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PM’s Tongatapu 2 Meeting: Drainage, footpaths, water and special care for those who relocated to Tongatapu were urgent needs.

By
Kalino Latu
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Kiliki ‘i he halangaope ‘i ‘olunga’ ke ke fanongo ki he fakataha ‘a e kāinga Tongatapu 2’ mo e ‘Eiki Palēmia’ ‘i he lea fakaTonga’
Audios of the Prime Minister’s meeting in Tongatapu 2 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.

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PM’s Tongatapu 2 Meeting: Drainage, footpaths, water, road repairs, streetlights and special care for those who relocated to Tongatapu were urgent needs.

Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa said most roads in Tongatapu 2 were in good condition.

He said he estimated that only 30 kilometres of roads in the area needed to be filled and sealed. The Prime Minister also said there was an urgent need for water tanks and that this need was common to Tongatapu 2, Tongatapu 3, and Tongatapu 4 residents.

He said there was a problem with some of the new footpaths because according to maps some had power poles in the middle.

He said some footpaths needed to be upgraded because they had sharp kerbs.

Hon Tu’i’onetoa said there was an issue after Tonga Power Board and footpath contractors were in dispute over who should pay for the work to move the power poles.

The Prime Minster said three things needed to be done before constructing footpaths.

Firstly, the constructor had to obtain authorisation from the Minister of Lands to begin construction. Secondly there had to be a process of identifying and labelling power poles, footpaths and the roads. The final part was to request the Tonga Power Board to move power poles to their correct positions.

This work had to be done  before drains could  be dug.

The Prime Minister said Tonga had no laws regarding footpaths.

Footpath Bills

He said he thanked the Minister of Infrastructure for proposing laws for footpaths. Bills were expected to be submitted to Parliament in two months.

The Prime Minister said the Ministry of Infrastructure had corrected footpath maps in December last year and these were used for the new  footpaths in Ha’ateiho.

Hon Tu’i’onetoa said the new footpaths were different from previous ones, which showed the issues had been resolved.

He also said drainage work in some areas in Tongatapu 2 needed to be repaired as past floods showed they did not work.

Outer islanders relocating to Tongatapu 2

The Prime Minister said there were people in Tongatapu 2 who were relocating from the outer islands and they need help to fill their swampy tax allotments. He said these people needed to be provided with special urgent care.

In his first meeting with the Tongatapu 2 constituents since he was appointed Prime Minister in October 2019, Hon Tu’i’onetoa said he could not be a good leader unless he met with them face to face.

He said this was important because these were the people to  whom he was accountable. He was the people’s Prime Minister and they were the people that mattered to him most.

Parable from the Bible

The Prime Minister quoted the parable from the Holy Bible about the shepherd who left his flock of 99 sheep in order to find the one which was lost.

Jesus was the Good Shepherd and he knew his sheep, he said.

Hon. Tu’i’onetoa said in their meetings with other constituencies people revealed they found it difficult to talk to civil servants.

He said the people were happy to see he met them to hear their urgent needs directly.

He told the Tongatapu 2 he was meeting them because they were his sheep and he wanted to feed and give them drinks.

He said he did not have to stay in his  office all the time.

The Prime Minister said despite having abundant work to do he would not be satisfied unless he met all the people of the 17 constituencies in Tonga.

He said he would meet them again in a fono organised for the whole of Tonga.

Other concerns

Other concerns from Tongatapu 2 included asking the government to post a town officer for Fanga ‘O Pilolevu.

There was a complaint to the Prime Minister about loud music played and fireworks being let off near churches while they were having prayer services.

There was a need for the Fanga O Pilolevu’s public cemetery to be extended and long standing drainage issues that had to be addressed.

A Fanga ‘O Pilolevu resident said when there was flooding some vehicles stalled while driving through the floodwaters at St Andrew’s School.

A woman asked the government to put more pedestrian crossings on their Fanga ‘O Pilolevu’s Taufa’āhau road and renew paints of the pedestrian markings.

Some Tofoa and Havleuloto residents asked the Prime Minister to seal and repair their roads and provide solar powered lights to some areas. They said some young girls had been abducted from their houses during the night.

A resident in Kolofo’ou asked the Prime Minister to put speed humps on their Hala ‘Unga road to slow speeding vehicles to safe speeds.

Infrastructure CEO suspended with no pay in latest round of years-long battle to keep job

By
Philip Cass
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The CEO of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Ringo Fa’oliu, has been suspended without pay.

Chairman of the Public Service Commission Simione Sefanaia said Fa’oliu had been suspended following a complaint about his services.

Sefania told the Tonga Broadcasting Commission the PSC was investigating the complaint filed against Fa’oliu.

Fa’oliu was  CEO of the Ministry from 2012 to 2015.

He was not reappointed in 2015 after the then Commission chairman, Mr ‘Uhila Liava’a, wrote to the Minister claiming a series of reports indicated that during Fa’oliu’s term there had been failures to comply with procurement procedures, significant overpayments to contractors and the inappropriate use of daily paid workers.

As Kaniva news reported at the time, Fa’oliu launched a legal challenge that ended with a judicial declaration that the PSC’s decision was unlawful.

Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said the PSC decision to cancel the reappointment of Fa’oliu was biased and partial.

He said Liava’a had sat on the Committee that prepared one of the reports that reflected badly on Fa’oliu’s fitness to be CEO of the Ministry, the judge said.

He then sat on the Commission to consider Fa’oliu’s appointment and was likely to have already formed a view that Fa’oliu was not a suitable person to be reappointed to that role.

“I think any fair minded observer would conclude that Liava’a was likely to have had a biased disposition towards Fa’oliu,” the judge said.

The main points

  • The CEO of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Ringo Fa’oliu, has been suspended without pay.
  • Fa’oliu was  CEO of the Ministry from 2012 to 2015.

For more information

CEO of Infrastructure suspended

CEO of Infrastructure suspended

Govt official who successfully sued PSC returns to Infrastructure’s CEO role

Govt official who successfully sued PSC returns to Infrastructure’s CEO role

Supreme Court declares Public Service Commission’s decision on CEO was unlawful

Supreme Court declares Public Service Commission’s decision on CEO was unlawful

No word on coronavirus test; WHO warns lack of protective gear endangers health workers

By
Philip Cass
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Tonga has yet to receive results of the suspected coronavirus sample sent to New Zealand.

And while Tonga waits, the World Health Organisation has warned that the shortage of masks and other protective equipment was putting the lives of health wormers at risk.

As Kaniva news reported earlier this week, Prime Minister Pohiva Tu‘i‘onetoa  confirmed that health authorities have identified the kingdom’s first suspected case of coronavirus.

The suspect is a 21 year-old Tongan woman who flew into the kingdom from Sydney. on Monday.

The woman had flu-like symptoms in Australia, but her symptoms became worse when she got to Tongatapu. The woman went to Vaiola Hospital last week where she was diagnosed with pneumonia.

Health authorities are looking for people the woman has had contact with in Tonga, as well as passengers on the aircraft she arrived on.

Risk

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation has confirmed that Tonga is one of 46 countries to receive additional supplies of personal protective equipment from the international body.

Other Pacific nations to receive help include Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.

The WHO warned that severe and mounting disruption to the global supply of personal protective equipment– caused by rising demand, panic buying, hoarding and misuse – was putting lives at risk.

“Healthcare workers rely on personal protective equipment to protect themselves and their patients from being infected and infecting others,” the WHO said.

“But shortages are leaving doctors, nurses and other frontline workers dangerously ill-equipped to care for COVID-19 patients, due to limited access to supplies such as gloves, medical masks, respirators, goggles, face shields, gowns and aprons.”

Cruise ship ban

Weeks after Tonga turned away three cruise ships, Customary authorities in Wallis and Futuna have banned a planned visit by a German cruise ship to protect the population against the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus.

The cruise ship Soleal is scheduled to sail from French Polynesia via the Cook Islands, Samoa and Wallis to Fiji.

The main points

  • Tonga has yet to receive results of the suspected coronavirus sample sent to New Zealand.
  • As Kaniva news reported earlier this week, Prime Minister Pohiva Tu‘i‘onetoa  confirmed that health authorities have identified the kingdom’s first suspected case of coronavirus.

Acclaimed Tongan documentary about family differences to be shown in United States

By
Philip Cass
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Tongan documentary For My Father’s Kingdom will be screened in the United States.

The film, which has already been screened  at the Berlin and Auckland international films festivals, is being toured through the United States with support from the Pacific Cooperation Foundation.

The film has been described as ”an intimate, clear-eyed documentary centred on the faith, love and fatherhood of Saia Mafile’o, and his four children.”

In the film Mafile’o remains dedicated to his island culture and gives everything he can to his church, something which has caused deep divisions in this family

The Auckland Film Festival said last year: “In trying to understand her father, director Vea Mafile’o and Jeremiah Tauamiti capture a moving story about generational difference, resilience and unconditional love.”

Last November the film was screened to US-based Tongan Methodist Ministers and community leaders who believed the film would provide an opportunity to bring different generations of the Tongan diaspora together.

The ministers were former classmates of Saia.

Vea Mafile’o said although the film examined her father’s unwavering love for Tonga, the documentary was a universal story that all viewers could identify with.

“This movie really shows the different issues that a lot of our Pacific people face, be it cultural identity, generational disconnection, sacrifice, faith, family and the challenges we face as the diaspora and the children of the diaspora,” she said.

 “The film doesn’t have all the answers, but it provides a space and gives permission for hard tricky things to be talked about. It covers a number of themes but our main take away would be that communication is key, take down the barriers, make real connections, young and old but always come from a place of love.”

Film makers

PCF CEO Don Mann said he hoped For My Father’s Kingdom would encourage a generation of Pacific filmmakers to produce their own stories.

“Advances in technology enables those in the creative sector to think globally,” Mann said.

“As natural story tellers, there is a real opportunity for Pacific filmmakers to have a meaningful place in the global creative sector.”

For My Father’s Kingdom was funded by the New Zealand Film Commission and is distributed by Rialto Distribution.

The main points

  • Tongan documentary For My Father’s Kingdom will be screened in the United States.
  • The film, which has already been screened at the Berlin and Auckland international films festivals, is being toured through the United States with support from the Pacific Cooperation Foundation.

For more information

For My Father’s Kingdom Facebook page

For My Father's Kingdom Official Trailer

🇱🇷🚨Update: We are coming to the USA! Saia his son Robert & daughter Vea will be screeing in San Francisco, Utah, L.A, Los Vegas, Rino, Arizona, Texas & Hawaii 🚨Stay tuned for updates!! Ofa atuWe are so excited to finally launch the trailer for our film – FOR MY FATHERS KINGDOM! 🇹🇴This is an authentic Tongan🇹🇴 and Pacific story honouring the legacy and sacrifice of our parents. Help us spread the word far and wide by tagging your siblings cousins, Kainga, and village! 🙌🇫🇯🇳🇺🇼🇸🇨🇰🇹🇻🇵🇬🇸🇧🇰🇮🇳🇿🇺🇸🇭🇲🇹🇴#ForMyFathersKingdom #fmfk #TonganFilm #pacificwomenfilmmakers #pacificfilm #Tonganpride #pacificpride #secondgenerationislanders #loveourelders #polynesian #micronesians

Posted by For My Father's Kingdom on Thursday, June 20, 2019

New Zealand International Film Festival

https://www.nziff.co.nz/2019/archive-5/for-my-fathers-kingdom/

Italy Closes Down Schools in New Virus Containment Effort: Ansa

By
Kaniva Staff
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By Alessandro Speciale and John Follain; Bloomberg.com

Italy will shut down schools across the country until mid-March to curb the spread of the coronavirus epidemic, newswire Ansa reported.

The closure, which starts Thursday, is aimed at tackling the outbreak of the highly contagious disease, which has killed 79 people in the country and crippled the rich northern regions.

As many as 8.7 million children and students will be affected from kindergarten to high schools and universities, as well as their families. Many in the afflicted regions, from Milan to Venice and Bologna, are already confined at home.

The Italian decision follows up on Japan, which is enforcing a complete school shutdown due to last until April. It will will deal a further blow to an economy that was already headed for recession. The government, according to an official, is studying a stimulus package worth 3.6 billion euros ($4 billion) and pushing its deficit above 2.4% of gross domestic product.

Prime Minister confirms first suspected case of coronavirus; WHO staff treating patient

By
Kalino Latu and Philip Cass
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The Tongan government has confirmed that health authorities have identified the kingdom’s first suspected case of coronavirus.

The suspect is a 21 year-old Tongan woman who flew into the kingdom from Sydney on Monday, the Minister of Health, Prof ‘Amelia Afuha’amango Tu’ipulotu told Kaniva News this evening.

The Minister said samples were being sent to New Zealand for testing.

The woman had flu-like symptoms in Australia, but her symptoms became worse when she got to Tongatapu. The woman went to Vaiola Hospital last week where she was diagnosed with pneumonia.

The Minister’s comments came after she and Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa held a press conference this afternoon in Nuku’alofa to brief media on the Covid-19 coronavirus response.

Ministry of Health CEO, Dr Siale ‘Akauola said World Health Organisation staff were in Tonga to train staff in handling the coronavirus. They were now treating the patient.

Ministry officials were tracing people she might have had contact with in Tonga.

Border controls

Tonga has already introduced strict border controls and  turned away visitors.

The government recently told three cruise ships not to dock after the virus broke out on another cruise liner, Diamond Princess, which was eventually quarantined in Japan.

The Ministry of Health has said an outbreak of coronavirus in Tonga was likely to cause a high death toll and have serious economic consequences.

On Tuesday the World Health Organisation warned of a global shortage of protective equipment to fight the disease.

The main points

  • The Tongan government has confirmed that health authorities have identified the kingdom’s first suspected case of coronavirus.
  • Tongan media reported this evening that the suspect is a 21 year-old Tongan woman who flew into the kingdom from Sydney on Monday.

Gov’t appoints new faces to senior roles

By
Kalino Latu
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Two new chief executive officers and an eye doctor have joined those at government’s senior positions.

Dr ‘Ōpeti Pulotu has been appointed as Tonga National Qualifications and Accreditation Board (TNQAB) new Chief Executive Officer effective from 21 February 2020.

Dr Pulotu, from Toula, Vava‘u, recently completed a PhD in Educational Assessment from Durham University in the United Kingdom. He has been the Principal Qualifications Officer at TNQAB since it was established.

Tonga’s sole Ophthalmologist, Dr Duke Mataka has been announced as the new leader of the Ministry of Health’s Ophthalmology Division after obtaining a Masters’ degree in Ophthalmology in 2018 from the Pacific Island Institute, Fiji.

The post had been left vacant for about 10 years.

Government’s partly owned Tonga Cable Limited has appointed Sēmisi Pānuve as its new Chief Executive Officer effective from 2 March.

Pānuve is an engineer by profession and was Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Friendly Islands Satellite Communications Ltd or Tongasat, owned by Princess Pilolevu Tuita, sister of King George Tupou VI.

Three suspended TBC journalists on their 7th week suspension; case still being investigated, board director says

By
Kalino Latu
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The complaints lodged against three journalists suspended by Tonga Broadcasting Commission (TBC) board in January were still being investigated, a TBC board of director has told Kaniva News.

Sētita Tu’i’onetoa, the TBC Station Manager along with two other television anchors Vilisoni Tu’iniua and Salamo Fulivai were suspended with pay after the national broadcaster board received complaints from former Cabinet Minister and MP ‘Etuate Sungalu Lavulavu.

As the investigation dragged on for seven weeks now, the TBC Board Director Keith Moala said the trio had been suspended after the board received legal advice from its lawyer.

A committee outside the board was then set up to probe accusations which included allegations the journalists did not contact Lavulavu for his comment and televising a news piece which was without merit and being falsified.

Tu’i’onetoa previously told Kaniva News they did not break any laws and she had consulted two lawyers before the news was released.

Meanwhile, the Pacific Media Forum co-chair Ofani Eremae said the forum was calling for “transparency” over the suspensions, which had added to the ongoing history of “intimidation” at the broadcaster.

In 2017, the Prime Minister removed TBC news editor Laumanu Petelo and news manager Viola Ulakai from their positions in the newsroom, accusing them of “unfair reporting” of the government.

Tongan evacuees leave UK for kingdom; world events Tonga expected to join cancelled amid coronavirus fears

By
Kalino Latu
-

The first group of 26 athletes previously stranded in China due to the coronavirus outbreak have begun leaving some quarantined rooms in a hotel in the UK this morning.

They were expected to start arriving in Tonga tomorrow March 5.

The last group of 25 athletes was expected to leave UK on Thursday, said Tongan medical doctor in UK, Dr Faka’osi Pifeleti.

The sport teams included boxing, table tennis, swimming and weightlifting trainees who were being trained in China before they were evacuated to London.  

The Tongan authorities have previously announced that after being quarantined for 14 days in London the sport teams were expected to leave via Dubai and Auckland and will arrive in Tonga on March 5 and 7.

Meanwhile the epidemic has cancelled international upcoming world events in which Tonga was expected to participate.

These included the ITB Berlin Travel Fair, the world biggest travel show which was scheduled for this week, Former Acting Prime Minister Semisi Sika said on Facebook.

He said the Pacific Art Festival in Honolulu which was set to begin in three months time just got canceled.

Vava‘u planned protest withdrawn after authorities diverted cruise ships amid coronavirus fears

By
Kalino Latu
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A protest planned in Vava’u to force authorities to divert cruise ships coming to their port has been scratched.

Neiafu town officer Vāvā Lapota said they took back their notice yesterday after government announced a diversion order has been put in place to block four cruise ships from docking in Tonga over fears of coronavirus ongoing outbreak.

He told Kaniva News some of those ships had been scheduled to visit Vava’u.

He said the governor met with all district and town officers of Vava’u to discuss the cruise ships upcoming visits and  they all agreed to turn the ships away.

The diversion order came after the kingdom allowed MS Amsterdam to dock in Nuku’alofa on Friday saying it has been cleared by the Ministry of Health.

Asked whether authorities have put any preventive coronavirus measures in place for yachters sailing to the group Lapota said he understood the governor’s office was talking to Nuku’alofa about diverting all yachts to Tongatapu for screening procedures before returning to port in Vava’u.

He said it was normal for yachts to start arriving in Vava’u after next month.

The Maasdam, Silver Whisper, Artania and Carnival Spirit were scheduled to stop in the kingdom on March 9, March 23 and March 31.

“I have reasonable grounds to believe that it is necessary to divert them to a place outside of Tonga,” Health CEO Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola said.

Last month four cruise ships including a yacht – the Astor, Columbus, and Crystal Serenity and a super-yacht Windstirid, were all refused entry in Tonga due to health warnings following the global coronavirus outbreak.

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