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Lavulavu wants TBC to investigate staff over allegedly defamatory reports; broadcaster says it “was clear of breaking any laws”

By
Kalino Latu
-

A defiant ‘Etutate Lavulavu has written to Tonga Broadcasting Commission General Manager Solomone Finau and demanded he suspend his news room staff and station manager Setita Tu’i’onetoa.

Lavulavu wanted TBC to investigate what he described in Tongan as falsified, incompleted, untruthful and invalidated reports.

He accused the national radio and television service of not giving him a chance to respond to accusations against him. He said the rules of natural justice had not been followed.

He said if TBC did not comply with his demand within two days he would take legal action against it.

As Kaniva news reported this week, Lavulavu has said that an incriminating audio recording of him, parts of which were broadcast on Television Tonga’s news, was doctored and twisted to discredit him.

The TBC news story, which was also carried by Tu’i’onetoa on her Facebook page, alleged that  Lavulavu manipulated members of parliament before  the People’s Party formed the government.

It also alleged that Lavulavu has requested that the government reward his part in establishing the People’s party and to approve an application to lease the plot of land on which the government flat he is renting is situated.

Lavulavu vehemently denied the allegations and said he did not make any requests to the government for rewards for the advice he gave the coalition parties before they won the premiership election and formed the new government.

In the letter to TBC boss dated October 14, and which was seen by Kaniva, Lavulavu claimed the report by TBC was based on how reporters interpreted what they heard from the secret recorded audio.

TBC response

Tu’i’onetoa has described Lavulavu’s letter to Kaniva news using the Tongan word “fakanāfala.”- a word coined from cricket for the hit made by the batsman who had not made sure of his target.

She told us TBC has consulted two lawyers before she released the news.

She also wrote on Facebook: “There was genuine news value in chronicling the existence of the conversation recorded on tape. Both sides were aired. Lavulavu’s side of which (he) declined, PM’s side and the other side of course the recorded material.”

Tu’i’onetoa said she  did not accept that TBC was liable for defamation.

“We are not prepared to agree to the terms of Lavulavu’s offer and if Lavulavu files proceedings, we will defend ourselves,” she said.

“The news was clear of breaking any laws of the government of Tonga and the news did not breach any of TBC’s policies and regulations.”

The main points

  • A defiant ‘Etutate Lavulavu has written to Tonga Broadcasting Commission General Manager Solomone Finau and demanded he suspend his news room staff and station manager Setita Tu’i’onetoa.
  • Lavulavu wanted TBC to investigate what he described in Tongan as falsified, incompleted, untruthful and invalidated reports.

For more information

Lavulavu claims incriminating audio doctored, threatened to sue Tonga Broadcasting Commission and others

Lavulavu claims incriminating audio doctored, threatened to sue Tonga Broadcasting Commission and others

Ban on ‘Atenisi Institute recruiting students is illegal, Lord Chief Justice Whitten rules

By
Philip Cass
-

The Supreme Court has declared that the Tonga National Qualifications and Accreditation Board’s ban on the ‘Atenisi Institute recruiting students is unlawful.

However, the court rejected an application by the Institute for a declaration that the Department had no authority to require it to meet its requirements for accreditation.

The declaration is the latest step in an extended legal dispute between the Institute and the Board.

The ‘Atenisi Institute  has operated since 1975 as an educational provider offering tertiary courses in social science, natural science and the creative arts. 

Its core curriculum has been the critical appraisal of philosophy, history, literature, coupled with instruction in mathematics and language.

The Board told the Institute it had to meet requirements for registration as a tertiary provider under the National Qualifications and Accreditation Board Act 2004.

The Institute was initially registered under the new Act, but a dispute arose over the requirements for registration.

The Institute claimed that the Board required documentation that was at odds with the way it taught and said that providing it with limited staff and resources was extremely difficult.

In March 2018, the Board told the Institute that it would seek to prevent it from recruiting new students on the grounds that its degree programmes have not yet been approved. 

Lord Chief Justice Whitten said the Board had acted improperly in imposing the bans on recruitment.

The judge said the Board had failed to observe the requirements of natural justice or procedural fairness.

It had not told the Institute in what way its accreditation application was deficient, or what was required by the Board to accredit the programmes.

It was impossible therefore for the Institute Plaintiff to know the particulars of the alleged non-compliance and what was required to remedy it.

He said the Institute had succeeded in challenging the lawfulness of the  Board’s ban on the Institute from recruiting students for its unaccredited programmes.

The  ban was imposed at a time when the Institute’s application for accreditation of those programmes was before (and remained before) the Board for assessment.

 “The Board’s compliance notices dated 22 February 2018 and 21 February 2019 are declared to be unlawful, invalid and of no effect and set aside,” the judge said.

“The Plaintiff’s claims for declarations that it is not subject to the Tonga National Qualifications and Accreditation Board Act, and damages, are dismissed.”

The main points

  • The Supreme Court has declared that the Tonga National Qualifications and Accreditation Board’s ban on the ‘Atenisi Institute recruiting students is unlawful.
  • However, the court rejected an application by the institute for a declaration that the Department had no authority to require the Institute to meet its requirements for accreditation.

Fly Niu optimistic about domestic flight service proposal talks

By
Kalino Latu
-

Fly Niu Airline CEO ‘Atu Fīnau sounded an optimistic note before he left Auckland for Tonga yesterday to negotiate with the government about his proposal to operate a second domestic airline in the kingdom.  

“We had a good talk with the Prime Minister and I trust we have a very good proposal and the government would find it interesting,” Finau told Kaniva news.

He said he heard there was another proposal from another party but that did not bother him.

Fīnau was expected to meet directly with Deputy Prime Minister Vuna Fā’otusia this week.

He has brought with him to Tonga Matt Harvey from Australia and Auckland based insurance broker Semi Halanukonuka.

Matt said it was a “feasibility trip” to him.

As Kaniva news reported recently, the government said it would approve a second airline to service ‘Eua, Ha’apai, Vava’u and the Niuas.

Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa has described the move as urgent and the government had treated it as top priority.

He said the government hoped this would help reduce the current airfare charges which he described as very expensive (“fu’u mamafa”.)

Tonga’s only inter-island air travel services are provided by Real Tonga’s five aircraft

According to Real Tonga’s website a one way airfare ticket from Tongatapu to Vava’u  was TP$382.50.

Two airlines in the past which wanted to compete with Real Tonga locally were Fly Niu and Tonga Airways.

Fly Niu’s interest in the airline domestic services came after  it proposed for a  partnership agreement with the former Tongan government to operate international flights between Tonga and Auckland.

Finau said late Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva was about to sign a letter of approval but unfortunately he died last month in the week he planned to approve the proposal.

Fly Niu airline was forced out of Tonga 15 years ago when  the government passed a one airline policy that gave the sole right to operate domestic flights to Peau Vava’u, an airline, co-owned by the Late King George Tupou V and his business partners, the Ramanlal brothers. It replaced the bankrupt Royal Tongan Airlines.

Peau Vava’u operated from mid-2004 to the end of 2006 when their offices were destroyed in a fire.

In 2016, the former government declined an application by the Tonga Airways to operate. The company was owned by MP Sāmiu Vaipulu who is now Tonga’s Minister of Labour. The company planned to lease aircraft from Fiji Airways.

The then Minister of Civil Aviation, Semisi Sika, cited a report by the World Bank which said only one airline could survive financially serving Tonga’s domestic market.

New Health Minister appointed to adjunct roles in leading Sydney universities’ health faculties

By
Kaniva Staff
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Tonga’s new Health Minister was appointed as an Adjunct Associate Professor at the  University of Sydney earlier this year.

She was appointed an Adjunct Associate Professor University of Sydney in September this year.

In May she was apppointed an Honorary Associate in the adjunct faculty in Health at the University of Technology in Sydney, a position UTS described as being for “eminent professionals.”

Dr Tu’ipulotu’s career has been a mixture of acacademic and hands-on ever since she trained as a student nurse in Australia

As Kaniva news reported in 2013, Dr Tu’ipulotu was the first Tongan to graduate with a doctorate in nursing from the University of Sydney’s Nursing School.

She wrote her doctoral thesis on standards for nursing practice in Tonga.

She received an Australian Development Scholarship to complete her doctorate through the University of Sydney.

She was Matron and Director of Nursing at Vaiola Hospital from 2012-2014.

She was responsible for the majority of the country’s nurses who work in four hospitals on  Tongatapu, Vava’u, Eua, Haapai and Niua.

In 2015 she chaired the South Pacific Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officers conference in Tonga which  drew 30 delegates from 12 countries.

Last year she joined Minister for Health Dr Saia Piukala in a visit to Sydney to launch the kingdom’s policy on non-communicable diseases.

A former head girl at Tonga High School, Dr Tu’ipulotu was Acting Principal of Queen Salote School of Nursing in Tonga. She has been a visiting senior scholar at the school since 2015.

She has written about the role of nurses in disaster management in the Asia Pacific and conducted research on nurses’ work and practice in Tonga.

The main points

  • Tonga’s new Health Minister was appointed as an Adjunct Associate Professor at the  University of Sydney earlier this year.
  • As Kaniva news reported in 2013, Dr Tu’ipulotu was the first Tongan to graduate with a doctorate in nursing from the university’s Nursing School.

For more information

Tonga’s first ever Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing will graduate tomorrow from the University of Sydney

https://kanivatonga.co.nz/2013/01/tongas-first-ever-doctor-of-philosophy-in-nursing-will-graduate-tomorrow-from-the-university-of-sydney/

Court cases “repeatedly delayed” because Attorney General office overloaded and understaffed, claims Lawyer Edwards

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Office of the Attorney General was on the verge of collapse (“ta’e’aonga”,) senior legal counselor William Clive Edwards Snr has claimed.

Edwards alleged the process of submitting prosecution and criminal proceedings to courts were repeatedly delayed because the Office could not “cope” with the work overload.

The lawyer said he believed the Office was understaffed or the experienced law officers were on leave or had left the country for good.

Edwards said these issues needed to be resolved.

He made the comments in a televised radio programme he co-hosted with political partner and former MP Teisina Fuko which was released online.

Edwards was responding after Fuko called on the Attorney General Linda Folaumoetu’i to actively engage with the public in government matters which were of legal interest and make advice and recommendations.

Fuko wanted immediate responses from the Attorney General on these matters.  

The claims came after a public concern at the repeated delays of some high profile court cases including the Lord Tu’ivakano and the Lavulavus’ cases.

Police charged Lord Tu’ivakano, a former Prime Minister and Speaker, on March 2018 with numerous offences relating to passport fraud, bribery and money laundering.

Since then the case had been delayed numerous times. Last month it was adjourned again but this time his lawyer, who is Mr Edwards, applied to strike out several of the charges against him. The case was last scheduled to be heard on October 9 at the Supreme Court in Nuku’alofa.

The delay in the Noble’s case was due to requests from both sides to be given more time so they could file papers for the trial.

Cabinet minister and MP ‘Akosita Lavulavu and her husband former government minister and MP ‘Etuate Lavulavu had their case adjourned for the third time in June 25.

Their case had been adjourned to allow for the defence to submit documents in relation to their charges.

The Lavulavus are charged with three counts each of knowingly dealing with forged documents and three counts of obtaining credit by false pretences.

The Attorney General has been contacted for comment.

The main points

  • The Office of the Attorney General was on the verge of collapse (“ta’e’aonga”) senior legal counselor William Clive Edwards Snr has claimed.
  • Edwards alleged the process of submitting prosecution and criminal proceedings to courts were repeatedly delayed because the Office could not “cope” with the work overload.

For more information

Lavulavus granted permission to seek judicial review of Auditor Generals’ actions

Lavulavus granted permission to seek judicial review of Auditor Generals’ actions

Tonga urged to abolish death penalty; brother of three executed in 1982 shared their final moments and family reaction as they went to the gallows

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tonga had been urged to abolish the death penalty as the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty marked the 17th year since its establishment with the theme – Children, Unseen Victims.

It says it is frequently forgotten that children of parents sentenced to death or executed carry a heavy emotional and psychological burden that can amount to the violation of their human rights.

The Australian and New Zealand High Commissioners to Tonga jointly marked the world day with speeches  by Capt Sila Siufanga from the Salvation Army and Families Free of Violence Co-ordinator and former Tongan Police officer Siueli ‘Eleni Mone.

The high commissioners urged those present to work towards the eventual removal of the death penalty from Tonga’s statutes.

Tonga has maintained a de facto moratorium on the death penalty since 1982, although it remains in law as a punishment for murder and treason, they said.

In 2011 a brother and relative of three men who were executed in Tonga 39 years ago spoke to Kaniva news about the family’s reactions and the final moments of the men before they were hung in Hu’atolitoli prison.

Siale Sole spoke to Kaniva news in 2011. The original story was published in Tongan on May 9, 2011.

Hāloti Sole, Livingi Sole and Fili ‘Esau were convicted and sentence to death after they murdered Uikelotu of Vainī in 1981.

The murder happened at Taufa’āhau Road in Vainī after the three men and another person from their town had been working at a residence of their noble, Kalaniuvalu, in Nuku’alofa.

They drank alcohol and sang songs while driving back home to Lapaha when they heard Vaini residents swearing at them.

The victim Uikelotu was one of a group of youths who challenged them  on the road. The vehicle stopped and a fight broke out.

Siale said Livingi saw that Hāloti was outnumbered so he got out of the van with a machete and hit the victim’s leg before ‘Esau stabbed Uikelotu’s chest with a hoe.

Siale, a brother of Hāloti and Livingi and a relative of ‘Esau said it was a heavy burden for the whole family of 13 siblings to cope with the results of the death penalty. ‘Esau’s mother married Sole’s uncle.

The agony was coupled with the rejection of hu loufi – the cultural practice of asking the king to use his constitutional power to pardon the convicts.

Siale said they asked the then king to save the trio from the death penalty and commute their sentence  to life imprisonment. The king refused request because of the gruesomeness of the killing, Siale said.

Siale said he thought it was unfair to kill three men because they killed just one person. He claimed there were murder cases in which the convicts were given life sentences and who eventually died in prison or released in jubilees.

In Tongan he said: “It was a great loss to the family. Not only two of our siblings had been executed, but we also spent a lot of possessions  such as Tongan handicrafts when they went to family of the victim and asked for their forgiveness and also to the king.”

Siale was emotional when he talked to Kaniva news and said the family were shocked when they first received the news in 1981 that the trio had been involved in the murder at Vaini town.

But what was more shocking was the involvement of Livingi, the youngest sibling. He described Livingi with the Tongan proverb – ‘Ikai fuea e lango’ which means he had a naïve and innocent character just like someone who cannot chase away the flies which fly around their face.

He said Hāloti was a diehard person and their father once warned him that if he did not change his attitude he would one day die because of it. He said Hāloti made homebrew, which is prohibited by law in Tonga, and when police were aware of him possessing homebrew they could not arrest him because of the threats he made against them.

The final moment

Siale said the family was allowed to visit the three men in prison.

The trio were also allowed to tape record their stories and send them to the families.  

They advised their siblings from their cell to stop drinking alcohol because this was a factor that contributed to the killing of their victim,  Uikelotu. 

Siale had described the advice as excellent sharing (“vahvahe malie”) which he hadn’t  heard of before.

“His brothers were absolutely remorseful,” Siale said.

He said when they heard them talking on the tape, it was deeply touching.

He said it sound like his brothers were talking directly with God.

He said even the two pastors, Haitini Finau and Manase Tafea who were working with them were astonished to hear how his brothers had shared the word of God from the Bible.

Siale said the men were not told when they would be executed, but the pastors were surprised when they told them the date and time.

When the pastors asked who told them, they said the angel.

On the morning of September 7 1982 jailers opened the door of their cell before dressing them and leading them to Mo’ungakula gallows for their execution, Siale said while trying to compose himself.

He said the pastors told them that when they arrived at the gallows Livingi pulled off his hood and turned to the officers and asked for their forgiveness.  He apologiesed to the family of Uikelotu, the king and the government.

Siale said there was a brief disagreement among the three on who would be executed first. Livingi told Hāloti to be the first to be executed because he was the oldest, but Hāloti told him to take it first as he was the youngest and leave it for him to tidy it up. Livingi agreed and was executed first.  ‘Esau was the second to be hung before  Hāloti.

Siale said the pastors told them the men died peacefully.

Livingi’s wife delivered their youngest child a day before he was executed. Hāloti was survived by his wife and three children. Esau was survived by his wife, children and grandchildren.

The death penalty

Hātoti Sole, Livingi Sole and Fili Esau were the last people executed in Tonga.

In the same year, the Tongan Parliament discussed abolishing the death penalty, but decided to retain it.

In 2004, the Tongan Parliament voted 10-7 against a  bill to introduce the death penalty for possession of illicit drugs.

In 2005 Tevita Siale Vola became the first person in Tonga to be convicted of murder in 24 years, but was sentenced to life imprisonment.

In January this year Sitiveni ‘Esi Muli was sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal killing of Feng Sheng Pei and Su Jie Wen at their vegetable farm in Lakepa.

The main points

  • Tonga had been urged to abolish the death penalty as the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty marked the 17 year since its establishment with the theme – Children, Unseen Victims.
  • It says it is frequently forgotten that children of parents sentenced to death or executed carry a heavy emotional and psychological burden that can amount to the violation of their human rights.

Former Acting PM accuses Lavulavu of making “serious, inappropriate allegations” that defame him; Lavulavu says he does not remember making such an accusation

By
Kalino Latu
-

Former Acting Prime Minister Semisi Sika has warned ousted MP ‘Etuate Lavulavu to stop defaming him.

Hon. Sika said Lavulavu’s comments were selfish, unloving and belittling and showed him to be power hungry.

He asked: “What wrong did I do for the country to cause you to make serious inappropriate allegations against me and to demean my dignity and the trust the people have in me?”

In Tongan he asked: “Ko e ha ha’aku kovi kuo fai ki he fonua kuo fa’u ai e fu’u talanoa ta’e taau ke holoki ai hoku ngeia pea ke fakangalikovi’i ai e falala ‘a e kakai kiate au?”

Hon. Sika made the comments on Facebook after he was seriously incriminated by ‘Etuate in the secretly recorded audio which was leaked to online users last week.

In that audio ‘Etuate alleged Hon Sika was having sex with other men.

He also alleged that Hon. Sika planned to appoint Hon. Saia Piukala as his Deputy Prime Minister and retained Dr Tu’i Uata as minister outside Parliament if he won the premiership. Hon Sika has denied this.

Hon. Sika said he never talked with ‘Etuate while the late Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva was in hospital before he died or even before the premiership election day last month.

Hon. Sika warned ‘Etuate to keep away from any involvement with his wife’s ministerial duties which could involve multi-million dollar projects for roads maintenance and tourism.

In Tongan he wrote: “oku ou kole fakamamate atu ke ke tukuange ho mali ke ngaue tauataina mo e ongo CEO mo e kau ngaue he’e uesia a e ngaahi projects.”

Hon. Sika, who was the Minister of Infrastructure and Tourism said he had processed these projects and he trusted the new minister ‘Akosita Lavulavu, ‘Etuate’s wife, would fulfill them successfully.  

‘Etuate’s response

When Kaniva news asked ‘Etuate Lavulavu whether he had proof of the accusations he made against Hon. Sika on the secretly recorded audio, ‘Etuate said he did not remember making the allegations.

He said the audio could be edited and a voice similar to his could be added to it to make it soundlike he was the one who was saying it.

‘Etuate claimed he was the middleman for the coalition party and what he said reflected what the Democrat MPs who defected, the public and churches said about their dissatisfaction about the candidate for the premiership election.  

He said these people did not want Hon. Sika to become Prime Minister.

“Ko ‘eku fakahoko ange pe ki ai e lau e kau memipa kuo mavahe mo e uhinga oku ikai ai ke nau tali e tokoni palemia kene fetongi a PM. He ko e mea ia oku fakaha ange ehe kakai , ngaahi siasi, mo e kakai oku ikai kenau tali ai ke iai ha palemia pehe I tonga ni.”

‘Etutate has accused a senior government officer at the Ministry of Land and Survey of recording their conversation and released it to the public.

He said he did not authorise ‘Atunaisa Fetokai to release it.

Public reaction

The incident has fueled the Democrat suporters’ anger after the so-called PTOA party lost the premiership election and five of its MPs defected to form the coalition government.

They were Prime Minister Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa, Deputy Prime Minister Vuna Fa’otusia, Hon Vatau Hui, Hon ‘Akosita Lavulavu and Hon Poasi Tei.

Many criticised the way the new government was formed, saying the release of the secret audio recording confirmed their concerns that late ‘Akilisi Pohiva’s battle to bring democracy to Tonga might be discontinued.  

Prime Minister Tu’i’onetoa said in a previous interview that he was confident his government would build the nation under the leadership of a diverse cabinet which included MPs from the nobility, independents and Democrats.

He rejected claims he betrayed the legacy of ‘Akilisi when he crossed the floor.

“The good governance and those good principles nobody should claim that as their own, no matter whether you are in the so-called PTOA Party or the People’s Party, but if you stick to that principle that is the legacy. Nobody should claim that as their own,” he told Radio New Zealand.

Lavulavu

There has been public disquiet about the level of involvement of ‘Etuate Lavulavu in politics in recent weeks.

The Prime Minister Tu’onetoa responded to criticism from the public and said last week Lavulavu was not his advisor.

Public concern has centred on Lavulavu‘s criminal record and the fact that his wife, who is also under investigation, is the Minister of Infrastructure and Tourism.

The Supreme Court convicted Lavulavu in 2016 of bribery and spending over the legal limit on his 2014 election campaign.  At his trial the judge said Lavulavu was not a credible witness and that his evidence was implausible, evasive and untruthful.

He and his wife are waiting another court case in which they are charged with knowingly dealing with forged documents and obtaining credit by false pretenses, after irregularities in an audit of the ‘Unuaki ‘o Tonga Royal Institute in 2016.

The main points

  • Former Acting Prime Minister Semisi Sika has warned ousted MP ‘Etuate Lavulavu to stop defaming him.
  • Hon. Sika said Lavulavu’s comments were selfish, unloving and be,littling and showed him to be power huingry and selfish.

For more information

Lavulavu claims incriminating audio doctored, threatened to sue Tonga Broadcasting Commission and others

Lavulavu claims incriminating audio doctored, threatened to sue Tonga Broadcasting Commission and others

Public outrage after audio recording appears to show demand for land deal sweetener in return for supporting new coalition’s quest for power

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Tu’i’onetoa government faces serious public criticism after the release of an audio recording that appears to show  horse-trading for a deal in exchange for persuading members of Parliament to defect or join the coalition government.

Kaniva news has been unable to independently  verify the audio or identify the speakers. Former member of Parliament, ‘Etuate Lavulavu has not responded to our request for comment on claims that he is the caller in the recording.

It appears that the audio was secretly recorded during a telephone conversation between the caller and a senior government officer who apparently works at the Ministry of Land and Survey.

The caller can be heard telling the officer that he wanted Lord Ma’afu to be the Minister of Land, Survey and Natural Resources. He told the receiver he wanted the lease for the land in which he and his family currently living to be approved.

There is no evidence that Lord Ma’afu was aware of the conversation.

The caller said a previous application had been declined.  

He said he wanted Lord Ma’afu to allow the land to be leased for 99 years, to which the government officer replied that might be possible if he would bring a member of his family to join the nobility in their attempt to form a new government.

The caller also asked for help in resolving an issue with a group of Chinese who leased land from him in Tofoa.

The officer said he could arrange this.

The caller then said they would form the new government and that he wanted the newly appointed cabinet ministers to return to parliament in 2021.

He said he deliberately planned in the weeks before the premiership election to cause chaos during a PTOA (Democrat) party meeting to make them disunited and disorganized so that it would make setting up of the new party and government successful.

Five MPs from the Democrats eventually defected and joined the new party. They were all appointed cabinet ministers today.

Reactions

In the recording the caller claimed he was the engineer (“’enisinia”) of the new coalition government which included MPs from the Democrats, Nobles and Independents.

Online users have called on the Prime Minister to step down.

They also criticised the way how the new government was formed.

Lavulavu

There has been public disquiet about the level of involvement of ‘Etuate Lavulavu in politics in recent weeks.

The Prime Minister Pohiva Tu’onetoa responded to criticism from the public and said last week Lavulavu was not his advisor.

Public concern has centred on ‘Lavulavu‘s criminal record and the fact that his wife, who is also under investigation, is the Minister of Infrastructure and Tourism.

The Supreme Court convicted Lavulavu in 2016 of bribery and spending over the legal limit on his 2014 election campaign. At his trial the judge said Lavulavu was not a credible witness and that his evidence was implausible, evasive and untruthful.  

He and his wife are waiting another court case in which they aere charged with knowingly dealing with forged documents and obtaining credit by false pretenses, after irregularities in an audit of the ‘Unuaki ‘o Tonga Royal Institute in 2016.

The main points

  • The Tu’i’onetoa government faces serious criticism after the release of an audio recording that appears to show  horse-trading for a deal in exchange for persuading members of Parliament to defect or join the coalition government.
  • Kaniva news has been unable to independently the identities of the people in the audio. Former member of Parliament ‘Etuate Lavulavu has not responded to our request for comment on claims that he is the caller in the recording.

Lavulavu claims incriminating audio doctored, threatened to sue Tonga Broadcasting Commission and others

By
Kalino Latu
-

Ousted cabinet minister ‘Etuate Lavulavu has said that an incriminating audio recording of him was doctored, as critics increased pressure on him to stand aside after allegations he was the “engineer” of the Tu’i’onetoa government.

Lavulavu denied allegations that there was an agreement to reward him for the advice he gave the coalition parties before they won the premiership election and formed the new government.

He said there was a plot to record the telephone conversation to discredit him.

He said the audio was edited and parts of it were removed leaving the rest with only information that appeared to incriminate him.

He threatened to sue Television Tonga, its station manager Sētita Tu’i’onetoa along with its two reporters Salamo Fulivai and Vilisoni Tu’iniua. He also said he would to sue MP Saia Piukala and the person who he claimed secretly recorded the audio, ‘Atunaisa Fetokai of the Ministry of Land and Survey.  He claimed these people doctored the recorded audio before releasing it online.  

Lavulavu said he did not authorise Fetokai to record their telephone conversation or released it to the public.

He said he was seeking advice from Fetokai and there was no agreed deal to pay anybody back in return for his part in setting up the new government.

He said the coalition parties asked him to help them in their endeavor to win the premiership election and form the new government. He said he advised them what to do to win and fhey followed his advice.

Public concern has centred on Lavulavu‘s criminal record and the fact that his wife, who is also under investigation, is the Minister of Infrastructure and Tourism.

The Supreme Court convicted Lavulavu in 2016 of bribery and spending over the legal limit on his 2014 election campaign. 

He and his wife are waiting another court case in which they are charged with knowingly dealing with forged documents and obtaining credit by false pretenses, after irregularities in an audit of the ‘Unuaki ‘o Tonga Royal Institute in 2016.

But Lavulavu has assured the public that he did not interfere with ‘Akosita’a’s government duties. He said ‘Akosita was well educated and she was qualified with a Bachelor of Computer Science and MBA.  She is currently a part time law student at USP in Tonga. 

As Kaniva news reported earlier this week, the Tu’i’onetoa government had faced serious public criticism after the release of the audio recording that appears to show  horse-trading for a deal in exchange for persuading members of Parliament to defect or join the coalition government.

Lavulavu can be heard telling a government officer that he wanted Lord Ma’afu to help him in his attempt to lease the land in which he and his family currently living to be approved.

There is no evidence that Lord Ma’afu was aware of the conversation.

Lavulavu said a previous application had been declined. 

Lavulavu also asked for help in resolving an issue with a group of Chinese who leased land from him in Tofoa.

The officer said he could arrange this.

Lavulavur then said they would form the new government and that he wanted the newly appointed cabinet ministers to return to parliament in 2021.

He said he deliberately planned in the weeks before the premiership election to cause chaos during a PTOA (Democrat) party meeting to make them disunited and disorganized so that it would make setting up of the new party and government successful.

He also said he stopped his wife ‘Akosita from attending a Democrat Party meeting in weeks before the premiership election, after the they got a message reminding them of the meeting.

Five MPs from the Democrats eventually defected and joined the new party. They were all appointed cabinet ministers on Thursday.

The main points

  • Ousted cabinet minister ‘Etuate Lavulavu has said that an incriminating audio recording of him was doctored, as critics increased pressure on him to stand aside after allegations he was the “engineer” of the Tu’i’onetoa government.
  • Lavulavu denied allegations that there was an agreement to reward him for the advice he gave the coalition parties before they won the premiership election and formed the new government.

For more information

Public outrage after audio recording appears to show demand for land deal sweetener in return for supporting new coalition’s quest for power

Public outrage after audio recording appears to show demand for land deal sweetener in return for supporting new coalition’s quest for power

Murder charges laid after migrant worker died hours after returning to Tonga

By
Kalino Latu
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A Tongan migrant worker returning home after spending months working in a farm in Australia has died.

Fanaafi Misifane, 35, has just arrived and joined his family in Holonga, Tongatapu on Saturday before he died on Sunday morning, various sources close to the deceased said.   

A 25-year-old and a 21-year-old men from Kolonga along with a 21-year-old Holonga man had been arrested and charged with murder.

Police alleged the men assaulted the deceased with metal rods on his head.

The sources alleged the deceased was having a party with cousins before the incident happened.

Misifane worked at the PlantGrowPick company in Emerald, Queensland.

As Kaniva news reported, a Tongan man died in Tasmania last week. Kalolo Kuea died while working in that country’s Seasonal Worker Program.

Kuea’s cause of death has yet to be released.

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