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Pōhiva asked for resignation letter to be prepared; Police Minister sought legal advice

By
Kalino Latu
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Former Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva’s media adviser Lōpeti Senituli said today Hon. Pōhiva told him to prepare his letter of resignation before he was sent to New Zealand for treatment for the last time.

But he said that when the late premier asked him again about resigning while he was in intensive care, he told him he should not make such a decision when he was dying.

Senituli said the then Minister of Police, Māteni Tapueluelu, had asked the Acting Attorney General `Āminiasi Kefu for advice on what procedure Hon. Pōhiva should take if he wanted to resign as Prime Minister.

Kefu told Kaniva News Hon. Tapueluelu had asked him as Minister of Police to advise him on the legal procedure if Hon. Pōhiva resigned as Prime Minister but held on to his Parliamentary seat.

He said he had no basis for questioning why the Police Minster wanted the advice.

“As far as I understood and remembered, the Prime Minister was in the Vaiola hospital at the time and he was sick,” Kefu said.

“I thought the Prime Minister needed to understand the laws for resignation and what to do after he resigned and the procedure for electing a new Prime Minister so the transfer of premiership and its roles could be made smoothly and peacefully.

That legal advice was given in writing to  Hon. Tapueluelu on April 29 last year.

He said the Minister told him he had given his legal advice to the Prime Minister.

Senituli said Hon. Pohiva asked him for his advice in early 2019 on how he would resign from the premiership.

“I told him it was best for him to resign from premiership and also as MP at the same time,” he said.

Senituli said that Hon. Pohiva had asked him again about a resignation letter while he was in intensive care.

“However, I  told him we had already crossed that bridge,” he said.

“I told him he should have resigned while he was in good condition.

“He was now dying and he should not make such a serious and historical decision while he was in that state.

“He told me to go and think about it and come and talk to him again.

“When I returned and entered the ICU he noticed I did not carry in my hands any document and than he asked me: ‘Where is the resignation letter?’

“I gave him the same answer. He was silent for some minutes before telling me to ask the nurse for a pen and paper and I wrote down his last words for the nation. That script was written on his grave at Telekava.”

The main points

  • Former Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva’s media adviser Lopeti Senituli said today Hon. Pohiva told him to prepare his letter of resignation before he was sent to New Zealand for treatment for the last time.
  • Senituli denied claims by MP Mateni Tapueluelu that the late Prime Minister had asked him for a letter of resignation while he was in hospital.

PM Tu‘i‘onetoa says claims by PTOA frontliners that king intervened in multi-million pa‘anga roading project deal are “malicious” lies

By
Kalino Latu
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Prime Minister Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa has labelled as lies claims he had received a letter from King Tupou VI ordering the government to stop paying millions of pa’anga for three quarries from which government intended to buy rocks for its roading project.

The Prime Minister’s Office accused PTOA Party supporters of malicious attempts to discredit the government by sharing false information on social media.

The denial came after the PTOA’s Hardtalk Livestream United States-based presenter, Tilila Siola’a Walker Sumchai, claimed on the PTOA’s Facebook group, known as PTOA Tonga Global Political Movement, that King Tupou VI often viewed the group’s posts.

In Tongan she alleged in a post on April 24 that the king has stopped the government paying TP$27 million for the quarries which belonged to former MP ‘Etuate Lavulavu and businessman Saia Moehau. She claimed this had caused chaos among those involved (“hoka e hulohula.”)

Sumchai’s allegation was part of a campaign by some PTOA supporters against Hon. Tu’i’onetoa’s Roading Project.

The PTOA Core Team’s secretary MP Siaosi Pōhiva told supporters during a feast in Auckland recently Sumchai’s Hardtalk Livestream did not represent the Party.

The Prime Minister’s Office denied His Majesty had ever communicated with the Prime Minister regarding purchasing of quarries.

“There was no truth in this defamatory accusation,” the office said in Tongan.

It claimed these PTOA supporters had misled the public by using the king’s name and feeding them misinformation.

The Office had  previously denied allegations on social media that Cabinet Ministers, including the Chief Secretary, had approved their massive pay rise of $50,000 each.

The Prime Minister’s Office said the Cabinet’s pay rise was controlled by the Remuneration Authority.

Quarries

The Prime Minister told FM87.5 that the government had hired three quarries in Tongatapu and one in Vava’u for the roading project. He said two quarries belonging to two ministers were among the three in Tongatapu.

He previously told Kaniva News the ministers were Lord Ma’afu and Lord Nuku. He did not identify the owner of the third quarry and the owner of the one in Vava’u.

The government would buy rock from the quarries for TP$70 a truck load.

The main points

  • Prime Minister Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa has labelled as lies claims he had received a letter from King Tupou VI ordering the government to stop paying millions of pa’anga for three quarries from which government intended to buy rocks for its roading project.
  • The Prime Minister’s Office accused PTOA Party supporters of malicious attempts to discredit the government by sharing false information on social media.

For more information

PM Talking Points: Lack of equipment, work practices meant road project missed deadline, but PM says changes plans will help make plan a success

PTOA Core Team must restructure its governing body to reflect neutrality, democracy and ability to run gov’t

By
Kalino Latu
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Kaniva News commentary

The Democratic Party must restructure its governing body to reflect transparency, good governance and accountability, something its founder, the late ‘Akilisi Pohiva campaigned for during his 30-year political struggle to reform Tonga’s political system.

The redesign must include reforming the Party’s Core Team to become a platform that is immune to accusations of nepotism, favoritism and corruption.

The Core Team and its members, which is currently made up entirely of Party MPs, must be seen as a government model in which the public can scrutinise their performance from time to time even if they are not running the government.

The restructuring must include assigning the Party’s offices and administrative roles to its activists who are not MPs, something that is already happening in New Zealand.

The Party must be regulated, registered properly and have a manifesto and guidelines for how to investigate and punish members who have broken the rules. There must also be clear guidelines on how the MPs and candidates are chosen.

The Core Team has recently been criticised for its lack of transparency and accountability in its decision to forgive MP Mateni Tapueluelu after claims were made that he and his brother-in-law Siaosi Pohiva had engaged in a power struggle that may have lost the Party the government in 2019.

Siaosi and Tapueluelu’s presence at the meeting and participation in the discussion to decide the fate of Tapueluelu will be seen by many as improper and may undermine the public’s confidence in the Core Team’s impartiality.

They should not have been allowed to attend or participate in deciding what should be done to them because that gave them the opportunity to influence the decision makers.

It is a principle of natural justice that no person can judge a case in which they have an interest.

It is always good to forgive, but when it comes to politics, forgiveness has to go hand in hand with justice and fairness. We have seen the  benefits of this approach in democratic judicial systems.

Justice systems treat forgiveness as a process that must include punishment, restoration and deterrence.

Those who do break the rules must be punished and the severity of their punishment must be handed down according to the seriousness of the offence. This should be followed by a restorative process where the offence including the offender, the victim, and the communities of each collectively resolve how to deal with the aftermath of the  act with an emphasis on repairing the harm.

Tapueluelu’s accusation about why the Party lost the government, allegations against Dr Tu’i Uata and Dr Uata’s counter-claims were serious matters. Tapueluelu also reportedly accused the Core Team’s leadership of being corrupt.

The Core Team should have selected an independent committee to investigate and to find out whether the accusations and the counter claims were true or not before any decision was made. The outcome of such investigation should have been made public.

The Core Team owes it to the public and its supporters to hold those who were responsible for the government’s loss in 2019 to account.

There has been a strong feeling in the public that because the Core Team did not do enough to fix a serious accusation against some of its key members the issue will erupt again. This does  not look good for the Party’s campaign for next year’s general election.

Siaosi was ‘Akilisi’s eldest son and Tapueluelu’s wife is Siaosi’s young sister. The Tongan practice of veitapui in which the brother must treat the sister with utmost respect and admiration was still strong amongst ‘Akilisi’s children, who were well educated and disciplined.

Some may question whether the Tongan tradition of foha lahi taha’s (eldest son)  entitlement to all the family possession and land, which is also coupled with the cultural responsibility to forgive whatever shortfalls his young siblings may have, might have been a factor in the Core Team’s decision in favour of Tapueluelu.

This also begs the question of whether the Party was established as a political tool for ‘Akilisi’s family to assist them in their political campaign. Does this mean anybody who opposes them has to be dismissed? There were similar instances in the past where former Party MPs were being sacked without giving them a chance to defend their cases. 

The arguments, accusations and counter accusations that have flown backwards and forwards between senior members of the PTOA are matters of public interest and concern for all Tongans and those interested in the future of the late ‘Akilisi Pohiva’s vision of democracy for Tonga.

Reform and regulating of the Core Team are essential if the PTOA is to win the next election. Similarly, as a party representing both the kingdom’s culture and its democratic future, every effort must be made to ensure that the country’s traditions are seen by the party’s supporters as a symbol of strength and not as an excuse for what some might think was questionable decision making.

1 Thessalonians 5:22 enjoins the faithful to “abstain from all appearance of evil.” We do not suggest that any evil has been committed in this instance, but it might be well for the PTOA Core Team to consider very strongly about the need to abstain from any appearance of favouritism, unseemly quarreling and too hasty decision making.

If the PTOA wants to win back the gains made by the late ‘Akiliksi Pohiva it must appear at all times to be disciplined, transparent, honest and united.

Students get fare-free bus rides amid Covid-19 restriction measures

By
Kalino Latu
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As students around the kingdom are heading back to school, the government has announced students travelling on Tongatapu, Vava’u, Ha’apai and ‘Eua buses will receive free fares through a three-week period subsidy offer.

The Ministry of Education said it believed the timeframe would give sufficient time for communities, families and kava clubs to refresh before they start supporting their students’ transport costs.

This offer comes as part of the COVID-19 Education Cluster Relief to ensure students can attend school, it said.

“A high number of buses are being utilised for transportation to ensure that social distancing is reasonably practiced as per direction from the Ministry of Health.” the Ministry said.

“We hereby acknowledge the assistance given by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Sia’atoutai College and Tupou College, and private bus companies in the transportation of students to and from schools.”

Tonga is still COVID-19 free and the Minister of Education previously said the continued school closures which was relaxed on April 14 will have a detrimental impact on pupil progress.

“The Ministry once again encouraged parents to ensure their students are attending schools.”

Fanongonongo ‘o ha ngaahi liliu mei he Poate Ako ‘a e Sutton Park, Mangere

By
Kaniva Staff
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SUTTON PARK SCHOOL

89 Vine Street, Mangere East, Auckland 2024

Telephone (09) 276 4560

Principal: Fa’atili Iosua Esera

26 ‘Epeleli 2020

‘Oku ou ‘ofa lahi atu kiate kimoutolu kotoa pē mei ‘api na.

Koe ongoongo fakafiefia’aupito ‘a ‘etau hao kotoa mo hotau ngaahi fāmili mei he Covid19.  ‘Oku ‘ikai ngalo ‘ihe ‘etau manatu ‘a e mahaki faka’auha koia ko e mofi Siamane na’a ne uesia lahi ‘a e ngaahi fonua ‘o e Pasifiki ‘a ia ko ‘e ta’u ‘aki ‘e teau ‘ene hoko ki he ‘Epeleli ‘o e ta’u ni.  Ko e ngaahi mou’i ne mole ai na’e fu’u tokolahi ange ‘ene hoko ki he ngaahi fonua ‘o e Pasifiki ‘i Nu’usila ni.  Koe kakai ‘e toko 38,000 na’e mole ‘enau mo’ui ‘i Ha’amoa pea koe kakai ‘e toko 6,400 pe na’e mole ‘enau mo’ui ‘i Nu’usila ni.  Pea te tau fakahoa ‘eni ki he toko 14 pe kuo mole ‘enau mo’ui ‘i he lolotonga ni.  Ko ia ai ‘oku tau ongo’i fiefia mo hounga’ia ‘i he ‘ikai lahi ha mo’ui ‘e mole.

‘Oku ‘iai ‘a e ngaahi liliu mahu’inga kuo fakahoko ‘e he Poate Talasiti ‘oku fiema’u ke mou ‘ilo kiai ‘i he taimi ko ‘eni ‘oku tau teuteu atu ki he fokotu’u ‘ae ako.

  1.   ‘E kei hokohoko atu pe ‘ae fakataputapui ‘o e ‘apiako Sutton Park pea koe fānau ako moe kau ngāue ‘o e ‘apiako pē, ‘oku ngofua ke nau hū ki loto ‘apiako.  Ko e keiti ‘e loka mei he 9 pongipongi ki he 2.30 efiafi.
  2. Kuo pau ke ma’u ha’o ngofua ki mu’a pea ke toki lava ke ‘a’ahi pe hū ki loto ‘apiako.

iii.             Kuo ‘osi vahevahe mahino ‘a e fanau ako ki he ngaahi taimi te nau kamata ai, taimi tuku ‘ae ako, taimi mālōlō si’i moe mālōlō lahi.

  1.             Kuo ‘osi tufaki atu foki ‘a e ngaahi me’a ngāue fakakomipiuta ki he fānau kalasi 5 kihe kalasi 8.  Kuo meimei tofuhia ‘a e ngaahi  famili kotoa ‘i he naunau fakakomipiuta ko ‘eni. ‘Okapau ‘oku ‘oatu ha naunau fakakomipiuta ‘e ua ki ho’o famili, kātaki ‘o tokanga’i lelei ‘eni he ‘e ‘ikai lava ‘e he ‘apiako ke toe ‘oatu hano fetongi.  Ko ia ai kātaki ‘o tokanga’i lelei ‘a e ngaahi naunau ko ‘eni.
  2.         ‘E lava pē ke vahevahe taimi ‘a e fānau ke nau ngāue kotoa ‘aki ‘okapau ‘oku ‘iai ha fānau mei he ngaahi kalasi iiki.
  3.       ‘E ‘iai ‘ae ngaahi ngāue ‘e teuteu’i ma’ae fānau ‘i he kalasi 1 ki he kalasi 4.

vii.      ‘Oku ‘iai ‘a e ngaahi polokalama ako ‘i he televisone ma’ae fānau.

viii.     ‘Oku fiema’u ke tui ‘e he fānau ako moe kau faiako ha me’a ke malu’i honau ngutu (face mask) ‘i he taimi kotoa te nau ‘i he ‘apiako ai.

  1.       ‘E ‘iai ‘a e ngaahi me’a ‘e fakamamafa’i ke muimui pau ki ai ‘a e fanau ako.  Ko e ngaahi kalasi kotoa pē te nau ngāue fakafo’ituitui ki he ngaahi me’a te nau felotoi ke fakahoko.
  2.     ‘E tāpuni ‘a e Canteen, Breakfast club, Lunch time club, SKIDs ‘i he lolotonga ni.
  3.       Koe me’atokoni kotoa pē ‘a e fānau ke ‘omai mei ‘api.  ‘Oku toe fiema’u ke nau taki taha ‘omai ha hina vai ko honau inu.

‘E kei hokohoko atu pē ‘emau vakai’i ‘a e ngaahi liliu ko ‘eni ‘o fakataumu’a ki he mo’ui lelei moe malu ‘a e fānau ako, kau ngāue ‘o e ‘apiako moe komiuniti foki.  ‘E fu’u fiema’u ho’o tokoni ke fakahoko lelei ‘aki ‘a e ngaahi liliu ko ‘eni, pea te mau toe vakai’i ‘eni ‘i he faka’osinga ‘o e teemi.

‘Oku fiema’u ke mou ‘ilo ki ai, ‘okapau ‘e ma’u ‘e ha taha ‘o e fānau ako pē koe kau ngāue ‘o e ‘apiako ‘ae vailasí, kuo pau ke tapuni ‘a e ‘apiako ‘o toe loloa atu.

Ko e ma’u ako ‘a e fānau ‘i he levolo 3 ‘oku makatu’unga pē ia ‘i he loto ki ai ‘a e mātu’a.  ‘Okapau ‘oku ke ongo’i ‘oku malu ange pē ho’o fānau ‘i he nofo ‘i ‘api, pea ‘e ‘iai ha taha ke ne tokanga’i kinautolu, pea ‘e lelei ‘aupito ke nau nofo pe ‘i ‘api.  ‘E kei hokohoko atu pē ‘a e kau faiako hono tuku atu ‘a e ngaahi ngaue fakaako ‘i he on-line pea mo ha ngaahi ngāue ma’ae fānau ‘oku nau nofo ‘i ‘api.

Ka ‘i he lolotonga ni, ko ‘api pē ‘a e feitu’u malu taha ki ho’o fānau.  ‘Oku mau feinga ke fai ha ngaahi liliu mahu’inga ‘o fakataumu’a pē ki he malu mo hao ‘etau fānau moe kau ngāue ‘o e ‘apiako.  Ka neongo ia, ‘e ‘ikai lava ‘a e Poate Talasiti ‘o e ‘apiako ke ne fakapapau’i atu ‘e malu ho’o ki’i tamasi’i pē ta’ahine mei he vailasi ‘o e Covid-19 ‘i he ‘ene ha’u kihe ako.

Ko e fakataputapui foki ko ‘eni koe faingamālie lelei taha ‘eni ke ke feohi vāofi ai mo ho’o fānau.  ‘Oku lelei ‘a e fa’a pōtalanoa ‘o vahevahe ‘a e ngaahi tukufakaholo ‘o e famili, ako ke tā ha me’alea, vahevahe ‘a e ngaahi talanoa fakatonga motu’a, koe ako ki he feime’atokoni hangē koe fei’umu.  ‘Oku lahi ‘a e ngaahi faingamālie ke lau ha ngaahi talanoa, lau ‘a e Tohitapu, lava ke fai ha lotu, lea fakamālō, fa’u ha maau pē hiva, faitohi pē tohi ha’o kaati talamonū ki ha taha na’e puke.  Ko e toe faingamālie lahi ‘eni ke ako ai ‘ae fānau meiate koe.  Ko e ngaahi me’a kotoa ko iá, ‘e tauhi ia ‘e he fānau ko ‘enau mata’ikoloa ki he kaha’u. ‘Oku toe mahu’inga foki ke ‘oua na’a ke ongo’I mafasia mo ho’o fanau ‘i he ngaahi ngāue fakaako ‘oku tuku atu ‘i he online pē ko e ngāue ‘oku ‘oatu ‘e he faiako fakakalasi.

Kapau ‘oku ke toe fiema’u ha tokoni makehe pea ke fetu’utaki mai kiate au ‘i he tu’asila principal@suttonpark.school.nz pē tuku mai ha fekau ‘i he telefoni 021-250-6684.  Fakatauange pē ’e kei hokohoko atu ‘etau nofo malu mo hao ‘i he to’ukupu ‘oe ‘Otua Māfimafi, kae ‘oua leva kuo tau toe fakatahataha mai koe famili pe ‘e taha.

Faka’apa’apa atu,

Fa’atili Iosua Esera

Tumuaki/Pulea’oga/Puleako

Master of Education [Merit]

 

 

 

Ramadan, Islam’s holy month of sunrise to sunset fasting, is scheduled to begin tonight

By
Kaniva Staff
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Ramadan is scheduled to begin in Tonga tonight. It will end on May 23.

Ramadan is the Islamic month when Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset.

It is regarded as one of the holiest months of the Islamic calendar and marks the month when Muslims believe Allah revealed the first chapters of the Q’uran to Prophet Mohammed.

Ramadan is regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam and lasts from one sighting of the crescent moon to the next.

Fasting from sunrise to sunset is obligatory for all adult Muslims, but there are exceptions, such as for those who are ill, travelling, elderly or pregnant.

The evening meal that breaks the fast is called iftar, which Moslems traditionally begin by eating dates.

The predawn meal is referred to as suhur.

Ramadan is normally a time for large family gatherings, but the de restrictions caused by the Covid-19 crisis means that in many countries  these are not possible this year.

According to the Pew Research Centre there were about 1000 Muslims in Tonga in 2010 out of a population of about 108,000.

The first Islamic association was established in the country in 1992.

In May 2010 , the Pacific Islands Committee of the World Assembly of Muslim Youth helped establish an Islamic center named after Prophet Mohammed’s first wife, Khadija, in Nuku’alofa.

The main points

  • Ramadan is scheduled to begin in Tonga tonight. It will end on May 23.
  • Ramadan is the Islamic month when Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset.

For more information

Tagata Pasifika: Tongan Muslim leader Imam Kalisitiane Iliasi Manu

Coronavirus: Air New Zealand passenger quarantined in Tonga

By
Kalino Latu
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An Air New Zealand departing passenger was placed in coronavirus quarantine at the Fua’amotu Taliai Camp after Tongan authorities were contacted by New Zealand Immigration.

The man was provided with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) before disembarking according to approved procedures and transported to Taliai Camp quarantine facility, Health Ministry said.

The man boarded the aircraft yesterday Thursday 23 at around 2.20pm before it departed Tonga after 3.10pm with 132 passengers.

The Ministry of Health said the person’s “risk of being infected with COVID-19 is extremely low.”

‘’We are just being extra careful and activated our quarantine process yesterday so that this particular person will be at the quarantine facility at Taliai Camp for the next 14 days,’’ says CEO for Health Dr. Siale ‘Akau’ola.

‘’The risk of infection is very, very low because he has not had any contact with a confirmed or even a suspected case and there are no incoming passengers and all crew on the flight are required to provide a medical certificate clearing them before they fly here. Still, we are being extra careful and put him under quarantine and have staff to monitor this person as this is our standard response with the given situation,’’ added Dr. ‘Akau’ola.

Tonga is still COVID-19 free and continues to implement procedures to mitigate any risk of the introduction and spread of COVID-19 to Tonga.

The public has been advised that departing passengers double check with New Zealand Immigration if they are planning to travel to New Zealand.

“Current advise from New Zealand Immigration says that New Zealand citizens, permanent residents, residents with valid travel conditions and their immediate family (partner or spouse, legal guardian and dependent children under the age of 24) can still travel to New Zealand. Australian citizens and permanent residents who normally live in New Zealand can also return to New Zealand.”

Coronavirus: Tonga extends emergency measures nationwide until May

By
Kalino Latu
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Tonga has extended its emergency coronavirus measures, which include travel and gathering restrictions, to the entire country, with another week until 8pm May 1, Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa has announced today Friday 24.

This means, the night time curfews remain in force across Tonga until next month.

The kingdom is still Covid-19 free.

The government set new rules governing public behaviour to help stop the spread of Covid-19 that came into force last week.

Under the rules, the boarder will remain closed until June 12 and there is a night time curfew from 8pm to 6am.

Liquor licensed night clubs and kava clubs must close.

All public facilities, events and gatherings such as a religious, bingo, sports clubs, gyms, sporting events and activities, celebrations of birthdays, marriages and other recreational or related gatherings are prohibited.

Kava clubs are defined as two or more people consuming kava at a public location; or a group of two or more people consuming kava at a private location.

These restrictions do not apply to people living in the same household.

The Ministry of Health said the government made its decision based on the fact Tonga was still Covid-15 free.

The schools and public transport reopened on Tuesday, April 14.

Americans planned occupation of Tonga, but forgot to tell Queen Salote they were coming

By
Philip Cass
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As Anzac Day is commemorated on Saturday, Kaniva News looks back at the American invasion of Tonga

The Japanese invasion of the Pacific never reached Tonga, but the kingdom had to cope with another invasion.

In May 1942, after three years of war,  7800 soldiers and 862 sailors, sailed into Nuku’alofa harbour.

Before the Americans arrived, Queen Salote had wholeheartedly supported Britain’s stand against Nazi Germany, despite her opposition to what she perceived as British interference in her kingdom’s affairs.

As Kaniva News reported earlier this year,  Tonga raised enough money to buy three Spitifres for the RAF.

Queen Salote provided land for an airfield and established the Tongan Defence Force, whose soldiers eventually fought the Japanese in the Solomon Islands campaign.

The Americans decided to set up a base in Tonga as part of a defensive chain across the Pacific to keep supply routes open to Australia and New Zealand.

According to American historian Charles Weeks who taught at the ‘Atenisi Institute as a Peace Corps volunteer, the US military planned to establish an Army and Navy force that would be strong enough to repel a Japanese invasion of Tonga.

But as Weeks pointed out, neither the Americans, the British nor New Zealand had bothered to consult with Her Majesty about the plan.

The American commander, General Lockwood, was sensitive, at least in the initial stages, to local sensitivities. Soldiers and sailors were warned:

—Buy fruit only through the government market.

—Do not pick growing fruit or vegetables. It is all private property.

—Do not disturb or injure the flying foxes [bats]. They are harmless and are reverenced by the native Tongans.

—Be courteous to the native Tongans. Treat grave yards with respect. Sunday recreation will be conducted away from the churches. Tongans will not be invited to play on Sunday. The golf course is not open on Sunday.

—Walk and drive on the left of the road.

While Queen Salote was friendly with the Americans and made sure fresh flowers were placed on the graves of U.S. servicemen killed in the Battle of the Coral Sea, she kept her distance from the occupying forces and dealt largely through Lockwood and the British Consul.

She ordered her subjects, especially young women, to move inland or to the outer islands, away from American influence.

Official American reports described her as a “magnificent woman  [who] has given Tonga an administration which almost everyone admits has been wise and productive.”

American naval officers were required by their superiors to wear dress uniforms at official functions. This contrasted sharply with the behaviour of some New Zealand troops who refused to salute Tongan officers.

The Americans spent prodigiously. Using Tongan labour New Zealand had completed 80 percent of Fua’amotu airport for a cost of about US$56,000. When the Americans arrived they spent US$498,000 to complete the remaining 20 percent.

American spending disturbed the Tongan economy. The Americans paid such high prices for coconuts and bananas that Tonga had none left for export. At the same time American servicemen threw money around so freely that soon consumer goods began to disappear from the shops.

The price of souvenirs, including woven mats and skirts, sold at 400 percent above normal prices. So much money could be made from the Americans that some Tongans stopped working their land to make tourist trinkets.

By the end of 1942, US forces had landed in what was then the British Solomon Islands Protectorate and Australian forces had inflicted the first land defeats on Japanese forces in Papua New Guinea on the Kokoda Track and at Milne Bay.

The value of the American base in Tonga diminished and troops were sent to other parts of the Pacific. What had once been seen as a strategic base became an isolated backwater where those troops left behind began to suffer from what the US  military referred to as “bush fever.”

In January 1943 two Tongan men were murdered, apparently because of their involvement in the “bootlegging and procuring” business of soldiers of the 77th Coast Artillery

Vast numbers of the American troops were illiterate and black troops were segregated. As morale collapsed problems arose, with prostitution, venereal disease, sexual assault and theft.

US troop set up home with Tongan girls,  something that horrified the girls’ families and was regarded as bringing shame to their villages. Others gave away  goods from the military depot and generally sowed confusion in the conservative society.

The American presence in Tonga introduced the isolated kingdom to many new ideas and practices, many of which contrasted wildly with island traditions.

While Tonga was doubtless happy not have been invaded by the Japanese, they may also have breathed a deep sigh of relief when  the last American troops left.

Anzac Day commemorations

Anzac Day commemorations in Nuku’alofa will be restrained this year.

Because of the state of emergency there will be no public celebrations.

Instead, the New Zealand High Commission has invited people to observe a minute’s silence while standing in their homes, driveways, gardens or workplace at 7am on Saturday  morning.

Pasifika Television in Tonga and Radio New Zealand on the internet will be providing coverage of Anzac Day in New Zealand. With the end of daylight saving, New Zealand is now one hour behind Tonga.

The main points

  • The Japanese invasion of the Pacific never reached Tonga, but the kingdom had to cope with another invasion.
  • In May 1942, after three years of war, 7800 soldiers and 862 sailors, sailed into Nuku’alofa harbour.

For more information

The United States Occupation of Tonga, 1942-1945

New Zealand High Commission, Nuku’alofa, Tonga

Queen Salote, Prince Tungi Tonga II and Tupou I: The story of Tonga’s Spitfires

Supreme Court suspends prison sentence for Lord Tu‘ivikano after finding him guilty

By
Philip Cass
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Lord Tu’ivikano has escaped jail after the Supreme Court suspended two two year sentences.

The former Prime Minister and Speaker of Parliament was sentenced to two years for making a false statement for the purpose of obtaining a passport and an additional two years for perjury.

The sentences would have been served at the same time, but Lord Chief Justice Whitten suspended the imprisonment on condition that the Noble be placed on probation and perform 100 hours community service.

He was also fined TP$2000 for possessing an unlicensed firearm and TP$2000 for possessing unlicensed ammunition.

Former Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakano was found guilty last month.

The offences in what was known as the Chinese passport scandal were committed in 2015, but he was not charged until 2018.

As Kaniva News reported earlier, six charges of bribery and money laundering in relation to the issuance of Tongan passports to Chinese nationals had been dropped.

It was originally alleged that between 2013-2014, while serving as Minister for Foreign Affairs, he accepted money to issue Tongan passports to various Chinese nationals.

Lord Tu’ivikano was charged with making a false statement for the purpose of obtaining a passport.  The particulars of the charge were that on or about 17 July 2015, at Nuku’alofa, with the purpose of obtaining a passport for Hua Guo and Xing Liu, and with intent to deceive the Immigration Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Defendant wrote a letter to the Immigration Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stating that Hua Guo and Xing Liu were naturalised as Tongans on 29 October 2014.

Evidence tended to the court showed that the persons naturalised that day were Singkei Lou and Shanoi Kam. Viliami Lolohea gave evidence that he did not accept the applications in the names of Hua Guo and Xing Liu because they were incomplete and he had identified them from photographs as Singkei Lou and Shanoi Kam.

On the charge of perjury the court was told that on or about Decembe21, 2015, in Nuku’alofa, the Defendant made an oath in an affidavit a material statement to his knowledge staing that “Mr Hua Guo and Ms Xing Liu were naturalised during my tenure as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Ministry” and “after naturalisation Tongan passports were then issued to these two”, knowing thee statements were false.

On the firearms charges, the court was told that during the execution of a search warrant at the Lord Tu’ivikano’s house, the defendant told police officers he had a .22 firearm and ammunition and no licence for them. He directed the officers to the boot of a vehicle owned by a friend.

There, the police found a .22 rifle and a total of 212 rounds of ammunition in a large box. The Defendant had a licence for the rifle for 2016. He maintained that he had renewed the licence for 2017, and around December that year, gave it to his driver to have renewed. The 2017 licence was never produced in evidence, nor was there any record in the relevant registers of a licence having been issued for 2017.

The prosecution said Lord Tu’ivikano was in a position of trust and authority, as the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.

His actions had impugned the integrity of the passport regime which was fundamental to the administration of Tongan passports to be used as evidence of identity and  nationality of Tongan subjects travelling internationally and undermined the capacity of Government to administer passports and the Passport Act.

The prosecution noted that the defendant is 67, had suffered a heart attack in 2013 and was a first time offender.

The defence said he was 68 and had “hitherto lived the life of a hardworking, honest and trusted person.”

The Supreme Court found Lord Tu’ivikano guilty.

The court ordered that the fines it imposed were to be paid within three months, in default  two months imprisonment;

The rifle was confiscated and the ammunition was to be handed over to the armed forces.

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