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Boost in staff morale and safer system key in Revenue Ministry’s highest ever collection

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tonga’s Ministry of Revenue and Customs said the TP$13.9 million it collected in December 2015 was the most money it had ever brought in.

The Ministry planned to collect TP$11.5 million (equivalent to US$5,125,550, Aus$7,426,612.47 or NZ$7,969,699.91),  but ended up with a TP$2.4 million (equivalent to US$ 891,400, NZ$ 1386034.77 or Aus$1,291,042.24) surplus.

Revenue and Customs CEO Kulu ‘Anisi Bloomfield attributed the success to a boost in staff morale and the safer system the Ministry had created to make sure it collected every single cent it was owed to meet its target.

Bloomfield said the Ministry had proven that its plan to work more closely with the public helped achieve its revenue targets.

The Ministry also organised workshops for its staff and outside partners to understand their roles better.

“Sometimes officers believed they were kings and the people who they were collecting money from were servants,” Bloomfield said.

“That’s a big misconception.”

Bloomfield said the closer working relationship with brokers, shipping agencies, Ministry of Quarantine and Biosecurity and Port Authorities make it easier for the Ministry to collect revenue quickly.

“At one stage these bodies agreed to work overtime and finished at 11pm or midnight to make sure people’s parcels and consignments were released,” Bloomfield said.

“The quicker people’s consignments were released, the faster the Ministry’s collected revenue.”

Bloomfield said the Ministry had designed policies for the current fiscal year that made sure the public could afford taxes and duties.

Bloomfield said the Ministry believed that if people felt they could afford to pay taxes and duties they would continue to import consignments from families living overseas.

He said December was normally the peak month for consignments coming from overseas for Christmas and the New Year.

Bloomfield said most of the revenue collected was for what were officially described as  “imported commodities.”

The main points

  • Tonga’s Ministry of Revenue and Customs said the TP$13.9 million it collected in December 2015 was the most money it had ever brought in.
  • The Ministry planned to collect TP$11.5 million, but ended up with a TP$2.4 million
  • Revenue and Customs CEO, Kulu ‘Anisi Bloomfield said the Ministry had designed policies that made sure the public could afford taxes and duties.
  • He said December was normally the peak month for consignments coming from overseas for Christmas and the New Year.

Severe injuries at Foa causeway after car hit by waves fell into the sea

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Police and emergency services in Pangai, Ha’apai were at the scene  to pull out a car from the sea at Foa causeway while a man was rushed to hospital with serious injuries.

The injured man will be transfderred to Tongatapu by plane for treatment, local media reported.

Kaniva News understands the car was hit by waves while it attempted to cross over to the other side of the causeway.

Ha’apai islands were still on tropical Cyclone Victor’s alert and since the begining of this week motorists were seen waiting in queues at ends of the islands as huge waves overtopping the causeway.

Police could not immediately be reached for comments.

Wanted for stealing charity box: Do you know this woman?

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Counties Manukau Police released a photo this morning of a woman they wanted to speak with after a charity box from KFC in Papakura was stolen  earlier this month.

Do you know the woman in the photo?

“We want to speak with her regarding a charity box for Surf Life Saving NZ that was stolen from KFC in Papakura on Saturday 9 January at about 1:20pm”, a Police statement said.

“If you have any idea who this may be then please contact Sergeant Kylie Newton at the Counties Manukau Police Station on 09 261 1300 or you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Thanks!”

Claims: Fijians being bullied and mistreated by Tongan employers

By
Kaniva Staff
-

The Fijian government is investigating after claims by Fijian nationals who worked in Tonga they were being mistreated, bullied and intimidated.

The investigation will be looking at evidence of working long hours for low wages and without extra pay.

There were also claims the Fijians were falsely promised getting certain jobs in the kingdom but that did not happen when they arrived there.

Fiji’s minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations, Semi Koroilavesau was quoted by Fiji Sun as saying he received “an electronic mail on Tuesday night stating the alleged current working conditions that Fijians are facing in the island kingdom”.

He said the Fiji authority will investigate “the alleged ill-treatment of Fijian workers by their local employers in Tonga”.

“My initial brief this morning is this has happened before with private recruiting agencies when the Ministry is not involved in the process,” the Minister told the paper.

50-year-old Mereseini Ledua who claimed she was offered employment in a hotel in Tonga told the Sun the employer lied to her about her job offer.

“I worked for a hotel in Nadi before I went to Tonga; the job offer was recommended by my former manager from the hotel; she had a friend in Tonga who was friends with the owner of the company that I was going to work for in Tonga.

“The only reason my manager agreed to the offer was because of the good working conditions they promised; but when I went to Tonga I found out those were all just false promises,” she said.

Ms Ledua claimed she “was promised to work in a bar or restaurant with a good salary” but when she arrived in Tonga she was told to work in a bakery and work as a cleaner.

She was paid 200 pa’anga or F$195 per week, then it increased to 300 pa’anga (F$293).

“I was promised a lot of things before I left Fiji like: I will have to work for eight hours only; I won’t work during public holidays; work eight hours a day and get paid for overtime but those were all just false promises,” she said.

The Sun said Ms Ledua claimed she and others were not allowed to go to church and were not given any holidays after they worked for about a year and a half.

“The owner of the bakery used to get angry when I go to church; they use to tell me that I was sent to Tonga to work and not to go to church; and even when we visited other Fijians they would get angry at us; they did this because they were scared we might share what we were going through to other people in the community.”

Cyclone Victor intensifies as it moves towards Tongatapu and ʻEua

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Tropical cyclone Victor slowly intensified as it was moving towards Tongatapu and ‘Eua, the Fuʻamotu Met Services said at its tropical cyclone alert number two this morning at 12:15am January 21.

It has South to Southeast winds of 45 kilometre per hour to 55 kilometre per hour in which it will increase to 65 kilometre per hour and gradually increased to damaging gale force winds in the next 36 to 48 hours.

On its current track, the Category Three cyclone is expected to lie about 575 kilometre East of ʻEua about 1pm this afternoon.

Met said a tropical cyclone alert remains in force for Tongatapu and ʻEua.

It said a strong wind warning remains in force for Tongatapu, ʻEua, Vavau and Haʻapai.

Heavy damaging swells remain in force for all Tonga waters.

Situation:

Tropical Cyclone Victor lies about 21 decimal 7 south, 169 decimal 1 west or approximately 605km east of ʻEua about 10pm this evening and is moving west-southwest at a speed of 9 kilometre per hour.

Near its centre, the cyclone is estimated to have an average winds speed of 120 kilometre per hour with momentary gust of 170 kilometre per hour.

Cloudy periods with isolated showers becoming more frequent from tomorrow

night.rough to very rough seas with east to southeast damaging swells.

For Vava’u and Ha’apai:

South to Southwest winds 45 kilometre per hour to  55 kilometre per hour, increasing to 65 kilometre per hour. Gradually increasing to damaging gale force winds in the next 36 to 48 hours. Cloudy periods with possible isolated showers.

Moderate to rough seas becoming very rough tomorrow.

A heavy damaging East to Southeast swell.

For the Niuas:

South to Southwest winds 35km/hr-40km/hr.

Cloudy periods with possible isolated showers.

Moderate seas with heavy damaging east to Southeast swells

Tide predictions:

High tide : 05:00am

Low  tide : 11:00am

American explorer claims evidence that Tongans built royal tomb on Easter Island

By
Kalino Latu
-

A self-styled American explorer claims he has evidence that Tongans built a huge fort on the Wallis and Futuna islands and a royal tomb on Easter Island.

Vic Stefanu, who describes himself as an “environmentalist, historian, ethnologist and historian,” claims he spent 14 months  touring the Pacific Ocean. He said he recorded video images of the fort and tomb and said he has “no doubt” Tongans built them.

According to Stefanu, the wall of the fort is several kilometres long, five to six metres wide and is surrounded by a “thick forest”.

He said the fort was known to many in the French territory as Fort of Talietumu or the Tongan Fort.

The “huge complex” was built with lava rocks and was believed to have been built in 1450AD.

Historians believe the islands were settled about 1000AD during the period of expansion of the Tongan empire.

Langi a

The fort contains evidence of oval structural foundations which appear to be comparable to the size and shape of a Tongan traditional fale (house).

There is evidence of 10 metre high stairways leading to a large flat piece of land 90 metres long and 60 metres wide. This suggests a royal residence was constructed there, according to Stefanu.

Stefanu told Kaniva News he was contacted by another historian after watching his video about the fort and told there was proof that Tongans went to Easter Island (Rapanui) arrived there centuries ago.

After spending three weeks on Easter Island Stefanu said he found what locals call an Ahu. He said it was a “replica” of the Langi ʻo Tuʻitonga (Tongan Kings lines’  Royal Tomb) in Lapaha.

Langi 3a

“I am an expert in these matters and there is no doubt in my mind,” Stefanu said.

“Now, why historians disregard such huge and obvious evidence is a very curious phenomenon to me,” Stefanu said.

Stefanu said the Ahu was about 80 metres long with two huge layers of moai (statues) on top. He said it was built about 1300 AD.

Stefanu believed the way the Ahu was built showed Tongans “influenced” the Easter Island ancient civilisation.

Langi 5 a

Stefanu defended himself against critics who said it was impossible for the Tongans to travel to Easter Island or Wallis and Futuna.

Stafanu, who claimed to have visited a total of 38 islands in countries such as Vanuatu, Samoa (including Savaii), Fiji, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Niue, Tahiti and Tonga, said Tongans used double hull canoes that could carry more than 100 people to Easter Island in less than 15 days travelling at speeds up to 18 miles per hour.”

“I did a lot of research and spent a lot of time in Lapaha studying the amazing Langhi and I was amazed to find out that no one (or very few people) knew about them,” he said.

“I published the video about the Langi after leaving Tonga and when I was visiting Wallis, someone told me that there was a Tongan fort somewhere in a forest.

“This fort is visited by less than 20 people per year and no one knew anything about it.

“I did a lot of studying before getting there and I learned more about your proud history, which, by the way, the Tongans do such a poor job at telling the world about.”

Stefanu’s claims may support historians and archaeologists who say the huge stones used for the building of the Haʻamonga ʻa Maui Trilithon and the Langi ʻo Tuʻitonga in Lapaha in Tonga were brought from Wallis.

Scholars rejected claims the stones were brought to Tonga in kalia (double hulled canoes.) These scholars claimed the stones had been cut from the liku (beaches) in Tongatapu.

Haamonga
Haʻamonga ʻa Maui thrilithon in Niutōua

However, they could not provide evidence of a place in Tonga where the type of stones could be found.

According to many historians the Tongans ruled many of the South Pacific Islands including Tahiti, Samoa, Fiji and Wallis and Futuna up to 1450 AD.

Historians are divided about who settled Easter Island, which is now governed by Chile. Some claim it was Polynesians from the Marquesas, while others argue it was settled from South America.

Otu langi
ʻOtu Langi Royal Tomb in Lapaha. Photo/Wikipedia

The main points

  • A self-styled American traveller and explorer claims he has evidence that Tongans built a huge fort on the Wallis and Futuna islands and a royal tomb on Ester Island.
  • Vic Stefanu, who describes himself as an “environmentalist, historian, ethnologist and historian,” claims he spent 14 months touring the Pacific Ocean. He said he recorded video images of the fort and tomb and said he has “no doubt” Tongans built them.
  • After spending three weeks on Easter Island Stefanu said he found what locals call an Ahu. He said it was a “replica” of the Langi ʻo Tuʻitonga (Tongan Kings lines’ Royal Tomb) in Lapaha.
  • “I am an expert in these matters and there is no doubt in my mind,” Stefanu said.

First Tongan, Samoan in PGA Sony Open, Hawaiʻi

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Tony Fīnau who is of Samoan and Tongan decent was the first Tongan  to be invited to the Sony Open 2016 in Hawaiʻi on January 15.

This is Finau’s second tour with the official organizer, PGA Tour,  in its first full-field event for 2016.

When interviewed about the event Finau said: “It definitely feels like a new season because of the new year and having played a lot competitively for over a month, but I kind of like the way they have it set up with the wrap-around season because if you get deep into the playoffs, you’re still pretty fresh and you have a couple of weeks off and then you restart the season. So I do enjoy that, instead of having a couple of months off before we start a new season. That’s the way I look at it. And I hope they keep it that way”.

Being Polynesian,  Finau believed it was different coming to Hawaii to play there  as opposed to going to the John Deere Classic or elsewhere.

“Yeah, for sure. I feel like — I have a lot of roots here. My mom is from the North Shore and my wife is from the North Shore. So I definitely have roots planned here in Hawaii. It’s the feeling I get, being Polynesian, there’s a lot of Polynesian people here. And I have a lot of support. It’s one of the reasons why I do like coming back.

“Like you mentioned before, I haven’t had the success that I would have liked, but I do like to play in front of Polynesian people, and I have a great support system here with a lot of relatives and a lot of Polynesian people, so to be able to play in front of them at the Sony Open is really nice”.

Tributes flow for Fuʻamotu father killed by teen

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Tributes continued to build up and flow on social media for the father who was killed in a tragic incident in Fuʻamotu on Sunday.

The 36-year-old Lipine Fakatene was allegedly stabbed to death at the scene before he was taken to hospital.

A teen age boy, 19, has been charged with murder in connection to Fakatene’s death.

Police told Kaniva News the incident was linked to “youth fight” that has been in the village for some time.

A relative told us Fakatene was married and have two children.

The Fu’amotu community in Tonga and overseas were united by the incident and shared tributes for the victims on social media.

Some shared their concerns about the ongoing fights among the village youth.

A photo, purported to show Fakatene and his two children was posted to Facebook this morning by a friend, Visone Fehoko.

Fehoko made an emotional tribute in Tongan for Fakatene and shared how he remembered him in the past.

“R.I.P brother. Mingling with him is unforgettable and sad that he is parting with us. His loss devastated us”.

In response Seti Anne Niuafe wrote, “ Feel sorry for the kids…..with their innocent look without knowing they have lost their father,” referring to the photo of Fakatene with his kids.

 

R.I.P Toko fkgalogata’a koe feohi moe tokoua pea fkmamahi koe teu mavae mo koe, koe mole aee taha ku ogo ia kihe…

Posted by Visone Fehoko on Monday, January 18, 2016

Supreme Court rules Tapueluelu’s dismissal unlawful, orders compensation by government

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Tongan government has admitted that the dismissal of its former Prison Superintendent Semisi Palu ʻIfoni Tapueluelu 17 years ago was “wrong” and “unlawful.”

Lord Chief Justice Owen Paulsen ruled on November 24, 2015 that the government must compensate Mr Tapueluelu (who is referred to in the court documents as Palu) for damages caused by his wrongful dismissal and loss of salary from October 11, 2001 to December 8, 2002.

According to the ruling, the government accepts liability for both the wrongful suspension and wrongful dismissal. It also accepts that Tapueluelu is entitled to compensation, but disputes how much this should be.

Mr Paulsen held that damages for wrongful dismissal should be assessed on the basis that his employment could not have been terminated until December 18, 2002.

Mr Paulsen ruled that Tapueluelu’s leave benefits under the Retirement Fund Act and Retirement Fund (Administration) Regulations must be assessed on the same basis.

Mr Tapueluelu was deprived of his entitlements “for such an extremely long period of time” and the government had to pay him interest that “should accrue at the flat rate of 10 percent per annum,” the judgement said.

The ruling stemmed from conflict between Tapueluelu and former Prisons Minister, William Clive Edwards in September 1997.

According to the judgment “Mr Edwards made serious allegations against Mr Palu” and accused him of leaking information from the Prisons Department to the press.

He was also accused of disobeying the then minister’s instruction and having a “seditious intent.”

The strife escalated to a point when the Minister terminated Tapueluelu’s role as controller of the kingdom’s prisons on September 28, 1998 and gave the role to the Deputy Superintendent, Mr Sione Falemanu.

Mr Edwards also ordered that Tapueluelu and his family vacate their living quarters at Hu’atolitoli Prison.

On October 22, 1998, Mr Edwards suspended Tapueluelu from his duties without pay with immediate effect, based on 14 diverse allegations.

Mr Tapueluelu had been paid his salary up to October 15, 1998 before it was stopped.

An additional 11 charges were laid against Tapueluelu and a court of inquiry was set up to investigate the matter. However, before the inquiry delivered its findings Tapueluelu  received a letter from Edwards on January 17, 2000.

The minister told Tapueluelu he was still subject to his ruling until he was dismissed.

He told Tapueluelu he had to seek his approval if he intended to leave the country.

“You may choose to ignore that approval and leave as you wish which may have different consequences arising from it,” Edwards said in the letter.

The court of inquiry delivered its decision on May 13, 2000 and acquitted Tapueluelu on 10 of the 11 charges.

The inquiry did not recommend dismissing Tapueluelu, but ruled that he had to pay a fine of TP$25 for one charge.

Edwards applied to the Supreme Court to review the decision of the court of inquiry.

But before the Supreme Court reviewed the decision, Tapueluelu was dismissed by the cabinet on the recommendation of the Minister on October 11, 2001.

“The dismissal was backdated to be effective as from 11 November 1998. Mr Palu had spent almost three years (22 October 1998 to 11 October 2001) on suspension without pay,” the judgement said.

The Supreme Court delivered its decision on April 2, 2002.

According to Mr Justice Paulsen’s ruling: “Seven challenges to the findings of the court of inquiry were dismissed. Three challenges were upheld on the grounds of error of law. Rather than return those three questions to the court of inquiry for further consideration the Supreme Court simply declared that the acquittals relating to those questions were unlawful.”

The judgement said Mr Tapueluelu began taking action on his dismissal on December 7, 2004 after he submitted a petition to His Majesty and wrote a number of times to the Prime Minister seeking their intervention. He received no responses at all.

Mr Justice Paulsen said he believed Mr Tapueluelu should also be compensated for his legal costs and left it for the parties to discuss the matter. If the parties could not agree on the matter they could apply for a ruling within 21 days.

Tapueluelu was represented by Counsel Siosifa Tu’utafaiva while the government was represented by the Acting Attorney General ‘Aminiasi Kefu.

The main points

  • The Tongan government has admitted that the dismissal of its former Prison Superintend Semisi Palu ʻIfoni Tapueluelu 17 years ago was “wrong” and “unlawful.”
  • Lord Chief Justice Owen Paulsen ruled on November 24, 2015 that the government must compense Mr Tapueluelu (who is referred to in the court documents as Palu) for damages caused by his wrongful dismissal and loss of salary from October 11, 2001 to December 8, 2002.
  • According to the ruling, the government accepts liability for both the wrongful suspension and wrongful dismissal.
  • The ruling stems from a conflict between Tapueluelu and former Prisons Minister, William Clive Edwards that dates back to 1997.

Teen arrested after man stabbed to death in Fu’amotu

By
Kaniva Staff
-

A 36-year-old man was stabbed to death in Fu’amotua yesterday Sunday 17 and Police have arrested a 19-year-old teenage boy for the incident.

Police said the victim was Lipine Fakatene and he was attacked and stabbed in Fu’amotu in what was described as a result of “youth fights”.

“Yes that’s true a  36-year-old died last night and his body  is still in hospital,” Tupou ‘Otutaha, Mu’a Police Superindent told Kaniva News this morning when he was asked to confirm the incident.

Otutaha said he could not release any further details of the accused rather than his age as the case was before a judge  and it was expected the accused would appear in court this morning.

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