The members of the conference of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga have today decided to have its 91th conference in Vava’u next year.
The decision passed with 99 – 26 votes.
King Tupou VI officially opened the conference on June 27 at the Centennial Church.
The conference re-elected Rev. Dr 'Ahio as the President of the church with Rev. Dr Tevita Havea re-elected as General Secretary.
The annual conference will end on Tuesday July 2.
Jonah Lomu, the global superstar of rugby union will farewell his father, Semisi Lomu who has died Wednesday this week after years of battle with diabetes and kidney, liver and heart problems.
"To my dearest Father you will be missed. Words will never do. The family will miss your presence. God has you now. We love you," 38-year-old Lomu tweeted on Wednesday night.
Lomu thanked his fans online last Friday 21 for their “kind words of support” saying his dad was “comfortable as he can be and thats all we can for him".
In 2003 Lomu’s dad pleaded with the legendary All Blacks to consider joining the “World Cup fearing it could affect his recovery from a life-threatening kidney disorder”.
"The World Cup is not worth his life," Semisi Lomu told a New Zealand newspaper.
"He needs to turn his mind off rugby and the World Cup and focus solely on getting better. He's thinking too far ahead. He may getting pushed by people I don't know," he said.
Last year the former All Black Jonah Lomu told Woman’s Weekly his dad has diabetes, kidney, liver and heart problems and he "wasn't likely to see Christmas"
Police in Tonga said they are investigating the discovery of decomposed human remains near the sea cliff at the village of Veitongo.
A rope hanging from a nearby tree and a briefcase with Tongan passports and other documents were found at the scene.
An autopsy is being scheduled to determine the cause of death and possible identity.
Police believe an attempted suicide was a possibility.
The remains had been spotted by locals and reported to Police.
Tongan police officers did not illegally take $400 from a woman from Ha'ateiho village, the country's police commissioner said last night.
Tonga's top policeman, Grant O'Fee, told Kaniva News the money was collected on a court issued warrant.
"It was correctly receipted by the staff and banked appropriately," O'Fee said.
The Commissioner's comments come after Tongan newspaper Kele'a reported that Maiolo Vakalahi of Ha'ateiho village had paid two policemen $400 in traffic fines for offences dating back to 2011.
The story uncovered a dispute over whether Vakalahi had ever been to court and what appears to be confusion over who had the right to collect fines.
Vakalahi claimed she had never been issued with any traffic infringement notices and had never appeared in court on such charges.
However, Kele'a claimed court records in Nuku'alofa showed she had appeared in court in 2011 charged with traffic infringements.
Vakalahi told the paper the police officers had told her to pay the money or she would be arrested.
O'Fee initially told Kele'a that he was unaware of the incident and that court fines were normally collected by the bailiff.
Bailiffs had been under the control of the Ministry of Police, but the law had changed and they now operated from their own office in Fasi mo e Afi.
Tonga's Attorney General, 'Aminiasi Kefu told Kaniva News that payments fines for drunk driving or speeding were supposed to be made to the Magistrate's Court.
The police were not authorised to collect fines, Kefu said.
Tonga Rugby Union (TRU) reportedly decided on June 21 to terminate ‘Emeline Tuita's probation period with the union and to be effective immediately.
TRU in its resolution to cease Tuita's probationary term said her recruitment did not follow the proper procedure.
Fuka Kitekei’aho, one of the TRU members was appointed by the board as an interim CEO.
A source told Kaniva News ‘Epeli Taione warned the meeting of any legal action taken byTuita against the union due to her termination but members did not agree saying there was no employment contract signed between TRU and Tuita.
Ten board members attended the meeting last Friday were Soape Tu'iono, Uate Halatoafa (Tongatapu), Manu Vunipola (Kolomotu'a, Fuka Kitekei'aho (Vaheloto), Tevita Lavemai (Hahake), Filokalafi 'Akau'ola (for Kaitu'u Fotu -Kolofo'ou). Soakai Motu'apuaka, Latiume Kaufusi (Ha'apai), 'Isileli Fakatulolo (Vava'u), Viliami Lutua (Ex-Ikale Tahi) and chairperson, ‘Epeli Taione.
The resolution against Tuita was passed with 7 – 2 votes.
TRU selected Tuita as its Chief Executive Officer in January this year and it was said that she would be in the position on probationary period for 12 months.
Kaniva sent messages to both President Taione and CEO Tuita seeking comments but no responses received yet.
Sophia Loren Moala was graduated last week June 22 with an MBA degree from the University of Science and Technology of China.
It was a scholarship offered as part of the People’s Republic of China and the Kingdom of Tonga's Educational Exchange Program.
Moala said she was personally honoured and blessed with the opportunity to study at one of China’s leading universities.
In 2011 Moala completed her Bachelor in Management of Science degree in 3 years although it was a 4 year program. The university then offered her another opportunity to study for her Masters of Business and Administration.
His Excellency, the Ambassador of Tonga to China, Mr.Siamelie Latu, Madam Sesilia Latu and their daughter Miss Salote Latu were invited by the university and they attended the graduation ceremony.
Moala comes from Ha'afeva Ha'apai, Futu 'Eua and Tokomololo, Tongatapu, Tonga Islands.
The Free Weslyan Church, the largest Methodist denomination in Tonga today June 26 has in its 90th conference re-elected President Rev. Dr ‘Ahio as president for the years 2013 – 2014 with 326 votes.
Dr Tevita Koloa’ia Havea became second with 31 votes. The other candidates who ran for the presidency were Rev Dr Mohenoa Puloka and Rev Meleana Puloka who has 2 votes each.
Dr Tevita Kolo’ia Havea was re-elected as Secretary General with 328 votes while Rev Dr Jiotame Havea got 8 votes, Rev Mohenoa Puloka 8 votes and Rev ‘Alifeleti ‘Atiola has 4 votes. Other candidates that stood for secretary position were Rev`d Falematapule Lomu 4 votes, Rev`d Mele`ana Puloka 3 votes, Rev`d Heneli Taliai Niumeitolu 2 votes, Rev`d Tevita Haukinima ,Rev`d Sela T Manu , Rev`d T M `Ofahulu has 1 vote respectively.
According to the history of the church, the President is usually re-elected almost unanimously each year until the person dies or turns 70, which is the retirement age for church ministers. The General Secretary usually takes over as President when the President retires.
The two committees, each of which claims rights to ‘Ikale Tahi rugby team after a hijack of TRU office by some of the board members on April, had on last Friday 21 resolved to make compromises and work on demands from IRB regarding TRU consitution.
Tonga’s Solicitor General ‘Aminiasi Kefu confirmed to Kaniva News on Monday 24 that the two committees took positive steps to sort out their dispute and a meeting was successfully conducted last week.
“Things have moved on with TRU. The Board has now resolved their differences. They have amended the TRU Constitution to resolve their problems, and the IRB has supported those amendments,” Kefu said and confirmed that “There is no longer a dispute as far as I understand”.
Kaniva News was unable to get hold of President ‘Epeli Taione and CEO ‘Emeline Tuita.
But Taione posted on Facebook this evening June 25 saying, “The amendments to the constitution required by IRB have been all adopted last Friday. Board members have been reduced in numbers and these are the most important amendments ever as it would prevent TRU from future repeating of problems it encountered in the past,” as Kaniva translated his post in to English.
“Kuo lava e ngaue koia pea kuo tali kotoa e ngaahi fiema'u liliu ki he Konisitutone mei he IRB 'i he Falaite kuo'osi pea fakatokosi'i e Poate pea koe liliu mahu'inga mo lelei taha eni kuo hoko pea mo malu'i e TRU mei he ngaahi palopalema tatau moe kuohili,” Taione posted on Facebook.
We could not confirm at this stage what amendments that were made to the constitution and what compromises the two committees agreed to. Kaniva will follow up the story.
Surgeons in one of the hospital in China are reluctant to remove a nearly 10 inch tail that was born with a seven-month-old boy at the city of Guangdong in Southern China.
The baby boy is Xiao Wei and his mother asked the surgeons to remove the tail but she was advised it is not possible at this point in time.
Dr. Huang Chuanping says: “if you cut it, it would grow: We have to repair the spinal canal to stop its rise first.”
The baby is reportedly suffered from Myelomeningocele, a common type of spina bifida, “a developmental congenital disorder caused by the incomplete closing of the embryonic neural tube.
Royal New Zealand Air Force Group Capt. Darryn Webb, Pacific Partnership 2013 deputy mission commander, announced that the missions for Tonga were exceptionally successful.
"It went tremendously well. I think there was an enormous level of enthusiasm and desire from everybody involved to make sure we got the job done," said Webb. "I've visited many primary schools and the children don't have much," said Webb. "But that shows you that you don't need much in life and they have a strong sense of community, spirit and family."
While there, the mission treated 5,455 patients, evaluated 3,000 animals, conducted 25 donation events and completed eight engineering construction projects, including renovating schools, restrooms and water catchment systems all in the name of improving the collective ability to provide disaster relief assistance.
Additionally, medical, nursing and dental subject matter experts held conferences to exchange information with Tongan healthcare providers about various aspects of patient care.
"We reached out to a variety of Tongan organizations to share our expertise." Jennifer Villalta, team leader for the University of California, San Diego Pre-Dentistry Society. "We had almost 20 dentists, dental therapists and technicians lecturing about things from basic extractions to forensic dentistry."
One of unique aspects of the Tongan mission was the installation of two water catchment systems designed to mitigate any interruptions in the country's supply of fresh water.
"Purpose of the water systems is to ensure the ability of Tongans to retain water in case the city water goes out, gets interrupted by a natural disaster or is contaminated," said Kaela Mattson, an engineer with the University of California, San Diego. "If you have separate catchment systems that are able to contain a certain amount of water, it increases the likelihood that the community will be able to recover after a natural disaster."
Now in its eighth year, Pacific Partnership originated from the international response to the 2004 tsunami that swept through parts of Southeast Asia.
Working at the invitation of each host nation, Pacific Partnership is joined by partner nations that include Australia, Canada, Colombia, France, Japan, Malaysia Singapore, South Korea and New Zealand to strengthen disaster response preparedness around the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.
