akilisi Pohiva hereby informs the public that the appointment of the Minister for Internal Affairs Hon Sosefo Fe’aomoeata Vakata is deemed to have been revoked on 14 September, 2016, with effect from 13 September 2016.

The Hon Prime Minister Samuela ‘Akilisi Pohiva wishes the former Minister of Internal Affairs the very best with his future endeavours.

No medal, But Tongan athlete Taufatofua sees brighter prospects after Olympic Games

Tonga’s Olympic flag bearer, 32-year-old Pita Taufatofua may not have won a medal at the Rio Olympics, but he is now fielding offers from modelling agencies, magazines, talk shows, commercials, and media interviews.

Next week he is flying to Los Angeles to talk to managers and agents.

Taufatofua said he spent all his time in Rio doing interviews after his spectacular appearance in the Olympic opening ceremony, but that he sued the opportunity to promote Tonga.

“Each of those interviews was me getting Tonga out to the world,” he told  Matangi Tonga.

Taufatofua, who represented the kingdom in Taekwondo at the Rio Games, is meeting with officials and visiting friends and family on Tongatapu as well as Ha’apai.

A parade is being planned for Saturday to mark the return of the Tongan Olympic team.

As Kaniva News reported last month, Taufatofua went down 16-1 to Iranian medal favourite Sajjad Mardani , but still managed to catch the attention of the world’s press because of his attitude.

In an interview with leading American sporting magazine Sports Illustrated, he made it clear he thought winning or losing was less important than making people aware of Tonga.

“To me, that’s what the Olympics is about, Taufatofua said.

“It’s about bringing people who don’t know each other and have different cultural and religious beliefs or views together as one. We’re all human beings.”

“For me the important thing is getting Tonga out to the world.”

In the wake of Taufatofua’s well-oiled appearance in the opening ceremony, Britain’s Independent newspaper reported that the Tongan government was hoping for a tourism boom.

The paper quoted Tourism Tonga spokeswoman Seini Taumoepeau as saying there had been increased online interest in the kingdom, with thousands of people looking at a holiday website and visiting Tonga’s Facebook page.

Thousands more had clicked on a website promoting Tongan holidays and hundreds more had visited the nation’s Facebook page.

The main points

  • Tonga’s Olympic flag bearer, 32-year-old Pita Taufatofua may not have won a medal at the Rio Olympics, but he is now fielding offers from modelling agencies, magazines, talk shows, commercials, and media interviews.
  • As Kaniva News reported last month, although Taufatofua went down 16-1 to Iranian medal favourite Sajjad Mardani, but he managed to catch the attention of the world’s press.
  • “For me the important thing is getting Tonga out to the world,” he told American magazine Sports Illustrated.
  • Matangi Tonga has reported that a parade is being planned for Saturday to mark the return of the Tongan Olympic team.

For more information         

Taufatofua goes down 16-1 against medal favourite, but the fans kept chanting “Tonga!”

Rio roundup: Tonga’s athletes give their best while Fonua kicks up an internet storm

Pacific leaders support climate change action, but back off mission to investigate West Papua

The 47th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ meeting in Pohnpei has agreed to push for radical climate change action.

John Silk, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, said the Forum’s commitment would ensure there would still be 16 seats at the Pacific Islands Forum in another 100 years.

“We will push for ambitious climate action across all sectors,” Hon. Silk said.

“This must include reducing aviation and maritime emissions in line with the 1.5°C temperature target we all agreed in Paris.”

“If we succeed it will be one of the best examples of island leadership that we have ever seen and help us avoid up to half a degree of warming.”

The 47th Pacific Islands Forum summit began on September 7 in Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia.

The Pacific Islands Forum includes Australia, the Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama boycotted the event and Palau’s President Tommy Remengesau Jr. is in the middle of an election campaign.

Tonga’s delegation was led by Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva and included the Minister of Finance and National Planning, Dr. ‘Aisake Valu Eke and the Chief Secretary and Secretary to Cabinet, Dr. Palenitina Langa’oi.

While the Forum was prepared to make a statement on climate change, it backed off from taking promised action on West Papua, where local people have been fighting the Indonesian occupation for 50 years.

Radio New Zealand reported that at last year’s Forum in Port Moresby a decision was reached to have the chair, PNG Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, propose a fact finding mission to Indonesia.

However, Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, Dame Meg Taylor, said the Indonesian government indicated it would not welcome a Forum delegation and did  not like the term “fact-finding.”

Nauru and Tuvalu have joined the Pacific Coalition on West Papua, voicing their concerns over human rights abuses in Papua, and teaming up with Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia’s FLNKS, the United Liberation Movement of West Papua and the Pacific Islands Alliance of Non-Governmental Organisations, or PANGO.

Elsewhere at the forum, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key announced NZ$12.5 million to fund sustainable development in Pacific Island fisheries.

The money will support sustainable coastal fisheries and aquaculture in the region through two projects,  improving fisheries food security and sustainable livelihoods for Pacific Island communities’ and Sustainable Pacific Aquaculture Development.

Meanwhile, the Forum’s final communique leaders called for action to ending Illegal fishing and associated activities, including high seas bunkering, human trafficking, and illicit trade.

The Forum agreed to grant New Caledonia and French Polynesia full membership.

The French territories have been vying for years for full membership of the regional body, which is meant to be for independent countries only.

The main points

  • The 47th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ meeting in Pohnpei has agreed to push for radical climate change action.
  • John Silk, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, said the Forum would push for ambitious climate action across all sectors.
  • Elsewhere at the Forum, Pacific leaders backed away from a planned investigation of human rights abuses in Indonesian-occupoied West Papua.
  • The Forum agreed to grant New Caledonia and French Polynesia full membership.

For more information

Pacific Island nations lead in ratification of Paris Agreement on climate change

Forum summit underway in FSM

‘Small and Far’: Pacific Island States Gather at Annual Forum

Pacific welcomes NZ’s Future of Fisheries funding

READ MORE

Rev Socratez Yoman: ‘Akilisi Pohiva is the only Polynesian leader who has publicly shown support for West Papua

Rumours say PM Pōhiva orders IA minister Hon Vakatā to resign

Rumours ran rife that Tonga’s Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva has ordered his Minister of Internal Affairs Hon Sōsefo Feʻao Vakatā to resign effective today at 12 pm.

The revelation had been reported on local news this morning.

However, most of Tonga’s cabinet ministers were shocked at the reports saying they have not received any official statement about Vakatā’s resignation.

Kaniva understands a complaint was lodged recently with the Prime Minister’s Office regarding Hon Vakatā.

It has claimed the minister involved in an incident in Vavaʻu last month in which a wine glass was allegedly thrown at one of his female directors.

It has also claimed the minister was allegedly drunk.

The Prime Minister is currently out of the kingdom attending the Pacific Islands Forum in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia. He was expected to return to Tonga tomorrow.

In an attempt to confirm the rumours we contacted some of the cabinet ministers including the Minister of Health Hon Saia Piukala.

After asking around other ministers Hon Piukala said none of them knew about the resignation.

Tonga’s Minister of Police Hon Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa told Kaniva News he has just heard about it on the news this morning.

He said he has yet to receive any official statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.

It was understood the issue was raised with Hon Pohiva in Micronesia last week while he was interviewed by the manager of the Radio and Television Tonga programmes, Viola Koloamatangi Ulakai who was also at the forum.

Hon Vakatā, who has just left New Zealand for Tonga this morning after visiting Tongan fruit pickers in Australia, and Tonga’s Chief Secretary and Secretary to Cabinet did not respond to our emails at the time this story was published.

Princess allows presenters to stick ‘pale’ on her body despite warning to place it on floor

Scroll down to watch the video

A video shows Princess Pilolevu had invited people who turned up to stick dollar notes on her body with her husband Lord Tuita while they were dancing to do so.

This was not in accordance with Tongan protocol as commoners were not allowed to make contact or touch the bodies of the royals and nobility.

The Princess gave the permission after the presenters were warned by someone from the audience to just place the pale (Tongan word for money stuck on dancers’ bodies) on the dance floor in front of the couple.

The presenters apparently hesitated but this had drawn the princess’ attention and told them to just go ahead and stuck the pale on their bodies.

The video showed the presenters eventually handed the money to the Princess and Tuita.

The 1.08 minute video was taken by Nunia Faletau, who told Kaniva News it was a “beautiful occassion”.

Princess Pilolevu was dancing with Lord Tuita to the music, Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers at the Ground Plaza, Foster city, San Francisco in the United States.

They were guests of honour at the bridal shower for their daughter Hon Lupeolo Moheofo Virginia Rose Tuita.

Moheofo was expected to marry Hon Lopeti Fielakepa.

Video: Tongan Police struggle to arrest man

Scroll down to watch the video.
A video uploaded to social media showed the arrest of a man who tried to fight off Police officers.

The encounter ended with one Police officer appeared to be in a bad state of exhaustion and struggling to breathe.

It was not immediately clear when was the incident happened and why.

The 1.29 minutes video was uploaded to Facebook yesterday Saturday 10 by Angelica Fifita.

“I went with my daughter to the ‘Una’eva petrol station in Kolofo’ou to get gas….I was surprised to see the boy appeared. Why was this people were allowed to leave the prison, people are concerned about this kind of people,” it says in the caption accompanying the video (Translated).

A person is overheard in the video saying the man was a prisoner escapee but we could not be able to confirm this.

Another person can be overheard during the encounter calling the man’s name as Maka.

 

Knowing regulations will stop importers breaking the law on fruit and meat: MAFFF

Tongans regularly take home or send gifts of meat or fresh fruit from New Zealand to the kingdom.

However, the kingdom’s Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry, Food and Fisheries (MAFFF) is concerned at the number of cases where goods have to be confiscated and destroyed because their senders have ignored or do not understand the rules on importing meat and fruit.

Confiscations mean people lose the money they spent on buying the goods.

They can also face fines for breaking the law.

A spokesman for MAFFF said he believed many people broke the import regulations simply because they didn’t know what the rules were.

People sending produce to Tonga face two sets of regulations for goods imported from New Zealand.

One if for goods that travel with the passenger as part of their baggage and the other is for goods that travel on their own.

The materials most commonly sent to Tonga are fruit and meat.

Fresh fruit

Passengers travelling to Tonga can take 20kg of fruit with them.

All fruit landed at Fua’amotu Airport will be inspected. If it passes inspection a Plant Import Permit and Quarantine Entry will be issued.

If it does not meet the importation requirements it may be confiscated and destroyed.

The following are the regulations for accompanying fresh fruit from New Zealand:

All fruit must be declared upon arrival and will be inspected at the Quarantine Office at Fua’amotu airport.

The passenger must show evidence that the fruit was purchased in New Zealand by providing an original receipt as proof of purchase.

MAFF has warned that if shipments of accompanied fruits were not purchased in New Zealand they will be destroyed.

Consignment weighing more than 20 kg per adult passenger will be confiscated.

Meat

The situation for meat is more complicated.

Regulations apply only to non-commercial importation; that is, meat brought into the country for private use and not re-sale.

Meat can be brought in from New Zealand, Australia, the United States or Vanuatu.

Meat from Samoa or Fiji is prohibited.

The cost of an import permit at the airport nor other point of entry varies from TP$13.80 to TP$19.55.

Passenger can bring in a maximum of 20kg of meat products per adult.

All meat products  must be in unbroken, sealed, commercial packaging and passengers must be able to produce a receipt showing where the meat was bought. The country of origin must be clearly visible.

According to the Ministry, these regulations apply to any private consignment of New Zealand origin meat, meat products, dairy products, egg products or products with New Zealand origin, meat/dairy/egg ingredients from any country.

For more information

MAFFF quarantine office

List of fruit allowed from New Zealand

Name of Fruit Scientific Name
Apple (fresh fruit) Malus spp.
Avocado (fresh fruit) Persea Americana
Balsam pear Momordica charantia
Blueberry Vaccinium spp.
Cape gooseberry Physalis peruviana
Cardoon Cynara cardunculus
Citrus (fresh fruit) Citrus spp.
Cranberry (fresh fruit) Vaccinium macrocarpon
Currant (fresh fruit) Ribe spp.
Feijoa (fresh fruit) Feijoa  sellowiana
Grabe (fresh fruit) Vitis spp.
Nashi fruit(fresh fruita) Pyrus pyrifolia
Olive Olea europea
Pear (fresh fruit) Pyrus communis
Nectarine  (fresh fruit) Prunus persica
Kiwifruits  (fresh fruit) Actinidia deliciosa
Pepino (pear melon ) Solanum muricatum
Persimmon (fresh fruit) Diospyros virginiana
Apricot (fresh fruit) Prunus armeniaca
Peach (fresh fruit) Prunus  persica
Cherry (fresh fruit) Prunus spp.
Strawberry (fresh fruit) Fragaria ananassa
Cumquat (kumquat )(fresh fruit) Fortunella margarita
Lemon (fresh fruit) Citrus limon
Mandarin (fresh fruit) Citrus reticulata
Orange (fresh fruit) Citrus sinensis
Plum (fresh fruit) Purunus domestica
Satsuma mandarin(fresh fruit) Citrus reticulata
Citrus Seville orange (fresh) Citrus aurantium
Lychee (fresh fruit) Litchi chinensis
Nashi (fresh fruit) Pyrus spp.
Persimmon (fresh fruit) Diospyros kaki

List of meat products permitted into Tonga (with import requirements) by country of origin

Animal product [meat] Requirements Origin
Beef/Venison/Buffalo [sausage, luncheon, saveloys, meat, hot dogs, frankfurters, pies] Cooked, uncooked (frozen, chilled, smoked, salted and dried) Australia, New Zealand, United States of America, Vanuatu
Poultry, including turkey, duck, chicken, ostrich. [carcasses, pieces, sausage, luncheon meat, frankfurters and offal] Cooked, uncooked (including frozen, smoked, dried and chilled) Australia, New Zealand, United States of America
Pig meat [ham, sausage, bacon, saveloys, luncheon meat, hot dogs, pies, salami and frankfurters] Frozen and cooked Australia, New Zealand, United States of America
Chilled only Australia, New Zealand
Sheep and goat meat [mutton and lamb] Cooked, uncooked (frozen, chilled, smoked, salted and dried) Australia, New Zealand
Sheep offal must be frozen and/or cooked Australia, New Zealand, United States of America
Chicken eggs Unfertilised and clean, commercially packaged Australia, New Zealand, United States of America
Milk products [yoghurt, cheese, milk, ice cream, UHT products] Commercially packaged Australia, New Zealand, United States of America

The main points

  • Tonga’s kingdom’s Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry, Food and Fisheries is concerned at the number of cases where goods have to be confiscated and destroyed because their senders have ignored or do not understand the rules on importing meat and fruit.
  • Confiscations mean people lose the money they spent on buying the goods.
  • They can also face fines for breaking the law.
  • A spokesman for MAFFF said he believed many people broke the import regulations simply because they didn’t know what the rules were.

Suspected drunk driver killed in Huʻatolitoli crash

A suspected drunk driver from Vaini lost his life in a fatal car accident this morning Saturday 10 at about 12.50am.

Police said a 24-year-old was driving when his 1500 kg pick up van veered off the road and hit a Pulukamu tree near Malapo.

Police Chief Inspector Tupou ʻOtutaha told Kaniva News they have information alcohol was a contributing factor in the crash.

The driver was the only person in the van while the incident occurred.

ʻOtutaha also said Police found a significant increase in motorists driving after consuming alcohol this year and as a result death toll also increasing significantly.

He said Police were doing their best to bring the number down and to stop motorists from driving under the influence of alcohol.

He said a Police campaign has been running for about two months now in an attempt to crackdown on drink driving.

Kaniva understands about 500 people had been arrested and charged with drink driving and other alcohol-related crimes, through the ongoing campaign known as ‘Operation Safe Streets’.

In the last week of August 41 people including motorists were arrested for alleged drunk driving and disorderly conduct in Tongatapu. The arrests were made as the Operation Sate Street reached its fifth week.

READ MORE:

Driver left lying ‘motionless’ after his car crashed

Tonga tops list for reliance on remittances and graduates going abroad for work

Tonga depends more on money sent home by migrant workers than any other country in the Pacific a new report says.

According to a World Bank report, remittances make up more than a third of the kingdom’s GDP in 2015.

At 33 percent of GDP, that places Tonga fourth in the world in terms of reliance on remittances.

The World Bank also says that Tonga ranks highest in the Pacific and sixth in the world for the percentage of tertiary educated people going overseas to find work.

A leading economist says the limited number public sector jobs drives many well educated Tongans to look for work outside the kingdom.

Christopher Edmonds from the Asian Development Bank told Radio New Zealand earlier this year that migrant workers usually maintained tied with their families and sent money home.

He said this was particularly so after disasters and in the wake of Cyclone Ian there had been a noticeable increase in remittances.

Edmonds said remittances continue to form a major part of the Tongan economy despite their decline following the global financial crisis

Returning migrant workers brought investment capital and skills that could benefit the economy.

Edmonds said Tonga also benefitted from participation in seasonal agricultural worker programmes in New Zealand and Australia.

According to Radio Tonga, about 12,000 Tongans are now working under Australia’s Seasonal Worker Program and New Zealand Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme.

As Kaniva News reported earlier this week, 2179 Tongan workers are in Australia under the Pacific Harvest Scheme’s seasonal worker programme which sends workers to rural areas.

Tongan Minister for Internal Affairs, Sosefo Fe’ao Vakata, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation many Tongan students did not have jobs and looked to Australia for opportunities.

Elsewhere in the Pacific, the World Bank says 18 percent of Samoa’s GDP comes from remittances and 14 percent for the Marshall Islands.

The main points

  • Tonga depends more on money sent home by migrant workers than any other country in the Pacific a new report says.
  • According to a World Bank report, remittances make up more than a third of the kingdom’s GDP in 2015.
  • The World Bank also says that Tonga ranks highest in the Pacific and sixth in the world for the percentage of tertiary educated people going overseas to find work.
  • A leading economist says the limited number public sector jobs drives many well educated Tongans to look for work outside the kingdom.

For more information

Migration and Remittances Handbook 2016 (World Bank)

Tonga most dependent in Pacific on remittances (Radio New Zealand)

Tonga wants more rural work visas in Australia and hopes they will ease youth unemployment (Kaniva News)

Remittances still vital for Tonga (Radio New Zealand)

Driver left lying ‘motionless’ after his car crashed

UPDATED:The driver of the van that crashed on Taufaʻāhau Road this morning left motionless after his body was removed from his vehicle.

A local photographer, Patimiosi Ngūngūtau came across the crash moments after it occurred.

He said the driver lay motionless and unconcious.

Police could not be reached for comment.

mate
The driver lay motionless on the ground. Photo/Patimiosi Ngungutau