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Covid 19 coronavirus: Tongan USP student tests positive in Fiji

By
Kaniva Staff
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A Tongan student at USP tested positive for Covid-19 in Fiji, Tonga’s Minister of Education Hu’akavameiliku told Parliament this morning.

Education Minister Hu’akavameiliku. Photo/Facebook

He said the person was in stable condition but gave no further details.

Fiji media said 312 positive COVID-19 cases and four related deaths had been recorded today, Tuesday 29.

As Kaniva News reported in May, a Tongan man was tested positive for Covid-19 and was quarantined in Nadi after arriving from Auckland.

Fiji was recording hundreds of daily cases and the numbers would only increase if everyone in Fiji doesn’t get on board to help beat the virus, said public health expert Dr Api Talemaitoga.

Taleimaitoga, an Auckland-based general practitioner who has been a part of New Zealand’s Covid-response efforts, told Stuff New Zealand Fijian health authorities are  already struggling to contain the virus.

Talemaitoga said he was particularly concerned about the spread of misinformation about the virus and the vaccine on Fiji’s social media.

“The messages spreading on social media, that the virus is made up, the vaccine is something else – it’s just the … the enemy is the virus and the vaccine is the layer of protection they need,” he said.

“People are just not taking public health advice seriously, and it’s really disappointing. There is no cut-through, a lot are heeding advice, but there are still a lot that don’t want to follow or understand what that means”.

Gov’t committee takes charge of Tonga’s rugby league in upcoming world cup

By
Kaniva Staff
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A government interim committee is in charge of preparing Tonga’s rugby league team for the October world cup tournament in England.

PM Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa. Photo/Kalino Lātū

The committee was set up in May this year with the help of the Asia Pacific Rugby League (APRL).

Known as Interim Management Group (IMG), the committee undertook to do its best to restore the sport after a long-running battle over governance, money and a threatened player boycott.

The committee is working to select players and a coach, the Prime Minister said in a statement this afternoon.

The IMG members are:

Chairman : Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa

Deputy Chairman and Treasurer : Minister for Finance Tēvita Lavemaau

Secretaries: Chief Secretary Edgar Cocker and Jeremy Edwards (from Asia Pacific Rugby League)

Action Committee members: Minister for Labour Tatafu Moeaki, CEO Dr Fotu Fisi’iahi, Scott Clark and Gareth Holmes.

The revelation came after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has dismissed Tonga National Rugby League’s (TNRL) appeal against its expulsion from the global governing body in April.

The TNRL was expelled from the International Rugby League (IRL) in March last year.

The Asia-Pacific Rugby League Confederation last year endorsed the bid by a rival body, Tonga Ma’a Tonga Rugby League (TMTRL), for full IRL membership.

The revelation also came after TMRL president Lord Fakafanua previously said he would welcome it if TNRL and TMTRL were merged.

“TNRL is a separate entity with Mate Ma’a Tonga. I would welcome the restoration of TNRL and Mate Ma’a Tonga on the international stage but this is a conversation that must be initiated between TMT and TNRL”.

However, in May APRL said it was taking the lead on the future of Tonga’s international membership.

It said there is no requirement for an IRL member to be in place in time for the Rugby League World Cup but an entity must sign the tournament participation agreement.

It also said discussions were already underway with the Tonga government, the national team management and TMT.

The IRL also said it received a letter from the PM Tu’i’onetoa, and “there was a commonality of purpose in what both parties want to achieve”.

Convicted Akosita Lavulavu’s impeachment petition still in privilege committee

By
Kaniva Staff
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A petition to impeach fraudster Cabinet Minister Akosita Lavulavu is still in the hands of the privilege committee members,  the Opposition Party Leader Semisi Sika said.

Akosita and her husband ‘Etuate Lavulavu are set for sentencing this Friday July 2 at the Nuku’alofa Supreme Court at 10am.

The Lavulavu couple had been found guilty after they plundered more than half a million pa’anga of the government school grant scheme.

They were convicted for using student numbers they knew were false to apply for government grants.

“This is an example of the worst sort of dishonesty,” remarked Justice NJ Cooper in his verdict.

“The conduct of these defendants would be disgraceful in anyone, but for a member of cabinet, and a man who used his political connections and position to facilitate these frauds, goes beyond just criminally reprehensible,” he said.

In 2015 a petition was submitted to impeach the then Infrastructure Minister ‘Etuate Lavulavu after he was accused of misusing and mismanaging government funds and nepotism.

Akosita has been placed on leave awaiting his sentencing.

VIDEO: Community divided after Prince Ata shouts at church function that kava club on his estate was misappropriating money

By
Kalino Latu
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Prince Ata’s claims in front of Cardinal Mafi at a Catholic Church event that a kava club on his estate was misappropriating money have split the community.

Prince Ata. Photo/Supplied

Ata, who was sitting next to the Cardinal, began yelling the allegation, while a speaker was announcing a list of donors who had helped build a new presbytery in Kolovai. One of the donors announced was Toa Ko Pouvalu kava club.

The club is on Prince Ata’s Kolovai estate. Traditionally it belongs to the royal.

The Prince claimed the Toa Ko Pouvalu club had misappropriated money.

The Prince was guest of honour at the official opening of the presbytery last week.

Livestreamed video of the incident appears to show the Cardinal reacting with surprise to the allegations.

The Prince then turned to the Cardinal and appeared to be trying to clarify his claims.

The Prince raised his right hand and shouted in Tongan “nau kai pa’anga nautolu ia,”which roughly translates into English as “they misappropriated money”.

Some guests can be heard laughing, apparently in support of the Prince.

The video of the event was widely shared on Facebook by many Tongan groups and individual Facebook accounts.

One group known as Tonga Felafoaki racked up 1,100 reactions, 111 comments and 582 shares.

It is not known what triggered the Prince’s outburst.

Mixed reactions

Public reactions have been mixed, with people living at the Prince’s estate of Kolovai and its Hihifo vicinity jumping to the royal’s defence and saying he was just making a joke.

“We still stand by our Prince. We are getting used to his way of having fun with his people,” a commenter wrote on Facebook in Tongan.

“It was just his sense of humour,” one said.

“Yep that’s Ata,” another said.

However, critics said it was extremely disrespectful of the Prince to make such an allegation during a church function in front of the head leader of the Catholic Diocese of Tonga and Niue.

“It was rude of him to make such an allegation while the function was livestreamed,” a critic wrote.

“That’s not how a Prince should behave in public”, another said.

Some supported the Prince and said it was good of him to be frank and make such allegation as a deterrent for those who appear to be corrupt.

Prince Ata and the Mormon church

In 2014 His Majesty King Tupou VI sent the then Prime Minister and soldiers to a church in Haveluloto to persuade the Prince to stop a baptism ceremony that would have made him a Mormon.

However, the following year, the Prince was baptised as a Mormon in Hawai’i without the king’s knowledge.

Prince Ata is the king’s second son and fourth in line to the throne. His birth name is Prince Viliami ʻUnuaki-ʻo-Tonga Lalaka moe ʻEiki Tukuʻaho.

The king later appointed him the chiefly title Ata which entitled him to the estate of Kolovai and the island of ‘Atatā.

Eldest brother gives emotional speech as Hiko Lynch’s body lies in funeral home in Auckland  

By
Kalino Latu
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The eldest brother of a man who was allegedly murdered during stabbing incidents in Blenheim, New Zealand has recalled the day he received the news.

Hiko Lynch. Photo/Supplied

Hiko Junior Lynch, 23, was allegedly stabbed on Market St just after 3am on Sunday 20.

Police said the altercation was between Rebels gang members, from outside Marlborough, and Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) workers.

The deceased eldest brother Māteni Lynch said this evening the news of his young brother’s death was too much to bear.

“It was so difficult for me when I am thinking about the reason of why we came here to New Zealand to work to help our family back in Tonga”, Mateni said tearfully.

Mateni Lynch. Photo/ Kaniva Tonga News

He was speaking as part of a night of prayer and tributes organised by his maternal family this evening in Ōtara.

Māteni said they have seven siblings and Hiko was of a “special character”.

Māteni was emotional and said “it was today last week I received the shocking news”.

Some young members of the family took the microphone and said they did not know how to express their love for Hiko in words, but they wanted to speak as long as they can say something to honour him.

“I am not really familiar with Hiko but I feel our relationship in my blood (“ongo e toto)”, a cousin said.

Māteni and Hiko’s maternal uncle Uilou Fungavaka who conducted the prayer service told the family Hiko’s death has united them.

A woman who identified herself as ‘Amelia Pasina Lavaki said she was from the paternal side. She said some people wanted to know why do the paternal family have the English surname Lynch.

She said an Irish man named James Michael Lynch married a Tongan woman in Vava’u and they were their great grandparents.

Rev Talanoa Afu said the grieving family should accept the fact that Hiko has been called by the heavenly father. He shared a chapter from the scripture which was written by prophet Joel of ancient Israel before he told listeners there was a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.

Hiko was out celebrating a friend’s birthday when he was allegedly fatally stabbed in central Blenheim. Two men from outside the region have been jointly charged with murder.

Two men who survived the alleged knife attack that killed their friend Hiko at the weekend have been released from hospital.

Hiko and Māteni had been working in the horticulture and viticulture industries through the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme, set up in 2007 to help New Zealand employers hire workers from overseas when they were unable to employ enough Kiwis.

Māteni was not with Hiko when he was allegedly killed and they had been working for two separate companies.

Hiko worked for Hortus company. The company has set up a Givealittle page which has had more than $14,000 in donations for Lynch’s family by Sunday 27.

Hiko had been in New Zealand since 2019 working in the horticulture and viticulture industries. He hadn’t been able to return home between seasons because of the coronavirus pandemic.

His body arrived in Auckland from Christchurch on Friday and the paternal and maternal families were taking turns hosting the prayer evenings since then before his body will be flown back to Tonga on Wednesday.

Utilities Board boss resigns following warning from PM Tu‘i‘onetoa

By
Kalino Latu
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John Paul Chapman resigned Friday as director of Tonga’s Utilities Board amid what Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa has alleged as ” incompetence, neglect of duty, misconduct, or failing to assist the public enterprise to act in accordance with the principal objective.”

John Paul Chapman

Chapman has denied the allegations.

In a letter from Tu’i’onetoa to Chapmain on June 11 seen by Kaniva News the Prime Minister in his role as Minister of Public Enterprises told the former director he “owed a duty of care” to Tonga Power Ltd (TPL).

“You failed to advise the TPL Board about the Trust’s decision on the 17th December, 2020 to pay out the retirement funds entitlements up to 30 June, 2020 to the employees despite repeated requests by the Board for your advice on the status of the Trust funds;

“To date you have missed 4 TPL Board meetings and that you have indicated your willingness to voluntarily resign provided that you be paid the full director fee to the end of your appointment.

The Prime Minister then gave Chapman 14 days to reply to his accusation if not he will dismiss him according to the Public Enterprise Acts.

Chapman’s response

In denying the Prime Minister’s allegations Chapman said: “Needless to say I do deny all

(L-R) Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa and Tourism Minister Akosita Lavulavu

the allegations however I am very sorry and embarrassed about the situation.

“I do not wish to waste your time and energy on discussing issues that I believe are motivated by other factors. And regardless – these issues are beneath your status as a Minister and Prime Minister and I have been embarrassed by our Chairman and our board’s continued focus on non value adding issues”.

Change of heart

After the e-mails between the Prime Minister and Chapman were leaked to media the Prime Minister remarkably changed his tune.

In a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office yesterday, Tu’i’onetoa said Chapman has requested to resign for personal reasons due to his intended overseas travel to his family.

“Mr. Chapman’s request, has been accepted with no cause or allegations against him or vice versa, by any Utility board, by the Tonga Power Ltd (TPL) Trustees or TPL Retirement Fund or by the Ministry of Public Enterprises”, the Prime Minister said.

Push to terminate Chapman

Leaked emails seen by Kaniva News appear to show that TPL Chairman Dr Aisake Eke and Board member Ipolito Lasalo allegedly wrote to the Prime Minister and recommended terminating Chapman’s directorship in February despite auditors reporting that everything was working correctly under Chapman’s directorship.

The emails also appear to show that KPMG audited the Tonga Power “Trustees Account annually and issued clean bill of health up to 30 June 2020”.

At the direction of the Board for a second audit, “Tonga Audit Office was engaged to audit the board’s retirement fund from the period 1 July 2020 to 31 January 2021 and once again issued a clean bill of health”.

Royal undertaker Hautā‘ulu to be laid to rest in Australia

By
Kaniva Staff
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Hautā’ulu, 69, a leading member of Talafale royal undertakers has died in Australia.

Hautā’ulu. Photo/Supplied

Known as nimatapu (sacred hand) the undertaker died on Friday 18 June.

The Tongan community in western Sydney gathered at the Tokaikolo Christian Church in Granville to pay their respects and left donations.

His body will be laid to rest tomorrow Saturday 26 at Rookwood Cemetery.

Talafale royal undertakers are tasked with preparing Prince Tu’ipelehake and his family’s dead bodies for burial and making arrangements for their funerals.

Family ‘devastated’ as two men lost at sea off Ha‘apai beach remain missing

By
Kaniva Staff
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The family of the men who are missing off the coast of a Ha’apai beach just want them home.

Viliami Mahe, one of the missing men’s brother in a Lulutai aircraft this morning searching for Maikolo and Kava. Photo/Facebook

The missing men have been identified as Kava Mone and Maikolo Mahe.

They went missing since yesterday afternoon.

The family of Maikolo have been waiting on the Matalupekehea beach shoreline watching after a Lulutai aircraft scour the sea for any sign of the men.

Maikolo’s brother Viliami has lamented his brother’s missing on social media.

He wrote a heartfelt message for Maikolo in Tongan:

“Maikolo please come

“If you get here at night fall

“I will light a fire on the beach

“So that you can see me Viliami Mahe

“I am here with Kakala waiting for you

“Our mum and the rest of the family are waiting for you in (Tongatapu)”.

Search underway for missing men at sea in Ha‘apai

By
Kaniva Staff
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Police and families are searching for a church minister and a man missing in Ha’apai this afternoon.

The details of the incident are still unknown.

Meanwhile, their families are asking for prayers on social media.

There is no update on Tonga Police Facebook page regarding the search mission.

In December last year a Free Wesleyan Church pastor in the island of Kotu in Ha’apai was found dead after he went fishing with one of his sons.

Founder of Tonga’s Ear Nose and Throat clinic Dr Leiukamea Saafi dies suddenly

By
Kalino Latu
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Tonga’s first consultant specialist for Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) Dr. Leiukamea Saafi has died.

Dr Leiukamea Saafi

The ENT department was established in 1987 at Vaiola Hospital by Dr Saafi.

It is understood Dr Saafi was at work today before he died, a Ministry of Health source told Kaniva News.

………..more to come

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