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Tongan employers need to emphasise confidentiality and workplace ethics

By
Kaniva Staff
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Dear Sir,

If there is one obvious issue that should be addressed in the workplaces in Tonga, it should be that of client confidentiality and workers’ ethical behaviour. We all know from common sense that keeping your clients’ personal information confidential is very important as it can have a very bad effect on the function of your organisation, if overlooked. Either you land yourself in hot water or lose your job, which unfortunately for some may be their primary source of income!

However, a lot of workplaces in Tonga, both government and non-government, are extremely poor in protecting their clients’ privacy. Nowadays, it’s common to hear employees gossip about a particular client’s personal life and personal dealings with the organisation. Government and non-government workplaces need to uphold the principle of maintaining client confidentiality. It is unquestionably inappropriate for an employee to discuss a client’s personal matters without their consent.

Let me give you an example: I have a friend who receives money from overseas. To her surprise, information about her financial affairs seems to have spread to people who have no right to know about her private life. The only way the information could have spread is from somebody involved in her transactions.

It angers me to see this kind of behaviour tolerated in the Tongan workforce. I strongly believe that CEOs and managers in government and non-government organisations in Tonga need to raise the bar in the workplace and highlight workplace confidentiality and ethical behaviour before clients do it for them.

Malo,

Soa’ileata Paseka

Editor’s note: This is an abridged version of the original letter.

Labour candidate pushes aside smear campaign

By
Kaniva Staff
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Despite a smear campaign attacking her professional background, Labour’s Manukau East candidate Jenny Salesa says she is excited by the prospect of being Parliament’s first Tongan-speaking MP.

She has been running her campaign from a sparse fale situated behind the incumbent Labour MP Ross Robertson’s electorate office in Otara for what she concedes is a “very strong Labour seat”.

Two-thirds of voters in the electorate gave Labour their party vote last election and Mr Robertson held the seat since it was formed in 1996.

However, Mrs Salesa said she was not taking anything for granted.

Wearing a red flower in her hair and a long Pasifika-inspired red dress, she orchestrates her campaign while sitting over a computer beside a small oil heater in the corner of the fale.

The 46-year-old former policy analyst is married to the University of Auckland’s head of Pacific Studies and together they have two daughters aged under 10.

Although they don’t yet live in the electorate, Mrs Salesa said they had been looking around Otahuhu.

They were living in the United States for almost 10 years before leaving in 2011 to “come back and contribute, give back to New Zealand”.

She said her motivation for standing came from the disappointment of seeing poor outcomes for Maori and Pasifika people.

“When we left New Zealand, you saw the stats, you saw the educational statistics, you saw unemployment rates and I was hopeful that when we came back things would be better … they’re actually worse.”

During her time in America, Mrs Salesa said she volunteered for President Barack Obama’s election campaign, which taught her how to recruit volunteers and keep them interested.

“I’ve recruited volunteers from everywhere basically – from our Labour membership … I’ve recruited a lot of volunteers through churches, but I’d say by far my strongest supporters are actually my relatives … They’re the ones that turn up every week.”

Raising voter turnout, which at the last election was a mere 68 per cent in Manukau East, was one of her biggest goals, she said.

The majority of the Tongan community had been supportive of her campaign, however “there are some detractors as there would be in any ethnic group”, she said.

An email alleging Mrs Salesa had lied on her CV no less than nine times was sent to media outlets near the beginning of her campaign.

Mrs Salesa said she didn’t know the person behind the emails “but it’s very clear to me that it’s a person who wants me not to stand as a candidate here anymore”.

The email’s key claim was that without a practicing certificate, Mrs Salesa wasn’t entitled to call herself a lawyer.

Mrs Salesa said she studied as a lawyer and was admitted to the bar, however on advice from the Law Society she has since amended her CV. The rest of the allegations were baseless, she said.

The author of the email, Lata Maumau said he had no “ill motivations” and previously was a supporter of Mrs Salesa, but sent the email out of the belief he was helping inform others from the Tongan community who had donated to her campaign.

SOURCE:  NZHerald

Syria rebels free UN peacekeepers Fijian soldiers

By
Kaniva Staff
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The United Nations has confirmed the release of all 45 Fijian peacekeepers who had been held for two weeks by the rebels in the Golan Heights on the Israeli-Syrian border.

A UN statement statement said the soldiers, all in good condition, had been freed on Thursday and would undergo medical assessment.

The Fijians were kidnapped last month by the Nusra Front battling the Syrian army after the rebels overran a crossing point in the so-called disengagement zone that the UN peacekeeping mission known as UNDOF has monitored since 1974.

An Israeli military spokeswoman said the soldiers had crossed into Israeli-held territory after their release.

“We opened the border and they entered,” the spokeswoman said.

On Wednesday the Nusra Front posted a video on its Twitter and YouTube accounts in which the hostages said they expected to be freed soon.
The Fijians had been captured about 8km away from 70 Philippine troops, who were rescued following an attack on their post on the Syrian side of the border.

Syria’s three-year civil war reached the frontier with Israeli-controlled territory last month when rebel fighters overran a crossing point in the line that has separated Israelis from Syrians in the Golan Heights since a 1973 war.

Syria and Israel technically remain at war. Syrian troops are not allowed in an “area of separation: under a 1973 ceasefire formalised in 1974.

The UN force monitors the area of separation, a narrow strip of land running about 70km from Mount Hermon on the Lebanese border to the Yarmouk River frontier with Jordan.

It comprises 1,223 soldiers from Fiji, India, Ireland, Nepal, Netherlands and the Philippines.

Austria, Japan and Croatia have all pulled their troops out of the monitoring force due to the deteriorating security situation and spillover from the Syrian war.

Qatar, one country in the Middle East thought by the US to have influence with the armed rebel group, said Fiji had formally requested its assistance in freeing the hostages.

US officials have said that Qatar played a critical role in persuading the Nusra Front to free American journalist Peter Theo Curtis last month, whom the front had been holding hostage since 2012.

Source: Al Jazeera and agencies

King wishes MPs best of luck in the upcoming election

By
Kaniva Pacific
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THE parliamentary session 2014 was officially closed by His Royal Highness Prince Ata, Lord Nuku and Lord Ve’ehala during the soft closing of Parliament today.

His Royal Highness Prince Ata delivered a speech from the throne on behalf of his Majesty King Tupou VI.

In addressing MPs, Prince Ata thanks the Hon. Members of Parliament for their hard work and labour during the year in discussing legislations for the development of Tonga.

He says it is evident that natural disasters and economic crisis have impacted Tonga’s economy but the partnership between Parliament and Government have managed to stabilizing our financial and economic situations as well as achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

HRH Prince Ata also highlights the importance of maintaining such good performance while at the same time seeking new incentives to generate revenue to boost people’s lives and the business sector.

He also notes the importance of creating local industries to further develop the tourism sector and also to provide jobs for the people especially young people.

HRH also acknowledges the ongoing support of donor countries in rebuilding Tonga’s economic and social sectors.

Prince Ata concludes the address from the throne by wishing MPs the best of luck in the upcoming general election and for their future endeavours.

The closing of Parliament today is to allow time for potential candidates to run in the November general election.

-Parliament of Tonga

Tongan female paddlers compete at international competition

By
Kaniva Pacific
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Tonga’s first ever women’s crew to compete at an international outrigger canoe competition, leaves for Samoa this week to represent the Kingdom at the Alo Paopao Regatta Festival in Apia from September 15 – 20.

Known as Taufatahi team paddlers are all from Tonga and have been training together since February this year.

The team’s traning sessions included  20km paddles around the Tongatapu islands every week for the last 6 months.

“We are grateful for all the support that local businesses and individuals have provided to fund our team. We would like to thank each and every one of them for their encouragement and generosity,”  says Rose Fangupo from the team.

Taufatahi will be racing in the 20km outrigger race and sprints next week against international outrigger teams from Samoa, New Zealand and Australia.

The New Zealand Tongan-based band, Three Houses Down, will be in Apia to participate in a concert during the festival.

Prince Ata to close 2014 Parliamentary session

By
Kalino Latu
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The soft closing of the Legislative Assembly 2014 Parliamentary session will be officially closed by a commission of three Nobles at 10:30am today

They are His Royal Highness Prince Ata, Lord Nuku and Lord Ve’ehala.

It will be conducted in the presence of MPs where one of the Nobles will deliver the closing speech on behalf of His Majesty King Tupou VI.

The program concludes with closing remarks from the Hon. Speaker, Lord Fakafanua.

This year’s soft closing programme does not involve the usual fanfare of a Parliament State closing.

GEF fund to preserve Toloa rainforest

By
Kaniva Pacific
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The Global Environment Facility (GEF) has given Tonga US$1.5 million fund for the protection and enrichment of the kingdom’s rainforests and invasive species.

The main island Tongatapu has only one rainforest in Toloa and it was the priority of the GEF funding to make sure it is preserved.

About TP$30,000 had been allocated to fund Toloa Rainforest Nursery project.

Two other rainforests that benefit from this funding are Late and Mo’unga Talau.

As part of the protection efforts Tonga’s Ministry of Land, Survey and Natural Resources, through Tonga Invasive Alien Species Project (TIAS) has in place an action plan 2013 – 2020 in which it set out strategies for the project.

The plan will guide Tonga’s efforts to protect its natural heritage and people’s livelihoods from the negative impacts of invasive species, government statement says.

Mormon church builds new Stake Centre in Tonga

By
Kaniva Pacific
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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will construct a new stake centre in Teufaiva, Nuku’alofa, a statement from the church says.

A Latter-day Saint stake centre is headquarters for a stake, which comprises a number of congregations in a geographic location, it says.

“Construction will take approximately 60 weeks and will be completed by local contractors.

“A ground breaking ceremony will be attended by Church, community and government leaders.

The new building is the latest addition in an effort to accommodate expanding Church growth in the Kingdom of Tonga.  There are approximately 30,000 Latter-day Saint congregations worldwide, 165 of which are in Tonga”.

Let the people decide, says Democratic Party deputy leader

By
Kalino Latu
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Tonga’s Democratic Party’s ousted MPs have announced they will recognise the party’s candidate list, but will still run against official party candidates in the November election.

The Party’s Deputy Leader, MP ‘Isileli Pulu, said they arrived at the decision after a meeting in which they agreed not to draw up a rival list of party candidates.

Pulu did not name the party members who made the final decision, but Leader ‘Akilisi Pohiva did not attend the meeting. He was told later about what had been agreed.

Pulu said the members had agreed they would support whichever party members won the election in November.

He said Pohiva had rejected a proposal to let candidates from both lists to campaign together and let voters pick who they wanted to vote for.

Four Party sitting MPs were dropped from the party’s list after a select committee picked a new list of candidates for the November election.

They are Dr Sitiveni Halapua for Tongatapu 3, Sione Havea Taione for Tongatapu 8,  MP Semisi Tapueluelu for Tongatapu 10 and Sunia Fili for ‘Eua.

The list met with hefty criticisms from Deputy Leader ‘Isileli Pulu and MP Falisi Tupou, who said the selection was biased and influenced by

Tonga's Democratic Party Members of Parliament outside Tonga's Legislative Assembly after the House last session two weeks ago.
Tonga’s Democratic Party Members of Parliament outside Tonga’s Legislative Assembly after the House last session for the year 2014.

Leader ‘Akilisi Pohiva and his son-in-law, Mateni Tapueluelu.

Pohiva removed Pulu and Tupou from the list without warning, claiming they were dropped because they regularly criticised him and the Party’s select committee. Pohiva told Pulu and Tupou their reaction to the list indicated they did not want to work together with him and the new team of candidates.

Pulu and Tupou went public and declared they would not support a list that had been unfairly selected. They also boycotted meetings conducted by Pohiva after he declared his endorsement of the select committee’s candidate list.

Tapueluelu, who is also the editor of Pohiva’s Kele’a newspaper, published what he said was his own list of candidates for the Tautahi, the outer islands.

Pohiva later endorsed his editor’s list without referring it to the Party prompting Pulu to publicly announce that the party had yet to select the Tautahi’s list. Pulu continued criticising Pohiva’s action, calling it ‘dirty’ and ‘fishy’.

Pohiva’s son-in-law

The Party has selected Tapueluelu to run for Tongatapu 4 against Pulu.

The decision was made last week after the Party received a report based on a survey conducted at Tongatapu 4 by a group of nine it requested from Haveluloto led by Vilisoni Tu’iniua Ngalu.

According to the survey, the interviewers asked selected constituents at Tongatapu 4 to pick who they wanted to be their MP from a proposed list of seven candidates.

The list included Similoni Tu’akalau, a current Police Magistrate and Soane Vahe, the director of Catholic Schools.

The party list now consists largely of candidates endorsed by Tapueluelu and Pohiva. Tapueluelu has been nominated to run for Tongatapu 4.

When asked what he thought about the selection of Tapueluelu to run against him Pulu said he wanted to let the people to choose who they wanted to represent them in Parliament.

Pulu was first elected to parliament in 2002 and has been returned at every election since then.

The main points

  • Tonga’s Democratic Party’s ousted MPs have announced they will recognise the party’s candidate list, but will still run against official party candidates in the November election.
  • The Party’s Deputy Leader, MP ‘Isileli Pulu, said they had agreed to support whichever party members won the election in November.
  • He said Pohiva had rejected a proposal to let candidates from both lists to campaign together and let voters pick who they wanted to vote for.
  • Leader ‘Akilisi Pohiva’s son-in-law, Mateni Tapueluelu, has been chosen to run against Pulu in the election.

All Blacks test in Samoa confirmed

By
Kaniva Pacific
-

New Zealand Rugby and the Samoa Rugby Union today confirmed details around the much anticipated match which will mark the first encounter on Samoan soil between the two teams.

The Test match agreement was signed at a media conference at New Zealand Rugby House in Wellington this afternoon by New Zealand Rugby Chairman Brent Impey and Samoa Rugby Chairman, Hon Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi.

The match will kick off at Apia Park at 3pm (2pm NZT).

“This will be a wonderful celebration of the rich rugby connections and proud history that bind New Zealand and Samoa,” said Brent Impey.

“We know how much rugby means to Samoans and New Zealanders so to take the All Blacks to Apia will be a huge moment for all of us.

“Importantly, we are not only honouring rugby’s Pacific heritage, we are also providing players with a meaningful Test as part of our plan to ensure the All Blacks are in the best possible shape to win in England in 2015.”

The Samoa Rugby Union welcomed confirmation of the match. Chairman Hon Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi said:

“It will be an historic occasion to have the All Blacks play in Samoa in July 2015.

“The rugby supporters of both countries will savour a unique event in Apia as the Manu Samoa will face the number one team in the world at home. It is a match that will be watched by millions of viewers as we intend to broadcast it live to the rest of the world.

“I also challenge other Tier One Nations to come and play the Manu Samoa at home.”

The All Blacks will travel to Samoa with the support of the team’s airline partner Air New Zealand.

“We’re excited to be on board supporting the country’s favourite team as they take on Samoa in one of the most popular Pacific Island destinations that Air New Zealand operates to,” said Air New Zealand Chief Executive Christopher Luxon.

“To celebrate the historic game the airline and All Blacks Tours will also offer tour packages including the opportunity for fans to travel with the team to Apia.”

Impey said the Test would build on the strong support New Zealand Rugby had given Pacific rugby over many decades.

“We have been sending national teams to the islands since the 1930s. The Maori All Blacks have visited 13 times and played 65 matches. We also provide a variety of support to island nations through our work with the Federation of Oceania Rugby Unions.

“We hope this Test match will excite fans, inspire young Samoan players and further raise the profile of rugby across the Pacific Islands.”

All Blacks welcome Test
All Blacks Head Coach Steve Hansen said: “2015 is a massive year for us and this historic Test is an ideal way for us to begin our preparations for the Investec Rugby Championship and Rugby World Cup 2015 in earnest.

“Many players in our team have strong ties to Samoa so this Test will be a great occasion for all of us. It will only enhance the links between our two countries.

“There is also a lot of respect for Manu Samoa and playing them at home will make this a great challenge – one we will all look forward to.”

IRB promises support for historic match
International Rugby Board Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “The IRB is delighted that for the first time New Zealand will play a full international match in Samoa next year. It will be an historic day for the game in both those countries and an exciting occasion for every rugby fan in Samoa who will get to see their team host the famous All Blacks.

“The IRB is excited to be involved and as part of our ongoing support of Pacific Island rugby, we will be assisting with operations and financial support to the Samoan Rugby Union through our high-performance investment programme to deliver the fixture.”

Broadcast details will be confirmed at a later date.

Official travel packages from All Blacks Tours are now available at www.allblackstours.com

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