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Ambassador Valerie Adams’ visit to kingdom “so much fun” and “super awesome”

By
Kalino Latu
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Tongan-New Zealand born Pacific Sports Ambassador’s visit to the kingdom this week was “so much fun” and “super awesome”.

Adams was on a mission to Tonga and Samoa conducting coaching clinics with up-and-coming athletes.

She was appointed last week to the new role of Pacific Sports Ambassador as part of New Zealand’s endeavour to further develop her strong sporting links with the region.

On her arrival in the Friendly Islands on Monday afternoon, she was welcomed by the New Zealand High Commissioner Sarah Walsh and Tonga’s Minister of Internal Affairs Hon Penisimani Fifita.

She spoke with elite athletes, attended a ‘Women in Leadership Advocacy Programme’, and visited New Zealand-funded projects including the National Health Service health facility, and a Community health project.

Video clips and photos as well as Adams’ posts on social media showed the triple Olympic medallist really enjoyed her trip to the full.

She took to Twitter and tweeted: “Taking part in thé Fiefia Sports with the Government Departments. This takes place once a week in the kingdom which is super awesome”.

“Just Play program done with these cuties. Had so much fun with the future of our motherland Tonga”.

She was expected to leave for Samoa on Wednesday.

 

Four murder-accused after Vaini machete attack named

By
Kalino Latu
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Four men accused in relation to the death of ʻAiveni Teisina after the machete attack in a parking lot in Vaini on October 23 can now be named.

They were Luseni Loʻāmanu, 36, from Kolofoʻou, Halahuni Taliai, 20, from Nualei, Sōsefo Malimali Vea, 19,  of Nualei and Sēmisi Tangataevaha, 16,  from Kolofo’ou.

An investigation into the death of the 36-year-old continued on after he died from his injuries at Vaiola Hospital on Monday, October 24.

The accused first appeared at the Magistrate court in Fasi last week and were expected to reappear in court on Wednesday.

The deceased is survived by his wife and a four-year old daughter.

Man charged after slamming his car into three Asian shops

By
Kaniva Staff
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A man had been charged with house-break in after a string of attempted burglaries at three different Asian shops in Tongatapu on Wednesday morning October 26.

Police said the man slammed his car into shops in Sopu, Longolongo and Tofoa before entering them.

The driver managed to escape with a TP$50 from the Longolongo shop.

Kasete Skeen wants to become the first Tongan Olympic alpine skier

By
Kalino Latu
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A Tongan man in Great Britain who lived in Notting Hill nearly all his life wanted to become the first to represent the kingdom of Tonga in the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea.

Kasete Skeen is Tongan through his father and has quit his job and taken up full-time training as he bids to achieve his goal.

According to getwestlondon the 34-year-old had been qualified to compete for Tonga.

He said:  “I’m not someone that’s been skiing all their life.

“I know I’ve got a mountain to climb, and I don’t just mean literally.”

He first went skiing as a 12-year-old on a trip when he was a pupil at Holland Park School, the paper said.

Over the years he improved but it was a chance comment to friends that set him on his Olympic dream.

He said: “As a joke I one day said I would ski for Tonga, and my friends thought I should do it but I brushed it aside.

“Then I went away on a ski trip and thought maybe this is something I could do.”

This happened less than a year ago. Since then, Kasete quit his job of nine years at Opera Holland Park and is now rarely home.

He said: “There are a lot of sacrifices to make. I’m away a lot.

“I’m currently in Austria for six weeks, then Sweden for a month and four months in Italy, before I head to New Zealand to train in the southern hemisphere winter.

“My girlfriend is still in London working and my friends and family are there too.

“At the moment I’m in a small apartment in the Alps on my own.

“I’ve gone from being surrounded by houses to being surrounded my mountains.”

And he is aware of the improvements he still needs to make: “I was a reasonable recreational skier but there’s a big leap between that and throwing yourself down a mountain at 100mph and really going for it.

Kasete has until about a month before the start of the games to achieve the points total needed to qualify, and he knows it’s not going to be easy.

He said: “I’m training every day to get myself up to standard.

“I’m doing basic technique training, then race training in a few weeks time.

“Then I’ll be racing in January.

“My coach has told me if I work hard and do the right stuff I will be able to qualify.”

Pacific Sports Ambassador Valerie Adams visits Samoa and Tonga

By
Kalino Latu
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UPDATED: Valerie Adams, New Zealand’s first appointed Sports Ambassador to the Pacific has arrived in Tonga this afternoon and was expected to leave for Samoa on Wednesday.

Adams would conduct coaching clinics with up-and-coming and elite athletes, promote healthy lifestyles and encourage participation in physical activity while she was in the two island nations.

While in Tonga the public were invited to join her in a “Just Play Festival” at the ‘Atele Indoor Stadium on October 31 at 3pm and also a “Coach Clinic” at Teufaiva Stadium for up and coming athletes on Tuesday 1 November at 9.30am.

“Just Play” is a New Zealand Aid Programme funded activity, targeting Pacific Island Countries, promoting healthy lifestyles.

“Adams will conduct coaching clinics with up-and-coming athletes, speak with elite athletes, attend a ‘Women in Leadership Advocacy Programme’, and visit New Zealand-funded projects including the National Health Service health facility, and a Community health project”, New Zealand High Commission Office said.

While in Samoa she will also meet with the Prime Minister, the Minister of Health, prominent sportswomen and administrators, plus be the guest speaker at a NZ High Commission reception.”

Members of the public have been invited to observe a coaching clinic at 2.30pm on Friday 4 November at Apia Park for up-and-coming athletes.

A cocktail reception had been organised by the Tongan High Commission in Tonga to welcome Miss Adams this evening Monday 31.

New Zealand High Commissioner, HE Sarah Walsh said that Valerie’s sporting success is celebrated in both New Zealand and Tonga.

“She is a New Zealander with family ties to Tonga and is a great role model for all of us. Her visit to Tonga will help promote healthy eating and an active lifestyle for youth and community more broadly. She will also be an inspiration for high performance and up-and-coming athletes, supporting them to go to next level of competition.”

Pacific Sports Ambassador

Foreign Minister Murray McCully has announced Valerie Adams as New Zealand’s first Pacific Sports Ambassador.

“The new role of Pacific Sports Ambassador will allow New Zealand to further develop our strong sporting links with the region,” Mr McCully says.

“Valerie Adams is uniquely qualified to carry out this important role. She has strong connections to the Pacific through her Tongan heritage and is one of New Zealand’s most successful and admired athletes.

“In addition to winning two Olympic gold medals in the Shot Put, she is a four-time World Champion. Valerie was named New Zealand’s Sportswoman of the Year for seven consecutive years, from 2006-2012, and most recently won silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

“The development of this new role follows several years of New Zealand’s active involvement in the sports sector in Pacific countries and complements the ties that exist between New Zealand and the Pacific.

“This includes the Government’s recent announcement of a $10 million Pacific Sporting Partnerships programme aimed at getting more children in Pacific countries playing organised sports.”

READ MORE:

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Valerie Adams in a Ceremony with her Tongan Kainga

Champion’s Tongan speech stirs emotional reaction

Three young Tongan women diagnosed with   breast cancer every month

By
Kalino Latu
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Tonga’s Ministry of Health in a report on the situation facing young women with breast cancer said two to three women were diagnosed with the disease every month in the last three years.

Eleven women were killed by the cancer in 2013 while eight were killed in 2014.

Dr ‘Ana ‘Akau’ola publicly made the revelation last week as part of an event to mark the breast cancer awareness Pink October in Fasi.

She said the disease killed Tongan women in their 30s to 50s.

These young women had families and were working hard to pursue their various careers, she said.

In 2013, 33 women were diagnosed with the disease in which 11 died.

It followed by another 33 in 2014 in which eight died while there were 32 diagnosis in 2015.

This year there were 26 women diagnosed with breast cancer from January to October.

“We would definitely hit 30 this year since we diagnose about two to three patients with breast cancer every month.”

Breast cancer month

The Breast Cancer Awareness Month, marked in countries across the world every October, helps to increase attention and support for the awareness, early detection and treatment as well as palliative care of this disease.

According to World Health Organisation there are about 1.38 million new cases and 458 000 deaths from breast cancer each year (IARC Globocan, 2008).

It said the disease has been rising up steadily in low- and middle-income countries  in the last years due to increase in life expectancy, increase urbanisation and adoption of western lifestyles.

“Currently there is not sufficient knowledge on the causes of breast cancer, therefore, early detection of the disease remains the cornerstone of breast cancer control.

“When breast cancer is detected early, and if adequate diagnosis and treatment are available, there is a good chance that breast cancer can be cured. If detected late, however, curative treatment is often no longer an option. In such cases, palliative care to relief the suffering of patients and their families is needed”.

Appointments Panel denies Pohiva’s claim over corruption appointment

By
Philip Cass
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Tonga’s Judicial Appointments and Discipline Panel has denied claims by Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva that it proposed appointing Kahungungu Afeaki as Tonga’s first Anti-Corruption Commissioner.

“The information you have received is incorrect,” the Panel’s Principal Clerk, Rosamund Bing, told Kaniva News.

“The panel did not propose to appoint Afeaki.”

She told Kaniva News the panel would not make any further comment.

“Matters of this type are  entirely inappropriate to air publicly.

“Neither Lord Tupou or the Panel are in a position to provide any further information to you.”

The Prime Minister told Kaniva News last month his government had rejected a proposal by the Privy Council to make Afeaki commissioner.

Hon. Pohiva said he had received unofficial information that the Privy Council’s panel of judges had decided to appoint the New Zealand based barrister.

He said the search for the Anti-Corruption commissioner was now deadlocked.

The Prime Minister told Kaniva News the proposed salary for the Commissioner was too high and his government did not want to work with Afeaki.

The Anti-Corruption Act 2012 stipulates that the salary and appointment of the commissioner is dealt with by the Anti-Corruption Commission with the consent of Cabinet.

Tonga’s Anti-Corruption Commission was formed in 2008 after the Anti-Corruption Act was passed on 13 September 2007.

But plans for a commission to fight corruption stalled after a new office was opened in mid-2008.

Justice Minister Hon. Fa’otusia said the Australian Government gave TP$300,000 to help fund  the Commissioner’s salary, but withdrew the money after initial attempts to set up the commission failed.

Hon. Fa’otusia said in 2008 a panel of judges from Australia recommended appointing the then Chief Justice Shuster for the post, but the two next two governments did not appoint him.

Last year he announced that a panel of judges had interviewed and recommended a suitable candidate to the post.

The Minister said former Chief Justice Ford had supported the idea a Tongan should be appointed to the post.

The main points

  • Tonga’s Judicial Appointments and Discipline Panel has denied claims by Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva that it proposed appointing Kahungungu Afeaki as Tonga’s first Anti-Corruption Commissioner.
  • “The panel did not propose to appoint Afeaki,” the Panel’s Principal Clerk, Rosamund Bing, told Kaniva News.
  • The Prime Minister told Kaniva News last month his government had rejected a proposal by the Privy Council to make Afeaki commissioner.
  • Pohiva said he had received unofficial information that the Privy Council’s panel of judges had decided to appoint the New Zealand based barrister.

For more information

Cabinet opposes Privy Council’s candidate for Anti-Corruption Commission boss

Four to reappear in court in connection with Teisina’s  murder

By
Kalino Latu
-

Four men will reappear in court on November 2 in relation to the death of a father who was brutally attacked with a machete in a parking lot in Vaini last week.

The men in their 30s including a 16-year old male teenager had been charged with the murder of ‘Aiveni Teisina 36.

They were remanded in Police custody after they appeared in court on Wednesday 26.

Police said Teisina was drinking alcohol with the accused on October 22.

The victim allegedly died from his injuries at Vaiola Hospital on Monday 24 October.

Georgians on fake passports ordered to pay $6000 and leave Tonga

By
Kalino Latu
-

The six Georgian nationals who had admitted using forged documents to enter Tonga paid thousands of dollars for fraudulent passports.

Justice Charles Cato ordered them to pay TP$1,000 each and were also given two-year suspended prison sentence.

They were also ordered to leave the kingdom within two weeks starting from October 26.

Koba Shinjikashvili (a.k.a Athanassios Panagiotopoulou), Nino Menabdishvili (a.k.a Anastasia Papadatos), Dato Dekanoidze (a.k.a Stefanos Markopoulos), Zaza Tsikarishvil (a.k.a Evangeles Dragandis), Maia Garibashivili (a.k.a Aikaterini Markopoulous and Genadi Gachechiladze (a.k.a Stefanos Papadatos) pleaded guilty at the Supreme Court.

They told the court they intended to leave Tonga and they would pay for their return flights home.

The victims through their counsel Laki Niu could apply to the Court for an extension to stay in Tonga only if there was an exceptional situation in the arrangements for their departure.

Mr Cato said: “It’s a serious matter to use fraudulent means to enter Tonga for any reason and also as a platform from which to illegally enter other countries. This Court must send out a deterrent message that offenders will be treated harshly by the Courts for offending of this kind. Security of borders is a paramount consideration”.

READ MORE:

Investigation after Greek passports seized in Tonga following complaint by Immigration NZ

Baby X finds a new home in New Zealand

By
Philip Cass
-

Baby X, the child who has been cared for by Vaiola hospital staff since being found swaddled in plastic three months ago, has found a new home.

The Supreme Court this week granted an application for adoption to a Tongan born couple living in New Zealand who the court decided would be able to provide the child with a financially secure and stable family environment.

Four couples had applied to adopt her.

In his judgement, Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said all the applicants would have made suitable parents and said that his paramount aim had been in doing what was best for the child.

Lord Chief Justice Paulsen praised the staff at the hospital for the care they had given Baby X.

Baby  X  was  found  in  a  bush  area  in  Nuku’alofa on July 22 swaddled  in plastic.

She was  new  born and the identity of her mother remains unknown.

Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said that in  New   Zealand   Baby   X   would   enjoy   material   benefits  not available  to  many  in Tonga  and have greater  access  to  health  care  and  education  options.

New Zealand would also provide a  greater  chance  for  anonymity  and  accordingly less  risk  that  Baby  X  would  suffer  from  any  stigma  resulting from the circumstances  of her birth.

“There is no risk that Baby X will lose any family ties, as she obviously has none at the present time, but she  will also benefit from a close knit immediate  family  and  a supportive extended  family,” the judge said.

The main points

  • Baby X, the child who has been cared for by Vaiola hospital staff since being found swaddled in plastic three months ago, has found a new home.
  • The Supreme Court this week granted an application for adoption to a Tongan born couple living in New Zealand.
  • Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said Baby X would enjoy a better standard of living in New Zealand.
  • Baby X  was  found  in  a  bush  area  in  Nuku’alofa on July 22 swaddled  in plastic.
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