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Viola Ulakai suspended from Radio and TV Tonga the day after PM questions her integrity

By
Kalino Latu
-

The manager of the Radio and Television Tonga programmes, Viola Ulakai, has been  suspended by the Tonga Broadcasting Commission board.

It is believed her suspension follows a recommendation to the board by the Minister of Public Enterprises, Hon. Poasi Tei, whose portfolio includes the state broadcaster.

Ulakai’s suspension comes a day after Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva questioned her integrity by saying he was “disappointed” to learn that she had falsely claimed that a request for a press conference to answer questions regarding his son were made on behalf of the Tongan Media Council.

Earlier this month Hon. Pōhiva said he suspected Ulakai of acting as a mouthpiece for his political opponents.

When Kaniva News asked Hon. Tei whether it was true Ulakai has been suspended on his recommendation the Minister did not deny it, but told us to contact Tapu Pānuve the chair of the Board or the Radio and Television Tongaʻs CEO Nanisē Fifita.

The duo could not be reached for comments at the time this story was written.

This evening the Nepituno news page claimed the decision to suspend Ulakai was based on a letter by Hon Tei on April 15 to the board.

Nepituno claimed Hon. Tei’s decision was based on a recommendation from Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva.

According to their report the Prime Minister advised Hon.Tei  to suspend Ulakai with pay pending an investigation into her conduct.

It is understood the government believes Ulakai’s style of interview and requests for press conferences were aimed at discrediting the government and not producing fair and impartial news reports.

While Kaniva News has been unable to verify the letter on which Nepituno based its story, we reported yesterday that Hon. Pōhiva said Ulakai had misled him after she requested a press conference.

She claimed her request was made on behalf of the Tonga Media Council, but in fact she was making the request  on her own behalf.

The request asked questions about whether the Prime Minister’s son, Siaosi, was qualified to hold his position as head of the  Fiji-based Educational Quality and Assessment Programme.

Yesterday the Tonga Media Council denied Ulakai’s claim she was endorsed by the national body to request a press conference with the Prime Minister.

“I was not aware of Mrs. Viola Ulakai using the Tonga Media Council name for any reason. I was not engaged nor were my employers (FM 87.5) involved in any communication in her request for interviews for media coverage,” The President of the Tonga Media Council Lady Luseane Luani said in a press release.

She said: “The name Tonga Media Council is as it says, implying that the body represents all media practitioners in Tonga”.

“This does not in any way state that it should be used by individuals”, Lady Luani said.

The main points

  • The manager of the Radio and Television Tonga programmes, Viola Ulakai, has been suspended by the Tonga Broadcasting Commission board.
  • It is believed her suspension follows a recommendation to the board by the Minister of Public Enterprises, Hon. Poasi Tei, whose portfolio includes the state broadcaster.
  • Ulakai’s suspension comes a day after Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva questioned her integrity by saying he was “disappointed” to learn that she had falsely claimed that a request for a press conference to answer questions regarding his son were made on behalf of the Tongan Media Council.
  • Earlier this month Hon. Pohiva said he suspected Ulakai of acting as a mouthpiece for his political opponents.

Read More: 

Senior journalist remains silent on PM’s charge she wrote e-mail attributed to Media Council

TMC denies Ulakai’s claim she requested press conference with PM on behalf of Media Council

No charge laid after Muʻa school threats complaint

By
Kalino Latu
-

Police at Muʻa Station said no charges would be  laid against a man accused of making threats against students in a school in the area.

Police went to the school after they received a complaint this morning that a person was threatening the school children with what appeared to be a gun.

Police said the man was known to them. It is believed he has a medical condition that affects his behaviour. He was released without being charged.

Police rejected claims on social media the man carried a rifle when he went to the school.

“Nothing like that happened,” a source at the police station said.

“I only thought things like this happen in America, but it happened today in Tonga,” a Facebook user wrote about the incident.

“A guy ran away from the police station and went to the school today and started scaring the kids.”

Another Facebook commentator claimed the man had also gone to the school yesterday carrying a sledgehammer and was carrying a hammer today.

Kaniva News has been unable to verify these claims.

Gas disaster exercise in Tonga, explosion in a school

By
Kalino Latu
-

Emergency crews from Australia are taking part in Tonga’s largest disaster training exercise to test their response to mass casualties.

Firefighters and other emergency personnel routinely respond to emergencies involving gas explosion in a school was part of a four-day drill in Nukuʻalofa this week.

Firefighters, police officers, nurses, medical officers, representatives from Tonga Red Cross and the National Emergency Centre were taking part in the exercise, which involves the Australia’s National and Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre team (NCCTRC).

Trauma Co-ordinator Rhiannon Wake said the training drilled participants so that they could be able to skillfully respond “if there is a mass casualty event, maybe a big cyclone because Tonga seems to have a lot of cyclones lately”.

“As there are lots of injuries they will need to know how to go out and prioritize who gets treated first, also know how to work together, and coordinate how to work on it to get the best care for the patients,” she said.Mass1

“The program also covers a lot of how the agencies can work together, so that the fire can work alongside with the hospital and gives them some organize structures of response to a mass casualties disaster and they are all doing very well and very successful so far.”

“The team is out in the field at the moment planning their response for a big gas explosion that is happening to a school. They are learning to use the radio and ask for what things they need and what they need to build a tent to have all the patients put in.”

The NCCTRC was funded by the Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to deliver training in the Indo- Pacific region.

Trial date set for Nauruan accused of killing Tongan in Fiji

By
Kalino Latu
-

A trial date has been set for a Nauruan man accused of killing a USP Tongan student in Fiji.

Julian Hendrich is charged with the manslaughter of  Sione Tufui in June 2014.

An indictment was presented to the High Court in Suva last week  Thursday 17, 2016  and Hendrich is scheduled to stand trial in February 27 to March 3, 2017.

Fiji Police reportedly said they are looking for more witnesses.

Tufui was 22 at the time he was allegedly killed  by a group of Nauruan high school students in a night club in Suva.

At the time five Nauruan secondary school students were immediately arrested in relation to his death, according to Fiji Police.

The deceased was with his older brother Tupou at the university and they had a night out on the night the fatal incident happened.

Sione was a second-year student studying a Bachelor’s Degree in Information Systems and Physics while Tupou was a third year student.

He was from Houma, Tongatapu.

READ MORE:

Slain Tongan student’s family accept apology from Nauruan ambassador

Vavaʻu families receive relief supplies from New Zealand

By
Alpha Latu
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The relief supplies from New Zealand to help and support victims of Cyclone Winston in Vavaʻu had arrived and were distributed at the Puatalefusi wharf on Monday.

The Tongan born and speaker New Zealand MP Jenny Salesa was in Vava‘u to receive the relief supplies and she met with families and kāinga who the supplies were sent to.

The Vavaʻu people and their supporters in New Zealand filled three containers with load of many items of non-perishable food and sent them on the Olo Mana.

The Go Pacific Services and Managing Director Sam Paea provided transport, forklift, manpower to load the three containers, storage and freight services at their warehouse at 20 Weka street Otahuhu.

The relief supply assistance was initiated by Vavaʻu Relief Committee in New Zealand and the Go Pacific Services as well the Office of the MP.

Tropical Cyclone Winston destroyed about 230 homes in Vavaʻu on February 19 and extensively damaged most of the trees and crops in the islands.

Tropical Cyclone Amos born as Tonga’s strong wind warning remains in force

By
Kalino Latu
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Tonga Met Service said the newborn Category One Tropical Cyclone Amos was located about 563km northwest of Niuafoʻou or 551km west-west of Niuatoputapu at about 1am this morning, Thursday 21.

The system is moving west-southwest at 04 knots (07km/hr).

On its current track Cyclone Amos is expected to move east or southeast and could pass close to Samoa, Tonga and nearby islands on Saturday or Sunday, New Zealand Met Service said.

A strong wind warning remains in force for Vavaʻu and the Niuas, Fuʻamotu Met Service said.

A trough lies over north of the Niuas. Associated clouds and occasional showers may continue to affect the Niuas and other parts of the group.

Fiji meterological service said Amos is forecast to track towards Samoa, Wallis and Futuna and northern Tonga.

13 women candidates standing for Tonga’s local government election

By
Alpha Latu
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Thirteen women candidates are standing to be included in the race to become the next town and district officers in June.

The Tongan government is urging more women to raise their voice at local governments.

A team of facilitators from the Ministry of Internal Affairs led by former MP Mrs Lepolo Taunisila and Mrs Fuiva Kavaliku left Tongatapu for Vavaʻu today to conduct workshops as part of the government’s  endeavour to encourage women to run in the upcoming local election.

The team will be in Haʻapai during the weekend and were expected to arrive in ʻEua early next week.

Women will be exposed during the workshops to the roles and responsibilities of district and town officers.

“The intended outcome for these workshops is to empower women in the outer islands who wish to take up the roles of District or Town Officer”, a statement says.

The idea is not new to Tonga.

The Town Officer of Taunga island in Vavaʻu  is Mrs Nunia Lolohea.

There were two women Town Officers in Haʻapai – Pielina Moli and Pulotu Fonua.

Fire razes classrooms at Tonga Side School

By
Alpha Latu
-

Fire swept through two classrooms at Tonga Side School early Wednesday, causing no injuries but destroying almost the school’s building.

Firefighters said they received phone calls telling them the school was on fire.

Firefighters managed to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby building.

The authority has yet to release the cause of the fire but said Police were  investigation.

Tonga withdraws plan to build new golf course for the Games, Atele course expanded

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Tongan government said it has withdrawn its proposed plan for a new golf course for 2019 Pacific Games and has decided to expand the existing Tonga Golf Course in ‘Atele for the Games.

It made the decision after the Beca International Consultancy said  the current course  could not be expanded for the Games because of the lack of surrounding land spaces.

But the government said negotiation was underway to relocate  residents in the area so that the course could be expanded.

The government said it made the decision as it understood the golf course is the most time critical of all the facilities and developments planned for the Games.

Early last month the government disclosed plans to construct the golf course either at the king’s estates in Tufumāhina or at Kauvai.

It followed with preparation works conducted by government workers  at Tufumāhina to prepare for the course but it was immediately stopped by the Palace Office.

The Prime Minister later said there was miscommunication before the work started and the course was likely to be shifted and  constructed at Kauvai.

Consultants from Beca said in its master plan report reported by Kaniva News early this month the current course could not be used for the Games.

The report said: “We concluded that it was very unlikely that the existing course could be developed to a standard required for the Games”.

“Hence the three sites suggested to us by the TPGOC: Fua’amotu – opposite the Scenic Hotel on road to Airport, Niumate site and Tufumahina site were considered.

“Of all of the sports facilities to be provided for the Games the Golf course development is the most time critical. The decision on a preferred site and securing the land is an urgent matter.

“To develop a totally new Golf course, playing a tournament (the Games) after only 12 months following completion would carry high risk given the time required to suitably grow and bed down the greens, tees and fairways. Ideally the course should be completed 24 months prior to the Games, i.e. by July 2017”.

READ MORE:

Sports body being audited over PNG Games spending; PM threatens dismissals

Games costs could hit NZ$100 million mark and estimates do not include many items

New Infrastructure and Tourism minister appointed

By
Alpha Latu
-

The Honorable Sēmisi Kioa Lafu Sika, 48, was appointed Tonga’s new Minister of Tourism  and Infrastructure on Monday, April 18, 2016.

“I wish to confirm herewith that [ His Majesty Tupou VI ] has appointed Hon Semisi Sika to the Ministerial portfolio of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Tourism, based on a recommendation from the Hon Prime Minister Samuela Akilisi Pohiva,” the Kingdom’s Chief Secretary Dr Palenitina Langa’oi said.

His Majesty King Tupou VI has appointed Hon. Semisi Kioa Lafu Sika to the Ministerial portfolio of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Tourism, based on a recommendation from the Hon. Prime Minister, Samuela ‘Akilisi Pohiva.

Hon. Sika is the People’s Representative to Parliament for Tongatapu No.2 constituency and Chairperson for the Committee of the Whole House for the 2015-2018 parliamentary term.

He is a graduate of Brigham Young University of Hawai’i with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business/Travel Management. He was a teacher at the LDS Liahona High School from 1995-1997.

He is a businessman and manager for his own travel agent, Five Star Travel from 1998-2010. He is a member of the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands; a director of the Heilala Festival since 2000; a board Member, Tonga Red Cross Society; President, Liahona Alumni Association; President, Tonga National American Basketball Association; President, Tonga Rugby League and Chairperson of Havelu Sports Council.

Hon Sika is currently overseas and will return to the Kingdom later this week, Dr Langa’oi said.

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