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Talks continue to appoint Education CEO after March shift

By
Kalino Latu
-

A shift in the Ministry of Education’s CEO position last month has been decided after CEO Claude Tupou was not happy with some of the clauses in his proposed contract, the Prime Minister’s Office said today.

It was announced on March 30 that Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva who is also the Minister  of Education and Training has appointed Ponapate Taunisila as Acting CEO.

It said Tupou who held the position since February 16 was reverted to his previous position as Deputy CEO for Secondary Schools.

Tupou was temporally holding the acting position while works to complete his appointment as CEO were in process.

The Office said the Prime Minister and the Public Service Commission agreed Tupou has to be removed from the position so that negotiations continued independently before a final decision will be made.

“This will give Mr. Tupou the independence to pursue and settle his dissatisfaction and at the [sametime] the Ministry’s operation to continue under the leadership of Mr. Taunisila. This decision has been discussed with all parties concerned”, the Office said.

Tupou was recommended by a panel to become the ministry’s CEO but this was rejected by the Minister.

Tupou took the Minister and the Ministry to the tribunal and he won it.

Hon Pōhiva endorsed the tribunal’s decision but he later found out Tupou was not happy with some of the clauses in his contract.

“These issues are still discussed and no consensus has been reached,” the Office said.

“The Public Service Commission is continuing with the appointment process to the position of CEO for Education and Training”.

Tonga suspends supplier of controversial hotdogs

By
Alpha Latu
-

Tonga’s National Food Authority in Nukuʻalofa has suspended the operation of a local company which supplied hotdog to retail suppliers.

The authority is investigating following a complaint that a pack of hotdogs purchased at a local retail shop in Nukuʻalofa contained what appeared to be live worms.

The complainant was slicing the hotdogs for a soup when she noticed the alleged worms coming out of the pieces.

It was not clear how long the pack of hotdogs was purchased before it was opened by the complainant.

The supplier could not be contacted but the authority said the product was imported from Canada.

Chief Executive Officer for the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry & Food  Losaline Māʻasi told Radio Tonga the labels on the pack showed the hotdogs were still edible as the pack was not expired.

Māʻasi said they were investigation to see whether or not  the hotdogs were imported and repacked in Nukuʻalofa implying the label looks suspicious.

Police investigate death in Havelu

By
Alpha Latu
-

Tonga Police say the cause of death of a 61-year-old man in Havelu on Sunday at about 11am is still unknown.

A post-mortem was expected this week while the body of the deceased was in Vaiola Hospital.

Chief Police Superintendent Tevita Fifita said they received a report that a man died and he was taken to hospital.

The man was originally from Hihifo, Haʻapai.

Fonua training in US ahead of Olympic qualifier

By
Alpha Latu
-

The New Zealand-born Tongan swimmer Amini Tuitavake Britteon Fonua is currently training in San Francisco in preparation for the Oceania Swimming Competitions to be held in Fiji in June.

He will compete at the Rio Olympic qualifier with swimmers from countries such as Australia, New Zealand and Samoa.

“This is a qualifying time for the Olympics. There are other Tongan swimmers who also want to go to Rio and our selection panel will pick the best swimmers to go. The selection panel is independent and our policy is that no parent who has an athlete trying to be selected can sit in the panel”, his father Sione Fonua said.

ʻAmini won three gold medals for Tonga in 2015 Pacific Games in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

ʻAmini was trained by Jon Winter from New Zealand before he competed in the Olympic 2012. He could not make it to the semi final and he was Tonga’s flag-bearer.

He is the only Tongan athlete in history to ever hold dual Oceania and Pacific Games titles.

Man arrested with marijuana in Kolofo‘ou after police chase

By
Alpha Latu
-

Police apprehended a man with 61 small packs of marijuana after a short chase along Laifone Rd in Kolofo’ou on Tuesday.

He was charged with possession of illicit drug, said Chief Superintendent Tevita Fifita.

Fifita said Police acted on a tip that the accused carried with him the marijuana.

Police believed the detainee intended to sell the drug to tourists from Pacific Pearl who arrived in Tonga on Tuseday

It was likely more charges will be laid against the accused.

Judge orders 16 years’ jail  sentence for man convicted in child sexual abuse case

By
Philip Cass
-

A man who sexually abused two girls has been sentenced to 16 years in prison.

The man carried out the offences against a 10 year old girl and her 11 year old sister over a two week period.

He was living with their mother.

The man has a previous conviction for raping a 12 year old girl.

In his sentencing report, Mr Justice Cato said the sentence reflected and emphasised the need to deter and denounce crimes against vulnerable victims and protect children.

He said the girls, who are now in care, had been injured mentally and physically.

The man has been banned from having any contact with the victims or with his own daughters by the victims’ mother.

“I consider that   he   represents   a   serious   threat   to   girls   and  there   is  no certainty  that,  even  when  released  after  a  long  period of time  in custody,  he  will  not  still  represent  a  serious  threat,” Mr Justice Cato said.

The final 18 months of the man’s sentence will be suspended on condition that he does not commit any offences punishable by imprisonment for three years; that he is placed on probation; that he does not live in any residence where girls or young women live and that he receives sexual abuse counselling.

The court has ordered that no material be published that could identify the girls.

The main points

  • A man who sexually abused two girls has been sentenced to 16 years in prison.
  • The man, who cannot be named, carried out the offences against a 10 year old girl and her 11 year old sister over a two week period.
  • In his sentencing report, Mr Justice Cato said the sentence reflected emphasises the need to deter and denounce crimes against vulnerable victims and protect children.
  • The man has a previous conviction for raping a 12 year old girl.

Commander who led Tonga’s first Afghan contingent retires

By
Alpha Latu
-

Naval Captain Sātisi Vunipola, the former commander of Tongan first troops in Afghanistan, has formally retired from His Majesty’s Armed Forces.

In 2011 Vunipola oversaw 55 Tongan soldiers who were based in the Helmand Province for six months,  alongside  20,000 other British troops and US Marines.

They were tasked with protecting the boundaries of the Camp Bastion.

For 39 year of service for the government of Tonga Vunipola enlisted in His Majesty’s Armed Forces (HMAF) on September 4, 1977.

He has been holding the appointment of Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff Support Command since 2013.

Captain (Navy) S Vunipola has held various Command and Staff postings within HMAF.

He was the Officer Commanding (OC) of Lotuma in 1985 and was appointed as Officer Commanding (OC) of Masefield Base in 1986.

He was posted to Ha’apai as the OC of Velata Naval Base in 1989. In 1994 to 1997 he was the Commanding Officer (CO) of VOEA Savea and in 1999, he was the CO of VOEA Neiafu. Captain Vunipola was appointed as the CO of the Navy in 2001 and in 2003 he was appointed as the Component Commander (CC) of Logistic Support Group and Administration of HMAF.

He graduated from the Officer Cadet Training School in Waiouru, New Zealand in 1979 and was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the Land Force on 20 August 1980.

He attended various courses in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and the United States of America.

He is a graduate of the Australian Naval Command and Staff College in Australia in 1998. He undertook Security Studies Executive course at the Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies in year 2000.

In 2002, he undertook Defence Management course at Monterey, USA. He held a post graduate Diploma in Management from the Queensland University of Technology in Defence Studies. In 2012 he attained a Master of Arts in Strategic Studies from the University of Geelong, Australia.

Captain (Navy) S. Vunipola graduated from the Officer Cadet School, Waiouru, New Zealand in 1979.

He was commissioned on the 20th of August, 1980 and progress through various naval officers training on seamanship and navigation in various countries including Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and the United States. In 1985 Captain (Navy) S. Vunipola was appointed as the Commanding Officer of the HMS FANGAILIFUKA and HMAV LATE.

However, in 1992 he became the Commanding Officer of the VOEA NEIAFU. In 1998 he was appointed as the Tonga Navy Component Commander. He became the Commanding Officer Administration in 2003

In 1994 CAPT S. Vunipola was the Executive Officer of the VOEA PANGAI during the Operation Lagoon in Bougainville Island. During the global campaign against terror, CAPT S Vunipola led HMAF 4th Contingent to Iraq in 2008 and in 2010-2011 he was once again the Contingent Commander for the 1st HMAF Contingent to Afghanistan under the International Security Assistant Forces (ISAF)

He was also awarded with the following medals and service decorations: The Order of St George: HMAF General Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal; Long Service & Good Conduct Medal; Iraq Campaign Medal; US Army Commendation Medal; British Operational Service Medal; and ISAF Medal for Afghanistan

MP Jenny Salesa to meet with potential candidates in Nukuʻalofa

By
Alpha Latu
-

New Zealand Tongan MP Jenny Lātū Salesa is meeting with local potential female candidates who will be running for Tonga’s election of town and district officers in Nukuʻalofa tomorrow Thursday 14.

Salesa will be sharing her experiences on politics with these women.

Salesa was in Nukuʻalofa on her way to Vava’u to receive three container loads of goods, collected by the Vavaʻu Relief Committee in New Zealand for the victims of Cyclone Winston which hit Vava’u in February.

The MP for Manukau East was expected to “empower” the local women especially those who are running for local government this year.

MP Jenny Lātū Salesa has become the first Tongan-speaker to enter New Zealand Parliament following the national election on 2014.

This was not the first time for Salesa to help local Tongan women while visiting Tonga.

In June last year during her two-week visit to the Kingdom, she met with women and girls with various career goals and she encouraged them to “aim high and to achieve to the best of their abilities”.

The meeting on Saturday is open to the public.

The meeting will begin at 12:00pm at the UN Joint Office upstairs Royco Building (where the New Zealand immigration is located on ground level).

Tongan cop suspended over social media misconduct

By
Alpha Latu
-

A 35-year-old Tongan Police officer was suspended in what Police described as “alleged misconduct on Social Media”.

Tonga Police Commissioner Steve Caldwell has confirmed this in a statement this afternoon.

“As the matter is now a criminal investigation it is not appropriate to offer any further comment at this time”, the statement said.

Last month CNN reported a white police officer in Ohio has been fired after he posted a comment on Facebook calling the suicide of a Black Lives Matter activist “a happy ending.”

A Police officer in Michigan was also fired in March over a Facebook post but his lawyer argued that  “this is a matter of free speech – plain and simple”.

He said “his client and his Facebook post are protected by the” law.

Kava for victory, first Tongan promoted into higher position in Waitematā police

By
Kalino Latu
-

An important Tongan cultural practice  was performed during the new appointment of a Tongan Sergeant Police officer in New Zealand to the position of Pacific Liason District Coordinator.

The special kava ceremony was normally performed to mark a victory and the first cup of kava was called by the matāpule (herald),  during the event last weekend to be delivered to Sanalio Kaihau to honour his new role in New Zealand Police.

The kava circle was joined by the Waitemata police, family and guests.

As the eldest son of ‘Amelia Tu’ungafasi Kaihau  and Haieti Kaihau it means the celebration had a significant turned out from Sanalio’s Kanokupolu, Tatakamotonga, ‘Eua and Niua relatives and friends.

The growth and increase in the population of the Māori and Pasifika people in West Auckland recently means Police have to open more opportunities in the Force’s offices for the ethnic Police officers.

Haieti
Sanalio Kaihau and his parents, Haieti and ‘Amelia Kaihau. Photo/Supplied

Kaihau was one of those who were selected to take those opportunities.

“But in terms of Lio personally, and the Tongan community, he’s the first Tongan to be promoted in any rank within our Waitematā district,” said Inspector Fata Willie Fanene.

His appointment also received tributes and gratitude on social media from family and friends overseas.

Kaihau’s aunt Kalausia ‘Otukolo who is living in the United States expressed on Facebook how she was marvelled by the new appointment.

“So proud of you nephew G-pa smiling from the other side.‪#‎dadnamesake#weloveyou#”, ‘Otukolo wrote.

“Good job Sanalio keep up the good work i still remember him when he was little ofa atu kia amelia mo haieti eee”, wrote another.

Kaihau made headlines in 2013 after she helped and prevented a woman from committing suicide. Instead of handling the case with what a Police officer was trained to do in such situation Kaihau invited the woman to pray with her and eventually she was saved.

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