A 19-year-old from Ma’ufanga has been arrested after Ned Cook, 67, died yesterday Sunday 17.
The respected drug rehabilitation expert from the Salvation Army died after an incident at Vuna Rd on Friday evening, local media reported.
The victim, who was also from Ma’ufanga, died from his injuries at Vaiola hospital.
Police said investigation continues to determine the full circumstances of Cook’s death.
Further information will be released when it becomes available, Police said.
The Tonga government was not happy with International Rugby League (IRL) after the election of new board members over the weekend to operate the sport in the kingdom.
As Kaniva News reported on Friday, Opposition Leader MP Semisi Sika has been appointed chairman while Speaker Lord Fakafanua has been elected as president by local rugby league clubs in a meeting facilitated by the Implementation Committee (IC) established by the IRL.
“The Government holds strong reservations regarding the IC including the appropriateness of the proposed governance structure, the composition of its membership and the institutional arrangement,” the Prime Minister’s office said in a statement this morning.
“Whilst, the IRL has corresponded with the Government, we feel that this is has not been a constructive, effective nor professional manner in which to have engaged a Member Country regarding a matter of national and international significance.”
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It said the government was deeply concerned with the lack of consultation by the IRL leading up to the expulsion of the TNRL and subsequently with the recommendation to establish the IC.
“The Government is not confident that the IRL will be neutral and unbiased in the establishment of the IC. Furthermore, the Tonga Courts have adjudicated and determined the legal national representative of the Rugby League code in the Kingdom and for international representation.”
“Therefore, any attempt to disregard and defy the decision of Tonga’s sovereign legal system is not appreciated. Furthermore, Government recognizes the proceedings initiated before the Court of Sports Arbitration by the TNRL and will abide by any decision of the Court.
“The Government does not intend to engage any further with the International Rugby League, pending the decision of the Court.”
A deep magnitude-5.3 quake has been felt in Neiafu this morning.
It struck at about 2.11am and was 138km deep, Earthquake Track reported.
Vava’u Town Officer Vava Lapota said he felt the quake and it took about 5 seconds.
Police in Tonga have arrested 12 people on drugs charges and seized over 20.88 grams of methamphetamine as well as 272.96 cannabis and drug utensils.
The twelve accused were 20-year-old woman from Kolofoóu; 23-year-old woman from Fangaloto; 26-year-old man from Mataika; 28-year-old man from Maúfanga; 32-year-old man from Houmakelikao; 35-year-old man from Mataika; 37-year-old woman from Hofoa; 38-year-old man from Kapeta; 39-year-old man from Kolomotuá; 41-year-old man from Vaini; 41-year-old woman from Havelu and a 41-year-old man from Patangata.
They have been charged with possession of illicit drugs and to appear at the Magistrate Court at a later date.
Acting Deputy Commissioner Tevita Vailea said these arrests showed that those who were seeking to profit from the harm these drugs caused can continue to expect to be targeted by Police.
“This is a significant seizure, which has a potential to cause serious harm to our local community. There is no denying the detrimental impact illicit drugs has on our people’s lives.”
“Drugs have no place in our community; they destroy the lives of the users, harming our children and communities. We hope these arrests will bring some reassurance to the community.”
Anyone who may have information about drug related offending to please contact 22784.
Food Division authorities have been accused of being indecisive and letting down the Vava’u taskforce team.
The Neiafu Town Officer, Vāvā Lapota said the order to release six inactive refrigerators that had been seized was disappointing.
The row over the seizure of the refrigerators is the latest in a long running concern about unfit food being imported into Tonga, in particular Vava’u.
The release of the meat appears to have breached a recent order from Food Division head office in Tongatapu for the Vava’u taskforce to seize and destroy any meat which come to the islands in non- refrigerated containers.
The government taskforce includes members of the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Trade and Economic Development, Quarantine Department and Food Division.
Lapota was at the wharf during the incident last Thursday and took pictures of the seized refrigerators.
He said shortly after the seizure a man arrived at the wharf and was told the fridges had been seized, Lapota told Kaniva News.
He said the man then disappeared and returned with a government officer. Lapota claimed that shortly afterwards the taskforce was told that following a conversation with the Food Division in Tongatapu, the meat had to be released.
Lapota claimed the fridges were not opened for the taskforce to examine their contents.
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“Who in Tongatapu has the power to change the order for the taskforce to confiscate any meat that come in non-refrigerated containers?” Lapota asked in Tongan.
“I think it would be better for those at the main office in Tongatapu to come and inspect the meat here in Vava’u,” he said.
Lapota also complained that it appeared it was normal for Vava’u to buy chicken meat that when defrosted appeared to contain lots of dark blood.
Kaniva News has contacted Leody Vainikolo, the head of the Food Division in Vava’u for comment.
Shipping
Meanwhile, a man who worked in the government’s ships for more than 20 years has shared his experiences with Kaniva News about how meat had been shipped from Tongatapu to the outer islands in the past.
Ngalo’afē ‘Ulupano said it was not new for meat to be shipped in non-refrigerated containers.
He said he was the first mate of the MV ‘Olovaha and it was his job to look after the shipments.
‘Ulupano said there had been always problems because the meat shipments had to be uploaded to the ship in the morning before it left for the Ha’apai, Vava’u and the Niuas in the evening.
This meant before the ship left, the meat may have been on board for more that 10 hours.
The ships could travel from Tongatapu and arrived in Vava’u within 16 hours depending on the speed, the sea conditions and how long they would spend when stopping at Nomuka and Ha’apai.
“I witnessed that when the meat arrived they had been well defrosted and especially if they were not placed in safe container they would not be in good conditions,” ‘Ulupano said in Tongan.
He said meat that had been stored in well sealed containers were still in good conditions when they arrived in Vava’u and the outer islands.
‘Ulupano said once the ship arrived in Vava’u they had to remove the meat for Vava’u from the containers and filled them with the meat for the Niuas.
‘Ulupano also said the complaint regarding the dark blood coming out of the meat was raised during his tenure. He believed it happened because the meat had been shipped in non-refrigerated containers.
The main points
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MP Semisi Sika has been appointed the new chairman of Tonga Rugby League and Speaker Lord Fakafanua has been elected as the new president taking over from ousted Siaosi Koloamatangi.
Sika, the former president of the sport in Tonga, has confirmed his appointment to Kaniva News this evening.
Local businessman John Paul Chapman has been elected for the role of Finance Director.
It is understood the election took place after an Implementation Committee, appointed by International Rugby League (IRL) to find directors for a new governing body for Tonga’s rugby league, which will then seek to regain membership of IRL.
The election results came after what appear to be conflicting reports yesterday with Kaniva News reporting the Minister of Internal Affairs Vatau Hui saying he has not been made aware of the new board IRL said its Implementation Committee has established and that MP Sika and Lord Fakafanua had been shortlisted as candidates for the new board’s leadership.
Hui said the government has its own proposed new board at the request of the IRL and it will be submitted to the international body shortly. He said the proposed board did not include any of the members of the former controversial boards in Tonga.
Meanwhile, Talaki Online has reported yesterday that the International Court of Arbitration for Sports has ordered IRL to stop any further actions on what it has been doing for Tonga league because of an alleged appeal by the ousted Tonga National Rugby League Board.
RIF reported two international players Will Hopoate and Tonga Captain Sika Manu were new Board members appointed by the Implementation Committee.
“As a part of the organisation’s proposed new governance structure, player representation on the board has been introduced and current international player Will Hopoate and former Tonga captain Sika Manu have been elected by the national team squad to take up those positions,” RIF reports.
“IRL CEO Nigel Wood has also been in contact with Prime Minister, Hon Pohiva Tu’ionetoa, and IRL would like to thank him and his government for their support and encouragement of this process. The government has committed to working closely with IRL to see the restoration of Tonga to the international rugby league community.
The Speaker of Parliament ordered the live broadcast of the House’s debates to be turned off on Monday to allow the MPs to freely discussed the letter drafted as a response to the king’s speech last week to open the 2020-2021 sessions.
However, later during the session Lord Tu’iha’angana said the debates should have been broadcast live for the public to listen and learn from them.
The Parliamentarians debated the languages used in the letter, taking special care about the vocabulary and grammar.
The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Food and Fisheries Lord Tu’ilakepa questioned the use of the word fakamākukanga, saying the king may not understand what it meant.
He said the word was new to him and the word tukupā was normally used instead.
Responding, Vava’u 14 MP Saia Piukala said that in Tongan the word meant faivelenga or tōtoivi and it has been used by the Ministry of Ombudsman in writing their laws and was in the Tongan dictionary.
Minister of Internal Affairs Vātau Hui told the House the vocabulary was old-fashioned and the synonym ‘osikiavelenga could be used, which was simple and understandable.
The Minister, who was also a tutor on Tongan language, warned that using of a comma in the letter appeared unnecessary in some paragraphs and they had to be used correctly.
Tongatapu 9 MP Penisimani Fifita reminded the House of the social classification and usage of the Tongan language in which different words were used for the king, the nobility and the commoners.
The former teacher and Minister of Education said the word fakamākukanga added quality and fitted a letter to the king.
“When we talk about the king we used words that were tasty, pleasing and gratifying,” the Minister said in Tongan.
He said fakamākukanga in English meant to dedicate, commit and do the best.
The House finally passed the letter and the Speaker has chosen Lord Tu’i’āfitu and MP Piukala to take the letter to the Palace.
New Screens Use / Sworn in
The Speaker, Lord Fakafanua, revealed during Monday’s session that new screens had been placed around the chamber so Ministers and Parliamentary staff could see which MPs were taking part in each debate.
New MP for Tongatapu 1 Siaosi Pohiva was sworn in during Monday’s session.
He took his oath and swore to abide by the Constitution and the Law of Tonga and to perform his utmost in the best interest of the public.
He replaced the former MP of his constituency, his late father and former Prime Minister, Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva who died last year.
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The arrival of a shipment of what appears to be dirty plastic buckets full of salted beef in Vava’u without product labels caused disagreements between authorities at the Puatalefusi wharf last week.
Neiafu Town Officer Vāvā Lapota insisted the 18 commercial products should have been confiscated because they did not show expiry dates. He said the fact that the outside of the buckets were covered with dirt could arouse suspicion about the quality of the meat inside.
But they were released after the business owners contacted senior authorities at the Food Division office in Tonga.
Lapota said he was mystified by the way government authorities had handled the long-running disputes and complaints over the sale of expired meat and controversial food products in Vava’u.
He said it was illegal to sell food products without labels on them.
He said he was concerned about the conditions of the beef products after the Food CEO Dr Viliami Manu announced manufacturers had to use proper salt for the production of salted beef and fixed measurement had to be used.
Kaniva News understands the CEO told TBC if the wrong salt was used the beef could be contaminated.
Lapota said the complaints and seizure of expired food in Vava’u had occurred more than a dozen times and he questioned why the government authorities never applied the three-warning rule and charged the accused.
Lapota said the government’s slack handling of the issue had encouraged certain convenience store owners to continue selling expired food products in Vava’u.
He said he was starting to lose trust in the Ministry.
“It’s a long story,” he told Kaniva News.
Tonga’s Food Act 2014 says:
Every package of food intended for sale in the Kingdom shall contain a label which:
(a) permits its traceability;
(b) sets out such particulars as may be prescribed; and
(c) is in the English or Tongan language or a combination of both.
(2) Where food other than packaged food is displayed for sale, it shall be labelled as prescribed in regulations made under this Act.
CEO Response
Kaniva News has asked the Ministry’s CEO Dr Viliami Manu to respond to Lapota’s statements.
In his response Dr Manu said the responsibility of the Ministry was to make sure the food products could not affect the consumers’ health.
He said it would be an offence if someone sold foods that affected people’s health. They had to be warned three times and if they continued breaking the law they would be charged.
“The accused would face losing their business license or imprisonment for eight years or pay a fine of TP$100,000,” Dr Manu said.
CEO Manu did not respond to Lapota’s complaint about the buckets of salted beef being released from the wharf.
A comment on Lapota’s Facebook page by a Facebook user who went by the name Isileli Aholelei, and who claimed he was from the Food Division claimed the disputed salted beef was ordered to be released because they could still be consumed.
He said the Department had been working on the “labels of all the meats distributors in Tonga.”
‘Aholelei said this was the same thing they did for some repacked food products including flour, sugar, chicken, salt and mutton flaps.
They were allowed to be sold without labels because the Department was still working to have them ready for use, he said.
Aholelei also said they inspected suppliers on a weekly basis to make sure they maintained hygiene standards.
Food products seized and destroyed
As Kaniva News reported on April 22, a complaint from the Neiafu Town Officer led to the seizure of expired goods from a number of convenience stores.
We also reported claims that a number of convenience stores in Neiafu hid their expired goods in other places when authority inspected their stores.
Before that incident we reported that around 400 boxes of rotting chicken had been destroyed after authorities inspected a refrigerated container at a Chinese shop in Neiafu in February.
Bags of expired flour and rotting salted beef had been found at this store before the February bust.
In September 2019 authorities destroyed 45 buckets of rotting salted beefs at Kalaka landfill site.
The main points
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The government had been drafting Bills in a bid to settle down the long-running dispute within Tonga Rugby League and the International Rugby League (IRL) was made aware of what the government had been doing, Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa told Kaniva News during an exclusive interview on Friday.
“I hope after Covid-19 we have a good talk about the Sport. And we have contacted IRL on that and IRL understands the government’s intention,” the Prime Minister said.
In Tongan he said: “Ka oku mau lolotonga ngaue pe kimautolu ‘i he Pule’anga ki he Lao Sipoti oku mau tui te ne fakasi’isi’i a e ngaahi fakavaha’avaha’a i he Sipoti a Tonga, o kau ai a e Rugby League… Ko u tui ko e osi a e Covid-19, kuo tau talanoa lelei he Sipoti. Pea na’a mau fetu’utaki pe ki he IRL ‘i he ‘uhinga koia, pea oku mahino pe ki he IRL a e taumu’a a e Pule’anga.”
Meanwhile, the Minister of Internal Affairs Vatau Hui has vehemently denied allegations on Facebook that he has announced the government has set up another new Rugby League Board of its own and proposed it to the IRL.
Hon Hui echoed what the Prime Minister has said saying the government had been working to resolve the issues which have affected the sport for years.
The IRL has expelled the Tonga National Rugby League – which was suspended last October – from membership.
However, IRL later supported processing a new application to reinstate Tonga’s membership.
“As a part of the organisation’s proposed new governance structure, player representation on the board has been introduced and current international player Will Hopoate and former Tonga captain Sika Manu have been elected by the national team squad to take up those positions,” RIF reports.
Will Hopoate stating “I am excited and grateful to be a part of the new Tonga Rugby League board and striving to help the Tongan National team progress as well as building Rugby League in Tonga.”
Sika Manu added “I’m very honoured to be part of the new Tongan Rugby League board and excited to help with the progression of the Tongan Rugby League team and also the development of Rugby League in Tonga.”
IRL Global Operations Manager Danny Kazandjian has welcomed the progress saying;
“The Implementation Committee (IC) has worked diligently and continues to support TMTRL to develop their organisation and to complete their application.
“IRL CEO Nigel Wood has also been in contact with Prime Minister, Hon Pohiva Tu’ionetoa, and IRL would like to thank him and his government for their support and encouragement of this process. The government has committed to working closely with IRL to see the restoration of Tonga to the international rugby league community.
“Despite the world-wide constraints due to COVID-19 we are confident that the implementation committee will be able to conclude this process quickly and the new board representing the whole Tongan rugby League community will take up its position and submit their application for membership of International Rugby League.
“We look forward to seeing rugby league being played in the kingdom and the Tongan national team back in action as soon as circumstances permit.”
Public consultation has started on the Government’s proposed changes and laws to the traffic and land transport requirements.
Two Bills required all passengers wear seat belts while riding in the front seat, and making it an offense if drivers found texting and looking at their phone while operating a motor vehicle.
The Bills included one that would ban heavily tinted front window vehicles to operate on the road.
Although the seat belt Bills would not cover the back seats, it would be an offense if Police found somebody leaning or hanging out of the windows of a moving vehicles, according to the new Bills.
New Zealand, Australia and the United States driver license holders will be allowed to drive in Tonga without a Tongan driver license if they have a current and valid overseas license or driver permit, one of the Bills said.
It has been revealed the Ministry of Infrastructure is expected to install traffic lights for the first time.
The Bills also included one that will see heavy trucks being restricted from certain roads in Central Nuku’alofa.
Lawmakers also wanted control over road maintenance and upkeeps moved from the Ministry of Land and Survey to the Ministry of Infrastructure.
