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ADB’s chief economist to visit Tonga as country’s public sector debt nears 60% of GDP

By
Philip Cass
-

The Asian Development Bank’s chief economist, Yasuyuki Sawada, will visit Tonga for a two day visit this week.

He will be in the kingdom from April 29-30.

Tonga has received $70.2 million in loans, $121.2 million in grant and $23.3 million in technical assistance from the ADB since 1972.

The bank has significantly increased its financial support since 2008.

Last year the ADB warned that Tonga was one of six Pacific countries facing high risks of debt distress.

It said Tonga was the worst off, with public sector debt totalling 56 percent GDP.

The bank said the problem stemmed from a narrow economic base, vulnerability to economic shock and climate change.

According to a Reuters report, Chinese loans accounts for more than 60 percent of Tonga’s total external debt burden.

ADB projects in Tonga include projects aimed at increasing access to solar power and to improve energy efficiency.

It is also financing work on climate change adaptation, cyclone recovery, urban development and public sector management.

While he is in Tonga, Sawada will meet with Tonga’s Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Semisi Sika, Chief Secretary and Secretary to Cabinet Edgar Cocker, Minister for Finance Hon. Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa, and the Governor of the National Reserve Bank,  Dr. Sione Ngongo Kioa. 

Sawada will present the 2019 Asian Development Outlook (ADO), which includes the Tongan economy as part of the Pacific region.

Hon. a Tu’i’onetoa said Tonga’s economy was benefitting from ADB investment in the kingdom.

The Minister will lead Tonga’s delegation to the ADB’s 52nd annual meeting in Fiji at the beginning of May.

The main points

  • The Asian Development Bank’s chief economist, will visit Tonga for a two day visit  next week.
  • Last year the ADB warned that Tonga was one of six Pacific countries facing high risks of debt distress.
  • It said Tonga was the worst off, with public sector debt totalling 56 percent GDP.

For more information

Asian Development Bank and Tonga: Fact Sheet

https://www.adb.org/publications/tonga-fact-sheet

ADB cautions Pacific countries over debt distress

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/378299/adb-cautions-pacific-countries-over-debt-distress

Payment due: Pacific islands in the red as debts to China mount

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pacific-debt-china-insight/payment-due-pacific-islands-in-the-red-as-debts-to-china-mount-idUSKBN1KK2J4

Supreme Court suspends sentence for entry with forged passport, but orders man to leave Tonga

By
Philip Cass
-

The Supreme Court has sentenced a Sri Lankan man who entered the kingdom on a forged French passport to two years jail.

Vaseeth Samsudeen pleaded guilty to two counts of knowingly dealing with a forged document.

In his report on the case, Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said  Samsudeen entered Tonga on May 10 last year.

Samsudeen  told Police his life had been threatened after witnessing the murder of aid workers in 2006.

He entered the UK illegally in 2010 and was deported to Sri Lanka in 2015.

He told Police that he entered Tonga after flying to Fiji from Hong Kong, where he paid a large sum of money for the forged French passport.

The court was told Samsudeen had co-operated with police.

He first appeared in court in December 2018, but was released on bail while the court made further enquiries.

The court was told Samsudeen had been provided with information about the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

However, there was no indication he had sought assistance from the UNHCR.

The court suspended his sentence on condition that Samsudeen leave Tonga within two months of sentencing.

He was ordered not to leave Tongatapu until then.

He was ordered to pay TP$1000 to the court by May 17.

His Sri Lankan passport is to be released to him only upon approval from a Supreme Court Judge and after payment of the TP$1000 and the purchase of his ticket.

The main points

  • The Supreme Court has sentenced a Sri Lankan man who entered Tonga on a forged French passport to two years jail.
  • The man’s sentence has been upended on condition that he leave the kingdom within two months.

Man in critical condition after shooting at motorcycle store

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By Radio New Zealand

A man has been taken to hospital in a critical condition following a shooting at Mount Wellington Highway in Auckland.

Police were called about 1.50pm to a report of a person being shot at a commercial site.

Armed police are now standing guard outside the Harley-Davidson motorbike shop.

The injured man is undergoing surgery at Auckland Hospital.

Police said initial inquiries suggest a person has fled the area immediately after the incident.

Police said the person who fled was known to them and they were following strong lead to locate and apprehend him.

Police have also seized CCTV footage of the incident. Clothes with blood on them are being placed in evidence bags, and exhibit numbers are being set out.

Cordons are in place around the immediate area and police are advising people to avoid the area.

Harley Davidson chief executive Ray Pratt said he heard gunfire which he thought was outside the building.

He said the store was in lockdown and being treated as the site of crime scene.

This article is republished under Kaniva’s partnership content agreement with Radio New Zealand.

Senior Custom Officer arrested after Tongatapu TP$6 million drug bust

By
Kalino Latu
-

A Senior Custom Officer has been arrested following a major drug bust in Nuku’alofa on Wednesday 24 at Kuini Salote Wharf.

The 59-year-old man has been charged with nine charges under the Illicit Drugs Control Act for engaging with others to import illicit drugs and also under the Arms and Ammunition Act for abetting the importation of illegal firearms and ammunition.

He is remanded in police custody while investigation continues.

Custom officers intercepted $6 million worth of drugs which was an equivalent of 6.7 kilograms of methamphetamine, 625.29 grams of cannabis, and 107.29 grams of cannabis oil which were smuggled into the country through a shipment from the United States of America.

Illegal firearms including 1 M4 Assault rifle, 2 Glock pistols and 1 handgun with relevant ammunition were also found in the shipment. 

Deputy Police Commissioner Pelenatita Vaisuai said this is a significant result for Police and Customs joint efforts in their war against drugs, and will go a long way to help keep our communities safe. 

“These drugs and firearms, should they have made it to the streets, would have caused significant harm to our people and communities.”

Hon. Frederica reacts after Kaniva article about husband’s drugs arrest linked him to her parents

By
Kalino Latu
-

Hon. Frederica Fatafehi ‘O Lapaha Filipe has taken to Facebook in reponse to an article in Kaniva news this week which reported that her husband, Sione Filipe Jr, had been arrested and charged with importing illicit drugs.

The story was reported against a background of  a number of drug related raids and arrests by police in the kingdom.

The article reported that Filipe was Frederica’s parents’ son-in-law.

Hon. Frederica is Princess Pilolevu and Lord Tuita’s second youngest daughter and a niece of King Tupou VI.

Our article was published on Tuesday night and Hon. Frederica took to Facebook the following morning to defend her husband.

Comments posted in response to her statements include complaints that Filipe’s family connections were mentioned.

A number of attacks were made on Kaniva news, including claims that the story was not true.

However, Hon. Frederica has never denied that her husband was arrested and charged with alleged importation of illicit drugs as reported by Kaniva.

As Kaniva news reported on Tuesday the Minister of Police, Mateni Tapueluelu said it was “true Filipe Jr was arrested and is bailed, but has been formally charged for importing illicit drugs.”

Hon. Frederica has posted documents on Facebook which purport to show that her  husband had been granted permission by the government to import cannabis.

Kaniva news cannot comment on this claim. It is something for the court to decide when her husbands’ case come up for trial.

Kaniva news stands by its story – confirmed by the Minister of Police – which simply reported that Sione Filipe Jr had been arrested and charged with the illegal importation of drugs.

Kaniva news did not – and cannot – make any claim about the vailidity of those charges. That is entirely a matter for the court.

The main points

  • Hon. Frederica Fatafehi ‘O Lapaha Filipe has taken to Facebook in reponse an article in Kaniva news this week which reported that her husband, Sione Filipe Jr, had been arrested and charged with importing illicit drugs.
  • The story was reported againt a background of a number of drug related raids and arrests by police in the kingdom.

For more information

Princess Pilolevu’s son-in-law arrested for alleged importation of illicit drugs as Police arrest 17 others in separate incidents

Princess Pilolevu’s son-in-law arrested for alleged importation of illicit drugs as Police arrest 17 others in separate incidents

Tonga declared itself neutral, but British worried about pro-German bias in palace

By
Philip Cass
-

The kingdom of Tonga chose not to take sides at the  beginning of the First World War, but British officials were uncertain how far that neutrality went.

At the beginning of the 20th century, with Great Britain, France, Germany and the United Stae all vying for power in the Pacific, King Tupou II signed a friendship treaty with Great Britain.

When war broke out in 1914, Tonga declared its neutrality.

According to Jan-Hai Te Ratana of  Aranui Library, the kingdom had good relations with both Britain and Germany and Tonga was home to many German traders and importers.

The German consulate in Nukualofa was eclipsed in size only by the British.

And the British were not entirely sure where Tonga stood. During a visit to Nuku’alpofa just before the war, Sir Maui Pomare reported that fewer British flags were flying than German or Tongan ones.

Nor did it escape his notice just how many German goods were available in the shop, ranging from tinned meat to beer.

And there was more to worry the British. At the end of 1916, the British Consul in Tonga wrote to the High Commissioner in Suva to express his concerns about what he called the “German sympathies” of King Tupou II.

According to New Zealand historian James Baade, the Consul reported  that the King wore ceremonial decorations supplied by the Germans. He complained that in the King’s Palace – built in 1867 by the German firm Godeffroy – there were large portraits of Kaiser Wilhelm II and Chancellor Otto von  Bismarck.

While Tonga maintained her neutrality, the British pressured Tonga to fall in line with her war aims.

The British Consul identified 150 people living in Tonga as “enemy aliens.” They included Germans, Samoans, and New Guinea Islanders including wives and families. Some were deported to New Zealand, while others continued a restricted life stayed in Tonga.

Despite this – and the recruitment of a small number of volunteer in 2016 – King Tupou II kept the kingdom from officially taking sides during the conflict. While Tonga officially became a British protectorate in 1900, the king had refused to sign the clause which gave Britain the power to determine Tongan foreign policy.

This meant that Tonga remained self-governing and was able to preserve – at least technically  – her neutrality during the First World War.  

The main points

  • The kingdom of Tonga chose not to take sides at the beginning of the First World War, but British officials were uncertain how far that neutrality went.
  • The kingdom had good relations with both Britain and Germany and Tonga was home to many German traders and importers.
  • During a visit to Nuku’alpofa just before the war, Sir Maui Pomare reported that fewer British flags were flying than German or Tongan ones.

For more information

The Kingdom of Tonga – Pasifika involvement in the First World War

The Kingdom of Tonga – Pasifika involvement in the First World War

100 Kiwi Stories of WWI: Tongan soldiers struggled in a strange land

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11341335

Tonga in World War 1

https://tongainworldwar1.webs.com/

Germans in Tonga 1855-1960

https://www.artsfaculty.auckland.ac.nz/special/germansintonga/?historicalbackground

Police asked to take church disturbance seriously, but say there is no cause for concern

By
Philip Cass
-

Auckland police know the identity of a man who interrupted a Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga church service in Mt Roskill on Sunday afternoon.

The man walked into the service and began shouting.

Police said no offence had been committed and there was no cause for concern.

Witnesses said the man ran into the church and began yelling “Jesus, Jesus.”

When he reached the front of the church he began kissing people on the head and trying to shake their hands.

The man was removed from the church by a member of the congregation.

After he was removed from the church, the man started “screaming Somalia, Somalia”.

He then turned around and said “Somalia and Tonga are one”, an eyewitness told the New Zealand Herald.

It is believed the man also entered the church hall where food was being prepared.

One member of the congregation who spoke to the media said she wanted police to take the incident seriously because “this is not a small thing.”

The main points

  • Auckland police know the identity of a man who interrupted a Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga church service in Mt Roskill on Sunday afternoon.
  • The man walked into the service and began shouting.

For more information

Man storms into Tongan church in Auckland and starts yelling

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12224941

Supreme Court overturns convictions against former Electricity Commission interim CEO

By
Philip Cass
-

The Supreme Court has overturned a series of convictions of disorderly behaviour in a public place handed down to former Electricity Commission interim CEO Paula Tupou. Tupou originally appeared in court following incidents which allegedly occurred in the Electricity Commission office. Evidence was given that on June 13, 2018, the Commission held a meeting to consider the contents of the job description of the position of the CEO in order  that  the position could be advertised. Tupou had prepared  a draft of the  job description in which he had stated that a minimum requirement was that an applicant was to hold an Electrical Engineering degree, the qualification Paula held, but which had been deleted. Tupou wa angered by this and attacked another member of the commission,  Seinimili, who he blamed for the deletion. He called her insane (vale ngangau). On July 9, 2018 the Commission met again. At that meeting Seinimili proposed that Tupou’s position as CEO be terminated because he had only been appointed as interim CEO, and because he was obstructing the appointment of another CEO .  Tupou said: “You are very stupid, your qualification is that you are the niece of the Minister of Finance.” On this and other evidence Tupou was convicted on four charges. However, in his report on the case, Judge Niu said the magistrate who heard the original case had erred in his judgement. He said the magistrate had wrongly concluded that the Electricity Commission office was a public place. Judge Niu said that to secure a conviction it needed to be proved that the incident referred to took place in a public area. This would have required proof that the public were allowed to enter the CEO’s room and listen to or participate in the meetings of the Commission. However, the magistrate did not do this. “She seemed to think that the whole house was the office of the Commission  and that it was a public place because  the  public were entitled to come to it without condition,” Judge Niu said. “She gave no evidence that members  of  the  public  attended the two meetings or were entitled to be present and called no witness to  give evidence to that effect. “From the transcript of her evidence,  she  did  not even begin to give such evidence, because of her mistaken  belief that   the office of  the Electricity Commission was already a public place.” Judge Niu said the convictions on all four charges were therefore quashed. The fines imposed on Tupou were to be refunded. The main points

  • The Supreme Court has overturned a series of convictions of disorderly behaviour in a public place handed down to former member of the Electricity Commission Paula Tupou.
  • Tupou  originally appeared in court following incidents which allegedly occurred  in the Electricity Commission office.

Search continues after body of Sea Captain Sam Tatafu identified

By
Kalino Latu
-

The search for two men missing at sea off Tongatapu will continue today, after police identified the body found today as former Navy Lieutenant Commander Samuela Tatafu.

Police search team continued to search for the body of his associate, Litani Taufa.

The two men were reported missing at sea yesterday Tuesday 23 April, after failing to arrive in Nuku’alofa at 10am after leaving ‘Eua at 6am.

An aerial search which has been conducted by Real Tonga located Tatafu’s body on the beach area at Tu’aliku cliffs of Lapaha.

A small boat was also located further along the coast.

Tatafu was the owner of Deep Blue Diving a business venture which began when he built a couple of small boats.

“… Sam had gained a considerable amount of specialised marine training by being a Lieutenant Commander in the Tongan Navy,”

Princess Pilolevu’s son-in-law arrested for alleged importation of illicit drugs as Police arrest 17 others in separate incidents

By
Kalino Latu
-

Princess Pilolevu and Lord Tuita’s son-in-law, Sione Filipe Jr, has been arrested and charged with the alleged importation of illicit drugs.

It is understood he has since been released on bail.

Kaniva news has been aware of the arrest for two weeks, but had been unable to get confirmation from Police.

Minister of Police Mateni Tapueluelu finally confirmed the arrest to Kaniva news this afternoon.

He said it was “true Filipe Jr was arrested and is bailed, but has been formally charged for importing illicit drugs.”

No further details were available. It is not known  whether or not Filipe’s arrest was connected to some of the other drug related arrests about which Police released statements last week.

Filipe, who is also known as Johnny Filipe, married Princess Pilolevu’s second youngest daughter, Hon. Frederica Fatafehi ‘O Lapaha, who is a niece of king Tupou VI.

Further arrests

Police said this afternoon that during the Easter Public holidays, they arrested 17 people at three different locations in ongoing drugs operations.

Police said that on the night of Friday, April 19,  the Drug Taskforce arrested 10 men at a residence in Hofoa and seized 30 packs of methamphetamine (24.07 grams), nine packs of cannabis (2.88 grams), drugs paraphernalia, four live .22 bullets and cash.

Nine men have been charged with unlawful possession of illicit drugs while the 10th man was charged with unlawful possession of ammunition.

The men arrested include:

1.         A 44-year-old man from Hofoa

2.         A 39-year-old man from Tu’atakilangi

3.         A 27-year-old man from Kolonga

4.         A 41-year-old man from Vaini

5.         A 45-year-old man from Ha’alalo

6.         A 39-year-old man from Popua

7.         A 45-year-old man from Longolongo

8.         A 48-year-old man from Havelu

9.         A 29-year-old man from Hauloto

10.       A 19-year-old man from ‘Utulau

Following the arrests at Hofoa, at about 6am on April 20, the Drug Taskforce arrested five men at a residence in Havelu where they seized 15 packs of methamphetamine (5.65 grams) and two bottles of homebrew, drugs paraphernalia and cash. Police charged them with the unlawful possession of illicit drugs and unlawful manufacture of intoxicating liquor.

The five men arrested include three men from Havelu aged 27, 38 and 43, a 22-year-old from Tofoa and a 29-year-old from Houma.

About 5am on April 20, police from the Central Police Station stopped and arrested a 26-year-old woman from Touliki and 20-year-old man from Houmakelikao on Salote Road at Ma’ufanga, who had in their possession four packs of methamphetamine (1.18 grams), cash and drug paraphernalia.

“Methamphetamine is a highly addictive drug and very harmful not only to those who use it, but it negatively impacts on families and the wider community,” Deputy Police Commissioner Vaisuai said.  

Airport drugs arrest

Last week Police said they had arrested and charged a 34-year-old Tongan man after Quarantine Officers at the Fua’amotu International Airport intercepted 242.22 grams of cannabis seeds being illegally brought into the country on March 30.

A search warrant executed at the accused’s residence in Tofoa resulted in the seizure of another  85.33 grams of cannabis liquid, together with illegal firearm and ammunition.

He has been charged with the unlawful importation of illicit drugs, unlawful possession of illicit drugs, possession of firearm and ammunition without a license and making a false declaration on arrival card

The suspect will appear at the Magistrate Court on April 29.

$3 Million drug bust

Last week police also seized about $US1.2 million worth of methamphetamine during a drug operation.

A 28 year-old-man was arrested with the drugs at his residence in Fahefa.

Police Commissioner Stephen Caldwell thanked the public for its support in helping rid the community of drug peddlers.

The main points

  • Princess Pilolevu’s son-in-law Sione Filipe Jr has been arrested and charged with the alleged importation of illicit drugs.
  • It is understood he has since been released on bail.
  • Kaniva news has been aware of the arrest for two weeks, but had been unable to get confirmation from Police.
  • Minister of Police Mateni Tapueluelu finally confirmed the arrest to Kaniva news  this afternoon.

For more information

Tonga steps up fight against drugs

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