Massive flames and large plumes of thick smoke poured into the sky this afternoon when a fire erupted at the Takuilau college complex in Lapaha.
The fire destroyed the college’s industrial art building blocks.
The building was still standing but all contents were destroyed, an alumni said.
Firefighters arrived and battled the flames but it was too late.
An investigation by Tongan Ministry of Health has found doctors and staff of the Ministry have illegally charged members of the public TP$50 paʻanga before circumcising their children.
This was an illegal activity and a breach of the Ministry’s policy, a statement from the Ministry says today.
It is understood the investigation was conducted after complaints to the Minister by some concerned parents.
The ministerial investigation has found some doctors and health workers were paid by some members of the public as “an incentive to get their children circumcised when the waiting time is too long”.
The Ministry has strongly warned those involved and said the unauthorised act has been stopped.
It said this was commonly seen amongst Tongans who live overseas and were holidaying in Tonga and at the same time trying to get their boys circumcised before they left the kingdom.
“Public is encouraged not to support this practise because this can serve as incentive for few staff to be too carried away and start charging people inappropriately and outside MOH/Government policy”, the statement said.
Parents in New Zealand could pay circumcision fees of up to NZ$400 to circumcise their children.
“The inappropriate and somewhat irresponsible behaviour of a few MOH health staff, to charge the public for such a service has been stopped and a general warning has been issued that any staff found in breach of such a direction will be severely reprimanded and MOH will not defend any staff that has been taken to court by any member of the public with the allegation for continuing to practise such behaviours”.
It said the circumcision of children will remain as a free health service for young male individuals of Tonga, at Health centres and hospitals of the Ministries.
“Although they will be freely available for the Tongan public, they will be deferred and will become less priority when more urgent health needs such as Accidents and Emergency Health care is required at hospitals and health centres. The decision to prioritise these activities have been delegated to the Officer in Charge of each respective hospital and health centre”.
“Circumcision sessions are to be pre-booked and planned by A&E and Health Centres staff in an appropriate manner, and communicated appropriately to the public, to ensure health staff, medical equipment and supplies that will be required, are available at an appropriate time and place, to facilitate such activities.
“Consideration will also be given to public holiday periods of schools to facilitate successful completion of procedures and physical recovery of circumcised boys, to minimize inconveniences to the public.
“Of course, if members of the public still prefer to pay the doctor or health officer to conduct the circumcision of his/her children, they should go to licensed private health clinics to have such procedures performed there….”
The Chief Executive Officer for the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, ‘Asipeli Palaki has died in Fiji.
It is understood Palaki was in Fiji for medical treatment but he died on Sunday.
His body will be flown to Tonga on Thursday.
Palaki of Mounga’one Ha’apai, Noapapu Vava’u and Haveluloto Tongatapu became CEO on September 16, 2015. .
He initially held the position in 2012 until July, 2015.
Mr. Palaki’s career in the public service began in 1984 as a Cadet Computer for the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Natural Resources.
“In 1986 Mr. Palaki was promoted to the position of National Park Ranger and since then, he was appointed to senior positions in the Ministry, including Environment Officer, Head of Planning and Assessment Division; Deputy Director for the Department of Environment as well as Acting CEO of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change from 2009 until 2012”.
“Mr. ‘Asipeli Palaki holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Science (1992) from James Cook University, Australia”.
The Tongan government has announced  reassignment of ministerial posts to two of its ministries.
Hon Penisimani Fifita has been moved from the Ministry of Internal Affairs  to Ministry of Education.
The Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva who was minister of education has been reassigned to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office says:
On Friday 13 January, 2017, His Majesty King Tupou VI has granted the Ministerial re-assignments, recommended by the Prime Minister, Honourable Samuela ‘Akilisi Pohiva to the following Ministerial portfolios:
That the Honourable Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and current Minister for Education and Training, Hon. Samuela ‘Akilisi Pohiva is re-assigned as the Minister for Internal Affairs;
That the Honourable Penisimani ‘Epenisa Fifita, current Minister for Internal Affairs is re-assigned as the Minister for Education and Training.
Pursuant to Clause 51(4) of the Act of Constitution of Tonga (Amendment) (No.2) Act 2010, the Prime Minister may assign and re-assign ministries to and amongst the Cabinet Ministers.
The Ministerial re-assignments are effective from Monday 16 January, 2017.
A man has drowned at Laulea beach in Tonga yesterday, it has been reported on social media.
Kaniva understands some family members confirmed the tragic news on Facebook.
They have named the deceased as Soane Tangipa ʻAtaʻata.
The beach at Fatumu village is one of the most dangerous places in Tonga to go swimming due to powerful rip currents and waves that are known to sweep people out to sea.
In 2015 ‘Inoke Mapaleve Mo’unga, 32, of Kolonga drowned at the beach after visiting there with his wife and friends.
In 2012 Catholic priest, Father Mikaele Mateo , 37, died at Laulea Beach while helping to rescue his five young nephews who were swept out to open sea by strong currents.
A van crashed into bushes near Vaotuʻu yesterday Saturday 14.
No injuries reported.
North Shore Police have located the 12 year-old girl who left the home of her caregivers overnight on Tuesday/Wednesday.
Jayda Fifita had been staying with another family member and is safe and well.
She left the home of her primary carers overnight on Tuesday / Wednesday and has not been in contact with them since.
She lives with extended family on the North Shore and they are her primary caregivers.
She was at the home of an immediate family member in Otahuhu on Wednesday night but has not been in touch with her primary caregivers on the North Shore.
A dog was killed and a driver was shocked after his car crashed and rolled down a bush in Nualei on Thursday 12.
Our correspondence in Tonga said the car was allegedly trying to avoid hitting the dog but to no avail.
The car then went down the bush and landed on a side road below a main road.
The driver escaped injuries, he said.
A statement purported to show a cabinet decision for all government ministries and boards to give a hand in cleaning up the Nuku’alofa waterfront on a weekly basis  has met with mixed reactions on social media.
The government activity will be held on every Friday for three hours from 1.30pm to 4.30pm starting on January 30.
The decision was made on December 2, 2016 and signed by the Chief Secretary and Secretary to Cabinet Dr Palenitina Langa’oi, according to the statement which was circulated on social media this week.
“That government Ministries and Government Boards assist with the cleaning up of the Nuku’alofa waterfront area…”, the statement said.
It did not say that the civil servants have to leave their offices and participate in the cleaning up. But that was how commenters on Facebook have interpreted the statement.
Some commenters said this was a good idea while others asked whether the decision was in line with the civil servants’ “job descriptions†or not.
Kaniva News understands many of the commenters on Facebook personally and they were civil servants but we chose not to identify them in this story.
Some criticised the cabinet decision  and asked whether the government have anything better for the civil servants to do.
Some threatened legal action if the decision would go ahead.
Some said the decision was ridiculous and embarrassing as only primary school kids were picking up rubbish every morning  before schools started.
One Facebook user said the government should make available some programmes to educate the public on how to keep public places clean rather than forcing them to pick up rubbish from time to time.
“It is a behaviour that should be educated starting from homeâ€, the commenter said.
Another said the government should regulate dumping of rubbish at public areas and fine those who dump rubbish illegally.
Some however greeted the decision with good humour.
“It is a good decision so that we go out there and have rest and meet other civil servants from other departmentsâ€.
Another said it was time to set up a Nuku’alofa council and give them the task of  looking after the capital city’s waste management services.
The cabinet decision
“With reference to: Re Assistance towards the cleaning up of the Nuku’alofa waterfront and foreshores Area along Vuna Road
“I have the honour to inform you that His Majesty’s Cabinet Decision on 2 December 2016 was as follows:
“Recommendation are approved, as amended .i.e.
Dr Langa’oi was contacted.
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The search for a missing German man who went diving at a beach in Hihifo, Haʻapai on Christmas day has been called off.
Frank Doblitz, 46, was married to Katalina of Haʻapai and were living in Germany, They were visiting their family in Haʻapai during the holidays.
His brother in law reported him missing to the Haʻapai Police after Doblitz didn’t return by nightfall, according to Deputy Police commissioner Pelenatita Vaisuai.
Doblitz was last seen wearing a dark blue short. He was also carrying a pair of diving goggles, diving shoes and an underwater camera.
The family confirmed that he has a certificate in diving and would go scuba diving whenever they visited Haʻapai.
