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Tonga closes borders amid coronavirus fears

By
Kalino Latu
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Tonga is banning travellers from outside the country in an unprecedented move to seal its borders amid the coronavirus crisis.

A Ministry of Health statement shows all aircraft expected to arrive in Tonga today Monday 23 until Saturday 28 had been cancelled in a bit to prevent COVID-19 spreading to the kingdom.

Tonga has no confirmed case of coronavirus.

When Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa announced on Friday Tonga was in a state of emergency over coronavirus pandemic he told reporters the government was raising the alert to another level.

The government previously said it was too early to make a decision to close down its borders due to various reasons including shifting of pharmaceutical products from overseas countries.

“This diversion order is issued on the basis that I have reasonable grounds to believe that it is necessary to divert the above-mentioned conveyances (aircrafts) to a place outside the Kingdom to prevent the introduction, or spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) which is an Emergency Notifiable Condition under the Declaration of an Emergency Notifiable Condition issued on 12 March 2020, and Gazetted on 13 March 2020, or other significant threat to Public Health of the Kingdom as specified under the Declaration of Public Health Emergency on 12 March 2020, and Gazetted on 13 March 2020,” the Ministry of Health CEO said in statement.

“Pursuant to the authority conferred upon me under section 117(1) and (2)(c)(i) of the Public Health Act, I hereby order the following conveyances (aircrafts) to be diverted to a place outside the Kingdom:

  1. Name of conveyance (aircraft): Fiji Airways (FJ211)

Expected Date of Arrival: 23/03/2020

  1. Name of the conveyance (aircraft): Air New Zealand (NZ 270)

Expected Date of Arrival: 23/03/2020

  1. Name of the conveyance (aircraft): Talofa Airlines (TA 407)

Expected Date of Arrival: 23/03/2020

  1. Name of the conveyance (aircraft): Virgin Australia (VA 95)

Expected Date of Arrival: 24/03/2020

  1. Name of the conveyance (aircraft): Fiji Airways (FJ211)

Expected Date of Arrival: 24/03/2020

  1. Name of the conveyance (aircraft): Virgin Australia (VA 61)

Expected Date of Arrival: 24/03/2020

  1. Name of the conveyance (aircraft): Virgin Australia

Expected Date of Arrival: 26/03/2020

  1. Name of the conveyance (aircraft): Talofa Airlines (TA 407)

Expected Date of Arrival: 26/03/2020

  1. Name of the conveyance (aircraft): Fiji Airways (FJ211)

Expected Date of Arrival: 26/03/2020

  1. Name of the conveyance (aircraft): Virgin Australia (VA 61)

Expected Date of Arrival: 26/03/2020

  1. Name of the conveyance (aircraft): Air New Zealand (NZ974)

Expected Date of Arrival: 26/03/2020

  1. Name of the conveyance (aircraft): Air New Zealand (NZ 270)

Expected Date of Arrival: 27/03/2020

  1. Name of the conveyance (aircraft): Fiji Airways (FJ213)

Expected Date of Arrival: 28/03/2020

  1. Name of the conveyance (aircraft): Fiji Airways (FJ211)

Expected Date of Arrival: 28/03/2020

  1. Name of the conveyance (aircraft): Air New Zealand (NZ 974)

Expected Date of Arrival: 28/03/2020″

High Court sentences senior Cripps member to five years detention for violent prison assault

By
Philip Cass
-

The High Court in Auckland has sentenced Tongan criminal Siuaki Lisiate to five years and two months preventive detention on a charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Lisiate, who is a senior member of the Cripps gang,  is already serving a life sentence.

Lisiate had pleaded guilty to the charges brought against him. He and his co-defendants, Te Ariki Poulgrain and Tama Tapine, were serving time in the maximum security wing at Auckland Prison at Paremoremo. 

The victim, Mr Burton, was also a sentenced prisoner in that unit.  Mr Burton has a significant and serious criminal history.  He is also disabled to the extent he has a prosthetic leg.

In his summing up, Judge Venables said Lisiate posed such a threat to the community both within prison and outside prison that a sentence of preventive detention was required.

At around 9.30 am on 11 May 2018 Mr Burton was walking down the landing from his cell towards a cross-passage grill.  As he approached where Mr Tapine was standing Mr Tapine suddenly and without warning punched Mr Burton with a right hook to the face. Mr Burton stumbled back and fell to the ground.

Poulgrain and Lisiate then attacked Burton as he lay on the ground. During the assault he stabbed at Burton more than  40 times.

The attack only stopped when prison officers entered the landing in force.  He and Poulgrain threw down their home made weapons.

Burton was taken to hospital with life threatening injuries.  He sustained a number of stab wounds to his arm and torso and a serious eye injury.

Judge Venning said Lisiate was the product  of a broken home, failure to complete schooling, early abuse of alcohol and drugs and involvement in gangs.

“ It is apparent from all the reports that you are effectively institutionalized,” the judge said.

“You were first imprisoned at the age of 17.  Since then you have amassed about 25 convictions for serious offending.  The offending has escalated from burglary to assault to robbery to aggravated robbery to murder before this present offending.” 

“Regrettably, the causes of your offending are deep- seated within you,” the judge said.

“I consider you to be a high risk of reoffending in a violent way.  You have no insight into your offending.  You lack empathy for victims and the people you harm. “

The judge said It was relevant that Lisiate was already subject to life imprisonment.  The Court could impose a finite sentence for the current offending.  The Court of Appeal had made it clear that life imprisonment was not necessarily a bar to a sentence of preventive detention. 

“I consider your offending in this case to be of sufficient seriousness to warrant the imposition of preventive detention even though you are serving a sentence of life imprisonment.” 

Parents alerted after dad of student attending Tongan Fiafia night at Auckland school tests positive for coronavirus

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Mt Roskill Grammar school has written to all parents after a father of a pupil tested positive for the coronavirus.

The dad returned to Auckland from Europe and on March 12  he attended the Tongan Fiafia event at the school that night for about an hour, Principal Greg Watson’s letter said.

Hundreds of Tongan students enrolled with the school.

Watson assured all parents guidance is being followed and advised them to visit the government website covid19.govt.nz for information about symptoms of the virus.

“We have sought the urgent advice of the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health,” the email reads.

“Health authorities are contacting the few people who are considered close contacts. We have received initial advice from the Auckland Regional Public Service that most people who attended the event, and the wider school community, will not have been exposed to the person and therefore are not at risk.”

“I’m sorry to be giving you this news,” Watson wrote. “Our Roskill spirit of manaakitanga – upholding the dignity of all – will be our guide at this difficult time.”

Meanwhile Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield said the alert level was staying at 2 as there was still no evidence of community outbreak, though two possible cases were still being investigated.

Community transmission of Covid-19 not confirmed – Ministry of Health

By
Kalino Latu
-

Work on determining whether community transmission of Covid-19 in New Zealand is still ongoing after 14 new cases of illness were confirmed today.

At a media conference in Wellington this afternoon, Ministry of Health Director-General Dr Ashley Bloomfield said five of the new cases were in Auckland, one in Northland, one in Canterbury, two in New Plymouth, two in Waikato, one in Tauranga, one in Coromandel and one in Dunedin. It brings the total number to 66.

They are all in self-isolation and their close contacts have also been identified and told to self-isolate.

Eleven have a history of international travel, while one is a close contact of a confirmed case.

Two were attendees at the World Hereford Conference in Queenstown from March 9-13 and the cases were being linked with international travel, and not due to community transmission.

Just over 1200 tests were carried out yesterday, bringing the total to 6000.

Yesterday, 13 new cases were confirmed, two of which could not be immediately linked with international travel. Dr Bloomfield said work was still ongoing to determine whether these should be classified as cases of community transmission.

“Our further investigations of these two cases have still not identified a firm link to overseas travel,” he said.

“Just for clarity, community transmission is when we cannot confirm exactly where the infection came from.

“As we investigate these cases further, including close contact tracing, this increases our understanding of what the infection pathway might have been and we can then communicate with anyone who was a close or casual contact and ensure appropriate action is taken.”

There were four probable cases, where tests had returned negative but officials believed they had Covid-19.

Also today, a staff member at a rest home and respite care facility, Ellerslie Gardens, in Auckland has tested positive for Covid-19.

The facility says the staff member had recently returned from overseas.

It says it is working with the Ministry of Health to find out which staff members and residents will need to be tested.

Two cruise ships – the Ruby Princess and Celebrity Solstice – had recently visited New Zealand and both had confirmed cases of Covid-19, Bloomfield said.

“We are asking any passengers on those two ships, who left the ships during their stay in New Zealand to self-isolate for 14 days since they last had contact with other ships’ passengers and to be aware of symptoms and seek advice if they do develop symptoms.”

Details of the movements of both ships could be found on the Ministry of Health’s website.

Health officials were in direct contact with New Zealanders who were onboard the two vessels.

Yesterday Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced a new four-level alert system to combat Covid-19 and advised against any non-essential travel within New Zealand.

Dr Bloomfield said the country’s response to the Covid-19 remained at level 2. It reflected the disease was contained, but that the threat of community transmission was growing.

At level 2, those aged over 70, those with chronic respiratory illnesses and people with compromised immunity, were asked to stay at home.

Dr Bloomfield said he had a message for these people: “We know many of you are fit and healthy and living active lives, but the older we are, the less our immune system is able to fight off this virus and indeed other viruses for infections and we have seen from overseas that older people are at more risk of serious complications.

“So we are strongly encouraging you, in fact urging you, to be aware of the need to stay at home and not to have contact with others.”

These people should ask friends and family, and particularly children, not to visit.

Earlier today, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said the government would move to the next two phases of the Covid-19 alert levels, if yesterday’s two confirmed cases were proven to be the result of community transmission.

A level 3 alert status recognises a heightened risk that the disease is not contained and demands that authorities further restrict travel and public gatherings.

A host of public venues would face closures, including gyms, libraries, museums, food courts and pools.

Some non-essential businesses would face closure too.

Dr Bloomfield said Healthline was overloaded and he pleaded with people to use it properly. It was not there to give general advice, nor to offer information about self-isolation, he said.

Two Covid-19 suspects test negative, as government restricts travel under state of emergency

By
Philip Cass
-

Tonga’s two latest suspected cases of coronavirus have tested negative.

The TBC quoted Health Minister Hon. Dr ‘Amelia Tu’ipulotu as saying the laboratory tests showed they were not infected.

“The results were received last night by health officials after they were sent to Melbourne Australia on Tuesday night,” Dr Tu’ipulotu said.

Dr Tu’ipulotu said while Tonga had not yet had a positive case of Covid-19, the public needed to co-operate with health officials to ensure the borders were well protected with the resources available.

As Kaniva news reported earlier this week, Ministry’s CEO, Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola confirmed that three people had been  quarantined at His Majesty’s Armed Forces camp at Fua’amotu.

Dr ‘Akau’ola said the three people travelled through countries listed in Tonga’s Travel Advisory Number 4 and where coronavirus had spread. One of them was released almost immediately.

Closures

As reported early today, Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa has declared a state of emergency, effective until April 17, 2020.

The government has forbidden indoor gatherings of more than 20 and outdoor gatherings of more than 40 people

The government’s new regulations on closures do not apply to  churches or schools.

A letter from the head of the Catholic church in Tonga, Cardinal Soane Mafi, was read in churches on Sunday advising the congregations to distance themselves and how to make distancing like avoiding shaking hands.

However, mass and normal prayer services were not banned or restricted.

It is understood  that the Free Wesleyan Church has called off its annual church conference which was expected to be held in ‘Eua in May was called off.

This is one of the biggest gatherings in Tonga each year, since the FWC is the kingdom’s largest denomination.

Latest developments

About 50 US Peace Corps returned to the United States US today.

The Minister of Education said Tongan students at the University of the South Pacific in Fiji would continue to stay there because the University is still open.

Fiji has one case of coronavirus.

Samoa has its first suspected case of coronavirus – a person who arrived in the country from New Zealand.

Radio New Zealand quoted the Samoan Ministry of Health as saying all those intending to travel to Samoa for “birthdays, weddings, reunions, funerals, conferences, sports, etc” should cancel their travel plans.

The main points

  • Tonga’s two latest suspected cases of coronavirus have tested negative, but another suspected case has been detected at Vaiola.
  • The TBC quoted Health Minister Hon. Dr ‘Amelia Tu’ipulotu as saying the laboratory tests showed they were not infected.

For more information

Two suspected cases test negative for Covid 19

Two suspected cases test negative for Covid 19

Coronavirus: Tonga declares State of Emergency, shuts borders to all but citizens and residents

Coronavirus: Tonga declares State of Emergency, shuts borders to all but citizens and residents

Ministry confirms three people quarantined; one released, two waiting for coronavirus tests

Ministry confirms three people quarantined; one released, two waiting for coronavirus tests

Coronavirus: Tonga declares State of Emergency, shuts borders to all but citizens and residents

By
Kalino Latu
-

Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa said today the kingdom is now in a state of emergency, effective at 8.30pm this evening until 17 April 2020.

He said the declaration was subject to further review.

Hon Tu’i’onetoa said Tonga has closed its borders to everyone but citizens and residents in an attempt to stop the spread of coronavirus.

The government banned indoor gatherings of more than 20 and outdoor gatherings of more than 40 people.

Weddings, funerals, concerts, kava clubs, nightclubs and sports are also banned.

The measures did not apply to churches and schools.

Hon Tu’i’onetoa made the announcement during a news conference this afternoon.

He said all travelers from overseas will have to undergo a 14-day quarantine except doctors, nurses and other health care workers who will arrive in Tonga to help the situation.

He said there have been no confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Tonga.

The state of emergency means many closures and restrictions are now required to be followed by law.

“It is clear that this is a public emergency in Tonga. I’m therefore satisfied that COVID-19 is a public health emergency and is imminent and will threaten and endanger lives of people in Tonga,” the Prime Minister said.

“Therefore this requires a significant and coordinated response.

“The powers under sections 30 and 37 of the Act shall be invoked to prevent and minimize illness and loss of human life.

I therefore issue this declaration of a State of Emergency to be applied all over the land and sea areas of Tonga commencing from 20hrs of 20 March until 17 April 2020, unless further review.”

On Police Ten, the hunt for Meliame Fisi‘ihoi’s killer continues

By
Kalino Latu
-

(NZ) A killer who apparently shot Meliame Fisi’ihoi through her living room window is still on the run nine weeks later.

Fisi’ihoi was located deceased at her home on Calthorp Close, Favona in the early hours of 15 January 2020.

Since then, Police launched Operation Truro to investigate her death.

Acting Detective Inspector Shaun Vickers said Police have conducted numerous enquiries into the death, including area canvases and reviewing large amounts of CCTV footage.

“A dedicated team has worked on Operation Truro to try and piece together the circumstances of Meliame’s death.

“This was a tragic incident in which an innocent woman lost her life, leaving her family devastated.”

Vickers said tonight’s (Thursday 19) Ten 7 episode renews the Police appeal for information.

“I urge the public to tune in and help us with this case. Meliame’s family rightly deserves answers about those responsible for her death.

“There are people out there who know who is responsible for Meliame’s murder and they need to do the right thing and contact us.”

The case will feature on Police Ten 7 tonight at 7.30pm on TVNZ 2.

Anyone with information can contact Counties Manukau Police on (09) 261 1321 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

PM undertakes to address Pātangata cemetery and land requests; deal with Tt4 immediate needs as constituents praise his visit as first by a Prime Minister

By
Kalino Latu
-
Kiliki ‘i he ‘ōtiō ‘i ‘olunga’ ke ke fanongo ki he fakataha ‘a e ‘Eiki Palēmia’ mo e kāinga Tongatapu 4.
Audios of the Prime Minister’s meeting in Tongatapu 4 were provided by the Prime Minister’s office and transcribed and translated into English by Kaniva News. This English version of the audios had been abridged.

Sponsored:

The Prime Minister was continuously praised during his meeting with Tongatapu 4 (Tt4) constituents for his willingness to leave his office and meet with people to hear their immediate needs.

Hon. Tu’i’onetoa said his government must address all the immediate needs raised by the constituents during the meeting.

He said he would talk to the Minister of Lands about a request from Pātangata to allow remaining unoccupied portions of land left from subdivisions of the village for two or more families who were boarding and living in one household.

The Prime Minister said he would also talk to the Minister about a request from the village to establish a public cemetery.

Multipurpose halls /evacuation centres

Hon. Tu’i’onetoa assured the meeting that the government could build them multipurpose halls as requested, but he asked the constituents to try to first secure land under their own names.

He advised women’s weaving groups to register their groups with the government before they leased land.

The Prime Minister said once this was done there would be no problem with the government funding the halls. He said same thing applied to requests for evacuation centres.

He asked for a community unity to fight against drug trade and use.

The Prime Minister’s concluding remarks included a statement that five water tanks had to be delivered to residents of Siesia island.

There were requests for the government to lend money to assist women’s development groups.  The Prime Minister said this would be possible and  advised them to see the Minister of Finance.

He said the government would provide building materials and resources for the Popua Government Primary School, as requested.

The Prime Minister was asked to establish a fire station at the constituency and upgrade the Ma’ufanga Government Primary School.

The controversial public swimming pool at Touliki was mentioned by one of the speakers during the meeting telling the Prime Minister it needed urgent assistance from the government.

Japanese donation / Chinese equipment

Hon Tu’i’onetoa has revealed that Japan has offered to donate a tar truck and 18,000 litres of tar for his Roading Project.

He also reminded the constituency about the six priorities his government has set out right in the beginning after they came into power in October 2019.

They were to construct, fill and seal all roads in Tonga, provide safer water supplies for the community, install street lights, upgrade outer islands’ wharves, reconstruct the Vava’u International Airport and upgrade airports in Ha’apai and ‘Eua as well as the Niuas.

Hon Tu’i’onetoa told the meeting the $35 million worth of road maintenance equipment supposed to arrive in Tonga next month had been postponed due to the coronavirus panademic.

Road maintenance / Cyclone Gita construction issue

The Minister of Infrastructure, Akosita Lavulavu assured the constituents that requests for road repairs which were deemed urgent would be addressed as soon as possible.

She said there was a problem with building houses and repairing buildings damaged by Tropical Gita because the landowners had to agree to sign letters allowing the construction to take place.

It is understood some landlords were currently living overseas and their lands in Tonga were occupied by family members or friends who wanted these assistances from government.

There were also requests for street lights to be fixed and installed. The government gave  assurances that these would be provided.

Lord Fakafanua’s herald, Kama, told the Prime Minister water, poor road conditions and illicit drugs use and distributions in Tt4 needed an immediate response from the government.

Opposition and PTOA MP Mateni Tapueluelu, also the MP for Tt4, welcomed the Prime Minister and told him during the meeting his constituency were happy for the meeting.

He said he was told the meeting was organised to solicit ideas and contributions to government’s economic development plans.

Street lights / town officer

He told the Prime Minister he wanted immediate assistance from the government to fix their street lights.

There was a request from Siesia island’s town officer to build a causeway between the island and Pātangata.

The Prime Minister was told there was unlawful trading on Sunday and there was a spot at a road in Tongatapu 2 where vehicles parked and sold baked goods to the public on Sunday. 

There were requests from Fangaloto residents to allow them to elect their own town officer. The Minister of Internal Affairs previously told Tongatapu2 the government was working to amend the laws to allow posting more town officers to villages and towns.

A constituent asked why Police did not arrest the “head of the octopus” referring to drug ring leaders.  He said Police only arrested the tentacles.

But Police Minister Lord Nuku responded and said if they knew about any drug kingpin let the Police know.

Faulty lights on runway force Tonga bound plane to divert to Fiji

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Virgin Australia direct flight from Sydney to Tonga was diverted before it arrived in Fua’amotu tonight because of an alleged problem with the runway lights.

The flight VA95 was scheduled to depart Sydney on Wednesday 18 at 6.45pm and was expected to arrive in Tonga at 1.25am this morning Thursday 19.

A reliable source who spoke on condition of anonymity said that for safety reasons and to prevent concerns about fuel the plane was diverted to Fiji.

An update on the Airline’s website at 2am (Aus time) this morning showed the flight VA95’s status was redirected.

It said the flight was rescheduled to depart Nadi, Fiji at 4.25 and will arrive in Tongatapu at 6.25.

Authorities were contacted for comment.

Fainu court case delayed until May 13; faces up to 25 years on grievous bodily harm charge

By
Philip Cass
-

Tongan rugby player Manase Fainu, has had his court case over a stabbing adjourned until the  beginning of May.

The Manly Sea Eagles hooker was charged with three offences after allegedly stabbing a man during a brawl at a Mormon church function in late October last year.

Fainu, 21,  pleaded not guilty to a number of charges including wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, recklessly causing grievous bodily harm in company and affray.

The most serious charge – intent to cause grievous bodily harm – carries a maximum sentence of 25 years

Police allege his victim was found at the Wattle Grove party with a punctured lung after being stabbed in the back.

At the original hearing police said Fainu was suspected of being “a member of a Pacific Islander criminal group.”

The matter will now be heard at Campbelltown Local Court on May 13.

The decision to delay the case was made as part of plan to reduce court workloads in the face of the coronavirus.

In December his case was adjourned after failed to appear after he was having treatment for an infected shoulder.

He was ordered to pay an Aus$10,000 surety and surrender his passport.

Last year Fainu was one of an elite group of Australian and New Zealand-based Tongan players who chose to play for the kingdom in their international matches.

The main points

  • Tongan rugby player Manse Fainu, has had his court case over a stabbing adjourned until the  beginning of May.
  • The Manly sea Eagles hooker was charged with three offences after allegedly stabbing a man during a brawl at a Mormon church function in late October last year.
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