A Tongan man in managed isolation has pleaded with authorities to allow him kiss and say goodbye to his wife who died earlier this week.
‘Alatini Fanakena. Photo/Supplied
‘Alatini Fakena is devastated he will never get the chance to be with his wife, ‘Ānau Ki he Sina Pateta Fakena, and is wishing authorities could change how they deal with compassionate exemptions.
He arrived in Tongatapu recently in one of the repatriation flights from New Zealand.
“Dear darling, I thought I was brave enough to withstand this but I didn’t. You have gone and left me alone with our children,” a heartfelt message appears to be written by ‘Alatini was shared on Facebook.
“I am in tears while being isolated at the Tanoa as I could not join you with our kids
“I wish I have the power to make decision so I can be released to come home.
“I have come all the way from New Zealand and now I am getting stuck here”.
‘Alatini said he wished authorities could give him a chance.
Tonga have very strict rules in place in an attempt to make sure the country is protected against the Covid-19 pandemic.
As Kaniva News reported earlier this week, the government has extended the managed quarantine period from 14 days and seven days home isolation to 21 days with no home isolation.
Previously the third week of mandatory quarantine had been isolation at home.
The new variants of Covid-19 which were rapidly replacing other versions of the virus around the world and increasing issues raised about repatriated nationals being sent to home isolations after their 14-day living in managed isolation facilities have led the government to introduce the new measure.
A total of 27 people breached home quarantine rules, authority said this week.
A Ha’apai Custom Officer has been remembered as a “great mate” who touched the hearts of many.
Fe’ao ‘Ofa. Photo/Supplied
Fonua Fe’ao was allegedly killed following a car accident in Pangai on Thursday, reports said.
He has been described as a brother to everyone and being friendly in a way one could tell he did it to show how he valued their kāinga connections.
“Rest easy… you will be missed by many, lots of love to your family,” a commenter said on Facebook.
Others wrote that they could not believe a great mate had been “taken way too early”.
“You touched the hearts of many and will be missed by all. Sending my love to your family.”
Fe’ao’s death came after a government senior officer died in a single-vehicle crash in Pangai, Ha’apai in October last year.
Kali Taumoe’anga who worked for the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications was driving a government van when the fatal accident occurred.
A man who was caught dealing drugs from a vehicle in Nuku’alofa has been sentenced to one-year and nine-month imprisonment for drugs offences.
Kaniva Tonga
Tevita Talia’uli Fatongiatau, 34, appeared at the Nuku’alofa Supreme Court on February 3, 2021.
On 2 February 2020, Police received reliable information that Fatongiatau was selling illicit drugs from his vehicle at the bus station in town.
Police went to the bus station and found the accused inside his car. A second accused, Sesilia Uaisele, was at an ice-cream truck nearby. She again failed to appear for sentencing and a bench warrant was issued for her arrest.
As the police approached the vehicle Fatongiatau saw them and he put something into his mouth and chewed it. Suspecting that he was trying to destroy illicit drugs, the police pulled him out of his car and pried his mouth open. He spat out plastic packets commonly used for packing illicit drugs.
Police informed Fatongiatau why they were there and proceeded to search the him and his vehicle. Inside the vehicle police found the following items:
A partially opened packet of methamphetamine at the floor of the drivers’ side with crystal fragments inside the packet and some fragments had fallen out onto the rug;
A test tube in the passenger side of the car containing fragments of methamphetamine;
Cash totalling $2,290.
The crystal fragments tested positive for methamphetamine.
On the count of possession of a Class A drug, the accused is convicted and sentenced to 1 year and 9 months imprisonment;
This sentence is to be served consecutive to the current sentence he is serving for CR 138/19;
Count 2 -The Accused is convicted and sentenced to 6 months imprisonment to be served concurrent to Count 1;
Count 3 – The Accused is convicted and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment to be served concurrent to Count 1;
Justice Langi said: “As requested by the Crown, it is further ordered that the drugs seized from the accused, namely methamphetamine, be destroyed. The cash seized from the accused totalling $2290.00 is forfeited to the Crown”.
This RNZ.co.nz story is republished with permission
A joint project between Tonga and New Zealand has been launched, outlining a 15-year policy framework for Tonga’s education system.
In December 2019, a Statement of Partnership was signed by both countries, which laid out the principles and priorities under which they will work together.
A key priority was Tonga’s education policy framework.
It aims to find what areas and issues should be targeted in the education sector, better use of resources and an education sector that has greater impact.
It also wants more cohesion across the sector and enabling Tonga to be in a better position to attract development partner investment and support.
The launch of the framework for 2021 to 2036 was held at the New Zealand High Commission in Nuku’alofa.
Tonga’s Ministry of Education with the New Zealand and Australian High Commissioners and stakeholders at the launch of a Tonga Education Policy Framework review. Photo: Supplied / NZ High Commission Tonga
By Mackenzie Smith of RNZ. This story is republished with permission
A church in Auckland has been struck off the Charities Register after its employees stole millions of dollars in church funds, and poured millions more into dubious investments.
Samoan Independent Seventh Day Adventist Church headquarters in Māngere, South Auckland. Photo: Google Maps
It follows a two-year probe into the Samoan Independent Seventh Day Adventist Church (SISDAC) which operates 10 churches in the Auckland region.
An investigation report by Charities Services published today, reveals a web of financial mismanagement and corruption that saw vast sums of money sourced from the church’s membership funnelled into the pockets of church officials, many of whom were family relatives.
The church, whose services are held in Gagana Sāmoa, preyed almost exclusively on Auckland’s sizeable Samoan population.
SISDAC was first referred to the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) by Charities Services following a 2013 investigation into the church.
The SFO probe led to the 2017 sentencing of former treasurer Elizabeth Papu to two years and nine months in prison for stealing more than $1.6 million from the church, and using the funds at a casino. That year, Charities Services opened a fresh investigation to determine whether the church knew about Papu’s offending.
The investigation report found:
Elizabeth Papu misappropriated a further $766,895 that was not uncovered by the SFO probe. (Her father, Pastor Willie Papu, contends that this income came from legitimate sources).
Another former treasurer, Joseph Stowers, took $498,997 in church funds as undeclared income in 2017.
Pastor Willie Papu Junior banked more than $316,000 from the church and its World Committee bank account. (He claims they supported the church or were personal income that he paid tax on).
Pastor Willie Papu engaged in “serious wrongdoing” by taking $84,031 in church funds for him and his family, and influencing SISDAC to pay a further $63,309 of his expenses. (He submits that he never took the money for his personal benefit).
Pastor Willie Papu, who remains as an executive director of SISDAC’s World Committee, is named as a key influence on the church’s offending.
The report found he spearheaded large investments including nearly $1m into the cryptocurrency OneCoin, and $1.7m into WFE Capital; the Financial Markets Authority warns that both may be scams.
Sina Hunt, a New Zealand woman who was central to establishing OneCoin’s presence in the country, took more than $200,000 in SISDAC’s funds for her personal benefit, as well as arranging investments into “Health Coffee” and “Organo Gold”, the report found.
“The entity [SISDAC] lost all of the funds it invested in each scheme,” it said.
A 2019 investigation by RNZ found Hunt had targeted several vulnerable Samoan families through SISDAC, and had convinced them to invest money they could not spare into OneCoin, which has been labelled a ponzi scheme by authorities. “We don’t believe anything anymore,” one woman told RNZ at the time.
In some ways, church members are still paying for the failings of their leadership.
The report found Pastor Papu had paid SISDAC $355,097 in reparations for the funds lost on the WFE Capital investment.
“Most of this money has been gifted to Pastor Willie Papu by members of SISDAC’s overseas churches.”
This membership also donated about $500,000 directly to the church to help recuperate from the WFE Capital and OneCoin investments.
SISDAC was removed from the Charities Register on 5 February, and cannot apply to be re-registered for another six months.
Pastor Papu and former treasurer Joseph Stowers were also disqualified from being officers of charities for four years.
In the report, the Charities Registration Board said it still had concerns about Pastor Papu’s influence over SISDAC’s investment decisions.
In its submissions, the church denied this. Pastor Papu put it differently: “I know that Charities Services would love to kill my influence. But influence is not something you can kill. It is a legacy, built upon a lifetime of service and compassion.”
A 66-year-old man who said he had been growing cannabis plants around his property to feed his addiction and to use drugs for the relief of his chronic pain was given a 12-month suspended sentence in the Nuku’alofa Supreme Court.
Cannabis plants grow in the greenhouse at Vireo Health’s medical marijuana cultivation facility on Aug. 19, in Johnstown, New York. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
On or about 21 July 2020 the Police received reliable information that Heamani Saafi was cultivating cannabis plants at his residence at Ha’asini.
The Police went to his house and found him there with his family. They informed him that they were there to conduct a search without a warrant.
The Police asked the accused whether he had anything unlawful at his residence whereby the Accused told them that he had three cannabis plants behind the kitchen. He led the Police to where he had planted the said cannabis plants.
He was arrested and was charged with one count of cultivation of illicit drugs contrary to section .4 (a) (ii) of the Illicit Drugs Control Act;
Saafi pleaded guilty to the charge.
On the charge of cultivation of illicit drugs, Saafi was convicted and sentenced to 2 years and 6 months’ imprisonment.
Justice Langi said the sentence was fully suspended on the following conditions:
Not to commit any further offences punishable by imprisonment for a period of2 years;
The Accused is to be placed on probation during the period of his suspension;
He is to complete the Salvation Army Drugs and Alcohol Awareness Program and Life Skills Course within the first year of his suspension;
He is to undertake 70 hours of community work as directed by the probation officer. He is to report to the probation office within 48 hours.
“As requested by the Crown, I order that the drugs seized are destroyed,” said the judge.
The National Emergency Management Agency and GNS Science say they are assessing whether a tsunami warning needs to be issued in this country after a big 7-point-9 magnitude quake close to New Caledonia.
Photo: 123rf
They say if any tsunami from this area – southeast of the Loyalty Islands – were to affect New Zealand, it would not arrive for three hours.
The quake happened at 20 minutes past 2 o’clock this morning.
Garbage left inside Teufaiva National Indoor Stadium. Photo/Facebook
Minister of Tourism ‘Akosita Lavulavu has scolded a critic after she was tagged on Facebook with photos showing rubbish left inside the Teufaiva National Stadium last week.
The photographs were taken after a rugby tournament.
The photos have attracted strong public reaction condemning the action as folly and idiocy.
The post was shared by My Tonga Facebook group which tagged the Minister with a warning.
The group regularly posts information and shares news that supports the PTOA Party and the democratic movement.
The post read in Tongan:
“To the Minister of Tonga Beautiful programme. There is a growing number of photos shared on internet of some important places in Tonga being left uncleaned by the Minister of Tonga Beautiful ‘Akosita Lavulavu, and not keeping it clean and beautiful. In comparison with the previous government the capital town was well cleaned up and the important locations in Nuku’alofa central were kept cleaned by the former Tourism Minister Semisi Sika and his Tonga Masani (Magnificent) programme. Please Minister of Tonga Beautiful come and pick up the rubbish to make good use of your salaries from the country’s taxes”.
Hon ‘Akosita Lavulavu
Responding in Tongan the Minister wrote on her Facebook page:
“To this page what’s the purpose of photographing it and sharing it here? Why do you yell it out here without you cleaning it up as you were right there? Make your heart, mind, and soul “beautiful”. If you love your country than use your good conscience, two hands God has given you to clean up the rubbish and put them in the rubbish bin. It’s important for us to live a life which tends to cleaning and keeping things clean. This was after the Tonga Rugby League Cup 1 Tournament at Teufaiva Stadium on Saturday last week.”
The posts have divided Tongans online.
Supporters of the Minister said the people who tagged her “asked for drama and it was good the Minister has lectured them.”
“That is what is called unloving Tongan. Love Tonga and pick up your rubbish and take them to the rubbish bin.”
Another critic said: “People are so dumb that they threw their trash after drinking and eating. They should have taken them to the rubbish bin. If not put them in your pockets and take them home because you have been dumb for a long time.”
A supporter of the post said it was good for the photograph to have captured the situation and shared it on internet. He said Tongans should feel embarrassed when they compared themselves with Samoans who knew how to use a rubbish bin. Nuku’alofa was uniquely clean during the previous government because their Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva took the lead and picked up rubbish in public places,” the supporter wrote.
The late ‘Akilisi Pohiva’s government campaigned to keep Tonga clean and beautiful through a programme initiated by the Ministry of Tourism known as Tonga Masani or Magnificent Tonga.
When the Tu’i’onetoa government took over they changed the name from Tonga Masani to Beautiful Tonga which was made known as Tonga Beautiful.
Both programmes aimed at making sure the country was clean and beautiful. They also aimed at encouraging people live and stay a hygienic life.
A Tongan journalist hopes that when royal assent is given for the Internet Abuse Offences legislation it will allow her to be free of the distress she claims is the result of cyber-bullying by the Prime Minister.
Reporter Salamo Fulivai (L), Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa
Ms Salamo Fulivai, a former Chief Reporter at Tonga Broadcasting Commission, claimedPrime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa harassed, abused and bullied her on the internet several times when she tried to question him about stories she was working on.
She hopes to use the new legislation to take the Prime Minister to court.
Fulivai sent a number of questions to the Prime Minister last year in her capacity as a reporter for the Kele’a Newspaper.
She claimed that instead of focusing on the issues being raised, the Prime Minister belittled and ridiculed her.
Fulivai e-meailed questions to Hon Tu’i’onetoa including one which asked the Prime Minister whether it was true the government was starting its own new airline and if he can tell her about the motive behind the move.
An e-mail from Hon. Tu’i’onetoa to Fulivai seen by Kaniva News says: “Stop being nonsense and making questions that were meaningless, your questions showed you were a repeated class six failer. It wasted my time to answer such meaningless questions.”
Fulivai responded to the Prime Minister, saying: “A repeated class six failer level could be shown by the language one used to speak to somebody.”
“It should have been easy for you to answer me by saying yes or no. But for you to sidestep it and used such language your state of mind and the environment in which you have been brought up will then be called into question.”
“Thank you, pastor,” Fulivai said, referring to the Prime Minister’s religious background, which includes a Doctorate of Christian Ministry from Faith Evangelical Lutheran Seminary in the United States.
The e-mails between Fulivai and the Prime Minister went back to November 2019.
In another email on May 2020 Hon Tu’i’onetoa said: “Salamo, do you think that all I do is answer questions with nothing else to do. Stop your nonsense!”
“Where did you do your training as a reporter?”
Fulivai told Kaniva News she found it difficult to do her job because of her situation.
“I am grateful and elated that the Prime Minister and his Cabinet have passed this law so that the voice of victims of cyber bullying could be heard,” Fulivai said.
“The fact is I did not know Tu’i’onetoa before. I just came to know him when he was the Prime Minister.
“The language he has used showed he looked down on me.
“It’s discouraging and offensive and it greatly affected me.”
While Fulivai hopes the Internet Abuse Offences legislation will give her legal redress against the Prime Minister, any legal action on her part will have to wait until the new law actually comes into effect.
As Kaniva News reported yesterday, the Internet Abuse Offences legislation was passed by Parliament last year, but is still waiting for the king’s signature.
Hon Tu’i’onetoa told us last year the new law was aimed at addressing the use of any communication platform to abuse, harass or otherwise harm another person.
Kaniva News has contacted the Prime Minister for comment.
FAKAMATALA FAKA-TONGA
‘Oku ‘ikai kei fa’a tatali ‘a e faiongongo ko Salamo Fulivai ke fai mo paasi mei he Tu’i’ ‘a e lao ‘a Tonga ke tapui hono pā’osi’i ‘o ha taha ‘o ngāue’aki ‘a e ‘initaneti’. Ko e lao ‘eni ne ‘osi paasi ‘i Fale Alea he ta’u kuo ‘osi’ ka kuo kei tatali ki ha fakamo’oni huafa a e Tama Tu’i’. ‘Oku tukuaki’i ‘e Fulivai ne fakamamahi’i ia ‘e he ‘Eiki Palēmia’ Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa mo lea tukuhifo’i he ‘initaneti ‘i ha’ane tali ki ha ngaahi fehu’i ne ne ‘eke ki ai tu’unga ‘i hono fatongia fakafaiongoongo’. Pehē ‘e Fulivai, ne ‘īmeili atu pea ‘ikai tali mai ‘e Tu’i’onetoa ia ‘ene ngaahi fehu’i kae hanga mai ia ‘o ngāhi’i mo fakama’ama’a’i ia hangē ko ‘ene tala ko ngaahi fehu’i ne ‘oange ‘oku ‘asi ko e tokotaha kalasi ono tu’olahi ia. ‘Eke pe na’e ako faiongoongo ‘i fē. Ne toe tala ‘e he palēmia’ foki ‘oku maumau taimi ‘ene fehu’i’. Kaekehe, ne toki paasi e lao ‘a e pule’anga’ ko ‘eni’ ‘i ‘Okatopa. Fakahā ‘e Fulivai ki he Kaniva’ ‘oku uesia lahi ‘ene ngāue pea pupuiva he me’a ne hoko’ ka kuo’ ne fiefia mo fakamālō kia Tu’i’onetoa he’ene fa’u mo fakapaasi ‘a e lao’ ni kae lava ke ‘eke’i ai ‘ene totonu’ he fakamaau’anga’.
