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US Navy destroyer visits Tonga

By
Kalino Latu
-

A United States warship on Monday made a port call in Tonga as part of its routine patrols and maritime security operations in the Pacific regions.

The USS Spruance (DDG 111), a guided-missile destroyer from the US Navy’s 3rd Fleet, arrived at capital Nukuʻalofa for a three-day visit, the US embassy said in a statement.

The crew, joined by the staff from the US Embassy in Suva is expected to host a reception on board with guests of honor, King Tupou VI and Acting Prime Minister, Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni and to engage in community relations activities.

“We value our partnership with the Tongan government and are committed to strengthening our cooperative maritime relationships as the basis for maritime security and prosperity,” said Cmdr. Manuel Hernandez, commanding officer, USS Spruance.

The ship and crew of more than 300 Sailors departed San Diego Apr. 19 for a regularly scheduled deployment as a part of a Pacific Surface Action Group (PAC SAG).

Under the operational control of U.S. 3rd Fleet, the PAC SAG is scheduled to conduct routine patrols, maritime security operations and theater security cooperation activities to enhance regional solidity.

“Security and stability at sea serve as the foundation for economic prosperity in the region,” said Hernandez. “Together with our partners, we are committed to keeping the sea lanes open for the benefit of all.”

While in the region, Spruance is also expected to participate in the Oceania Maritime Security Initiative (OMSI) with Law Enforcement Detachment 108 from Pacific Tactical Law Enforcement Team, based out of San Diego.

Upon completion of OMSI, the ship will continue operations in the Indo-Asia- Pacific operating with the PAC SAG.

U.S. 3rd Fleet leads naval forces in the Pacific and provides the realistic, relevant training necessary for an effective global Navy.

Dr ‘Ofa Keitu’u appointed SPC’s Director of Statistics

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) has appointed Dr ‘Ofa Ketu’u as Director of the Statistics of its Development Division based in Noumea, New Caledonia.

Ketu’u who has more than 20 years of experience and currently holds a PhD in  Development Studies from Auckland University will begin her new job on July 1, 2016.

 

Dr 'Ofa Ketu'u
Dr ‘Ofa Ketu’u

Court rejects Keleʻa Newspaper’s bit to justify defamation claims against former cabinet leaders

By
Kalino Latu
-

The fight by Keleʻa Newspaper to justify publication of a defamatory letter saying it was protected under “qualified privilege” because the content was allegedly raised in parliament has been dismissed by the Supreme Court.

Justice Scott said:“If the Appellant had accurately reported that  it had  been  claimed  or even proved in Parliament that the Respondents had acted as dishonestly as was alleged in the letter then the Respondents’ claim could not have succeeded”.

The judge said listening “to proceedings in Parliament may justify a person in coming to a private conclusion that a person has acted dishonestly” but to publish it without proof for the public cannot be justified.

The newspaper, its former editor  Mateni Tapueluelu, publisher Laucala Pohiva Tapueluelu and a writer to the paper Solomone Palu took an appeal to the Supreme Court in April 6 in a bid to overturn the Magistrate Court decision ordering them to pay the respondents damages  and  costs.

The case had been brought to the Magistrate Court in 2013 by the former Prime Minister Lord TuÊ»ivakanō and some of his former cabinet ministers including William Clive  Edwards, Viliami Uasike LatÅ«, Sōsefo Fe’ao Vakatā, Samiu Kuita Vaipulu Dr. ‘Ana Taufe’ulungaki and Sione Sangster Saulala.

In June 2014 the Magistrate Court ordered the appellants to pay  TP$ $249,442.00 (US$112,523.29) to the respondents.

In an eight page ruling dated May 6, 2016  Justice Scott said the  Magistrate’s conclusion that the appellants had failed “to prove that the publication of the letter was an occasion of qualified privilege was correct”.

The court heard  Palu wrote and was published by the paper on October 29,  2012 that the former Prime Minister and his ministers “were guilty of theft and embezzlement”.

Justice Scott said: “Such claims are obviously defamatory and the question therefore was whether, in the absence of a defence of justification, the occasion on which they were  made was  privileged”.

The judge said it was clear the letter was based on what Palu “had heard on the radio about the proceedings then current in Parliament”.

However, Mr Edwards who also acted for the respondents argued that “the  letter itself makes no reference to any such proceedings and cannot viewed objectively be seen as any kind of report of what had there transpired”.

Mr Scott said Palu’s “letter contains no information which  it is in the public interest to have published. The bulk of the letter is a harmless commentary on current affairs but the matters complained of are not information at all: they are statements of fact for which no justification was attempted by reference to any transcript of what had actually  been stated in Parliament”.

I can find no duty or public interest in the appellants  publishing  this letter, Mr Scott said.

Mr  Siosifa Tu’utafaiva who acted for the appellants quoted a previous court case in which the “Magistrate  had erred  in rejecting the  defence  of qualified privilege on the ground that the defence was not available when the communication involved untrue  statements  of  fact”.

But Mr Scott said the defence was “rightly rejected by the Magistrate albeit for different reasons that I have set out”.

Tonga rugby changes constitution to allow Prime Minister to become president

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Tonga Rugby Union (TRU) will change its constitution to allow the Prime Minister of the country to automatically become president of the national body.

TRU Interim Chair Feʻao Vunipola said the amendments will be made in a special general meeting tomorrow Wednesday 11.

The board of directors along with World Rugby will still responsible for the election of the chairperson and assistant chairperson of the union, he said.

Kaniva News understands the changes were made to allow for smoother running of the organisation.

Last month World Rugby met with TRU and the Tongan government in Nukuʻalofa to discuss the future of the union in a meeting described by the international body as “positive and constructive”.

It followed with the election of the new headcoach for the ʻIkale Tahi last week, Toutai Kefu.

READ MORE:

Vunipola hits back after former interim CEO claims voting was unconstitutional

Vunipola hits back after former interim CEO claims voting was unconstitutional

Thousands in Tongatapu to get safe drinking water through NZ project

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Nearly 4,000 people in six villages across western and eastern Tongatapu will soon have better access to safe drinking water.

The New Zealand Government, through its Humanitarian and Disaster Management Aid Programme, has committed NZD51,000 to Caritas Tonga for the restoration of water supply catchments in communities vulnerable to water scarcity, particularly during El Nino conditions. The project forms part of the Tongan WASH Cluster recovery plan.

Implementation involves renovating and rehabilitating five dilapidated village rainwater tanks and installing three new water refill stations. These will consist of 20 Rotomould tanks in positions that are easily accessible to all village members. The activity will take 12 months to complete, from April until March 2017.

Caritas Tonga Programmes Officer Mrs ‘Amelia Ma’afu said the project evolved out of community concerns over water shortages following the prolonged drought period of recent months. “The work is vital to restoring key infrastructure to the villages, and building greater resiliance to future natural disasters.”

New Zealand High Commissioner HE Mrs Sarah Walsh said New Zealand is pleased to support Caritas Tonga and the WASH Cluster on their drought response.

“The lack of adequate and potable water significantly increases health risks in these communities, particularly for women and children. I commend Caritas Tonga for responding to the need to increase safe water access, ensure villagers are guarded against disease, and improve sanitation. Their work will contribute to building safer, more robust societies”.

In 2015 Caritas Tonga successfully completed a similar refurbishment project of 11 water catchments in Ha’apai.

Authorities concern over maggots in frozen and takeaway chickens

By
Alpha Latu
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The Consumer Affairs Tonga (TCA) has expressed growing concern over the number of complaints it received from consumers about maggots being found inside frozen and takeaway chickens in Tongatapu.

Some consumers complaint to the authority after finding maggots in cooked chickens they bought from a takeaway restaurant in Nukuʻalofa.

The National Food Council (NFC) temporally closed down a frozen chicken provider in Pea last week saying it has found maggots inside its chicken and other frozen meats.

The authorities did not give any details about how the worms ended up in the chicken nor it identified the restaurant which provided the food.

However, they warned consumers to be wary and check food they purchase before eating or cooking them.

They said they have launched an investigation after the complaints.

Last month Tonga’s the NFC  suspended the operation of a local company which supplied hotdog to retail suppliers after it found maggots inside the product.

Eye infection outbreak affects hundreds

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Health officials in Tonga have warned people to take extra hygiene precautions after more than 500 people in Tongatapu were diagnosed with conjunctivitis since March.

The highly infectious eye condition has mainly affected both infants and adults.

Medical Officers have been alerted to the viral infection and according to reports more than 200 cases had been registered this month.

People are being told to use separate towels and to wash their hands often.

Officials said the condition was highly infectious and passes very easily within families and between friends.

It causes a red watery eye with discomfort and blurred vision. In a few cases the discomfort can be severe.

Tanoa International Dateline Hotel begins accepting reservations

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tanoa International Dateline Hotel has begun accepting reservations and is expected to open in September.

Previously known as International Dateline Hotel and was solely owned by the Tongan government,  the seafront  hotel was taken over last year by the Fiji based Tanoa Hotel group for redevelopment, aiming to transform it into a four-star standard.

Tatafu Moeaki, Tonga’s Secretary for Finance said the renovation would be completed by the “end of August planning to commission early September”.

“In fact they had already made reservation from second half of September 2016 and a Tongan wedding is also confirmed for Dateline last week of September.  I am told by the Reddy the renovation is running smoothly”, Moeaki said.

This means the renovation work will finish earlier than anticipated as it was initially planned to be completed by January 2017.

New directors for transport sector

By
Kalino Latu
-

The government’s Ports of Authority Tonga, Tonga Airports Ltd and Friendly Islands Shipping Agency had been combined and brought under one roof.

The government has appointed new “Shared Directors” to oversee the organisation now known as Transport Sector.

They were Mr Stephen Edwards, Dr. Cpt Sione Tu‘itupou Fotu, Mr Viliami Takau Jr, Mr Tomifa Paea and Ms Helen Po‘uliva‘ati Toli.

Mr Edwards has been appointed as Chairperson and Dr Tu‘itupou has been appointed as Deputy Chairperson.

The directors have been granted an initial service term of one (1) year with a possible extension of up to three (3) years.

Europe Day, EU “takes pride” in its friendship with Tonga

By
Kalino Latu
-

The European Union is proud of its strong connection with Tonga according to a message to the government by the European Union Ambassador to Tonga and the Pacific, His Excellency Andrew Jacobs.

The Union is celebrating the Europe Day  today May 9 marking the 66 years  since the it was found in 1950.

“We take pride in our strong partnership with Tonga. Our assistance of €17.4 million (TP$42,820,012.21) for the period till 2020 in improving energy efficiency and promoting renewable energy is vital for Tonga’s sustainable and inclusive development in the years to come”, Jacobs said.

“We continue to support civil society in the areas of private sector development, trade policies, public finance management, energy policy and gender”, he added.

“Indeed, the European Union has a long standing relationship and friendship with Tonga and other Pacific countries. Our partnership with Tonga and the Pacific is based on our shared values, on common concerns and on common aspirations.

“In the Pacific we are an important trading partner, a reliable investor, a generous donor of humanitarian and development aid, and a loyal ally in a fight against climate change.

“Three weeks ago, 175 countries signed the Paris Agreement on Climate Change at the UN High-Level Signing Ceremony in New York. 15 countries deposited their instruments of ratification on the same day sending a signal to the international community on the paramount importance of this Agreement. Remarkably, six out of these 15 inspiring countries were Pacific Island States. The Pacific has done its share, now it is for the developed countries to deliver. A key objective of the EU for 2016 is to maintain this political momentum and alliance with the Pacific nations as we start moving towards the implementation of the Paris deal.

“We take pride in our strong partnership with Tonga. Our assistance of €17.4 million for the period till 2020 in improving energy efficiency and promoting renewable energy is vital for Tonga’s sustainable and inclusive development in the years to come. We continue to support civil society in the areas of private sector development, trade policies, public finance management, energy policy and gender.

“The European Union played an important role by providing €5.5 million in budget support to Tonga during its financial crisis in 2010, thus contributing to ease fiscal constraints. Additional €1 million was granted in 2014 to assist with the recovery in Ha’apai in the wake of Cyclone Ian.

“On Europe Day we celebrate not only Europe and all the achievements we must preserve, but also our strong partnerships around the world, including with our friends in the Pacific. The peoples of the European Union and the Pacific share challenges, ideals and ambitions.  Working together we can help make the world a better place for our children”.

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