A lawyer who failed to act on legal matters he was paid to do by two former clients has been suspended for 12 months for professional misconduct.
Chief Justice Hon. Michael Dishington Scott found Lawyer Siosifa Tu’utafaiva on July 10 to have failed in his duty to represent Mr ‘Aisea Vaitaki and Sione Vao in court after the duo paid him legal fees.
In October 2012 , Tu’utafaiva was ordered by Judge Scott to pay $11,500 to a client Hamani Guttenbeil. Guttenbeil paid Tu’utafaiva fees to file a legal claim he made but the lawyer failed to do it.
The suspension order came just after Tu’utafaiva formally tendered his resignation to the Democratic Party last week since he switched his allegiance early this year and joint the noble’s party. He was immediately appointed by the Prime Minister as Tonga’s Minister of Police, Prisons and Fire Services in February.
Tu’utafaiva has been voted to Parliament after he became one of the Democratic Party’s candidates in the last parliamentary election 2010.
By Basildon Peta, January 17, 2007 Source: iol.co.za
“Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe flew off to the East for his annual holiday, but declined to use Air Zimbabwe because its new Chinese jetliner was "not safe".
“Sources at Air Zimbabwe said they had received correspondence from the president's office saying this was for "safety reasons".
Air Zimbabwe bought two MA60 planes from China last year and got an extra one free. The planes have frequently hit the headlines over their numerous technical problems leading to groundings or emergency landings.
Mugabe has refused to fly in them since their arrival but expects his countrymen to do so.
Headline: China’s MA60 planes in spotlight after safety scares
“China’s high-flying aviation ambitions suffered a setback on Tuesday as Myanmar grounded several planes made by the Asian powerhouse and Indonesia ordered special checks on its fleet following a series of safety scares.
“An MA60 turboprop airliner with 52 people on board crash-landed at an airport in eastern Indonesia on Monday, leaving two passengers with minor injuries and forcing state-owned carrier Merpati to write off the plane.
“On the same day an MA60 operated by Myanma Airways and carrying about 60 people skidded off a runway at a domestic airport in southern Myanmar, although nobody was hurt.
“It was the second such incident in less than a month involving one of three MA60s owned by Myanma Airways.
“Other operators of the plane include Lao Airlines, Philippines’ Zest Airways and several Chinese carriers.
“I think the accidents happened because of system failure. We will check all the systems. That’s why we stopped the operation of the planes,” Tin Naing Tun, director general of Myanmar’s Civil Aviation Department, told AFP.
“The systems also showed warnings before,” he added.
Headline: Indonesian Plane Crash Could Hurt China’s Aircraft Sales
May. 10 – An Indonesian MA60 turbo-prop plane carrying 27 people crashed into the ocean off the country’s easternmost Papua Province on May 7, leaving no survivors according to a navy officer’s confirmation. As the first fatal accident reported for this model, which was developed and made in China, the crash may temporarily set back the plane’s improving sales records worldwide.
An unnamed navy officer, who joined the survivor search and rescue, confirmed to ElShinta radio that all the passengers were killed, as the plane exploded and crashed into the sea.
Headline: PICTURE: Zest MA60 crashes on landing in Philippines
A busy airport in the Philippines was closed for around 5hr on 11 January after a passenger aircraft landed too short on the runway, skidded out of control and crashed into a concrete barrier, resulting in 22 of the 27 people on board being sent to hospital.
It then skidded out of control and crashed nose first into a concrete barrier next to parking bay one, says the spokeswoman, adding that the aircraft is still there.
She says of the 27 people on board, 22 were taken to hospital for treatment and at least 17 were found to be injured.
The two pilots were among the injured but all those taken to hospital have since been discharged except for one woman who was airlifted to another hospital, says the spokeswoman.
Headline: Crash: Merpati MA60 at Kaimana on May 7th 2011, impacted waters before runway
by Simon Hradecky, May 7th 2011 Source: avherald.com
A Merpati Nusantara Xian MA-60, registration PK-MZK performing flight MZ-8968 from Sorong to Kaimana (Indonesia) with 21 passengers and 4 crew (25 occupants), last reported its position at 13:45L (04:45Z) about 15nm before touchdown and was on approach to Kaimana's runway 19 when the aircraft impacted waters about 800 meters/2620 feet off the runway at about 14:00L (05:00Z). All occupants perished in the crash.
All 25 bodies have been recovered by May 11th 2011, Indonesia's NTSC confirmed.
Headline: Accident: TAM Bolivia MA60 at Guayaramerin on Jan 9th 2012, gear up landing
A TAM Bolivia Xian MA-60, registration FAB-96 performing a flight from Riberalta to Guayaramerin (Bolivia) with 16 passengers and 5 crew, landed on Guayaramerin's runway 34 without the landing gear lowered and came to a stop about 1300 meters past the runway threshold at about 07:20L (11:20Z). No injuries occurred, the aircraft received substantial damage.
The airline reported the gear could not be lowered resulting in a belly landing, no injuries occurred, the aircraft however received substantial damage. The cause of why the gear was not lowered is being investigated.
Headline: Two injured as plane overshoots runway in Shan State
A passenger plane carrying 55 people overran the end of the runway at an airport in eastern Myanmar due to suspected break failure, injuring two people, state media reported on Friday.
The propeller, landing gear and engine of the Chinese-made Xian MA60 turboprop were damaged in the incident, which happened at Monghsat in Shan State on Thursday morning, according to the New Light of Myanmar newspaper.
The flight was operated by state-owned Myanma Airways, according to the report, which said the two injured were sent to hospital, without giving details about their condition.
Headline: Merpati Nusantara Flight MZ-6517 , hard landing airplane broke up
Merpati Nusantara Airlines Flight MZ-6517 Xian MA-60 , registration PK-MZO from Bajawa to Kupang(Indonesia) with 46 passengers and 4 crew landed short and hard on runway 07 at Kupang airport causing the airplane to broke up in two pieces the wing to separate from fuselage and to damage the two propeller motors.All gears from airplane also collapsed with ground.One passenger received also injures and he taken to hospital
At the time of accident it was good weather with winds around 12 knts and visibility more than 10 km
Headline: Merpati Airplane Hardlands in East Indonesia, All Survived
A passenger plane operated by Indonesia state owned Merpati Nusantara Airlines hardlanded in East Indoensa's Kupang city Monday morning, everybody on board survived, local media reported.
The MA60 aircraft carrying 45 passengers and 5 crew hardlanded in Eltari Airport of Kupang, the capital city of East Nusatenggara at 9:40 a.m. local time, local media reported that the airplane suffered a large crack in the fuselage and the wings of the plane touched the land.
The Tonga National Reserve Bank has this week given the green light for the Pacific International Commercial Bank to operate in Tonga.
A Chinese businessman who lives in China was said to be the main shareholder. There are other 5 Chinese investors involved.
Saia Moehau, one of the business partners reportedly said in the month of March that other Tongan business partners include Lady Robin Tu’ivakano Kaho, Mishka Tu’ifua, Mele Fonua and Mahe’uli’uli Tupouniua.
The Tonga China Friendship Association (TCFA) applied for a licence in March to allow the new bank to be registered and that it be established at the hub of the capital city Nuku’alofa along Taufa’ahau Road.
The new bank is expected to be opened to the public in about 6 months from now.
Vaiola Hospital in Nuku’alofa, Tonga is the first hospital in the Pacific region to offer kidney stone keyhole surgery, courtesy of a visiting urology team funded by AusAID.
The seven-person team who made Vaiola Hospital their home in June comprised of three surgeons, two anaesthetists and two nurses. They were brought together through the AusAID-funded Pacific Island Program (PIP) managed by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS).
Two surgical theatres—set aside by the superintendent and his staff—were put to good use. By running surgeries simultaneously, the team were able to give life changing surgical treatment for almost 30 Tongan patients.
Five of these patients—suffering from kidney stones—were especially fortunate. They became the first patients in the Pacific to receive kidney stone treatment using keyhole surgery, a treatment that has been unavailable in the Pacific due to a lack of equipment and capable surgeons.
The procedure involves making an incision the size of a keyhole, and into the kidney. The surgeon can then grasp and remove small stones, or larger stones that need to be broken up before removal. This is an advanced treatment compared to the ‘open’ kidney removal surgery employed regularly throughout the Pacific, which has not been used in Australia for more than 20 years.
Dr Alex Cato, one of the team surgeons told Nuku’alofa Post he was 'elated' at the success of the surgeries in Tonga, and is looking forward to taking the procedure to other Pacific island countries.
The urology team also ran clinics with up to 60 patients, and worked with local surgeons and health professionals to build capacity.
'I have been part of the visiting urology team for the past three years, and with each visit I continue to see remarkable improvement by the local health professionals', said Dr Cato, Coordinator for Urology for PIP.
'Staff at Vaiola Hospital are well on their way to being able to handle modern urological techniques'.
The overwhelming support from the Tongan community, especially from family of patients receiving treatment, was more than evident through the gifts and food provided for the team during their stay in Tonga.
PIP will send other urology teams to Tonga in November and next year, as well as other surgical and medical specialties. This demonstrates the instrumental role that PIP plays in improving the health of the Pacific.
AusAID has funded PIP since its inception in 1995. Under the current contract, an amount of AUD 5.58 million has been budgeted to support PIP activities until December 2014.
PIP works collaboratively with Ministries of Health and hospitals from 11 Pacific island countries to support specialist clinical services, education, training and capacity development and promote international cooperation and exchange.
The Reverend Liufau Vailea Saulala of the Tokaikolo Church offered a special prayer at the Free Wesleyan Chuch of Tuingapapai in Mangere on Sunday evening to mark the opening of the Tonga Research Association (TRA) conference 2013.
Hundreds of church members from various denominations attended the service including Free Weslyan Church of Tuingapapai, Seventh Days Adventists of Misipa and United Church of Lototonga.
A celebration of songs of praise was performed by various choirs and key note speakers from the communities and academia including Dr Melenaite Taumoefolau from University of Auckland, Reverend Paula Onoafe Latu, Reverend ‘Ilomaisini Lea, Reverend Lopini Filise and Professor Sitaleki Finau ‘Ata’ata the president of the TRA.
Reverend Saulala formally declared that he has opened the TRA's 15th conference which received an applaud from the congregation followed by a speech of thank from Professor Finau.
The low lying island of Lifuka in Ha’apai, Tonga is threatened by the increasing rising sea levels caused by climate change.
Lifuka is the mainland of the Ha’apai Groups with a population of about 700 people.
The island is popular with tourists and has 11 hotels.
According to a report on New Zealand’s One News last week, the foundations of some of the houses built on the beach have been eroded by the water and owners have moved inland for their safety.
Lifuka inhabitants spoke to One News about how they reacted to the erosion of the coastline by the sea.
Mele Hola Vi said people used to walk for about 10 to 20 metres before getting into the water but now their homes were only three to four metres from the sea.
Governor of Ha’apai, Lord Havea Tu’iha’anga, told One News that many houses built by the beach in the past few years were now surrounded by seawater.
Climate change was one of the major topics at a meeting of 15 Pacific Islands’ Economic Ministers in the Tongan capital of Nuku’alofa last week.
Lifuka is part of a project investigating how Pacific Islands communities cope with rises in sea levels caused by climate change.
Lifuka is part of the Pacific Adaptation Strategy Assistance Program (PASAP) being run by the Government of Tonga with the assistance of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and the Tonga Community Development Trust (TCDT).
PASAP national co-ordinator Fuka Kitekei’aho said Lifuka had been chosen because it had already experienced sea level rise as a result of an earthquake in May 2006.
The Tongan government published a Joint National Action Plan on Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management in 2010.
Two proposed new Tongan laws allowing voters to elect the Prime Minister and the Nobles have been submitted to Parliament by the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands (DPFI)
The bill for the Prime Minister to be elected by the people was signed by MP ‘Aisake Eke and the bill for the voters to elect the nobles' represetatives was signed by MP Mo’ale Finau.
It also proposed to remove clauses in the constitution that allow the Prime Minister to appoint a minister from outside representatives that elected by voters.
The proposal means the constitution must be amended so that voters could elect all members of Parliament.
It says people will be allowed to vote for the nine nobles to Parliament but the nobles would not be allowed to vote for the people’s representatives nor they would be allowed to run for the people’s candidacy.
Nobles could only be allowed to vote for the nobles’ nine members to Parliament at the same time people could not be allowed to run for noble’s candidacy, the bill says.
The election of the Prime Minister will take place in two weeks after the election of 9 noble’s representative and 17 people’s representatives.
During these two weeks all elected members of Parliament will nominate candidates for the premiership. Another election would then be publicly announced for the people to vote for the Prime Minister.
Democratic system of government has first been introduced to Tonga three years ago with people's hope that a representative from their elected candidates would be for the first time become the Prime Minister of the country. That was not happen and after the 2010’s parliamentary election people started to realise that the power has only been switched from the king to his nobles and not them, the commoners.
The opposition party said these bills will bring real democracy to Tonga and for the people’s representatives to hold majority of the seats in Parliament.
Congregants who were supporters of the outspoken Reverend Faka‘osi Hau of the Tongan Tokaikolo Church in Auckland defected to join the newly established Mo‘ui Fo‘ou 'Ia Kalaisi Fellowship.
The new fellowship will be under the stewardship of Reverend Sione Havili Maile who has been a long time Secretary General of the Tokaikolo Church and a loyal follower of its president, Reverend President Liufau Vailea Saulala.
Reverend Maile told Kaniva News he has yet to submit his resignation to the Tokaikolo Church but he has already decided to leave and establish the new fellowship.
“There have been indications for me to make this move. But I have waited on God. Just yesterday I was told by God to defect and establish this fellowship”, said Reverend Maile.
“This is the fulfillment of the mission that has been placed upon Reverend Senituli Koloi, the founder of the Tokaikolo Church to defect from the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga and lead His people.
God has called me to lead these people who are hungry for freedom”, he told Kaniva news.
Rev Maile preached in the Tokaikolo Church in Auckland, New Zealand few weeks ago and shocked the church members when he strongly criticised church authorities for what they had done to members who have been known to question the church's management and operations. This move is very unusual for him because of his long time support and faithfulness to President Reverend Saulala.
Reverend Maile said he will conduct a malanga or a prayer service this coming Sunday 14 here in Auckland to mark the beginning of the new fellowship.
Reverend Hau told Kaniva News he is in full support of Reverend Maile and he and his supporters will follow him.
The Tokaikolo Church has come under fire as authorities quivered with indignation that Reverend Hau preached about how he thought it was not right for him and the church members to donate money to a Church that is solely run by President Liufau Saulala without him having any accountability to the followers.
The church eventually sacked Reverend Hau, a move that saw church members divided. Those who were staying in the church but were found out to have leaked information to Rev Hau were sacked and served with prohibition notices not to enter the Church properties.
Reverend Hau took the Tokaikolo Church and its leader, President Liufau Vailea Saulala to court in Auckland but his claims were rejected by the court last month. The court ruled in favour of Reverend Saulala but Hau undertook to appeal the court’s decision.
Tokaikolo Church was founded in 1980 by Reverend Senituli Koloi who has been a former minister in the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga.
Kaniva News was unable to obtain a comment from the Tokaikolo Church.
Correction:We corrected this article. We preciously reported that Reverend Sione Maile was a long time Vice President of the Tokaikolo Church. That was not correct. Reverend Sione Havili Maile was the longtime Secretary General of the Tokaikolo Church.
Vistors and passengers in the island of Tonga who wish to take domestic aircraft as a means of transport to the outer islands must get the message right and clear – The aircraft MA60 that has just been recieved by the government as a gift from China is not safe. Its history shows the model is insecure and unsafe. Check it out: TVNZ
UPDATES: As the winner of the Miss Heilala 2013, Miss New Zealand Immigration Appraxus Rosemarie Fili celebrated the remarkable achievement she had, all seven other contestants and runners up took home at least $1000.
Crowned Miss Heilala 2013 Rosemarie Fili received $3,000 and return tickets for two to Los Angeles. Other cash prizes she received came from her becoming first place in the island creation, talent, sarong and pre-pageant interview competitions..
Miss Victoria-Australia Angelique Iviiti was the first runner up and she received $2,000 cash prize and return tickets for two to Honolulu.
The second runner up went to Miss New Zealand Friendly Island Body Builders Association and Tonga High School Ex-Students, Miss Lita Mary Bloomfield. She was awarded with $1,500 cash prize and two return tickets to Sydney.
Miss Lady Maria Australia Helen Talipeau was the third runner up and she was presented with $1,000 cash prize and two return tickets to Nadi, Fiji.
Each of the other contestants recieved $1,000 each.
Sponsors:
Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakano and the Government of Tonga
