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Eight facing drug charges after seizure of 3,222 cannabis plants, ammo and cash in Tongatapu

By
Kalino Latu
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Eight people had been arrested with 3,222 cannabis plants, more than 20,000 cannabis seeds and six cannabis pot plants.

Police also seized two .22 rifles, ammunition, cash and electronic devices while they raided six properties in Fanga, Foʻui, Matahau and Sopu.

The men, aged between 16 and 42, were arrested after a public tip off to Police.

“Tonga Police are committed to disrupt and detect the supply of drugs where thereby preventing the harm this illegal activity causes,” Acting Commissioner Viliami ʻUnga Faʻaoa said.

“It only takes one call to Police to stop crime and the availability of drugs in your community,” he said.

Evidence and prosecution files are being progressed therefore Police cannot comment further at this stage, a statement says.

As always, the Police rely on members of the public to pass on any information about drug cultivation,manufacture and dealing, Faʻaoa said.

Any information on drug offences the public can contact various Police stations or get in touch anonymously via 23417 or 25147.

Firefighter accused of injuring a senior officer with iron rod while he was asleep appears in court

By
Kalino Latu
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A firefighter accused of attacking and injuring a senior firefighter with an iron rod while he was asleep has appeared at the Magistrate court.

Moʻale Vi of Pelehake was charged with assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm after the senior officer was rushed to hospital with injuries to his head and hands.

Police alleged Vi went to the fire station in Longolongo while he was intoxicated on December 2016.

At one stage he got into an argument with one of the kava drinkers at the station.

The senior officer intervened and tried to stop them but Vi allegedly had refused to cooperate.

It was alleged that this had led into an altercation between Vi and the senior officer.

Police were called to the scene and they left with Vi, a report said.

A second complaint was later lodged with Police after Vi returned to the firefighters’ dormitory and attacked the senior officer while he was asleep.

The senior officer, who was only named by Kele’a online as Peni, woke up to find Vi attacking him. He was injured while he was attacked.

He fought his way out and sought help at another senior officer house nearby who rushed him to hospital.

Magistrate Folau Lokotui agreed with prosecutors that more time was needed for information gathering. Lokotui adjourned the hearing.

Tonga is the most Mormon country in the world, researchers say

By
Kaniva Staff
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Tonga is now the world capital of Mormonism with the highest number of Mormons per capita of any country, researchers said.

Its 64,000 followers make up just over 60 percent of the kingdom’s population, Radio New Zealand reported.

Samoa, American Samoa, Niue and the Cook Islands are the other top five countries for membership of the Latter-day Saints Church.

A Colorado-based researcher Matt Martinich said the church traditionally keeps members on its records, even if individuals no longer associate themselves with the church.

“Tonga church reported membership constitutes about 60% of the population, so although if you look at the number of active members, that percentage is much lower,” Mr Martinich said.

“It’s more like about 20% because about two thirds of the members of the church in Tonga don’t regularly attend church or they identify with some other religious group even though their names are still on the church records.”

It has been reported in 2014 that Mormons in Tonga have outnumbered Catholics and the number of its followers was continuing to grow.

Tonga tourism wants marriage law changed to give economy a boost

By
Kalino Latu
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The Ministry of Tourism is calling for a change to marriage laws that will mean a boost for Tonga tourism and local economies.

Foreigners who intended to have their marriage performed in Tonga were required to have one of the couple stays in the kingdom for a minimum of six months before they can get marry.

But the Ministry wanted this changed to allow them to get it done within five business working days after their arrival.

The Ministry hopes to promote Tonga as a “Marriage Destination”.

The Ministry is also trying to allow foreigners who would like to have their marriage performed in Tonga to apply from their countries within 28 days before they come to the kingdom.

The call for changes in the law is being discussed in a conference organised by a committee selected by the Ministry in Nuku’alofa this week.

Tourism CEO Fekita ‘Utoikamanu told TBC Television service the committee is also trying to raise the nation’s minimum age for marriage from 15 to 18.

Tongan parents are able to sign off on their children’s marriages from the age of 15.

Giving foreign couples the option to get marry in Tonga once they arrive could boost the local economy, and bring more visitors to the Friendly Islands, ‘Utoikamanu reportedly said.

The conference is attended by Church leaders, town and district officers as well as government stakeholders.

Tongan SWP worker left in coma dies in Australia

By
Kalino Latu
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A Tongan SWP worker who was left in coma and fighting for his life at Brisbane’s Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital while he was sick has died Thursday 4.

Sione Vakameilalo Fifita of Kolovai was in Brisbane as a Seasonal Work Programme worker.

Kennedy Tau, whose wife was looking after Fifita in hospital, has confirmed his death to Kaniva News this evening.

He also wrote on his Facebook page saying “Rest in Peace Sione Vakameilalo Fifita”.

“Folau a koe ‘ihe nonga ‘ae ‘Eiki. Koe ‘Otua ‘oku ne foaki. Koe ‘Otua ‘oku ne to’o. Fakafeta’i kihe huafa ‘o Sihova”, Tau wrote in Tongan.

Translated: “May you travel in Lordʻs peace. God has given God has taken. Thanks be to God Jehovah”.

Drink drive gov’t officer in fatal crash fined $1000; escapes causing death charge

By
Kalino Latu
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A drink drive government officer who was accused of killing a 46-year-old man was fined $1,000 for driving under the influence of alcohol.

If he could not pay the fine he would be sent to jail for two months, a judicial decision says.

But the 49-year-old was acquitted of reckless and drunk driving causing the death of Uini Kava who was allegedly sitting in the middle of By-Pass Road at Longolongo before he died in May 2016.

Poasi Ngaluafe was sentenced after he pleaded guilty to charges of driving with a breath level limit of 660 micrograms per litre of breath which was well in excess of twice the legal limit of 250 micrograms.

He was declared innocent of causing death charge after the Crown prosecutor failed to prove Ngaluafe was at fault in failing to be able to avoid the deceased sitting in the  road and that he had been unable to see him and do so because he had been driving too fast and was well over the legal limit.

” I am therefore unable to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that anything errant in Mr Ngaluafe’s driving caused the collision”, the judge said.

“In these circumstances, I acquit the accused of count 1 causing death while driving under the influence of alcohol in  excess of 250 micrograms per litre of breath, contrary to  section 26A(l)  of the Traffic”.

“I, however, convict him of the alternate charge of driving a motor vehicle while under influence of alcohol in excess of 250 micrograms per litre of breath contrary to section 26(1) (2)(b)  of the Traffic Act to which he pleaded guilty”.

The judge said this was the first driving offence Ngaluafe had committed whilst over the  prescribed  limit.

Ngaluafe is employed by the government as ‎Head of Aquaculture Research at Tonga ‎Fisheries Department.

He was represented in his legal fight by lawyer William Clive Edwards Jr. while ‘Elisapeti Langi acted as Crown Law prosecutor.

Prisoner found with serious head injury on ‘Eua road believed to be drunk

By
Kalino Latu
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A prisoner who is being treated for a serious head injury after he was found lying on a road in Eua on Saturday, April 29, was believed to be drunk.

TBC report said Police suspected he was drinking alcohol while he disappeared from the prison.

Police said he was found in a bush area in Loupata not far from the prison compound.

His injury put his life in a critical condition and is currently receiving medical treatment in hospital, Police said.

They said the prisoner was reported missing after a head count of all inmates at Sianai prison at around 5pm.

He was found about an hour since his disappearance was noticed.

Police were investigating the incident.

Cultural values can build strong leaders, says Tongan academic researcher

By
Kaniva Staff
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Tongan women are using their cultural values and upbringing as a framework to build strong leadership in their workplaces, according to a new study from Massey University.

Master of Business Studies graduate Seluvaia Malua-Paea interviewed women working in a variety of organisations and in varied leadership roles. “It was mind-blowing to see how these strong women succeed in New Zealand organisations but, at the same time, still carry with them their values acquired during their upbringing, their cultural identities.”

Mrs Malua-Paea found that Tongan women offered strong leadership even in male-dominated organisations using their cultural values to counter some of the challenges they faced. For example, women who were leading teams with older men used traditional attitudes of respect for elders, often treating the men as they would uncles or father figures.

“So rather than trying to dominate or push them around, they used respectful ways to communicate with them and that encouraged the men to give them respect in return and complete the tasks given to them.”

The study found the importance of humility in the Pasifika context also came into play with Tongan women remaining humble despite their job titles or positions. While these traditional virtues may seem out of step with modern thinking, Mrs Malua-Paea found the women in her study were still able to provide strong leadership.

“At times research has proposed that for women to be successful as leaders they need to act as men to show their strength, but this study has found they don’t have to be like men to be great leaders. They can be themselves and use the values of their upbringing or culture as frames to communicate well, to build relationships with their teams and achieve their team’s targets.”

Mrs Malua-Paea says leadership is about igniting the light in others and strength isn’t necessarily about being dominant.

“To be strong for me is to have perseverance, to be humble and to respect others and be respected. To be strong is to know your place in the organisation and to know how to work within that space to influence others. You can be a leader wherever you are and make a difference.”

Mrs Malua-Paea hopes to publish parts of the study to help organisations better understand their staff members and to encourage the best from them.

Mrs Malua-Paea, originally from Nukunuku in Tonga, is a Pasifika Learning Consultant at Massey University working with Pasifika students.

-Massey University

Man who drowned in Ha’apai named

By
Kalino Latu
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The man who drowned at sea in Tungua, Ha’apai on Saturday, April 29 has been named.

He was 22-year-old Viliami Halakeituai Vaea.

Police said  Makineti tried to swim back to shore but got into difficulty after helping other fishermen to fix an anchored boat.

His body was later found washed up on the shores of the island and was immediately identified.

He has become Tonga’s first drowning death of 2017.

Royal guards investigated after intruder breaks into palace grounds

By
Kalino Latu
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The royal guards’ security protocols are in question after an intruder entered and wandered around the royal palace grounds before he was captured.

The length of time the male trespasser spent at the king’s residence was unknown.

TBC television service report said an investigation was underway to find out how the intruder entered the Nuku’alofa property undetected.

It was not clear whether or not Their Majesties were at the Palace when the interloper showed up but apparently whoever was there at the time was not in any danger from the security breach.

The report claimed the intruder was known to have mental-health problems.

The Tongan government has allocated millions of pa’anga in its annual budget for the maintenance and security of all the royal palaces in Tongatapu.

In 2000 a three-metre iron fence was installed to protect the property against intruders after a huge brawl at Pangai Lahi ended with people fleeing to find protection at the palace.

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