Members of the Church of Latter Day Saints in Tonga are to hold Sunday worship at home.
Elder ‘Inoke Fotu Kupu said this was a temporary adjustment to the way
the church worshipped.
“In addition to studying the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our homes, we
will pray for and strive to minister to those around us, including our friends
and neighbours of other faiths through this challenging time.”
All public gatherings of the Church of Latter Day Saints members are
being temporarily suspended worldwide until further notice because of the
coronavirus.
Local leaders will determine how to make the sacrament available to
members at least once a month.
A statement from Church president Rusell Nelson said: “We encourage
members in their ministering efforts to care for one another. We should follow
the Savior’s example to bless and lift others.
“We bear our witness of the Lord’s love during this time of uncertainty.
He will bless you to find joy as you do your best to live the gospel of Jesus
Christ in every circumstance.”
New Zealand
In New Zealand, Catholic churches
have been asked to limit
contact during services to reduce the risk of spreading Covid-19.
People attending mass have been asked not to shake hands when giving the
sign of peace and in some churches wine is not being served during communion
and holy water fonts have been removed.
Some mass goers in Auckland have been told churches might be closed. If
this happened, it would be a major disruption to the four days of services
marking Easter, which begin on Holy Thursday, April 9.
Meanwhile, the leader of Auckland’s controversial Destiny Church, Bishop
Brian Tamaki, has declared that he is not afraid of the coronavirus and that
the church would remain open.
Bishop Tamaki has described Covid-19 as a “filthy virus” caused by
flying demons.
The main points
Mormons in Tonga are holding Sunday worship at home.
Elder ‘Inoke Fotu Kupu said this was a temporary
adjustment to the way the church worshipped.
Kiliki ‘i he ‘ōtiō ‘i ‘olunga’ ke ke fanongo ki he fakataha ‘a e ‘Eiki Palēmia’ mo e kāinga Tongatapu 3. Audios of the Prime Minister’s meeting in Tongatapu 3 were provided by the Prime Minister’s office and transcribed and translated into English by Kaniva News. This English version of the audio had been abridged.
Sponsored:
Gov’t says yes to Tt3’s urgent needs, water tanks offered during meetings as gov’t assured constituents “serious poor road conditions” must be repaired in April
The Prime Minister was shocked to see some roads in Tongatapu 3 (Tt3) were in serious poor conditions.
These potholes were described during the constituency’s meeting with Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa as “quarries”, “underground ovens”, “rivers” and “wells.”
The
constituents who spoke at the meeting were pleased that this was the first time
a Prime Minister had met with them and taken a ground level view of their poor
road conditions.
One speaker
said the Prime Minister told him while they were visiting the roads that he did
not know their road conditions were so severe.
The Chair of the FasiMoeAfi Council, Betty Blake, told the meeting there were paper roads in some Tongatapu 3 residential areas the government had ignored for years.
She said when it rained people and children who lived at these areas had to walk in mud and swamp before they reached the nearest constructed roads.
She said no
vehicle could access these areas because the roads had not been constructed.
Blake told
the Prime Minister she wanted this to be a priority.
The Prime Minister told the meeting their roads were their top urgent need. He said they must be repaired, with work beginning in the first week of April. His statement was applauded.
The meeting
was told it was expected most roads under the Prime Minister’s Roading Project
2020 could be completed by December this year.
Deputy Police Commander Ashley Fua spoke during the meeting and reported that Tt3 has recorded the highest for seizures of illicit drugs known as ice and methamphetamine.
Roading
project strategy
Hon.
Tu’i’onetoa said he had amended his roading project strategy from constructing
and repairing roads in constituencies one by one to four or five constituencies
at a time.
The
amendment was made after it was evident that roading needs in all constituencies were urgent.
He said the
government has completed tender process to secure quarries and based on a cost
of TP$70 per heavy truck, it was estimated the government needed $400 million
to construct and repair all roads in Tonga in the next two to four years.
He said he and
his cabinet had no energy and time to spare as they worked relentlessly to
complete his roading project.
Tropical
Cyclone Damage
Hon
Tu’i’onetoa said one of the most concerning topics raised during his meetings
with other constituencies was the damage caused by Tropical Cyclone Tino.
He said he
had also amended the government’s response strategy for the public needs after
the cyclone to speed up government’s response.
A woman said
when it rained the flooding blocked a drain at her road and she asked the Prime
Minister to fix it.
Another
woman who said she was elated to meet the Prime Minister asked Hon Tu’i’onetoa
to review Tonga’s Chinese no-visa entry.
She also
suggested building multi-purpose halls for Tongatapu 3.
Another woman from Pahu said she had been to the Ministry of Infrastructure three times and complained about the roads at which she lived. She said she was happy that the Prime Minister had visited the roads and was shocked to see the potholes and described them as “wells” and “underground ovens.”
Abandoned
Residential Property
She also
queried the government’s laws about residential properties which were abandoned
because their owners had moved and live overseas.
She said
these abandoned places have negative impact on community safety.
There was also a concern raised during the meeting about fear that the government might confiscate abandoned lands owned by people who have moved overseas.
Another woman from Pahu has complaint about her neigbour’s pigsty which she said was too close to her house. She said the unpleasant odour from the sty had made her really hard to breathe. She said she had complaint to the Ministry of Health but nothing has been done.
A
representative from the Fōfō’anga Kava Club asked the Prime Minister they
needed funding to help them operate their plantation.
Another man told the Prime Minister his house was destroyed by Tropical Cyclone Gita. He said he went around asking for assistance in government offices, but until now he had not received any assistance.
Former Prime
Minster Lord Sevele spoke during the meeting and said the standard of education
in Tonga had declined.
He said he supported the Tu’i’onetoa government and called for unity as a country between the people, chiefs and a king.
Another
constituent said the roofs of classrooms at Nuku’alofa Primary School in
Tongatapu 2 were leaking. He said many school children in this school came from
Tongatapu 3.
Evacuation
Centres Accessibility
A man told
the Prime Minister he wanted evacuation centres to be accessible for people
with disabilities and the elderly. He said people in these categories represent
10.6 percent of the population.
He said a
disabled woman complained to him that she had difficulty using her mobility
scooter on the footpath at one of the roads in Tongatapu 3.
He said this
footpath at Hala Tupoulahi and Mateialona Rd had sharp kerbs and an electric
pole stood in the middle.
He reminded
the government his proposal in 2014 to allocate a budget for people with
disabilities.
He said the only government benefit funding they received was
the charitable fund.
He asked the Prime Minister to allow one of the government’s
quarter for the disabilities to set up an office there.
He also asked for some disability scholarship especially in
computing and sign language.
Government
response:
The government instructed the constituents about various ways they wanted them to follow so they could deal with their concerns successfully including asking them to see the Chief Secretary in his office, write to the Tt3 Constituency Council and pick up water tanks from the Chief Secretary.
In response to request from Fōfō’anga for a loan to help their plantation Cocker told them to apply for a grant at the Ministry of Trade and Economy.
Regarding the complaint about the drainage being blocked when it was raining, Chief Secretary Edgar Cocker said they will look at it together with the Tt3 MP. Some people also asked for water tanks and the Chief Secretary offered to help them.
Regarding requests and complaints about the disabilities the Chief Secretary invited them to meet with him to look at what they can do.
In response to concerns regarding Chinese no-visa entry category MEIDDEC Minister Hon Poasi Tei said Tonga currently has Travel Advisory in place which restricted traveling from country to country amid coronavirus fears.
He said those travelers coming from China or has been traveling through China had been prohibited from entering Tonga.
The Minister of Finance said the government has allocated $25,000 to support wardens. He said an increase to $50,000 might help reduce the problems of drug dealings in the area.
The Minister of Police also responded to concern about landowners who have relocated to overseas countries and said there was no law in Tonga to confiscate lands if landowners had move to other countries.
The New Zealand Immigration and Protection Tribunal has rejected an appeal by a Tongan man to have a deportation notice overturned.
However,
the Tribunal ordered the removal of a prohibition on entry to New Zealand that
would otherwise apply following the appellant’s deportation from New Zealand.
The appellant was born in Tonga in 1992. His mother died and his father re-married a New Zealand resident.
In
2001 he and his father entered New Zealand and were granted residency permits.
In
2016 the appellant was convicted of assaulting his flatmate for which he was
sentenced to 200 hours community work, nine months intensive supervision and
$1292.66 reparation.
Over
the next few years he repeatedly breached his supervision conditions and was
found guilty of drugs charges and
receiving stolen goods.
In
October 2017, the appellant began a relationship with a New Zealand
citizen.
In
March 2018, he was found in possession of an offensive weapon and threatening
and intimidating behaviour. He also failed to answer police bail. He was
sentenced to 100 hours’ community work, $130 court costs and reparation of
$500.
On
July 16 last year he was issued with a Deportation notice, based upon his
conviction for his offending in 2015.
This
was to allow him to apply to re-enter New Zealand to visit his partner and
their (as yet unborn) child, should the need arise.
The
Tribunal said the decision on any such application would rest
with Immigration New
Zealand, and the Tribunal could not provide any guarantees in this regard.
The
Tribunal said the appellant’s offending of July 2015, which rendered him liable
for deportation, was not insignificant and was a major factor in its decision
to refuse his application.
Polyfest, which was due to take place this week in Auckland, has been called off amid fears about the spread of coronavirus.
The decision was made following meetings between the Polyfest Trust and the Auckland Regional Public Health Service.
Over 30 schools in Auckland were expected to perform cultural and traditional items on the Tongan stage this year.
The announcement from the Prime Minister on Saturday regarding Covid-19 stated that – “in order to limit the risk of community outbreak when people are in close proximity to each other we will also be announcing further guidelines on mass gatherings. Advice and criteria on mass gatherings will be released next week. For those who need more immediate advice, they should contact their public health unit.”
As requested in the Prime Minister’s announcement, The Polyfest Trust, who are responsible for the ASB Polyfest, held a meeting with the Auckland Regional Public Health Service, and representatives from the Auckland DHB, Counties-Manukau DHB, and the Ministry of Education.
The Auckland Regional Public Health Service said in the meeting that – “the wisest choice would be to cancel Polyfest. While we await the details of the government’s policy on mass gatherings, the following advice stands from a public health risk assessment perspective.”
“We understand that 110,000 people usually attend from around NZ. This is a large gathering, with close personal contact (due to the size of the crowd and the activities that occur at Polyfest). Even though people attending Polyfest buy a ticket we would see that this is like a non-ticketed event in that from a public health perspective we would be unable to identify who was in a certain location at a particular time. This would mean if there was a confirmed person who had COVID who had attended Polyfest it would not be possible to contact trace people who were near the case at Polyfest.”
The Auckland Regional Public Health Service added that – “Aotearoa NZ is currently in a ‘stamp it out’ phase of COVID-19, where intensive activity is undertaken to avoid any potential for community transmission of the virus. From an Auckland community perspective, ARPHS is concerned to avoid COVID-19 taking a ‘hold’ in the Auckland population and across the country, and we have a large and widely dispersed Pacific population in Auckland. The Government is also concerned with keeping COVID-19 out of the Pacific Islands, and we know that many Auckland families have frequent contact with visitors and family from the Pacific, or travel to and from the Pacific.
For these reasons, whilst we recognise the significant impact and disruption with a late-notice cancellation, we think this decision would be best in the public health interest.”
The Counties Manukau DHB endorsed the statement from the Auckland Regional Public Health Service, as the local public health provider of healthcare services for the Counties Manukau District. They are working together regionally on the COVID19 response and are in agreement with the recommendations made to The Polyfest Trust.
Following the meetings, Greg Pierce from the Polyfest Trust said – “we have been following the guidelines from the Ministry of Health for the past few weeks, and following meetings with Auckland Regional Public Health Service, the final advice was to cancel the 2020 ASB Polyfest”
Pierce said – “we are mindful of the disappointment of school groups who did not get to perform at the 2020 ASB Polyfest, but the health of all students and stakeholders is paramount”
“We are currently looking at alternative options for assessing students performances, and will communicate this with schools once a decision has been reached.”
ASB head of community and sponsorship Mark Graham says, as naming sponsor of the event, ASB fully supports the decision.
“We have proudly sponsored ASB Polyfest for 35 years, and have a lot of respect for how hard the students and their families, teachers, stage co-ordinators and event crew will have worked in preparation for this year’s event, however in light of the advice provided, we fully support the Polyfest Trust Board’s decision to cancel the event.”
With regard to NCEA credits which students could have earned at the 2020 ASB Polyfest, NZQA has information and support available for schools who may need guidance regarding the collection of relevant assessment evidence and providing students with other assessment opportunities, following the cancellation of the 2020 Pasifika Festival and ASB Polyfest.
Schools can contact the NZQA Call Centre on 0800 697 296 if they need any further information.
The Director General of the World Health Organsation, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said this week everybody had to be prepared and ready to deal with the coronavirus.
He
said everybody had to be prepared and ready.
“Every
person must know the signs and symptoms and how to protect themselves and
others,” Ghebreyesus said.
“Every
health worker should be able to recognize this disease, provide care and know
what to do with their patients.
“Every
health facility should be ready to cope with large numbers of patients, and
ensure the safety of staff and patients.”
He
said the keys were detection, protection and treatment.
“You
can’t fight a virus if you don’t know where it is. Find, isolate, test and
treat every case, to break the chains of transmission.
“Every
case we find and treat limits the expansion of the disease.”
Reducing
transmission of the disease was crucial.
“Do
not just let this fire burn,” the WHO head said.
“Isolate
the sick and quarantine their contacts. In addition, measures that increase
social distancing such as cancelling sporting events may help to reduce
transmission.
“Even
if you cannot stop transmission, you can slow it down and save lives.
Ghebreyesus
said those fighting the virus had to learn from their experiences.
“This
is a new virus and a new situation,” he said.
“We’re
all learning, and we must all find new ways to prevent infections, save lives,
and minimize impact. All countries have lessons to share.
There
are simple, effective things we can all do to reduce the risk of infection for
ourselves and those around us.
“Clean
your hands regularly with an alcohol-based rub or soap and water.
“Cover
your mouth and nose with your elbow if you cough or sneeze.
“Stay
home if you’re sick.
“Avoid
unnecessary travel and large social gatherings.
“Comply
with the advice of your local or national health authority.
“Find
and share reliable information.”
The main points
The Director General of the World Health Organsation, Tedros
Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said this week everybody had to be prepared and ready to
deal with the coronavirus.
He said everybody had to be prepared and ready.
For more information
WHO Director-General’s
opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19 – 13 March 2020
The Land Court has blamed the Minister for Lands for part of the failure of a claim in a lands dispute.
The president of the court, M.J.Whitten, said the plaintiff, Sione Langi
Sunia, had been unsuccessful due to the failings of the Minister, the failure
of a principal in the case to disclose his US and the failure of the defendant
to establish a legal right to be on the land.
Whitten said the Minister’s decisions in the case to have affected by the application of wrong principles and errors of law to take into account relevant considerations and failure to observe the rules of natural justice.
The dispute centred on ownership of a tax allotment known as Siatanu,
situated at Ha’atafu in Tongatapu. Sione was registered as owner of the land in
February 2016.
A house on the land was built by his parents, Kepueli and Latasunia.
For 20 years Viviena and Paula Kava and their children lived on the land. In 2014 Kepueli asked them to leave the land so his married daughter could live there.
Sione sought an eviction order of the defendants and damages for
trespass,
Kepueli was born in Tonga but immigrated to Hawai’i when he was 16 and
eventually became a US citizen.
In 1998 he applied for a grant for the allotment, declaring he was a Tongan
citizen.
In the same year Tevita Mataele Langi the son of Kepueli’s eldest brother claimed the allotment, which was granted.
Following a dispute, the two men agreed that Tevita’s registration would
be cancelled.
The land was granted to Kepueli, who at this stage he had not told
anybody he had renounced his Tongan citizenship.
In 2014, on visit from Hawai’i,
he enquired at the Ministry of Lands about the progress of the registration of
the land and was told it was in progress.
However, Paula Kava, later claimed the land belonged to Tevita and said
it had been discovered that at all times Kepueli was an American citizen and
had no claim to the land.
Kepueli then learned that his son, Sione, could hold the land because
his mother had retained her Tongan citizenship.
In his summing up Mr Whitten said the case turned on Kepueli’s citizenship. He said this had not been considered properly by the Minister even though it materially affected the ownership of the land, the question of succession and the right of occupation.
He said the Minister fell into error principally because of Kepueli
failing to disclose his US citizenship.
He said the defendants had not established a legal basis to remain on the land.
The main points
The Land Court has blamed the Minister for Lands for
part of the failure of a claim in a lands dispute.
The president of the court, M.J.Whitten, said the
plaintiff, Sione Langi Sunia, had been unsuccessful due to the failings of the
Minister, the failure of a principal in the case to disclose his US and the
failure of the defendant to establish a legal right to be on the land.
The Supreme Court has sentenced a policeman to three years in jail for bribery.
Fanguna Alalea pleaded guilty to a charge of offering a bribe to a member
of the Tongan police.
At the time he was an officer from Tu’atakilangi.
On July 13 last year Constable Tu’amelie Fifita, a member of the Drugs
Enforcement Taskforce was talking with members of his family in front of the
old yacht club on Vuna Rd when he was approached by Alalea
Alalea told Fifita he was looking for somebody willing to do a job in
exchange for money for a drug dealer.
The two men agreed to talk further about the matter the next day. Fifita
told Alalea to meet him in the car park near the club. He waited there with a
policewoman, WPC Otuhouma.
Alalea arrived and offered Fifita TP$2000 if he would steal some
methamphetamine from the evidence room at the police station.
Fifita told him this would be difficult because the drugs had been sent
to New Zealand for testing.
Alalea told him to take the money, which Fifita refused to do. The
accused then left, leaving the money with Fifita.
Fifita and WPC Otuhouma immediately reported the matter to their
commanding officer. Alalea was arrested the next day.
Alalea said he had been given TP$2000 by Sione Filipe Jnr whom he met
when Filipe was arrested for importing Indian hemp. Filipe asked him obtain
drugs from the police editing room.
An original plan to charge Filipe with the bribery offence was dropped
due to what was said to be doubts about the evidence.
Lord Chief Justice Whitten, presiding, sentenced Alalaea to three years
in prison with the last year suspended for two years on condition that he be
placed on probation and undertake a drug awareness course.
The Supreme Court has sentenced four men to suspended sentences for assaulting a man in September 2018.
The court was told that Walter Fangatua, Semisi Tu’ineau, Lisiate Fonua
and Siope Ma’u Niusini assaulted Lehopoame Tu’utafaiva.
Fangatua was convicted of causing grievous bodily harm by striking Tu’utafaiva with a hoe blade, causing a head injury.
Tu’ineau struck the victim with a hoe handle. Fonua and Niusini
repeatedly kicked and punched him.
Judge Niu said Tu’utafaiva and his friends had provoked the violence by
mistreating Fonua and Niusini.
After an altercation, two soldiers who had been drinking with the
complainant chased and caught Fonua and Niusini and beat them up.
They then challenged the people at Tu’ineau’s place to come out and
fight. The court was told that
Tu’utafaiva’ shouted out: “We are soldiers, come and fight.”
Judge Niu said Tu’ineau was the only one of the accused to show any remorse.
Fonua was sentenced to three months imprisonment, suspended for two
years on condition that he attended a Salvation Army course on alcohol
awareness.
Niusini was sentenced to three months imprisonment, suspended for two
years on condition that he attended a Salvation Army course on alcohol
awareness.
Tu’ineau was released on probation on condition that he promised to be
of good behavior for five months.
The main points
The Supreme Court has sentenced four men to suspended
sentences for assaulting a man in September 2018.
Judge Niu said Tu’utafaiva and his friends had
provoked the violence by mistreating Fonua and Niusini.
Former ‘Ikale Tahi number eight and coach Tēvita Latailakepa’s favourite Bible scriptures were revealed this morning as hundreds gathered in mourning to farewell him in Fasimoeafi today.
They were St Paul’s Letter to the Phillipians, chapter
4, verse 13 and Psalm 121.
Phillipians
4:13 says: “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
Psalm
121: 1-2 says:
“I look
up to the mountains;
Does my
strength come from mountains?
No, my
strength comes from God,
Who made
heaven, and earth, and mountains.”
Rev. Lōpini
Filise, who described himself as a very close friend of Rev. Latailakepa, said
Tevita had used these Biblical verses
whenever they travelled overseas.
He said Rev Latailakepa’s personality, discipline and teaching skills reflected these scriptures.
He
described Rev. Latailakepa as charming, easy-going and determined.
It is understood, Rev. Filise joined Rev. Latailakepa in his role as a tutor at Tupou College and to looking after the college’s rugby union team.
During Rev Latailakepa’s tenure as teacher and coach for the Tupou College 1st XV, the school regularly won the Inter-College Rugby Tournament Cup in the 1990s.
Rev. Latailakepa’s wife Sela described his cause of death as
unexpected. He was admitted to hospital in recent weeks, but doctors said they could not save his life.
Rev Latailakepa died on Saturday, March 7 at Vaiola Hospital. He
was 60.
The Fasi Moe Afi Free Wesleyan church, where Rev. Latailakepa
was the minister, was packed with mourners this morning.
In reading his biography to the congregation, Sela said God has
given her husband with many talents.
She said her husband not only captained the Tonga National Rugby Union Team but he also coached local rugby union teams including the Mailefihi College, Hango Agricultural College, Kolovai and Hihifo. These local teams became top and won trophies while Rev Latailakepa was their coach, Sela said.
She said Rev. Latailakepa was chosen, together with former rugby
union player Rocky Fotu, in 1999 to join former All Blacks such as Ande Haden in
a team which played at the World Rugby Classic in Bermuda.
He was elected chairman of the Tonga Rugby Union Board in 2011 to replace its Australian head, Bob Tucker, amidst turmoil in the organisation and a warning from the International Rugby Union.
Rev. Latailakepa was born on 9 February 1960 in Neiafu, Vava’u.
He is survived by his wife Sela and their four children.
A second test conducted in a New Zealand lab for coronavirus in Tonga hasreturned negative result, the Minister of Health has announced.
The revelation came after a first test, of sample taken from the same patient, was conducted by the Victorian Infectious Disease Reference Laboratory in Australia last week was negative or non reactive.
As Kaniva news reported last week, a 21-year-old Tongan woman who had recently returned to Tonga after being in Sydney was isolated at Vaiola Hospital after showing signs of coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
Australia has 22 cases of coronavirus in New South Wales
alone. Two Australians have died from the illness – one in New South Wales and
another in Perth.
The Prime Minister previously said it was World Health Organisation’s procedure to do a second confirmation test on every suspected patient so the government sent the sample to New Zealand on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the total number of cases worldwide neared 120,000 by Wednesday morning, with more than 80,000 in China and more than 10,000 in Italy. Both Iran and South Korea now have around 8,000 confirmed cases and other nations are suggesting they will reach similar levels soon.
