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Decision to appoint Sika as Tourism Minister delayed

By
Kaniva Staff
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The decision by Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pōhiva to appoint his Democratic Party Member Sēmisi Sika as Minister of Tourism has been delayed to allow time for the King and His  Privy Council to consider approval of proposed laws.

‘Akanesi Tāufa from Tonga’s Prime Minister’s Office denied rumours Hon Sika, the Chair of the Whole House Committee would be appointed before the end of this month.

“The appointment of Sēmisi has not been approved and there will be no ministerial appointment this week,” Ms Tāufa said in Tongan.

“We will release a statement when the process is done,” she said.

It was not clear whether or not the proposed laws submitted to the Privy Council had anything to do with the government’s move to set up a Ministry for Tourism.

The Ministry was under the  Minister of Labour and Commerce but a ministerial bill was passed in parliamment early this year to set it up as a separate entity.

READ MORE:

Semisi Sika approached for Tourism Minister

Hammer attack leaves daughter injured, father appears in court

By
Kaniva Staff
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A man from Pili in Nukuʻalofa appeared in court yesterday after he allegedly beat his 13-year-old daughter with a hammer.

The local media have reported the 32-year-old father allegedly hit the girl on the calf of her leg in which she later required to have an operation at Vaiola Hospital.

Police said the attack happened in February but it was only brought to their attention after the daughter sought medical assistance for her injury at the hospital.

The details of the hearing yesterday were not immediately available.

Pōhiva shakes up Education with new acting CEO announced

By
Kaniva Staff
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Two major changes in key positions at Tonga’s Ministry of Education and Training (MET) have been announced today.

It was made public that Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva who is also the minister of MET  has appointed Ponapate Taunisila as Acting CEO of the Ministry  effective from March 30.

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

The announcement meant the position of CEO is still vacant after the former CEO Emily Moala Pouvalu’s contract ended in May 2015.

The post was then took over by three different Acting CEOs, two  in 2015 who were Dr Raelyn ʻĒsau and Lucy Moala Mafi before Tupou was appointed last month.

In a statement from MET this afternoon the Deputy Chief Executive Officer Lucy Moala Mafi said:

“This is to inform you that Mr. Ponepate Taunisila, Deputy CEO for Quality Assurance has been appointed by the Hon. Minister for Education and Training to be the Acting CEO for Education and Training with effect from Wednesday, 30 March, 2016 until further notice. Mr. Claude Tupou reverts to his position of Deputy CEO for Secondary Schools with effect from the same date”.

Last month a Tongan tribunal ruled in favour of Mr.  Tupou after he took action against the Prime Minister and his government for not endorsing a panel’s recommendation to appoint him as the CEO of MET.

Following the tribunal’s ruling we were informed Tupou was appointed by the Minister as acting CEO.

“See you later Junior”, William Fifita laid to rest

By
Kaniva Staff
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William Greathouse Huluholo Fifita Jr was laid to rest yesterday Monday 28 at the Forest Garden Memorial Park in Covina Hill, California, after family and mourners bid a heartbreaking farewell and said “See you later Junior”.

Many of Fifita’s colleagues, high school football team and coach attended his funeral services and shared their sweet memories of the deceased.

Also attended was his missionary companion who they served as LDS missionaries in Guatemala two years ago.

Most of them said: “Junior was a great example to us”.

Fifita Jr  was gunned down Sunday 20 while he and three others were on their way home from a church function.

Authorities said the  motive for the crime remains a complete mystery.

The farewell with Fifita was described by his cousin Kolokiholeva Sekona Fifita as “Absolutely a heart-warming see you later to Jr.”

On Saturday a Facebook user by the name Mohekonokono Foʻui wrote on Kaniva News Website and said:

“Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. My family has been humbled by the many messages, phone calls, and overall support from many. My son was a awesome son who will be missed by many. I was blessed by the Lord to have been his father. We will all see him again. Malo aupito and Ofa Atu, Kia Kaha Mana! NZCM 89-91”.

Foui

We have been reliably informed the writer was indeed Fifita Jr’s father, William Huluholo Fifita Snr who is currently a San Bernardino County police officer.

Fifita Jr’s burial service on Monday 28 was followed by a luncheon prepared by the Cucamonga Ward.

READ MORE:

Tongan policeman’s son killed in US shootout remembered as man of faith

Waste authority welcomes new landfill compactor

By
Kaniva Staff
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The staff and workers at Waste Authority were excited to see the arrival of the new German Bomag Landfill compactor on Thursday, March 24,  2016.

The machine weighs about 22000 kgs and was worth US$475,000 funded by the Australian Government through DFAT and the Asian Development Bank.

The Bomag made can normally be modified on-site with a choice of wheel types and dozer blades.

It was specifically designed to crush rubbish at landfill sites and could compact mixed and cohesive soils in thin to Landfillmedium layer thicknesses.

“A landfill site is an important asset for Tonga” said the Minister for Public Enterprises Hon Poasi Tei. “By having this machine here, we will preserve the site for many more years.”

Tonga sevens squad for HSBC Hong Kong sevens 2016

By
Kaniva Staff
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The Tonga Sevens team list for the Hong Kong Sevens has been released.

It says the team included  six players from Toloa Old Boys, the Champions of the recent Kolomotuʻa Sevens Competition.

The entire Hong Kong Sevens competition is split into two groups, the group Tonga are in is the qualifying group.

The World series consists of Dubai, Cape Town, Wellington, Sydney, Las Vegas, Vancouver, Hong Kong, Singapore, Paris and London.

The Tongan squad:

  1. Atelea Moa – Marist
  2. Misitana Afeaki – Haʻapai
  3. Taliauli Sikuea – Toloa Old Boys
  4. Semisi Tei – Toloa Old Boys
  5. Sione Vea – Toloa Old Boys
  6. Tuihakavalu Ika – Toloa Old Boys
  7. Joseph Tongia – Marist
  8. Tavake Fusimalohi – Fasi Maʻufanga
  9. Unaloto Kaloni – Haʻapai
  10. Samisoni Asi – Toloa Old Boys
  11. Fine Tokai – Lavengamālie
  12. Viliami Siale – Toloa Old Boys

The Officials are:

Head coaches – Siaosi ʻAtiola & Taholo ʻAnitoni

Team manager – Tēvita Lavemai

Team physio – Siosaia Vakasiuola

 

Tonga games:

8th April Tonga vs Morrocco 13:22pm

8th April Tonga vs Brazil 15:34pm

9th April Tonga vs Japan 10:06am

9th April Evening Play Offs

10th April Final Day

Hope fades for Tongan boxers in China Olympic qualifiers

By
Kaniva Staff
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The Tonga Boxing Association (TBA) hopes of sending fighters to the Olympics in Rio are on the ropes after their three leading contenders were beaten in the opening session of the Oceania qualifying tournament in China.

Pueki Fifita a female fighter who won bronze medal for Tonga at Pacific Games 2015, Sepesitiano Lavemai, a super heavy weight who won silver medal at the Pacific games 2015 and Fine Tu’ipulotu, also a Pacific Games 2015 contender all lost their first-round fights yesterday.

Hiko Fungavaka, the assistant president of the TBA said he has yet to receive the results for Pouono Lopeti, a Tongan light heavy weight boxer from Australia who joined the Tongan team.

However Lopeti who goes by the name Machete Lopeti on Facebook, made an emotional comment on his page this morning and said: “Not the result we hoped for….. Humbled by the experience Sad and frustrated by the loss but definitely not defeated mentally. Many thanks for the support!!!”

The TBA sent two officials and four fighters to compete at the qualifying tournament.

Fungavaka said 13 boxers were trained to compete at the tournament but they finally cut them down to only four because the funding from the government was not enough to send them all to the competition.

The selection of the fighters was then forced to pick only those fighters who had fought in an international competition like the Pacific Games.

Not the result we hoped for….. Humbled by the experience Sad and frustrated by the loss but definitely not defeated mentally. Many thanks for the support!!!

Posted by Machete Lopeti on Monday, March 28, 2016

Law: concerns at increasing pharmacies and medical students returning to Tonga

By
Kaniva Staff
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Tongan authorities were concerned about the increasing number of new pharmacies and medical students returning from overseas while the government has no regulations to control them.

The kingdom wanted laws to make sure only qualified medical practitioners are serving the public.

The idea however took shape in Nukuʻalofa last week after the health authorities and representatives from the Ministry of Justice  met to review and made the final amendment to the Medical and Dental Practice Act 2001.

The 2001 Act only dealt witht staff’s performances, professionalism and protecting the public from malpractices.

Mr Tuʻakoi ‘Ahio, Principal Health Administrator and Registrar of the Medical Dental Practice Board, said: “There is no regulation at the moment and this workshop is trying to develop some regulations to determine whether the Pharmacies are equitable to operate”.

Tuakoi
Dr. Tu’akoi ‘Ahio, Registra of the Medical and Dental Practice Board with Ms. Marina Moa from the Crown Office during the workshp in Nukuʻalofa

“Due to many new pharmacies and students going to Cuba to study, the reviewing of this Act” was to make sure they meet certain requirements before allowing them to operate and work in Tonga.

ʻAhio said the new laws will protect medical officers, dentists and doctors.

“It has been a long journey from 2001 to today and it has new things and new people in each category and it also has new challenges…so there is a need to review this Act before we implement it to meet the current standards and so on,” Tuʻakoi said.

“What we are trying to achieve today is going through the final draft and the proposed regulations for this Act,” Tuʻakoi said.

The proposal to amend the law will go through the government normal procedure and was expected to be discussed in Parliament soon.

Locals welcome Fuʻamotu new road construction

By
Kalino Latu
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Fuʻamotu locals welcomed the new road construction for their town which was funded by the Chinese and the Tongan government.

The new road was planned to give more access to the main road for commuters who travel to the Fuʻamotu International Airport and the Scenic Hotel.

China has provided TP$ 40,000 Paʻanga to cover petrol costs and the professional side of the project.

The Chinese Ambassador to Tonga HE Mr Huang Huaguang said China’s assistance to Tonga is “the key for the

the Ambassador visited the roads with Tongatapu 9 People’s Representative, Mr. Penisimani Fifita
The Ambassador visited the road with Tongatapu 9 People’s Representative Mr. Penisimani Fifita. 

development of a community as well as the Kingdom as a whole”.

MP Penisimani Fifita who is also the MP for Fuʻamotu thanked the Chinese government and the government of Tonga for making the project happened.

Tony Finau wins Puerto Rico Open in playoff for 1st title

By
Kaniva Staff
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Tony Finau made headlines before 2016 even started by signing with Nike. And before the year’s first major, he’s already proven to be a great investment.

On Sunday, Finau won the Puerto Rico Open to morph from talented curiosity into PGA Tour winner. Finau, 26, defeated Steve Marino on the third hole of a sudden-death playoff at Coco Beach.

“I think I’m still a little bit overwhelmed,” Finau told reporters in Puerto Rico after. “It probably hasn’t all sunk in.”

Finau played his final eight holes of regulation in two over par to match Marino with a final-round 70. He missed a six-footer for birdie on No. 18 for the win. However, in the playoff, Finau birdied the par-5 18th hole all three times.

I tried to just stay in the moment really,” Finau said. “That’s what I learned from last year. You can never look too far ahead and you can’t look back, either. You’ve got to focus on the here and now. I did a really good job of that today even though that putt slipped by in regulation for the win, I knew I still didn’t lose the tournament. I needed to refocus and get ready to play 18 again. That’s what it takes out here I feel like to win. And now that I have that feeling, it’s pretty special.”

The 36-year-old Marino remained winless in his PGA Tour career after three-putting for par from the back fringe on the final hole. He now has five runner-ups and just under $10 million in career earnings.

Local pro Rafael Campos, the 36-hole leader, shot a second consecutive 72 to finish T-8. Earlier in the week, he became the first Puerto Rican to lead a PGA Tour event since Chi Chi Rodriguez in 1979.

Ian Poulter, the 54-hole leader, shot 72 and finished one shot out of the playoff. He parred his final 13 holes.

“It’s a shame. Just slightly disappointing,” Poulter said. “I’m continuing to work on the game to try and improve, and I know if I rectify a couple of poor shots, then my game will improve. Obviously, hitting shots slightly too far right at certain times is costly.”

– Golf Digest

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