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Island residents, officials, complain about having to provide feasts for fasting and prayer tours; PM gifts villagers

By
Kalino Latu
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Residents of Tonga’s outer islands are beginning to revolt at demands for elaborate feasts to be provided for the government’s prayer and fasting tours.

Reliable sources have told Kaniva News that the government’s heads of departments in Vava’u were told to provide polas.

PM Tu’i’onetoa’s mokopuna Loseta (right)  performing a tau’olunga with a tekiteki of $1000 donated by the Prime Minister and his family to the Tu’anekivale village development projects. Photo/Television Tonga (Screenshot)

A pola is originally a long tray made of coconut fronds plaited together. It can be used to serve up to 30 types of dishes, which can include chicken, crayfish, octopus, pork and vegetables steamed in an umu, suckling pig, and several varieties of tropical fruits.

However, the Vava’u officials are reported to have complained that they could not afford to buy the food.

In the end the government team led by Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa were provided with huge meals at the expense of the Vava’u locals.

Town officers in some districts, including Hahake and Leimātu’a, rejected requests by the governor’s office to provide polas for the tour. They said they did not believe people should be obliged to bear such expenses.

The Governor of Vava’u, Lord Fakatulolo, has been contacted for comment.

There were complaints from Longomapu locals about the programme which had been announced to be attended by the Prime Minister.

The locals gathered at the Maamamo’onia hall and waited, but they were finally told the programme was cancelled because the Prime Minister and his team were travelling to the island of Ofu, an estate of Lord Tu’ilakepa, the Minister of Agriculture, Forest and Food

Prime Minister’s donations

Meanwhile, during a celebration in Tu’anekivale on Saturday to open a new weaving hall and centre for women it was announced the Prime Minister and his family have donated TOP$1,000 to help the village’s development.

Another donation was presented to the Governor of Vava’u from the Prime Minister and his entourage but the total amount of money was not announced.

A Tongan tau’olunga item was performed as part of the donations with Tongan handicrafts were also presented as gifts for the locals.

Cabinet ministers and officers attending the celebration were seen at the tau’olunga spot rewarding the dancer and the tu’ulāfale people with pa’anga notes.

The Tu’anekivale villagers also presented a hā’unga which was a hog and kava plant for the Prime Minister and his government retinue.

As Kaniva News reported since last week, the controversy surrounding the use of hundreds of thousands of taxpayers’ money for the national fasting and prayer programme has drawn a strong response from the Prime Minister, who said it was one of his policies to fight against Covid-19.

Kaniva News was told a protest was staged and ready to welcome the Prime Minister on his way from the airport last week, but was cancelled after the governor, Lord Fakatulolo, arrived at the scene and pleaded with the protestors to please cancel it as it would affect his relationship with the Prime Minister. The protestors agreed.

We have reported photos of a number of vehicles being draped with banners, including one which accused the Prime Minister of duping the people of Vava’u. Those photos were taken at the scene.

As we reported, another banner demanded the Prime Minister resign and another read “Stop the Kefeu Palemia ke Sesele” (Stop imposing curfews are you foolish Prime Minister).

“You can fool all the people some of the time and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool Vava’u all the time,” another banner read.

Tongan fruit picker charged with murder in Australia after Vanuatu man’s death

By
Kalino Latu
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A Tongan man has been charged with murder after a male Vanuatu fruit picker was killed at a Riverland farm in Adelaide on August 2.

Kaniva Tonga News

Manu Vi, 25, faced the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday by video link, and has yet to plead to one count of murder, the Queensland Times online has reported.

The charge arises from an incident at Paringa, 260km north east of Adelaide, on August 2.

Vi was originally charged with manslaughter after his alleged victim, a 29-year-old Vanuatu national, did not show up for work the day after the incident.

The Vanuatu man was found unresponsive in his cabin that night and rushed to hospital, but died two days later.

On Tuesday, police prosecutors said the charges against Vi were subsequently upgraded to murder, the paper said.

The Magistrate Court has postponed the case until May to allow the investigators to complete their tasks including getting people to do translation works.

“There was a fight, the victim intervened and has taken a blow to the face which has, ultimately, killed him,” the report said.

Commentary: PM uses economic model to explain cost of island trips, but cannot justify other decisions.

By
Kalino Latu
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Kaniva commentary:

Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa has claimed his government’s fasting and prayer tours to the outer islands are justified by what he calls the economic multiplier effect model.

Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa. Photo/MOI

Under this model, he claims, the visits, which are estimated to be costing hundreds of thousands of pa’anga, are helping the kingdom because the money that is spent will benefit the people.

Hon. Tu’i’onetoa said the expenditure on travel benefitted the local tourism businesses, the local stores, the people in the villages who sold handicrafts, food and dancers in celebrations. He said the money was returned to the government in the form of taxes and in that way kept Tonga’s economy afloat during the border closures.

That may be how the Prime Minister sees it, but many people would question the logic of his reasoning. There have already been accusations – which have drawn a strong response from the Prime Minister –  that government spending on the fasting and prayer tours only benefit his Cabinet Ministers, their wives, his People’s Party members and supporters.

The former Auditor General now has defended the government’s actions by saying his critics do not understand economics.

Yesterday, Kaniva News reported that Tongan civil servants have complained after being told their annual salary increases, known as increments, would not be paid before the Christmas holidays as usual. After the issue was revealed in Parliament, the Minister of Finance said the money was ready, but that he would talk to the Public Service Commission CEO to see if the civil servants could be paid half of their increments before this Christmas Holidays.

After Kaniva released this story readers and social media users heightened their criticisms of the cost of Prime Minister Tu’i’onetoa’s fasting and prayer tours and asking why he was treating the civil servants so badly.

It seems  the Prime Minister has not applied his multiplier effect model to the civil servants. There are more than 3000 civil servants in Tonga. His tour team to the outer islands only has about 20 members. If he was genuine with his economic model he would have made sure the civil servants were paid on time to make sure that during the Christmas holidays they used the money according to his multiplier effect model.

On Sunday night Kaniva reported that shipments of 10 consignments of watermelons, which were expected to be transported to New Zealand on December 5, had been cancelled because of a problem that could have been avoided if the government stepped in before it happened.

The issue needed immediate intervention from the Prime Minister and the Minister of Agriculture, Lord Tu’ilakepa, but they were in Vava’u as part of the Cabinet’s tour to promote its controversial Covid-19 fasting and prayer service.

This was another incident that really called into question the Prime Ministers’ multiplier effect model. Although there are only a small number of melon growers in Tonga, the millions of pa’anga that would be generated when their melons were sold in New Zealand would benefit the country as a whole. However, the Prime Minister and his entourage busied themselves in praying and fasting while these growers’ complaints about the problems they were facing appear to have fallen on deaf ears.

Hon. Tu’i’onetoa’s  multiplier effect model is unfair as it only seems to be used to justify the expenditure on government politicians, family members and  the party faithful.

What about the rest of the country? There were no benefit wages for the rest of the country including the single mothers, unemployments, the youth, orphans, school leavers, or the sick. The only benefits payment was TOP$65 for the elderly once a month. The king has an annual budget of about TOP$5 million and the nobles have received controversial salaries with no job descriptions to justify their cost for many years now.

The Prime Minister’s economic multiplier model sounds fine in theory, but is deeply flawed. It might be used to justify – in a very narrow sense – the cost of the outer island excursions, but it seems unable to justify the economic decisions outlined above.

Reckless driving conviction quashed; Supreme Court rules magistrate ignored evidence

By
Kaniva Staff
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The Supreme Court has overturned a conviction for reckless driving in the magistrate’s court.

Lord Chief Justice Whitten, presiding, criticised the magistrate’s ruling.

The judge said the Magistrate had failed to take into consideration relevant evidence.

On July 20, 2019, Sepastiano Mikaele was driving with his wife in Neiafu in Kameli about 1am. Their vehicle swayed onto the right hand side of the road and collided with a parked vehicle owned by Lupeni Tupou, causing TP$15,000 damage. Mikaele pleaded not guilty to a charge of reckless driving.

In February this year he was convicted by Principal Magistrate Mafi and fined TP$200.

Police officer Mo’unga Koluse told the magistrate’s court that Mikaele told him he had had a coughing fit which continued while his vehicle left the road and hit the parked car.

Mikaele repeated the evidence in court, saying: “I started coughing and I thought it would be alright and we just continued on going and the coughing just escalated.”

Argument was put on his  behalf that he could not be guilty of reckless driving because of the  coughing fit.

However, the Magistrate favoured evidence from the police that Mikaele smelt of alcohol, was drunk and had been speeding.

Lord Chief Justice Whitten was critical of Magistrate Mafi’s reasons for finding Mikaele was guilty.

“Unfortunately, the Magistrate’s reasons reveal a circumscribed view of the evidence and reasoning which failed to take into account not only the appellant’s own evidence about the events leading to the collision but, more importantly, the police officer’s account of the appellant having told him about the coughing fit leading to the collision,” Judge Whitten said.

He ordered that the conviction be quashed and the sentence set aside.

The matter was remitted to the Magistrates Court for a retrial before a different Magistrate.

Civil servants complain after salary increments not paid before Christmas holidays as gov’t admits fault

By
Kalino Latu
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Tonga civil servants have complaint after being told their annual salary increases would not be paid before this Christmas holidays as usual.

Finance Minister Tēvita Lavemaau. Photo/Kalino Lātū

Known as Performance Management System (PMS), the public servants were entitled to an annual pay increase based on their performance.

The complaint was raised in Parliament last week by the Opposition saying the civil servants wanted answer.

In response, the Minister of Finance Tevita Lavemaau said there was a problem.

Hon Lavemaau said the delay came after the Public Service Commission CEO has revealed there were works still needed to be completed.

He said the CEO has asked to postpone it until January next year.

Hon Lavemaau said the money was ready and he would talk to the PSC CEO again to see if there was a chance to pay the civil servants parts of their increments before the holidays.

He said it has been for three years now the civil servants have been paid their increments before Christmas holidays.

He said this year there was a problem because of the Covid-19 pandemic and the CEOs were busy with other duties.

Vava‘u protestors say tour breaches the government’s own Covid-19 emergency laws

By
Kalino Latu
-

There were protests in Vava’u this weekend as the Prime Minister arrived for another fasting and prayer service.

This photo is a screenshot of a live Facebook video clip shared by Television Tonga showing the Prime Minister Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa (second to left) , His Health Minister Prof ‘Amelia Tu’ipulotu (left)  and Chief Secretary Edgar Cocker (second to right), Vava’u Health Superintendent Dr Sa’ale Lākai (right)  during a visit around Ngu Hospital in Vava’u on Thursday. They appear to have breached the 1.5 social distancing restriction.

Prime Minister Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa also opened new weaving houses and community centres for women.

Protestors said the government tour contradicted the official curfew laws.

They said the government should stop imposing curfews.

Videos seen by Kaniva News appear to show the government officials and the Prime Minister breaching the 1.5 metre social distancing in the way they visited places and mixed and mingled with people after arriving in Vava’u last week.

Hon. Tuʻiʻonetoa and his entourage were welcomed to a “houa ‘ilo,” which is Tongan for the hour (“houa”) of feasting prepared for nobles and high class people, at Tu’anekivale this afternoon. The food for the houa ‘ilo was prepared and provided by the locals.

At the same time protests were staged in Neiafu, with a number of vehicles being draped with banners, including one which accused the Prime Minister of duping the people of Vava’u.

One of the protests’ banners calling on the Prime Minister to stop imposing curfews. Photo/Facebook

Another banner demanded the Prime Minister to resign.

The protesters criticised the Prime Minister’s recent new laws requiring drivers and front passengers to wear seat belts.

Banners read:

“Fu’u mamafa mo’ua faka’uli ta’eleta” (The seatbelt legislation is costly)

“Fie ma’u ke ke fakafisi”(You need to resign)

“Stop the Kefeu Palemia ke Sesele” (Stop imposing curfews Prime Minister are you foolish)

Another banner asked the Prime Minister why he made laws to punish the people.

“You can fool all the people some of the time and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool Vava’u all the time,” another banner read.

Another banner from Vava’u protesters last week. Photo/Facebook

Protesters also criticised the move by the People’s Party Deputy Chair Etuate Lavulavu to submit a Bill to control kava sales and exports.

It was unclear who was behind the banners and the protests, but photos taken of the vehicles and banners were  shared to Facebook by several users, including former Vava’u parliamentary candidate, PTOA Supporter and business operator Tomifa Paea.

He wrote a caption on the photos thanking the protesters for enlightening the people and helping to build the nation

In Tongan he said: “Malo e fakamaama mo e ngaue lahi tokoni kihe tau langa fonua.”

Tonga’s Declaration of a State of Emergency has been renewed from 8pm on November 23 to 8pm on December 21, due to the continuing spread of CoViD-19 around the world.

Night-time curfews  from midnight to 5am will be enforced by the Tonga Police, His Majesty’s Armed Forces and relevant authorised officers.

It said all activities and gatherings in Tonga shall comply with social distancing, keeping 1.5m from any other person at all times.

In April Police have arrested 568 people since a state of emergency was declared on 28 March to try and counter Covid-19.

357 of those arrested had allegedly breached the lockdown rules or obstructed officers.

The lockdown includes a night time curfew.

Power out in parts of Vaheloto after car crash in Tongatapu

By
Kaniva Staff
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About 100 homes in the area of Pea and Veitongo are without electricity this morning after a vehicle crashed into a power pole.

Electricity is not expected to be restored until after 9.30am when a broken pole be replaced, Tonga Power Board was quoted by local media as announcing.

Photos of the crash had been posted to Facebook by Broadcom FM Broadcasting.

It did not provide the details of the crash or where did it happen.

Court rules Police, Fisheries raid was illegal; orders gov’t to pay TP$5000 compensation

By
Philip Cass
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The Supreme Court has ordered the government to pay TP$5000 compensation after police and fisheries officers raided a business without a warrant.

The raid took place on March 25 this year on a property in Ma’ufanga, known as the Blue Pacific, which operates as a  sales yard for sand and the storage of containers.

The raid was part of a joint operation aimed at combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in Tonga.

Constable Halapua gave evidence that based on reports received and video footage filmed from a drone, he led a team to raid the property.

The nature, reliability and amount of evidence cited by officers involved in the case was called into question during the trial by Lord Chief Justice Whitten.

Halapua testified that on the day of the search he had discussed the matter with Chief Inspector Saimone Fifita and Inspector ‘One’one of the police prosecutions division, who told him he could rely on Section 123 of the Tonga Police act to conduct the search without a warrant.

S.123 says that places, vehicles, vessels and aircraft can be searched without a warrant  if a police officer is satisfied, on reasonable grounds, that a serious offence has been committed, is being committed or is about to be committed and that it would be impracticable, unreasonable or not in the interests of justice if the officer was required to apply for a warrant in order to conduct a search in relation to the offence.

The government officers believed beche de mer (sea cucumbers) were hidden on the premises of Blue Pacific. The Court was hearing a complaint from the company’s manager, De Feng Mo.

Feng said Halapua refused to let him call his lawyer and knocked the phone out of his hand. Other employers also had their phones confiscated and one staff member was stopped from leaving the premises.

During the two hour search no beche de mer were found.

Feng said he was repeatedly asked where he had hidden the sea cucumbers.  Feng said that he did not know what the officer was talking about. He said Halapua told him not to lie.

Halapua said 83 shark fins were found drying and were confiscated. They were later found to belong to Feng’s wife, Katalaine Fehoko.

The judge said that while the government officials had committed trespass, it was the result of “honest, if erroneous, opinion” about whether S.123 applied in this particular situation.

“It did not reflect any outrageous or high-handed manner in the way the officers undertook the operation and reached the decision to search without warrant,” Judge Whitten said.

The judge ordered the government to pay Feng TP$1000 for trespass and TP$1000 in exemplary damages.

The government was also ordered to pay TP$2000 in compensation for unlawful detention and assault and TP$1000 in exemplary damages.

The government has also been ordered to pay Feng’s costs and to return the shark fins.

Air Vanuatu names Tongan-born ‘Atu Fīnau as new CEO

By
Kalino Latu
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Air Vanuatu has appointed New Zealand-Tongan resident ‘Atu Finau as its new chief executive officer.

Fly Niu owner ‘Atu Finau at the Auckland International Airport. Photo/Kalino Lātū

“In appointing you to this position the board has confidence in your professionalism and ability that you will successfully perform the role and responsibilities to the best of your knowledge and to working together carry out the vision of the current board as mandated by the Shareholders in the best interest of Air Vanuatu,” Sam Fin, the Chairman of the Air Vanuatu Board said in an acceptance letter to Finau seen by Kaniva News.

Finau, 56, has experience of more than 25 years as a licensed engineer and knowledge of all aircrafts in Air Vanuatu’s fleet including the ATR 72-500 and extensive experience in Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

He was expected to start in the new role this week after flying this morning from Auckland in a repatriation flight to Port Vila.

“I am incredibly proud to be given the job of nurturing and building on the legacy of an iconic company in the Pacific islands,” Finau said.

He said Air Vanuatu was deservedly recognised as one of the Pacific islands’ great airlines and that he looks forward to working alongside its people to take it to the next level especially while international airlines were expected to start flying early next year.

The appointment was effective 26 October 2020 about six years after Finau left the airline in 2014 as general manager.

He then returned to Tonga in an attempt to revive his Fly Niu airlines which was forced out of the kingdom about 16 years ago but it was unsuccessful after repeated meetings with Tongan authorities.

Finau said he was excited about his new appointment as he saw this as an opportunity to create a Tonga destination link with the Air Vanuatu.

New Zealand gives ‘temporary approval’ for import of Tonga watermelons, source says

By
Kalino Latu
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New Zealand has lifted the suspension on Tonga watermelons imports with special requirements, a source has told Kaniva News this morning.

The ban imposed more than two months ago stopped the export of melons after live fruit fly larvae were detected at the New Zealand border on a consignment of watermelons from the kingdom.

Watermelons sold in Tonga after the ban. Photo/Supplied

It is understood a special event is expected to be held in Nuku’alofa this morning to issue the temporary approval permit by the New Zealand authority in Tonga.

Our source said it is a satisfying outcome given the importance of trade for both countries and how New Zealand favourably considered the Tongan farmers’ situation.

The news came after plans to send New Zealand watermelons from Tonga last week were postponed, sparking claims the information released about the arrangement was just made up to arouse growers’ hopes.

As Kaniva News reported yesterday, Tonga’s Trade Minister Samiu Vaipulu said there were things that still needed to be completed in the process after a plan to temporarily unblock the export last week.

Growers who exported their melons through the government had been paid 50 percent of their price and the government was looking at paying for the melons which were destroyed in New Zealand.

“We have made an agreement with the growers,” Hon. Vaipulu said, but did not give any details of the agreement.

He said the shipment containing the infected melons was from a private company and it affected Tonga’s permit to send any more melons to New Zealand.

“Work was underway to establish a more organised system because it was a private shipment which was infected,” Hon. Vaipulu said in Tongan.

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