Police Search and Rescue Boat (SAR) was searching for a 3-year-old boy in Ha’apai after he has gone missing after falling off a boat Saturday 3 around 5.07am.
His 5-year-old sister was rescued after the boat they were passenger in had an accident.
She was recovering well in Niu’ui hospital, Police said.
Police said a “local boat from ‘O’ua went under the loading end of the MV ‘Otuanga’ofa while the ‘Otuanga’ofa was docked in Ha’afeva to pick up people from the nearby Islands to travel to Tongatapu”.
“The missing 3 year-old and his 5 year-old sister were among the passengers on board the boat from ‘O’ua when the incident occurs”, Police said.
“They both fell into the water and the 5 year-old was rescued by those who were at the scene.
However ‘O’ua locals told Kaniva News the passengers including the victims jumped off the boat into the sea when they realised the boat was heading under the ‘Otuanga’ofa’s loading door.
“The Police SAR boat, the ‘Amolua departed Pangai at 6:30 Saturday morning, heading to the scene in Ha’afeva”, Police said.
“They managed to rush the 5 year-old to Pangai and quickly transported her to the hospital for a thorough check.
“She is still at the Niu’ui Hospital recovering well.
“Assisting Police in searching for the 3 year-old are local boats from Ha’afeva. They have been searching nearby islands since the incident took place and continue to do so today.
“Police continue to investigate further details into the circumstances surrounding this incident”.
The first shipment of locally grown squash under new guidelines agreed with China has left Tonga.
China imposed tough standards after an inspection of the kingdom’s squash exporters last year uncovered problems with quality control, hygiene and pest control. The Chinese also said quarantine officers needed more training.
Matangi Tonga reported that Nishi Trading successfully passed a strict quarantine inspection on November 26 after 18 months of negotiations with Chinese authorities.
Chinese and Tongan officials agreed on the standards and processes that needed to be met for a successful squash export partnership between the two countries in May this year.
Tonga Broadcasting Commission reported that some local farmers had given up on the idea of growing and exporting squash to China because of the long negotiations. However, if this shipment was a success, they might consider growing the crop again.
The broadcaster said Chinese markets required 200 tonnes of squash every season and said exports would generate hundreds of thousands of pa’anga for Tongan growers and exporters.
The export agreement was supported by the Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access Programme, PHAMA, a joint Australian-New Zealand initiative.
The programme helps Pacific island nations find new markets,
The main Island nations involved are Tonga, Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.
“With the rise in a global economy and challenges such as climate change, an increasing world population and diminishing food security, it is imperative development opportunities a re-improved and the region is economically secure,” a PHAMA spokesman said.
Tongatapu has a distinctly cooler climate than other parts of the Pacific, making it attractive as a source of fruit and vegetables not able to be grown successfully elsewhere.
Tonga exports squash to Japan and Korea and vanilla to New Zealand and Australia where it is used in specialty food products.
The main points
The first shipment of locally grown squash under new guidelines agreed with China has left Tonga.
China imposed tough standards after an inspection of the kingdom’s squash exporters last year uncovered problems with quality control, hygiene and pest control.
Tonga Broadcasting Commission reported that some local farmers had given up on the idea of growing and exporting squash to China because of the long negotiations.
However, if this shipment was a success, they might consider growing the crop again.
A Tongan young woman has shared the terrifying moments she experienced when her co-workers left without waking her up on a night on their way to return to Tonga from Australia.
Sofia Filo, 30, of Maʻufanga has revealed how she walked in terror while crying and searching for help in the tiny Central Queensland town of Miriam Vale on the night of November 24.
Sofia was one of a 39 Tongans group working in Queensland on the Australian Seasonal Workers’ Programme.
They were on a bus from Bowen in North Queensland to Brisbane to catch their flight to Sydney and Tonga.
Talking to Kaniva News yesterday by telephone from Tonga, Sofia said they left Bowen on Wednesday 23 at 5am and arrived at Miriam Vale, 464 km north of Brisbane, about 11.30pm.
Their bus broke down and they were told to rest in a park while the bus was fixed.
Sofia Filo was left stranded in Miriam Vale, Australia. Photo/Supplied
Sofia and two other women took a nap on chairs in the park. When the bus was fixed the women and the rest of the Tongan workers got on board and took off without Sofia.
It appeared the two women did not realise she was still sleeping in the park.
Sofia said she had not met them since the incident.
She said while she was looking for help she managed to get hold of one of her co-workers in the bus on her cellphone.
She was told the bus would not return to pick her up and was told to walk to the Police station which was near to the petrol station where their bus refueled.
However, when she reached the police station there no one was in the office.
Sofia said she had heard about women being abducted in Australia and was scared that if this happened she might be abducted or killed.
“When vehicles came towards me I just pretended that I was walking to the next home and sometimes entered properties to let them think I was just a local”, Sofia said.
“I was so terrified and crying when I was walking alone thinking of what could happen next, but I just thank God I was saved”, she said.
She claimed the passengers told her they asked the group leader Loka Maile to count the number of passengers to make sure they were all on board, but he did not do it.
Maile could not be reached for comment.
Sofia’s three-hour horror ordeal was ease off when a palangi woman came out of her house to check a mysterious loud sound that echoed in the area, Sofia said.
The woman saw Sofia and she immediately suspected she was lost and struck up a conversation with her.
The woman, Pauline Hill, took her home.
Sofia spent the night with Hill until the morning when she took her to a railway station.
The woman also helped her how to get into Brisbane airport.
She left Miriam Vale at 9am Thursday 24 and arrived in Brisbane at 3pm.
Sofia said when she arrived in Brisbane some of her co-workers were still waiting for their flights.
She asked them why they did not return to pick her up and was told the group leader feared they might not get their flights to Sydney.
Sofia told Kaniva News she had not reported what had happened to her to the Tongan authorities.
Her brother Robert Filo told Kaniva News he was furious at the group leader for making the decision not to return the bus.
“So so mad at one of the Pacific Regional Program Leader in Australia, that deliberately left my sister stranded in the middle of nowhere after their bus broke down”, Robert said.
“I am trying to get to the bottom of this, when someone treated my own sister like that, not even care or even have the decency to go back and get her, rather he told the driver to keep going as they might miss their connection flight from Brisbane to Sydney.
“Well they all arrived there at Brisbane airport and waited and more waiting while my sister trying her best to hitch the ride.
“So so furiously angry for such ignorance and no concern, a member of his group, and she is a female.
“I cannot comprehend this kind of leader as he should see our mother’s face when she learned that her daughter was left behind in the middle of nowhere.
Robert spoke to Kaniva News on November 25 , the day after the incident.
“We love you Sofia Filo, hope you’ll find your way and we pray to God to guide you safely all the way there in Australia and safely arrives to Tonga”.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs in Tonga had not responded to questions from Kaniva News at the time this story was published.
The main points
A Tongan young woman has shared the terrifying moments she experienced when her co-workers left without waking her up on a night on their way to return to Tonga from Australia.
Sofia Filo, 31, of Maʻufanga was one of a 39 Tongans group working in Queensland under the Australian Seasonal Workers’ Programme.
They were driving to Brisbane when their bus broke down in the tiny Central Queensland town of Miriam Vale.
She was left behind when the bus left, but was eventually found by a local woman who put her up over night and then put her on the train to Brisbane.
Another 1000 places will be available next season under New Zealand’s Recognised Seasonal Employment Scheme.
The RSE allows workers from Pacific Islands to work on New Zealand farms picking fruit and vegetables for a number of months each year.
Kaniva News understands that New Zealand’s Minister of Trade, Todd McClay, will write to Island Ministers to tell them the number of places has increased to 10,500.
Last year the cap for the 2015-16 season was raised from 9000 workers to 9500.
Speaking before a major conference on the seasonal employment schemes in Nuku’alofa last month, Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ana Bing Fonua, said the RSE scheme has been in operation now for 10 seasons.
About 4000 workers left the kingdom to work off shore every year.
Fonua said the schemes were set up to address unemployment in the Islands and help deprived families lift their standard of living.
Tongan workers employed under the RSE scheme generally earn a minimum rate of $NZ16.50 an hour, but some can earn more than $200 a day in peak season.
A similar scheme, the Seasonal Workers’ Programme, operates in Australia.
However, according to Radio New Zealand, it operates at a much lower level and has been plagued by reports of migrant workers being exploited, with a Queensland labour company being convicted of ripping off ni-Vanuatu workers earlier this year.
According to the Tongan government, the schemes have been worth TP$400 million to Tonga, with most of that money being sent home.
According to a report from Tonga’s Reserve Bank released last month, remittances were above TP$20 million per month up to July, with most of the money being private transfers.
The World Bank says Tonga depends more on money sent home by migrant workers than any other country in the Pacific a new report says. In 2015 remittances made up more than a third of the kingdom’s GDP in 2015.
The increase in the number of places came in response to demands from Island nations involved in the PACER Plus negotiations.
PACER Plus is a wide ranging set of trade negotiations involving the Pacific’s Island nations and Australia and New Zealand.
However, as Kaniva News reported earlier this year, the negotiations have hit several roadblocks, with Fiji and Papua New Guinea, the two largest Island economies, and Vanuatu, voicing doubts about the value of the proposal.
A report funded by the Australian government said no matter what was agreed, Australia and New Zealand would continue to dominate the Pacific economy and very few benefits would flow to ordinary Islanders.
The main points
Another 1000 places will be available next season under New Zealand’s Recognised Seasonal Employment Scheme.
The RSE allows workers from Pacific Islands to work on New Zealand farms picking fruit and vegetables for a number of months each year.
Kaniva News understands that New Zealand’s Minister of Trade, Todd McClay, will write to Island Ministers to tell them the number of places has increased to 10,500.
Last year the cap for the 2015-16 season was raised from 9000 workers to 9500.
Brokenhearted relatives of Tevita Tangi who died in a boating tragedy on Saturday, bewailed his loss as his body was released to them this evening.
They were told to bury it tomorrow.
Tangi was one of four Tongan fishermen killed when the charter boat Francie capsized crossing the sandbar in Kaipara in New Zealand’s north island.
They were among 11 men on board the Francie. Seven bodies have been recovered, but one is still missing.
The family of Tangi and relatives of his friends Sunia ‘Ungo’unga and ‘Alipate Manumu’a were holding wakes for the men tonight before they are buried in Auckland tomorrow.
The family of Fonua Taufa will hold prayer vigils for him tonight and continue until Sunday. His body will be flown to Tonga on Monday, a cousin confirmed today.
Sunia ʻUngoʻunga and ʻAlipate Manumuʻa coffins. Photo/Sisilia Leone Manumuʻa
Tevita’s brother Sione Tangi told Kaniva News they planned to hold his wake next Tuesday before burying him on Wednesday morning.
He said family members from Tonga and overseas were expected to arrive for the funeral during the weekend.
But this afternoon they were told by the authorities they could only see Tevita’s body this evening and that it had to be buried tomorrow.
His ʻāpō (wake) was being held at 3 Korma Ln, Panmure, Auckland.
Sione said they rushed everything to make sure it was done before the failotu at 7pm.
Peni Tangi, Tevita’s uncle, said his body would be buried at a cemetery in Remuera.
He said a prayer service would be held at the Mormon church in Panmure at 10am tomorrow before the body was escorted to the cemetery.
Tevita is survived by his wife and four children, Peni said.
Sisilia Leone Manumu’a who goes by the name Takiama Manumu’a on Facebook, said the wake for Sunia and ‘Alipate’s bodies was being held tonight at the Tokaima’ananga Church at Otara Parish on 3 Ormiston Rd.
The cousins would be buried at the Manukau Memorial Garden in Papatoetoe tomorrow morning.
Search continues
Police now think that Taulagi Afamasaga, 56, may still be on the boat after the formal search and rescue operation was suspended at midday yesterday.
In a statement released to media today, Inspector Mark Fergus of Waitemata Police said the search for Francie was still going on.
“Police, along with Coastguard and the Navy, are out on the water today in the area where the boat is believed to have capsized,” Inspector Fergus said.
“Specialist search equipment belonging to the Navy is being used in the search. This is a slow and meticulous process.
“We have met with the family of Mr Afamasaga this morning to discuss what the search involves. We can confirm that it is possible that their loved one is still on board the vessel.
“In the event that the boat is found, the Afamasaga family will be informed first before Police release any details publicly. Police specialists will then assess options to search the wreckage, which may involve Police divers or video.
“This will however require a risk assessment. The area is notoriously dangerous and will be dependent on the sea conditions, tides and currents”.
The main points
Brokenhearted relatives of Tevita Tangi, who died in a boating tragedy on Saturday, bewailed his loss as his body was released to them this evening.
Tangi was one of four Tongan fishermen killed when the charter boat Francie capsized crossing the sandbar in Kaipara in New Zealand’s north island.
They were among 11 men on board the Francie. Seven bodies have been recovered, but one is still missing.
The family of Tangi and relatives of his friends Soane ‘Ungo’unga and ‘Alipate Manumu’a were holding wakes for the men tonight before they are buried in Auckland tomorrow.
Liahona High School has denied claims that examination marks of students sitting their final year examinations at the school were altered to benefit the student who became captain for 2016.
A complainant alleged the student who was officially announced as dux of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints’ largest school, Fe’ofani-‘a-Kakau Huni came third when the students’ final marks were finalised.
Following questions from Kaniva News, the principal of the school Fatafehi Fifita issued this one sentence response in Tongan: “Fakamalo atu ho’o fetu’utaki mai. Fie fakamahino atu pe ‘oku ‘ikai mo’oni ‘a e ngaahi tukuaki’i ko ‘eni na’e kakaa’i Dux ‘a Liahona”. (translated) Thank you for contacting us. Just wanted to clarify the claims that the school dux for Liahona was cheated is untrue”.
Makeleta Langi Ahome’e Embry claimed the real school dux for this year was her nephew Kukuna ‘Ahome’e who was awarded second in the prize giving day.
She claimed the school altered the marks when the final grades were computerised.
She also claimed there was a breach of students’ right to confidentiality of information while the grading of the students’ marks was processed.
She claimed Kukuna’s marks were discussed by one of the teachers and the dux without Kukuna knowing about it.
She said her brother, Kukuna’s father and mother “challenged” the school and asked them to allow Kukuna and Huni to exchange marks to see if they were really the marks the gradings were based on.
She claimed the school declined the request on the grounds of confidentiality.
Embry claimed the school apologised to Kukuna’s parents and told them to be happy as Kukuna was the only one to be picked on a scholarship to go to Utah or Hawaiʻi.
Embry claimed in the last four years there were discontents about Liahona’s duxes.
“They need to stop robbing these kids of the dreams and goals they set and work so hard for in many years”, Embry said.
At the prize giving day two weeks ago Huni thanked students and guests who attended the prize giving day for their support, which she said greatly assisted her in her endeavour to become dux of Liahona.
She said the pathway she went through while studying was not easy.
She said she grew up in Niuatoputapu and studied at Hihifo primary school.
Her family struggled and faced many problems including the tsunami that struck one of the most isolated and furthest island in Tonga.
The main points
Liahona High School has denied claims that examination marks of students sitting their final year examinations at the school were altered to benefit the student who became captain for 2016.
A complainant alleged the student who was officially announced as dux of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints school, Fe’ofani-‘a-Kakau Huni,came third when the students’ final marks were finalised.
Following questions fromKaniva News, the principal of the school Fatafehi Fifita issued this response: “Thank you for contacting us. Just wanted to clarify the claims that the school dux for Liahona was cheated is untrue”.
At the prize giving day two weeks ago Huni thanked fellow students for their support, which she said greatly assisted her in her endeavour to become dux.
The public are warned to be on the lookout for fake $50 paʻanga notes being used in the kingdom.
The National Reserve Bank of Tonga has received three $50 paánga notes of the new design currency confirmed to be counterfeit notes.
The Reserve Bank is concerned that there could be more of such $50 counterfeit notes in circulation.
These counterfeit notes lack the following security features present in every genuine $50 pa’anga note:
the watermark of the King’s effigy which can be clearly seen when it is held up to the light, and
a shiny silver thread as a clear window visible in the center of the note (obverse side) and a wider more solid silver (reverse side) showing images of the national medal.
The public is hereby advised to check all notes particularly the $50 new design note before accepting them.
Counterfeit notes carry zero value and will not be accepted by the banks or the Reserve Bank.
The Public is urged to take any counterfeit notes to the National Reserve Bank of Tonga.
Makers and distributors of counterfeits are breaking Section 59 and 61 of the Criminal Offences Act 1988.
The Supreme Court has dismissed an application by a senior civil servant to have an investigation of his behaviour by the Commissioner for Public Relations halted until a defamation case against Kele’a newspaper has been completed.
In June 2015 Member of Parliament Hon. Mateni Tapueluelu made a number of allegations against the Chief Executive Officer of the Tonga Communications Corporation, Rizvi Jurangpathy, which were reported in Kele’a newspaper.
The newspaper alleged that Mr. Jurangpathy had committed indecent acts upon, and was having affairs with, staff members, was misusing TCC funds and dismissing employees for improper reasons.
Mr. Jurangpathy denied the allegations.
On July 13 last year Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva, wrote to express his serious concerns about Mr. Jurangpathy’s conduct as CEO of TCC and recommended that he resign.
Mr. Jurangpathy refused and launched a suit for defamation against Kele’a in the Magistrates’ Court. That case is still going on.
The defamation suit includes Hon. Tapueluelu, the publisher of the Kele’a, Mrs. Laucala Tapueluelu and the editor of the Kele’a, Mr. Ofa Vatikani.
The Prime Minister is Mrs Tapueluelu’s father.
Hon. Tapueluelu referred the allegations to the Commissioner, who decided in August 2015 to begin his own investigation. Following a request from Mr. Jurangpathy’s lawyers, the Commissioner to put his enquiry on hold until the defamation action was completed.
In his report on the case, Lord Chief Justice Paulsen wrote:
“There the matter might have rested but that on 15 July 2016 the Prime Minister wrote to the Commissioner advising that he had received a complaint against the plaintiff from more than 60 employees of the TCC and asking the Commissioner to consider the matter.
“The complaint from the TCC employees listed seven specific issues of concern including disrespectful and inappropriate conduct towards female staff, inappropriate touching, kissing and texting of female staff, buying a car for a staff member the plaintiff was dating and buying an air ticket at the request of a female staff member he was dating. “
The Commissioner wrote to Hon. Pohiva on July 29 his consenting to an investigation. He suspended Mr. Jurangpathy, who was questioned on September 1.
So far more than 70 people have been interviewed.
Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said Mr. Jurangpathy’s lawyer, Clive Edwards had argued that it was “all a little too convenient” that when Mr. Tapueluelu and his wife were served with the defamation proceedings the Prime Minister should receive the same complaints from TCC employees and require the Commissioner to investigate the plaintiff.
“The plaintiff considers that the making of the complaints and the referral of them to the Commissioner has been driven by Mr. Tapueluelu and others close to the Prime Minister who have their own agendas and interests to protect. It is unfair, he says, that he should have to fight the allegations on two fronts,” the judge wrote.
“The plaintiff also argues that because of the procedures adopted by the Commissioner, where there is no hearing and he has no right to call witnesses or cross-examine, it is highly likely that the Magistrate and the Commissioner will reach different conclusions on common issues of fact which will undermine the function of the judiciary.”
Mr. Jurangpathy asked the court to order the Commission to halt its investigation until the defamation case was completed.
However, Lord Chief Paulsen said the Supreme Court did not have the jurisdiction to order a stay of the Commissioner’s investigation.
He said the Commissioner was not exercising’ a judicial function and in any case, for the Supreme Court to exercise such power would be contrary to the law which said that proceedings before the Commissioner could not be challenged in any court except on the ground of a lack of jurisdiction. Mr. Jurangpathy had not argued for a stay on these grounds.
Finally, he said that if Mr. Jurangpathy had wanted to apply for a stay on these grounds, he would have had to first seek the permission of the court to begin such proceedings.
Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said he did not accept Mr. Jurangpathy’s argument that the defamation case and the Commissioner’s investigation were between the same parties and concerned the same issues.
“None of the defendants in the Magistrates’ Court action are involved in the investigation before the Commissioner,” he said.
“I do not accept the submission Mr. Edwards made that I should regard the Prime Minister (or the TCC employees) as doing the bidding of Mr. Tapueluelu. There is nothing at all to suggest to my mind that the Prime Minister is motivated by anything other than the best interests of the TCC.
“The proceedings before the Magistrates’ Court and the investigation before the Commissioner are of a very different nature, involving different enquiries, utilising fundamentally different processes and ultimately will result in very different outcomes.”
Mr. Jurangpathy’s application was dismissed.
The main points
The Supreme Court has dismissed an application by a senior civil servant to have an investigation of his behaviour by the Commissioner for Public Relations halted until a defamation case against Kele’a newspaper has been completed.
In June 2015 Member of Parliament Hon. Mateni Tapueluelu made a number of allegations against the Chief Executive Officer of the Tonga Communications Corporation, Mr. Rizvi Jurangpathy, which were reported in Kele’a.
Jurangpathy denied the allegations and launched a defamation suit against the newspaper and Hon. Tapueluelu.
An investigation by the Commissioner was launched following separate complaints.
