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Democratic Party promises shake-up of Ministries to promote growth and development in kingdom

By
Kalino Latu
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Tonga’s Democratic Party has revealed plans for a dramatic restructuring of government ministries if it is elected on Thursday.

The party is also considering establishing a Tongan Marketing Authority post in Fiji and cutting the kingdom’s diplomatic posts in either Europe or the United States.

The plans are part of the party’s scheme to revitalise the economy, make Tonga less dependent on imports, establish overseas markets and develop the kingdom.

Kulufeinga ‘Anisi Bloomfield, the Party’s Deputy Leader for the Tautahi (outer islands) said the noble-led government’s 2011 Strategic Development Framework had failed.

He said the government’s policies existed on paper, but no action had been taken on them.

If the Democratic Party was elected it would:

  • Restructure ministerial portfolios
  • Promote the use of local resources
  • Promote overseas markets

Bloomfield,  formerly Head of the South Pacific Secretariat in Noumea, said reorganising ministries would provide a strong platform to push its policies.

There would be one ministry to keep an eye on the significant requirements for the people within the next four years.

The party would push strongly for people to use sea food, animals and produce to cut the costs of continually importing products from overseas.

This would help boost the local economy and make life easier for local fishermen and farmers who relied on the local market to make enough money to cover all their kavenga (duties for the church, family and villages).

Bloomfield said local producers suffered because they did not have access to overseas markets.

Ministries

Bloomfield said a Democratic government they would split the Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and Food into three different ministries and separate the Ministry of Tourism from Ministry of Commerce, Tourism and Labour.

If the party gained power it would bring responsibility for unemployment under Infrastructure and united the Labour and Commerce portfolios with Immigration under the umbrella of Ministry of National Planning.

Business Enterprises would come under Finance and Internal Affairs unites with Prison Departments. Law and the Port Authority would be added to the Marine Department and the Tonga Power Board and Water Power would report directly to Cabinet.

The Environment Department would come under Land, Survey and Natural Resources and Sport and Youth would be returned to the Ministry of Education The Ombudsman would stay under the Ministry of Law or be an independent body, but would not be subject to Cabinet.

A Democratic government would establish a Tongan Marketing authority office on Fiji and close down Tonga’s diplomatic posts in either the United States or the EU.

Bloomfield who is running as the Party’s candidate for Vava’u 15, said the Democratic party’s planned restructuring would help ensure the government could keep an eye on what was most needed for the people.

Imports

One of the party’s chief concerns was Tonga’s heavy reliance on meat imported from New Zealand and Australia.

This raised serious economic and health issues, especially the huge amount of imported mutton flaps and fatty meats. These contributed to the high risk of Tongans becoming obese and suffered other non-communicable related diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, strokes and heart attacks.

The Ministry of Agriculture would be responsible for the local animal farming and make sure it can supply the locals’ needs with good fresh meat on sustainable terms and to reduce spending on importing of unhealthy meats.

Local handicraft markets had received a boost from a New Zealand-funded training and marketing programme.

Bloomfield said making the Ministry of Tourism a single body would allow it to concentrate on upgrading the tourism industry, which was one of the main markets for Tongan handicrafts.

He said tourists, particularly those on cruise liners, were vital to Pacific island economies.

According to National Tourism Organisations, National Statistics Offices, Fiji received 77 visits by cruise liners in 2013, Vanuatu received 252 visits, New Caledonia 159 and Tonga 17.

Bloomfield said pulling the different functions of the Ministry of Tourism together would help concentrate on upgrading the tourism industry and making sure overseas tourists visited Tonga.

He said It was claimed that TP$70 million (NZ$44.5 million) was left in Tonga by overseas tourist in the year 2013.

According to international statistic,13 to 18 cents of every tourist dollar stays in the kingdom.

The Democratic party said it would propose a bill to Parliament to ensure the 87 or 82 cents stay in Tonga.

Failure

Bloomfield said the government had not kept its promises and its policies had failed to help the Tongan people.

He said the government had not fulfilled its promise to establish an international shipping network to help export seafood.

It had also turned down requests to subsidise freight charges on imported fishing tools.

He said the kingdom needed to develop its workforce, but it also needed to meet the special needs of local people.

The government’s Strategic Development Framework had promised to invest in what it called a “healthy, well-educated, and skilled workforce.”

The Framework said the private sector could not function without skilled, healthy and committed workers and promised to primary education and vocational training.

But Bloomfield said local producers had specific needs that were not being met.

As an example, he said there was a persistent need to boost pearl farming in Vava’u, one of the best sources of income for the locals and Tonga’s economy.

However, he claimed that until now the pearl industry in Vava’u had been ignored and there was nobody to train local pearl farmers on how to farm and grow the pearls.

The main points

  • Tonga’s Democratic Party has revealed plans for a dramatic restructuring of government ministries if it is elected on Thursday.
  • The plans are part of the party’s scheme to revitalise the economy, make Tonga less dependent on imports, establish overseas markets and develop the kingdom.
  • Kulufeinga ‘Anisi Bloomfield, the Party’s Deputy Leader for the Tautahi (outer islands) said the noble-led government’s 2011 Strategic Development Framework had failed.
  • Bloomfieldm said said the government had not kept its promises and its policies had failed to help the Tongan people.

Five-try Scotland beat Tonga

By
Kaniva Pacific
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(Source: Sport24) Tries from Blair Cowan, Stuart Hogg, Alex Dunbar, Geoff Cross and Tommy Seymour helped Scotland settle a two-year-old score with an ultimately convincing 37-12 victory against Tonga on the plastic pitch at Kilmarnock Rugby Park.

In the first international match involving a Tier One nation played on an artificial surface, Scotland overcame a poor first-half performance to avenge the 21-15 defeat they suffered against the Tongans at Pittodrie Stadium in Aderdeen in November 2012, an occasion on which they conspicuously failed to cross the opposition try line.

In doing so, the Scots completed a satisfactory first home series under Kiwi Coach Vern Cotter, having beaten Argentina 41-31 and pushed New Zealand hard before losing 24-16.

Scotland were on the front foot from the off. Flyhalf Finn Russell spurned a kickable penalty in favour of an attacking line-out in the left corner but Scotland made a mess of the set-piece opportunity.

No 8 Johnnie Beattie also suffered a turnover when attempting to barge through the Tonga defence and it was the Pacific Islanders who were first to get points on the board.

In the tenth minute flyhalf Latiume Fosita bisected the posts with a penalty from tight to the left touchline after Hogg failed to roll away from a tackle.

That gave Tonga a 3-0 lead but they were a man down in the 14th minute when their captain and openside flanker Nili Latu was yellow carded by referee JP Doyle for obstructing Richie Gray at a ruck close to the Tongan try line.

Scotland took advantage a minute later, New Zealand born flanker Cowan scoring from the back of a driving maul to claim his first try for his adopted country.

Scotland captain and scrumhalf Greig Laidlaw landed the conversion to give Scotland a 7-3 lead but two penalties in as many minutes by Fosita put Tonga back in front, 9-7, with 23 minutes on the clock

The tourists were back to their full complement of 15 players, Latu returning from the sin bin, when Scotland were reduced to 14.

Dunbar was yellow carded for a tip tackle on full back Vungakoto Lilo and, while the inside centre was in the pitch-side cooler, Fosita stepped up to nail his fourth penalty, extending Tonga’s lead to 12-7.

Scotland almost hit back in the 31st minute but they were penalised for offside when Fosita had a kick charged down by Laidlaw in Tonga’s in-goal area and Russel raced to touch down the loose ball.

Two minutes later the hosts had their second try, though. A tackle from Russell forced Tonga spill the ball while attacking in the Scotland 22 and Hogg picked it up and raced 80 metres to score. Laidlaw converted, furnishing Scotland with a 14-12 advantage at the interval.

The Scots conceded nine penalties in an error-strewn first half and were fortunate when Fosita registered his first place kicking miss, pushing an attempt wide from 40m, five minutes into the second-half.

Three minutes later, however, Scotland had a third try on the board, courtesy of some fine footwork by Dunbar. The Glasgow centre collected a zipped pass from Russell and deftly nipped past two defenders before scoring in the right corner.

Laidlaw missed the touchline conversion but then converted two penalties, pushing Scotland’s lead to 25-12.

In the defeat against Tonga in Aberdeen two years ago Scotland failed to cross the opposite whitewash but they did so for a fourth time in Kilmarnock, their prodigiously bearded tighthead prop Cross burrowing over from a close-range ruck.

Laidlaw’s conversion made it 32-12 but Scotland were still not finished. With three minutes to go Russell hoisted a Garryowen into the right corner and Seymour POUNCED for his third try in as many matches.

Government launches online registration of companies

By
Kaniva Pacific
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The Tongan government has announced it would launch its new online registry system for the registration of companies, application for business licenses and registration of business names on December 2.

Using this new system customers will file their application online and can freely carry out searches of the online registry in anytime they want.

The ministry will not accept any application or request to amend any registration of companies, application for business licenses and registration of business names on Friday 21 November until December 1, 2014 . This is to ensure smooth transition from the current system into the online service.

The guideline for the online system will be available on November 24, 2014  at www.businessregistries.gov.to. It would outline reduced fees for certain online transactions.

While the re-registration of business names using the online system is free, the current system of lodging application through paper works will still be available.

Tonga Police open new garage and workshop

By
Kaniva Pacific
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The Tongan Police have opened a new garage and workshop on Wednesday at Longlongo Police Academy and Headquaters, a project funded by the Japanese government.

 

It says the project aimed at making sure Police vehicles are serviced and upgraded at all times because of the importance for them to reach out to the Tongan community whenever it’s needed.

 

The Hon. Police Minister Siosifa Tūʻutafaiva officially opened the new garage and the workshop and thanked the government of Japan for the project.

 

Hon Tūʻutafaiva said it is important for the Police to make use and take care of the new garage and workshop.

 

Representing the Japanese Government, Ambassador Dr Kazuchika Hamuro said his government was happy to fund the project as part of the Japan Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects commonly known as GGP.

Appeal court upholds disqualification of Sione Tupouniua

By
Kaniva Pacific
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The appellate judges yesterday dismissed an appeal from Sione Kauate Tupouniua at the Nukuʻalofa Court of Appeal, making a disqualification order from the Election Office final and enforceable.

The Election Office had disqualified Tupouniua from seeking the nomination to candidacy because he failed to fulfil legal requirement stipulated by Tonga’s Electoral Act Section 9(4).

Mr Justice Hansen, Mr Justice Hon Salmon and Chief Justice Hon Scott were not convinced by the judgement made by Judge Charles Cato at the Supreme Court on November 10 upholding an appeal by Tupouniua to order the Election Office to process his nomination because he settled his debt prior to the nomination date.

Tupouniua was able to convince Mr. Cato that he informed the Election Office about his intention to nominate while he was awaiting a judge at the Supreme Court to sign his clearance statement.

His clearance statement was signed on October 24 but when Tupouniua arrived at the Election Office he was told the nomination had been closed.

His counsel, Kahungungu Afeaki argued that Tupouniua has cleared his debts before the nomination closed although he was late when he arrived at the Election Office, an action he said falls within what  clause 65 of the constitution was meant to be.

The appellate judges did not agree and clarified that section 9(4) was meant to protect candidates from falsifying or misleading the Election Office and that the Election Supervisor was right when he rejected Tupouniua’s nomination.

The Electoral Act section 9(4) requires potential candidates to submit their nomination forms together with written clearance from the Supreme Court that they have no record of an outstanding order under clause 65 of the Constitution.

The Election Office announced that all candidates who wanted to be nominated this year must register at its offices between the hours of 10am and 3pm on October 24.

Tonga will not renew Police commissioner O’Fee’s contract

By
Kaniva Pacific
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Eight more months before Tonga’s Police Commissioner’s  contract finishes in 2015 an interview has been conducted in Nuku’alofa last week to choose a new police commissioner for Tonga.

Grant Charles O’Fee from Wellington New Zealand was appointed as Tonga’s current police commissioner on a three year contract in July 2012.

It was not clear when he would finish from his job but O’Fee has confirmed that Tonga has been looking for someone to replace him.

He said he met a lot of challenges while leading Tonga’s Police Force  at the same time he was happy that the future of the Tongan Police is promising.

In 2011 O’Fee’s predecessor, Chris Kelly from New Zealand took a leave options one month before his three year contract finished on September after the then Minister of Police advised him four months beforehand that he would not be seeking a renewal of his contract.

The planned early departure of Mr Kelly from his job came after a top-level row that led to the Late King George Tupou V announcement through his Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal, that the minister’s announcement that Kelly’s contract would not be extended was illegal.

It says the king was not consulted in Privy Council about the decision to end Kelly’s contract.

In an interview today with Radio New Zealand, however,  O’Fee said he was quite happy with what he has achieved during his time with the Tongan Police.

“ I am really glad I have done it. I mean it has taught me things about – I mean I had never visited a Pacific island before I came here – other New Zealand”, he told the Radio.

“I have learnt a hell of a lot about Pacific people and learnt a lot about myself. It is a challenge. You’d be silly thinking coming up here that everything is going to be running like a sewing machine in a bath of oil.

It certainly has its challenges with resourcing, with corruption, brutality, a level of dishonesty that I was not used to in the [New Zealand] police, so it certainly has its challenges but there are some first class officers up here, some very very good young people and it is just a long term – if I am honest I am a little disappointed in some of the things that we haven’t achieved, but it is a long term and I think probably in a decade or 15 years we will start to see some real improvements but we just have to keep taking the little ones we have and accept that things aren’t going to go exactly as we would like and dealing with the people who are indulging in corrupt or brutal behaviour and getting rid of them”.

The interviewees for the top job included senior Police officers from Tongan Police and some from overseas apparently New Zealand and Australia.

India sends more assistance to Tonga and the Pacific

By
Kaniva Pacific
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India will continue to share expertise and experience in areas of IT, healthcare and agriculture, by sending depute India experts to Tonga and the rest of the region.

The announcement came after Lord Tuʻivakano met Indian Prime Minister, HE Narendra Modi, in Fiji during the Pacific Leaders Meeting at Suva’s Grand Pacific Hotel on November 19.

Climate Change remains a growing threat to the Pacific, and India has agreed to provide a $1 million Special Adaptation Fund through technical assistance and capacity building training. An increase in grant aid to USD 200,000 annually to each Pacific nation including Tonga was also announced.

India is also happy to expand its efforts to train diplomats from the Pacific, and setup Trade offices for friendly exchanges at Indian missions overseas.

India will facilitate travel arrangements for Tonga and 14 Pacific Islands nationals visiting India, through the ‘Indian Visa on Arrival’ and Distinguished Visitors Programme’ facility, promoting better understanding between our two people.

Development assistance in the sectors of agriculture, education, health and energy are priority areas of economic cooperation that Tonga seeks to pursue with India, stated the Lord Prime Minister.

His Lordship said that, the visit of India’s PM to Fiji is a timely opportunity for Tonga to renew its partnerships with India.

In response, Prime Minister Modi announced various measures to strengthen this partnership with Tonga and other Pacific nations, during the Pacific Leaders Meeting at Suva’s Grand Pacific Hotel on November 19.

“India has always been keen to work closely with Tonga to advance in its development priorities, and wishes to be a close partner of the Pacific Islands,” remarked Prime Minister Modi.

To continue this friendship, India invites Tonga and other Pacific nations, to the first Forum of India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) meeting in India, in April-May 2015, which will be held on a regular basis, every two years.

Tonga’s Prime Minister thanked the Indian Prime Minister and acknowledges that the new measures to deepen India-Pacific relations especially in ‘visa on arrival’ and more technical assistance programmes will continue to be a crucial factor in promoting good relations and socio-economic development between our two countries.

Napoleone Falakiko Afu obituary

By
Kaniva Pacific
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Napoleone Falakiko Afu of Maʻufanga, who has died aged 81, was a man of music, teaching, culture and church.

He began teaching at Apifoʻou College in 1955. In 1962 he became the college’s head tutor and discipline master.

In 1981 he retired from his job as a teacher at Apifoou College for 25 years.

He was then worked at the Catholic church’s music department at the church’s headquarter in Toutaimana at the request of Late Bishop Patelesio Fīnau.  He helped Late Sir Sofele Kakala, the then Church’s Director of Music, with church’s Mass and religious songs.

The Catholic Church reprinted its Taumuʻa Lelei newspaper in 1982 and Afu was recruited as a language consultant.

He was a church choir conductor for many years.

In 2001 he was appointed by Late Noble Fakafanua, the Ma’ufanga estate holder, as one of his heralds and gave him the name Fale Fakauō-ʻO-Haʻa Takalaua.

Education and Employment

Afu studied at Apifoʻou primary school in 1939 before he became  a student at ʻApifoʻou College in 1945. He passed his Lower Leaving School Certificate in 1950, the highest a student can obtain at high school at the time.

He was a member of the school brass band and the 12 member choir known as the Choir of the Gregorian Chant.

He completed level 11 and 12  in 1952 and while he was at school he was also the driver of the school’s new truck known as Seva.

In 1953 Afu was also a driver at the British Embassy after he had an advice from the Late Bishop John Hubert Macey Rodgers known as ʻEpikopō Soane Hupeto regarding the job.

He later told Bishop Rogers he wanted to study at the Tonga Teachers’ College. He resigned his job as a driver and entered Tonga Teachers’ Training College in June 1954 on a six months courses and Afu completed it in December 1954.

The parish

Afu was the choir conductor for the Ma’ufanga parish for six years. He also became choir conductor for Folaha and Fatai church choirs.

From 1962 – 63 he was the Maʻufanga parish’s catechist.

Afu was instrumental in developing the Ma’ufanga church’s choir especially when the church members were grouped into misitelio – the grouping of church members according to the areas where they live within the parish.

Afu was the head of his misitelio in 1980 and he assisted the church’s head pulengaue (foreman) in leading the construction of the new chapel for the Maʻufanga parish known as the Immaculate Conception of Mary Cathedral which was officially opened in 1982.

He became deputy chairperson of the parish’s council and was chair of the church’s Liturgy Committee.

Family

Afu’s father was Falakiko Veʻehala Afu of Maʻufanga and Folaha and his mother was Lesieli ʻUlumuʻa of Angaha, Niuafoʻou.

His siblings were Falelala Taumoe’anga(deceased), Tauhola Loto’aniu(deceased), ‘Epifania Kaihau and Pelenato Afu(deceased).

On October 10, 1962  Afu married Siosi’ana Hu’avi of Pangai Ha’apai. They have nine children, seven boys and two girls.

They were Mateni, Ma’ake, Fr Falakiko, Talanoa, Peni (deceased), Pita, Meliano and Tauhola Lolesio.

Napoleone Falakiko Afu, born August 29, 1933, died November 12, 2014. 

‘Īkale-Tahi line up for Scotland.

By
Kaniva Pacific
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Tonga head coach Mana ʼOtai has named his  team to play against Scotland at Rugby Park in Kilmarnock at 2:30pm on the November 22, 2014.

The team is as follows:

1 TevitaMailau Felemea (Hp) and ‘Otea (Vv) Mont De Marsan

2 AlekiLutui Tofoa Gloucester

3 PaeaFa’anunu Leimatu’a (Vv) Castre

4 TukuluaLokotui Ha’ateiho&Mo’unga’one (Hp) Beziers

5 JoeTu’ineau Fasi-moe-afi Lyon

6 SioneKalamafoni Matahau Gloucester

7 NiliLatu Afa NEC Rockets

8 ViliamiMa’afu Kolovai Oyonnax

9 SonataneTakulua Lapaha Northland

10 LatiumeFosita Haveluloto and Felemea (Hp) Northland

11 Fetu’uVainikolo Ha’alalo Exeter

12 HemaniPaea Neiafu (Vv) Oyonnax

13 SialePiutau Kolofo’ou and Folaha Yamaha

14 David Halaifonua Houma (Vv) Bergerac

15 VungakotoLilo Koulo (Hp) and Foa (Hp) Tarbes Pyrenees

Reserves

16 Elvis Taione Kolomotu’a and Ha’akio (Vv) Exeter

17 Sione Lea Vaimalo (Vv) Taranaki

18 SilaPuafisi Ha’ateiho and Longomapu (Vv) Gloucester

19 LisiateFa’aoso Kolonga Bayonne

20 Hale T Pole Muitoa and Fu’amotu Otago

21 TomasiPalu Utui (Vv) and Tungua (Hp) Doncaster

22 Kurt Morath Leimatu’a (Vv) Biaritz

23 SionePiukala Futu (Eua) and Houma Perpignan

A case of typhoid confirmed in Tongatapu

By
Kaniva Pacific
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Tonga’s Ministry of Health has yesterday announced  a number of restrictions after a case of typhoid fever had been identified in the village of Vaini on Wednesday 12.

The case was announced with a warning regarding others’ risk.

Activities such as social gathering, feasting and drinking kava at Kava clubs are some of the events health officials say were included in the restrictions they enforced in the village.

Officials advised that people should make sure the food they eat are well cooked and make sure the water they drink are safe such as boiled water.

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