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Tributes flow for Grandma Langi, victim of tragic boat accident in Ha‘apai

By
Kalino Latu
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The victim of a tragic boating accident in Ha’apai islands has been officially identified by Police as Pilima Langi, 63.

Pilima Langi. Photo/Facebook

As Kaniva News reported yesterday, all 18 passengers including adults and children were rescued and transferred to Fusipala Hospital where Langi was pronounced dead.

Tributes flowed for Langi on social media with many in the Ha’apai community saying they missed her kindness.

A photo of Langi was posted to the Houmale’eia Rugby Club Facebook page with a caption saying the deceased’s sons were key players of the Faleloa rugby union 1st XV.

“Your children have become a rock of ages “makatu’u” for the Houmale’eia rugby team.”

“You have nurtured them and our village had been proud of them.”

Tropical storm warning for Tonga prompts half holiday today for public services

By
Kaniva Staff
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The Tu’i’onetoa government has announced a half holiday this morning Friday 29 for all government ministries due to the severe storm warnings.

Ministry of Climate Change

“Please be advised that due to the unfavourable bad weather the Hon Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa has directed that the government services and offices close at 12 midday today Friday 29 January 2021,” said Public Service Commission CEO Dr Lia Maka in a circular savingram this morning.

“Work resumes on Monday 1 February 2021 at 8.30pm”.

A Tropical Depression that has developed to the west of Tonga was expected to bring storms, gales and heavy rain to Tonga this morning.

This afternoon Friday 29 Tonga Met Services said a gale warning remains in force for Ha’apai, Tongatapu and ‘Eua land areas and coastal waters.

A strong wind warning remains in force for the Niuas and Vava’u land areas and Tele-ki-Tonga, Tele-ki-Tokelau coastal waters.

A heavy rain warning and flash flood advisory remains inforce for all of Tonga land areas.

A heavy damaging swell and small craft advisory remains inforce for all of Tonga coastal waters.

Deportation stopping Tongan church members filing a complaint

By
Kaniva Staff
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By Sela Jane Hopgood of RNZ.co.nz. This story is republished with permission

There are fears some members of a Tongan church in Auckland at the centre of a residency scam are afraid to file a complaint in case they are deported.

Tongan lawyer Nalesoni Tupou has come across more than 100 Tongans who have been promised residency for cash by two men who are not authorised immigration agents.

Lawyer, Nalesoni Tupou.
Lawyer, Nalesoni Tupou. Photo: supplied

Some of these Tongans have been stuck in New Zealand due to border closures, said Tupou.

“I found out about this particular scheme on the 5th of January, and it is two Tongan males behind it. One of them is a church minister operating the scheme from his Mangere address.

“The reverend promises the overstayers that their immigration status will be rectified and become lawful citizens of New Zealand,” Tupou alleged.

“He has told people that he has been authorised by the Prime Minister of New Zealand and the United Nations to look after Tongans who are unlawfully in the country.”

The man has apparently said getting residency involves going to Wellington with the overstayers to meet with the Prime Minister and attend the Waitangi Day celebrations in Northland in February.

“The final step of this process following Waitangi is that they will all gather at the Sky Tower, where there will be a High Court judge who will endorse their residency visa into their Tongan passports,” Tupou shared.

The Immigration Advisers Authority (IAA) are investigating the scheme and IAA registrar Duncan Connor warned that by law, any person giving immigration advice about New Zealand must be licensed by IAA unless they are exempt.

“Guides to using licensed immigration advisers are available online in multiple languages, including Tongan,” Connor said.

“The IAA encourages anyone who feels they have, or know someone who has, been given unlicensed immigration advice to contact the IAA and make a complaint.

“Due to the allegations about passports and money being taken from people, it may be appropriate for individuals to also consider getting in touch with local police to report theft,” Connor added.

However, Tupou said the families that has contacted him for advice, who have been caught in the scheme, do not believe the police or IAA can help them.

“They have paid around $500 per person to this unlawful character and up to $800 per family. There are Tongan immigration services out there that are legitimate, but their service is too expensive for these families.

“They are not in a position to go to the police because they are scared that they will be arrested for being unlawfully here.

“They don’t want to go to the government authority because they don’t trust them with their details and particulars. They’re worried in case they help IAA with the investigation, and then their details will be used to locate and arrest them and deport them to Tonga,” Tupou explained.

“At present, I know of nobody who is willing to file a complaint and that’s an issue for me and it should be an issue for the governments in New Zealand and Tonga.”

Tupou described the current situation as a stalemate.

“These Tongan families need something guaranteed in writing to tell inform them that if they choose to come forward to IAA, government officials will not arrest and deport them, but work on an alternative plan,” he said.

“This has happened around four or five times before and the last occasion was in 2016, which I was the person responsible for looking after these 1000 people caught in a similar scheme until 2019.

“The people will not come forward, I can tell you that, unless the government can promise them security.”

Ha‘apai woman dies after 18 people rescued in boat accident

By
Kaniva Staff
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A Faleloa woman has died after a boat she was travelling in capsized off the coast of Foa Island yesterday.

Kapakau ‘o Tafahi SAR boat. Photo/Tonga Police (Twitter)

All 18 passengers were rescued and transferred to Fusipala Hospital where the woman was pronounced dead.

Reports from Ha’apai said the sea was rough.

Family members have shared photos purported to identify the deceased on Facebook this morning as Pilima Langi, aged in her 60s, from Faleloa.

Some of these photos showed what appear to be young children swathed in blankets, sitting up while some were lying in hospital beds at the hospital. It has been reported that these children were rescued from the capsized boat.

Kaniva News’ response to statement by Prime Minister’s Office 

By
Kaniva Staff
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The Prime Minister’s Office issued a press release today which said our story of January 20, 2021 headed ‘PM asks Parliament to pardon Tapueluelu for claims gov’t members drank alcohol at a barbecue after launching national fasting and prayer service,’ was  misleading. 

(L-R) Editor of Kaniva Tonga News Kalino Lātū, MP Māteni Tapueluelu and Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa

The press release in Tongan claimed that what we reported was not the reason the Prime Minister forgave Tongatapu 4 MP Mateni Tapueluelu in Parliament. 

It said the reason why the PM forgave Hon. Tapueluelu because he showed contempt for the Hon Tu’ionetoa by saying he and his government’s mischievous way of fasting would bring curse on the country. It said Prime Minister Pohiva Tuionetoa did not drink alcohol. it also quotes some biblical scripts to support the Prime Minister’s forgiveness. 

Kaniva News stands by its article.

The press release said: 

“Correction to Kaniva and Kalino Latu, in regard to the article pardon of Mateni Tapueluelu by the Prime Minister, Rev. Dr. Pohiva Tu’ionetoa.”

“It is untrue and misleading for Mateni Tapueluelu and Kalino Latu to say the Prime Minister pardoned Tapueluelu after the Parliament approved submission to penalise Tapueluelu for contempt of the Prime Minister, because after the marking of the beginning of the fasting they went and drank alcohol and had a barbecue. The Prime Minister does not drink alcohol like Mateni Tapueluelu.”

It said Lord Nuku lodged a complaint against Mateni Tapueluelu for contempt of the Prime Minister on October 13, 2020 which said:  “Hon. Prime Minister you know, among the mischief you and your Cabinet are doing in this country, this is the worst mischief you have done. You have conducted the fasting in a mischievous way and it will bring a curse on this country. Stop that programme because it is bad. The tour was a political campaign.”

The Press Release also said: “There was nothing said during the debate on October 13, 2020 which showed that Mateni argued that the Prime Minister prayed mischievously because he drank alcohol after the marking of the beginning of the fasting. The Prime Minister’s Office believed this statement may have been a case for another complaint by Lord Nuku against Mateni Tapueluelu if he made such statement on  October 13, 2020.”

Response   

Kaniva News editor Kalino Latu said this evening the Prime Minister’s press release was misleading. 

“We did not say that Hon. Tapueluelu mentioned the barbecue and drinking alcohol by government staff members in Parliament on October 13, 2020,” Latu said.

“What we said was: Hon. Tapueluelu mentioned the barbecue and drinking alcohol by government staff members in Parliament while he was responding to the Minister of Finance (during the debate on January 13, 2021.) 

The first time for us to have reported the accusation was on January 20, 2021.

“In our January 20 article in question, this was a reference to this paragraph: ‘The Committee returned to the House last week with its findings and said Hon. Tapueluelu’s statement breached the Rules of Procedure of the Legislative Assembly regulation 108 and the constitution clause 70.” 

“We said “last week” meant January 13, 2021,” not October 13, 2020.  

“Neither did we say Hon.Tapueluelu accused the Prime Minister in particular of drinking alcohol as the press Release said.”  

The alcohol and barbeque accusation

Latu said that according to the Parliamentary record in page 36 of Hansard for January 13, 2021, Tapueluelu told the Minister of Finance he was concerned that after they marked the beginning of the fasting with prayers (“fakama’u ‘a e ‘aukai”) they left and drank alcohol and had a barbecue. “What would you call that? Lord Speaker that’s the reason for my concern,” Hon. Tapueluelu questioned Hon. Lavemaau.  

In Tongan, Hon. Tapueluelu said: ” Ka fakama’u ‘a e ‘aukaí pea ‘osi pē pea mātuku atu ‘o inu mo papakiu lau ia ko e hā? ko e ‘uhinga ia Sea ‘oku fai ai e tokanga”.

Hon. Lavemaau did not deny it, or answer the MP’s question. Instead, he just repeated Hon. Tapueluelu’s question by saying: “What would you call that?” (“Te ke toe ui ‘e koe e me’a ko iá ko e hā?”)

Neither the government benches nor the Committee denied or corrected the accusation made by Hon. Tapueluelu. Instead, they focused their debates on the importance of fasting and prayer services to the nation

Latu said that because the Standing Committee did not release Hon. Tapueluelu’s response to Lord Nuku’s complaint, which the Member for Tongatapu 4 submitted to the Standing Committee and no one in Parliament from the nobility or government benches corrected Hon. Tapueluelu’s response to Finance Minister,  Kaniva News had every reason to believe that Hon. Tapueluelu’s statement to the Minister of Finance was the motive behind Tapu’eluelu’s “mischief” accusation.

Latu said there was no explanation for why nobody from the government tried to correct the accusation. 

After Tapueluelu’s alcohol accusation the Finance Minster and other members of the Cabinet, the Nobility as well as the Democrats spoke to the House before the Prime Minister rose and asked Parliament to forgive Tapueluelu for his “mischief” accusation. 

FAKAMATALA FAKA-TONGA

Kuo faka’ikai’i mai ‘e he ‘Ōfisi Palēmia’ mo pehē ne taki hala e ongoongo ‘a e Kaniva’ ne fa’u ‘e he ‘Ētita’, Kalino Lātū ‘o pehē ne ‘i ai  hono tukuaki’i ‘e Māteni Tapueluelu ‘a e pule’anga’ ki he ma’u kava mālohi mo e papakiu hili ‘enau fakama’u ‘aukai’. Pea ko e makatu’unga ‘eni hono fakamolemole’i ‘e he Palēmia’ ‘a Tapueluelu ‘i Sanuali ‘aho 13, 2021. ‘I he faka’ikai ‘a e ‘Ōfisi Palēmia’ ne nau pehē ne  ‘ikai ha lea ia ‘a Tapueluelu ‘i Fale Alea he ‘aho 13 ‘o ‘Okatopa 2020 ‘o pehē ne hili pe hono fakama’u e ‘aukai’ pea hoko atu e palēmia’ mo e pule’anga’ ‘o papakiu mo ma’u kava mālohi pea ‘oku ‘ikai inu ‘a e Palēmia ia. Ko hono mo’oni na’e te’eki lipooti atu ‘e he Kaniva’ ia ne ‘i ai ha lea pehē ‘a Tapueluelu ‘i he ‘aho 13 ‘Okatopa 2020. Ko e lea ko ia’ fakatatau ki he’emau lipōti’ ne fai ia ‘i he ‘aho 13 ‘o Sanuali 2021 pea ‘oku ma’u pe ia ‘i he miniti ‘a e Fale’ ‘aho 13 Sanuali 2021 peesi 36. Ne te’eki ai foki ha lipooti ia ‘a e Kaniva’ ‘o pehē ne tukuaki’i fakahangatonu ‘e Tapueluelu ‘a e sino toko taha pe ‘o e Palēmia ko ha taha ma’u kava mālohi. Ko e lipooti ‘a e Kaniva’ ne fakalea ko e tukuaki’i ‘a Tapueluelu’ ne fai fakalukufua pe ki he palēmia’ mo e pule’anga fakakātoa ‘aki e pehē ne nau pau’u lotu. Ne ‘osi fakamahino he lipooti’ ni ko e tukuaki’i pau’u lotu ne fai  ‘e Tapueluelu ko ia’ ne fai ia  ‘i he ‘aho 13 ‘o ‘Okatopa 2020 ‘o tu’unga ai hono faka’ilo ‘e Looti Nuku ki he anga ta’efaka’apa’apa’. Ko e lea ‘a Tapueluelu, fakatatau ki he lipooti ‘a e Kaniva’ na’e fai ia ki he Minisitā Pa’anga’ ‘i he ‘aho 13 Sanuali 2021 lolotonga ‘ena tālanga mo taukave ‘a e Minisitaa’ ni tokua ne ‘ikai ha pau’u lotu. Pea tō ai e lea ‘a Māteni ‘o peheni, pea ko e uho ia e lipooti ‘a e Kaniva’ pea ne ‘asi he miniti – “Ka fakama’u ‘a e ‘aukaí pea ‘osi pē pea mātuku atu ‘o inu mo papakiu lau ia ko e hā? ko e ‘uhinga ia Sea ‘oku fai ai e tokanga,” ko e lau ia ‘a  Tapueluelu. Na’e ‘ikai ha toe taha ia te ne faka’ikai’i ‘a e lau ko ia a’u pe ki he Minisitā Pa’anga ne ‘ikai ha’ane toe tali pe fakatonutonu ‘a Tapueluelu ka ne toe tali mai pe ia kia Tapueluelu ‘o lea’aki pe fehu’i ne fai atu ‘o pehē – “Te ke toe ui ‘e koe e me’a ko iá ko e hā?” Ko e taimi ne me’a hake ai ‘a e ‘Eiki Palēmia ‘o fokotu’u ke fakamolemole’i ‘a Tapueluelu na’e ‘ikai ke ne fakatonutonu ‘e ia ‘a e kupu’i lea ko ‘eni ‘a Tapueluelu. Na’e ‘ikai foki tuku ange mai ‘e he Kōmiti Tu’uma’u ia ‘a e tali ‘a Tapueluelu ki hono lāunga’i ia ke lau ‘i Fale Alea’. Pea koe’uhī ne ‘ikai faka’ikai’i ‘e taha ia ‘a tukuaki’i ‘a Tapueluelu lolotonga ‘a hono tālanga’i he Fale’ hono lāunga’i’, ‘oku ‘i ai e totonu ta’etoefehu’ia ia ‘a e Kaniva’ ke ne pehē ko e ‘uhinga ‘eni hono tukuaki’i ‘e Tapueluelu ne pau’u lotu e Palēmia’ mo hono pule’anga’ ko e inu mo e papakiu lolotonga ko ‘enau me’a ‘oku tu’uaki ki he fonua’ ko e lotu ‘aukai. Ne ‘ikai ha toe fakamatala ia ke fakamahino ko e hā ne tuku ta’efakatonutonu ai pe lau mo tukuaki’i mamafa ‘a Tapueluelu ko ‘eni’.

  

Covid-19: Father and daughter confirmed as two new community cases

By
Kaniva Staff
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This story originally appeared on RNZ.co.nz and is republished with permission

A father and his young daughter have been confirmed as the latest two Covid-19 community cases, the Ministry of Health has revealed.

Watch the update here:

In a media conference this afternoon, director-general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield says they have been moved into a quarantine facility but the mother, who has tested negative, would isolate at home.

Today, genome sequencing showed they had the South African variant and that they were linked to the same source case in managed isolation as the Northland woman who tested positive on Sunday after leaving managed isolation.

There was limited contact tracing required for the source case – who never made it out of MIQ – Hipkins says.

Meanwhile, the close contacts of the Northland case remain in isolation, Bloomfield says. They are still returning negative results but contact tracing interviews are still extensive, he says.

It was a “thorough investigation of someone’s life”, and interviews included questions about movements in MIQ hotels.

The results also show a single chain of transmission, Bloomfield says, but how the transmission came about was still being investigated. They are looking at all options and taking all precautions.

He says there is no evidence of any community transmission.

“We can confirm the father had not been at work … and the child has not been at a early childcare centre.”

Minister in charge of the Covid-19 Response Chris Hipkins says the source case – who stayed in MIQ – and one of the other cases had been out of their rooms at the same time – when the virus could have been transmitted.

Therefore all returnees in managed isolation will stay in their rooms after receiving their day 12 test until the end of their stay in isolation, he says.

He says next week he will receive more advice about improving how MIQ rooms are allocated.

Those who come in on the same flight are already kept together as much as possible, he says.

Other changes have already been made – including the addition of day zero or day one tests.

Bloomfield says in addition to the two new cases in the community, there are three new cases in managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) today, and there are 69 active cases in total.

Bloomfield says people who leave MIQ are told what symptoms to look for and what to do if they exhibit them.

As for contact tracing, the family of the two new cases have been interviewed and locations of interest have been published.

The list, which is available here, will develop, he says.

The two cases have 11 close contacts and five have been tested and returned negative results.

The 168 people who were at the locations of interest related to the two new cases at the same time were alerted via the Covid Tracer app.

At the Pullman Hotel, 201 of the 219 staff working during the period of concern have been tested and 199 returned negative tests, Hipkins says. The others are still to come.

Hipkins says so far, all others who stayed in the facility who have been tested returned negative tests.

He says despite no new guests being allowed into the Pullman, all those incoming to MIQ in the country will be accommodated – that’s what the contingency spaces left available are for.

The Pullman had good swipe card data, which helped with tracking, he says.

There have been 6230 tests undertaken in the past week.

Hipkins says improving testing was always being considered – saliva testing was being trialled as well.

More than 100,000 people have been through MIQ, he says, but there is no “absolutely risk-free pathway”.

Discussing Auckland Anniversary weekend, Hipkins would not say if people in the region should stay home.

Hipkins wants everyone in the country to be following Covid-19 news, advice and updates from the government.

Hipkins says he can’t guarantee everywhere in the Pullman Hotel is covered by CCTV.

On a Covid-19 vaccine, Hipkins says New Zealand vaccine production capability is quite limited, as far as he understands.

He has repeated that there is a need to allow Kiwis to come home, and that there are already long delays for those wanting to come back.

Advice from the Ministry of Health:

  • The recent cases of Covid-19 in Auckland and Northland have been linked to Managed Isolation and Quarantine. There is no evidence so far that suggests community transmission.
  • The locations visited by the recent cases can be found on the Ministry of Health website
  • To help stamp out Covid-19, it’s important the right people isolate and get tested
  • If you were at the locations of interest at the times stated, you need to: isolate away from others, call Healthline 0800 358 5453 for advice on when and where to get tested, and remain isolated until you have a negative test result
  • If you were not at a location of interest at the stated times and you have no symptoms you do not need to be tested
  • If you were not at any of the locations of interest at the stated times, but you have symptoms, call Healthline for advice on 0800 358 5453
  • If you are going to get tested, remember you may have to queue. Please take food and water and continue to be kind to each other and our public health team
  • Everyone should continue to scan QR codes using the Covid Tracer app and turn Bluetooth on to help stop the spread of Covid-19

Commentary: Stranded Tongans want more details on costs of getting home and ask why there is no government subsidy for quarantine in New Zealand

By
Kaniva Staff
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Commentary: Tongans stranded overseas say they need more information from the government about the costs of getting back to the kingdom.

They want to know especially about why the government was not subsiding quarantine in New Zealand, whether New Zealand would still pay for Covid tests and how money from donor organisations and countries was being used.

Tongans who wanted to return to the kingdom were also anxious to find out whether Hon. Tu’i’onetoa’s statement in June last year that New Zealand would pay for Covid-19 testing still stood.

Tonga  budgeted TP$60 million for its fight against Covid-19.

Kaniva News believes the government has a responsibility to give Tongans stranded overseas for months the full picture and show that it is accountable to its own citizens.

Part of that explanation may be to detail the restrictions and rules around how donor money can be spent.

Yesterday Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa’s government announced that Tongans stranded in countries other than New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific had to pay for quarantine fees in New Zealand out of their own pocket.

Passengers stranded in New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Samoa and the kingdom’s neighbouring countries will travel to Tonga before continuing to go through the 14-day quarantine process there. These people will enjoy their time at these isolation facilities free.

We believe there is an issue here for the government to look at in regard to fair distribution of the country’s budget being set aside to help fight against the Covid pandemic.

In the past 24 hours Kaniva News has spoken to people who say they want more details about the government’s announcement and the payments they have to make.

Tongans stranded in the US, Europe and elsewhere can travel to New Zealand and complete the 14-day stay in Covid-19 managed isolation there before being repatriated to Tonga.

This is part of a plan for more repatriation flights to Tonga which is expected to run from February until June this year.

Flights from Australia will be chartered and paid for by fruit pickers’ employers and will be used to repatriate fruit pickers, as well as other passengers.

Only Tongans from Brisbane and Canberra will be repatriated, due to the status of Covid-19 in other Australian states.

Tonga remains Covid-19 free, but has repatriated less than 30 percent of the more than 7000 people overseas. It has been very slow in comparison with other Pacific countries.

Some people told Kaniva News they wanted the Tongan government to explain why they did not subsidise the quarantine fees in New Zealand because most of them were not working and had no source of income.

In New Zealand, the quarantine payment is quoted as “NZ$3100 for the first or only person in the room (whether that is an adult or a child) with NZ$950 for each additional adult and NZ$475 for each additional child (3-17 years old, inclusive) sharing that room, all GST inclusive. There will be no charge for children under the age of three if they are staying in a room with another person.”

Donor money

Some people have also asked how the money supplied by donor organisations like the World Bank and outside countries to fight Covid-19 in Tonga has been spent. They have also asked why it has not been used to help bring people home.

The reality is that most donor money is very specifically targeted

In May 2020 the World Bank gave US$2.9 million to support health-sector preparedness for Covid-19 and to buy critical health equipment, including ventilators, monitors and personal protection.

The IMF has just approved a US$9.95 million under its Rapid Credit Facility, to help meet Tonga’s urgent balance of payments and fiscal needs arising from the Covid-19 pandemic and Cyclone Harold.

In December the World Bank approved a $30 million package to help Tongan businesses, workers and vulnerable households.

Repatriation flights

Repatriation flights are scheduled to depart every three weeks from New Zealand, Australia and Fiji.

Date of Repatriation to Tonga From Country
4 February New Zealand, Fiji
11 February Australia
25 February New Zealand, Fiji
18 March New Zealand, Australia
8 April New Zealand, Australia
29 April New Zealand, Australia
20 May New Zealand, Australia
3 June New Zealand, Australia

FAKAMATALA FAKA-TONGA

‘Oku ‘i ai e faka’amu ke fakamahino pe ‘oku kei tu’u pe fanongonongo ‘a e ‘Eiki Palēmia’ he ta’u kuo ‘osi’ ‘o pehē kuo fakahā ‘e he palēmia ‘o Nu’u Sila’ ‘e totongi ‘e Nu’u Sila ‘a e sivi Koviti 19 ‘a e tokotaha kotoa ‘oku ‘amanaki folau ki Tonga’. ‘Oku NZ$300 tupu ki he toko taha ‘a e sivi ko ‘eni. Ko e kau Tonga tu’u vakā ‘i ‘Amelika mo ‘Iulope ‘e pau ke nau feinga mai ki Nu’u Sila ‘o kolonitini ai pea te nau fua pe ‘a e fakamole ko ia’. ‘Oku ‘i he NZ$3000 tupu ‘a e toko taha ki he kolonitini ko ‘eni’. Faka’amu e tokolahi ‘e kolonitini ‘i Nu’u Sila na’a lava fakamahino ko e hā ‘uhinga ‘oku ‘ikai lava ai e pule’anga’ ‘o sapusitaisi pe totongi ha konga ‘o ‘enau fakamole’ he ko e tokolahi heni ‘ikai ke nau ngāue. ‘E ta’etotongi kinautolu ia mei Nu’u Sila mo ‘Aositelēlia mo e Pasifiki ‘e kolonitini ‘i Tonga’. Kuo ‘i ai foki mo e tokanga he ‘oku ‘ikai ngata he lahi e ngaahi tokoni lau miliona kuo ‘o hake ki Tonga ke tokoni ki he Koviti 19 ka ne ‘osi ‘i ai ‘a e patiseti ‘a Tonga $60 miliona ke tau’i’aki ‘a e vailasi’ ni. ‘Oku ‘i ai e faka’amu ke ‘ata ki tu’a ‘a e ngaahi fakamatala fekau’aki mo e ‘ū tokoni ko ‘eni’.

His Majesty’s Armed Forces soldier arrested with cannabis at quarantine facility

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tongan cops have arrested a 23-year-old soldier from Holonga with illicit drugs on Monday 25 January 2021.

His Majestyʻs Armed Forces base in Senē, Kolomotuʻa. Photo/Kalino Lātū

Police were acting upon a request from His Majesty’s Armed Forces to conduct a search of the Taliai Military Camp.

“The Drug Enforcement Taskforce conducted a search of the Compound and found drug utensils which led to the arrest of the on duty officer at Makeke Quarantine Facility at Vaini,” Police said.

Police seized 1.91 grams of cannabis and drug utensils during the arrest.

The accused has been charged with possession of illicit drugs and utensils.

He is remanded in police custody to appear at the Magistrate Court at a later date.

Judge blames Noble for confusion over rental agreement, but still orders tenant to move out

By
Philip Cass
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Lord Chief Justice Whitten has blamed Lord Lasike for creating a situation in which he sub-let a building to tenants without telling the ANZ Bank, from which he held a mortgage.

Lord Lasike. Photo/Youtube

He said the Noble’s failure to adhere to his obligations had led to a situation in which one of his tenants believed that she still held a tenancy in the building on terms set by Lord Lasike, even after the bank had reclaimed it and re-sold it.

Junior Leata McCarthy sought to argue that her tenancy agreement with Lord Lasike was valid and that she believed that the building’s new owners and the bank, had by their actions and failure to directly indicate otherwise, accepted the arrangement and would let her stay in the building for many years to come.

The case had its origins in October 2004 when Lord Lasike borrowed TP$170,000 from the ANZ. As security for the loan, Lord Lasike executed a land and chattel mortgage over the land.

The property on Taufa’ahau Road is between the premises of EM Jones and Sioeli Tuita’s property in Nuku’alofa.

As part of the mortgage, Lord Lasike, a former Speaker of Parliament, had to agree to not lease or sublease the property without the previous consent in writing of the bank.

Lord Lasike went on to establish on the property what became known as the Sandyboyz Motel, which was a commecial failure.

He therefore decided to rent out rooms within the buildings to be used by tenants for shops.  On March 1, 2014, Lord Lasike entered into a rental agreement with McCarthy, who opened the Le-Ata Fashion Boutique & Giftshop.

The agreement was for 15 years at TP$1000 a month.

She agreed to renovate and upgrade the premises at her own expense.

Lord Lasike did not tell the bank about the rental agreement.

During his oral evidence, he said he did not obtain any legal advice before executing the documents or read them before signing them.

 In or about 2016, Lord Lasike defaulted on the loan in 2016, owing TP$1.159 million.

After the Noble defaulted on the mortgage, the bank sold the  building to Edgar Cocker, currently  Tonga’s Chief Secretary and Secretary to Cabinet for TP$750,000.

The Noble then told his tenants to pay their rent to the  bank.

McCarthy said she had the “impression” that her rental agreement with Lord Lasike “was alright.”

Mr Cocker presented the Defendant with a new rental agreement, the key terms of which were an increased rent to $1,500 per month and a period of only one year. 

The Defendant rejected the agreement, claiming she was entitled to remain on the property under her tenancy agreement with Lord Lasike.

Cocker demanded that McCarthy leave the property so that he could demolish the existing buildings and redevelop the site into a shopping mall.

McCarthy refused to move and Cocker sought an eviction order and damages.

Ruling

Lord Chief Justice Whitten ruled that Cocker Enterprises Ltd had given McCarthy more than reasonable notice  of the termination of her tenancy of the shop and the demand for her to vacate it. 

The Defendant’s refusal to vacate the property was unlawful. Therefore, since February 16, 2020, the Defendant has been a trespasser on the property.

McCarthy was ordered to pay TP$11,000, the equivalent of 11 months’ rent.

The judge ruled that McCarthy had to vacate the property and remove her belongings from it within 28 days of the ruling and pay Cocker’s costs.

ONGOONGO’ ‘I HE LEA FAKA-TONGA’

Ne pehē ‘e he ‘Eiki Fakamaau Lahi ne hoko ‘a e tōnounou he ngaahi fatongia ‘o Looti Lasike’ ke kei  kohu pe taha ‘ene kau fakalele pisnisi totongi ‘i he taha hono ngaahi fale’ ‘oku kei mafai lahi pe ‘a e aleapau nofo totongi ne na fefakamo’oni’aki ai ‘o a’u pe ki he hili hono to’o ‘e he pangikee’ mei he nōpele’ ‘o toe fakatau atu ‘a e fale ko ‘eni’ ki ha ‘ouna kehe. Ko e fefine pisinisi ‘eni ko Junior Leata McCarthy pea na’a’ ne hā ‘i he fakamaau’anga lahi hili hano faka’ilo ia ‘e Edgar Cocker mo ‘ene pisinisi Cocker Enterprise Ltd, ‘a ia ko e ‘ouna fo’ou ia ‘o e kelekele mo e fale ko ‘eni ‘oku tu’u he hala Taufa’āhau’ ‘i loto Nuku’alofa. Ko e pisinisi ‘a McCarthy ne ‘iloa ko e Le-ata Boutique & Gift Shop. Ne na aleapau mo Looti Lasike ‘i he 2014 ke pisinisi totongi ‘a McCarthy he fale ‘o e nōpele ‘a ia ne ‘iloa ko e ‘Sandyboyz Motel’ ki he mahu’inga ko e $1,000 he māhina ‘i ha ta’u ‘e 15 toki ‘osi ki he 2029. Ka ne ‘ikai fakahā ‘e Looti Lasike ‘eni ki he pangikee’, ‘o hangē ko e aleapau’, pe  kia McCarthy ‘oku fihia e ‘api’ ‘i ha mōkisi ‘i he pangikē ANZ. ‘I he 2016 ne ‘ikai toe lava ‘e Lasike tā fakafoki ‘ene noo’, ‘a ia ne a’u e mo’ua he taimi ko ia’ ki he 1 miliona tupu’, pea iku ala mai e pangikee’ ‘o fa’ao e fale’ ‘a ia ko e taha ia e koloa malu’i. Ne fakatau leva ia ‘e he pangikee’ ki he ‘ouna fo’ou’ ko Edgar Cocker mo hono hoa’. Ne hoko heni ha palopalema ‘i hono toki ‘ilo ‘e Cocker ‘a e tu’unga ne ‘i ai ‘a McCarthy mo ‘ena aleapau mo Lasike’. Ne kau heni hono hono tu’utu’uni atu ‘e Cocker ke fakafo’ou e aleapau ke $1,500 he māhina. Ne iku foki ‘o ‘ikai lelei e alea ko ‘eni’ pea a’u ki he tu’unga ne liliu ‘e Cocker e loka ki he fale’ ka ne to’o ia ‘e McCarthy.  Ne iku ai ‘o ‘ave ‘e Cocker ‘a McCarthy ki he fakamaau’anga. Na’e tu’utu’uni aofangatuku leva ‘a e fakamaau lahi ke mavahe ‘a McCarthy mei he ‘api’ ni pea ke ne totongi huhu’i ‘a e fakamole ‘a Cocker.

Soane Ramanlal wanted by NZ authority over fraud charges

By
Kalino Latu
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An arrest warrant has been issued in New Zealand for 62-year-old Soane Ramanlal.

Roger Pikia. Photo/Teara Wariver Iwi Trust

He hasn’t been seen recently in Auckland where he has his own property in Epsom.

Ramanlal has a warrant out for his arrest after being charged by the Serious Fraud Office but is believed to no longer be in New Zealand, the New Zealand Herald reported.

Ramanlal was Chief Executive Officer of Shoreline Communications, a company co-owned by his elder brother Josef Ramanlal and Late King George V while the king was Crown Prince Tupouto‘a.

The company granted the exclusive right to provide the power to the government electricity company and later the supply of mobile telephone services to the public by its Tonfon division.

In May 2005, the king announced the company was transferred back to the government including all potential partners and the electricity assets owned and managed by the Shoreline Group since 1998. The announcement came after the Tongan government confirmed during the same month it’s suspending an electricity tax after thousands of people took to the streets to protest against it.

The pro-Democracy Movement organised the march, calling for the power supply to be taken from the Shoreline company, Radio New Zealand reported.

Soane’s fraud charges revelation came after the SFO has brought fraud charges against Roger Pikia, the chairman of Te Arawa River Iwi Trust (TARIT) and its investment company THL Limited (THL).

Mr Pikia, 58, did not enter a plea when he appeared in the Auckland District Court last year December 16.

He was charged with ‘Obtaining by deception’, ‘Corrupt acceptance of gift by an agent’, ‘Receiving a secret reward for procuring a contract’, ‘Perverting the course of justice’ and ‘Conspiracy to commit an offence’. The charges are in relation to his role as chairman of TARIT and THL.

Mr Pikia’s co-defendant, who was believed to be the Ramanlal, was charged with ‘Conspiracy to commit an offence’. He was not present during the December hearing.

In 2016 the Maori trust was granted land leases and at least 50 years control over the former public enterprise Tonga Forest Products Limited.

At the time, the Tongan government said the trust, represents two iwi and had agreed to pay just over US$4.4 million in return for management of the company for 50 years, with the option to renew for a further 25 years.

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