Staff of the University of the South Pacific at the university’s main Laucala campus in Suva have called for pro-chancellor Winston Thompson to step aside to allow for an independent investigation into alleged abuse and mismanagement to proceed.
This was one of three demands USP staff made in a petition they presented today to the university’s senior management team.
The petition was signed by 500 staff members comprising academic and administrative, and addressed to pro-chancellor Thompson, who is also the university council chair, as well as to his deputy chair Aloma Johansson of Tonga, council members and the university’s vice-chancellor and president, Professor Pal Ahluwalia.
The June edition cover of Islands Business featuring vice-chancellor Professor Pal Ahluwalia. Image: IB
Demand number two in the petition calls for pro-chancellor Thompson to “be recused from council chair immediately,” adding “his public defence of those implicated in the allegations is premature and unprofessional and compromises his position as chair.
“Furthermore, his recent public statements against VC&P Pal Ahluwalia are unprofessional, prejudicial and damaging to the university.”
To regional governments who are owners of the USP, as well as donor partners “especially Australia and New Zealand,” university staff in their petition wanted them to ensure that the investigation into the alleged abuses would be fair, thorough and remedial actions effected.
Closely watching University staff are closely watching the investigation process being led by the USP audit and risk committee.
The committee is headed by Mahmood Khan, a Fiji government nominee to the USP Council, and a chartered accountant who used to work in New Zealand.
In a statement last week, the university council deputy chair Aloma Johansson of Tonga said four Auckland-based accounting firms had been invited to submit bids to undertake the probe.
She said then that the Khan-led committee would meet tomorrow to select the investigation firm.
This Islands Business article was republished by Pacific Media Centre with permission. Kaniva news has a content shared agreement with Pacific Media Centre.
Tonga’s Ombudsman has told the country’s government-owned shipping agency that it must carry out due diligence on buying large ship.
His comment
came after an investigation showed that the Friendly Island Shipping Agency paid
almost three times the value of a 36 year old ship in 2014.
Ombudsman
‘Aisea H. Taumoepeau said at a press conference this morning that in February
2014, Pacific Royale Shipping sold the vessel to FISA for NZ$936,500. The vessel was then renamed MV Niuvakai.
In April
2017, three years after the purchase of the vessel, New Zealand Marine Brokers
inspected and evaluated the MV Niuvakai
as worth NZ$350,000.
The Ombudsman’s
investigation into the purchase of the over-priced ship was part of a set of
enquiries made into allegation made in Kele’a
newspaper against the Boards of Directors of the Public Enterprises.
The claims
were made in the newspaper on December 24 last year under the heading ‘Pau’u ‘i
he ngaahi Poate, Ngaahi pisinisi ‘a e Pule’anga.’
The allegations about the MV Niuvakai was the only one of six claims to which the Ombudsman gave any credence. He found no evidence to support the newspaper’s other allegations:
Kele’a claimed that PE Boards did not
follow the same procurement process as Government ministries and could spend more
than TP$1million without using the procurement process.
The
Ombudsman said public enterprises had the power to create rules and procedures
to govern their own procurement processes pursuant to Regulation 3(3) of the
Public Procurement Regulations, 2015.
Carrying out their procurement processes according to their rules and
procedures did not breach the Procurement Regulations.
The
Ombudsman said Kele’a did not take up
an offer to provide information to the investigation.
The
newspaper also complained that board members were taking loans from Board
funds.
The Ombudsman said Kele’a’s publisher, Siaosi Pohiva, confirmed the allegation was about an incident alleged to have occurred at the Ports Authority Tonga Ltd (PAT) in 2011 or 2012.
The Ombudsman told this morning’s press conference that PAT said no loans were granted to any Board members during the 2011-2012 financial year and there was no policy to allow for personal loans to be granted to any of its employees or Board members.
PAT said the claim might have referred to a TP$500,000 loan to Waste Authority Limited in that period. The loan account was audited and disclosed in PAT’s Annual Report. The Ombudsman said there was no evidence to support Kele’a’s claims.
The newspaper further alleged that Board members were being paid gratuities, with some bonuses being as high as TP$60,000.
The
Ombudsman said there was no evidence to support the claim. He said Kele’a had been invited to supply
information to help the investigation, but had not done so. Since mid-2018
board directors are only paid their annual director’s fees and meeting fees.
Kele’a complained that one member of the
Board of Directors of a Public Enterprise had a Board meeting in
Barcelona.
In 2017, a
delegation of the Tonga Airports Limited travelled to Barcelona to attend World
Routes 2017, and to finalise documentation and verification to complete the process
for a security bank guarantee due to TAL for breach of contract by a Spanish
contractor, GECI. The Ombudsman said the presence of the delegation in
Barcelona was crucial.
Finally, Kele’a claimed some Board members of Tonga Power Ltd were
paid overtime, when this was normally reserved for low wage earners.
The Ombudsman said that in 2018 the Board of Directors of TPL approved a sub-committee to carry out due diligence of its Enterprise Resource Planning System. The Board ordered the sub-committee to be chaired by Director, ‘Aisake Tu’iono and Director, Fuiva Kavaliku, to work with Mr. Tu’iono on identifying and solving problems for ERP system.
The Board approved payment to the sub-committee members by way of consultancy fees, rather than overtime. Because the work was outside their normal duties of Directors of TPL, it required special rates. The Ombudsman said the payment of special rates was not unreasonable.
The
main points
Tonga’s
Ombudsman has told the country’ government-owned shipping agency that it must
carry out due diligence on buying large hip.
His
comment came after an investigation showed that FISA paid almost three times
the value of a 36 year old ship in 2014.
The fundraising post, republished to Maria Folau’s Instagram page on Friday, explains the couple has spent more than $100,000 on legal fees to fight the termination.
As of Sunday afternoon, a GoFundMe page set up by Israel Folau had raised more than $670,000 of its $3m target.
In a statement, Nicola Britton of GoFundMe Australia said the campaign violated its terms of service.
The statement said the company was committed to the fight for equality for LGBTQI+ people and fostering an environment of inclusivity.
“While we welcome GoFundMe’s engaging in diverse civil debate we do not tolerate the promotion of discrimination of exclusion,” it said.
At the weekend, Rugby Australia chief executive Raelene Castle condemned Folau’s public appeal for money at the weekend.
“From our perspective, [GoFundMe] is a place where sick children get support, so it’s certainly not a strategy we think is appropriate,” Castle said.
A group of lobbyists wants Tongan lawmakers to legalise marijuana for medical reasons, a reliable source has told Kaniva news.
It is understood an attempt by the group through the Prime Minister’s office to discuss the proposal was unsuccessful.
The source did not provide names of the group or how many of them.
Chief Secretary
Edgar Cocker said he was unaware of any “submission – but hemp is illegal
as per the Tonga Drugs Act.”
A Ministry of Health spokesperson said Tonga was too
small to allow marijuana to be used in any form.
Drugs testing lap
Meanwhile, the Minister of Police said in Parliament the government was planning to set up a drug lab in Tonga to provide drugs testing for evidential reasons.
Drugs in Tonga
which need to be tested have to be sent to New Zealand labs.
Hon. Mateni
Tapueluelu said he and the Police Commissioner were expected to attend an
official meeting in New Zealand next month.
He said they would
have an opportunity to visit drugs labs in the country as part of the plan for
Tonga.
He said a drugs lab
in Tonga could speed up work required for fact findings.
Hon. Tapueluelu said the war against illicit drugs was proceeding satisfactorily and TP$1 million had been provided to help the fight.
Rehabilitation concerns
In the meantime,
there was concern in the country that little had been done to rehabilitate drug
users
The
concern was raised by the director of the Mental Health Unit and head
psychiatrist, Mapa Puloka, at a recent workshop in Nuku’alofa.
Dr
Puloka said most of those who came to the hospital for help were put into the
Mental Health Ward, but staff said ineffective services meant many were not
properly cared for, Radio New Zealand international has reported.
There
were almost weekly arrests of drug dealers, especially for methamphetamine or
marijuana offences, and among them were senior Customs officials, who had been
instrumental in “clearing” container shipments of drugs coming into
Tonga from overseas, Dr Puloka said.
While
there is rising concern about the health and addictive impact on users, little
is being done in terms of rehabilitation.
However,
health officials, church and community leaders, as well as NGOs, are meeting
regularly to devise a co-ordinated plan for drug education in schools.
Medical marijuana
Last
year the New Zealand government proposed legalising medical marijuana. The bill
passed its third reading in December with the support of Labour, New Zealand
First and the Greens. The National Party opposition also proposed a Member’s
Bill to implement a medicinal cannabis regime.
Investors
are interested in growing medical marijuana in Vanuatu, but no licences had
been issued yet.
Radio
New Zealand reported that the Vanuatu government had expressed an interest in
looking at the possibility of allowing investment in cannabis or hemp for
medical purposes.
However,
the Director general of Vanuatu’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry,
Fisheries and Biosecurity, Moses Amos, said government agencies had yet to work
on relevant legal provisions to cater for medical marijuana investment.
The Australian Parliament has passed legislation to allow for the cultivation of marijuana for medical or scientific purposes. This involved an amendment to the Narcotics Drugs Act 1967 and allows for cultivation through a national licensing scheme.
New sidewalks, road and public facilities upgrades and pre-paid parking are the main focus of a multi-million dollar projects to improve central Nuku’alofa.
The projects have been given a $14 million head start for the constructions of sidewalks which connected Kolomotu’a and Fasimoeafi.
The projects included upgrades to the Queen Salote Memorial hall, Nuku’alofa Primary School, Mala’ekula Royal Tomb, the Sports Complex and areas between Vuna and ‘Amelika wharves.
New public toilets, bus stations and bus stops
were parts of the improvement plans.
An upgrade to the Tonga Maritime Poly-Technical Institute buildings and facilities was part of the plans.
A new sweeper was expected to arrive in Tonga
soon as part of the government’s attempts to keep Nuku’alofa clean.
This was part of the Prime Minister’s vision to upgrade infrastructure and public facilities, the Deputy Prime Minister Hon Semisi Sika told Kaniva news.
He said the Vuna road upgrades were funded by the government through its Ministry of Infrastructure and Tourism’s budgets.
Some of these projects were expected to be funded by foreign donors, he said.
Agricultural
exports doubled in April, according to the latest report from the Reserve Bank
of Tonga.
The bank
said 642.3 tonnes of produce was exported, driven by an increase
in the sale of root crops such a yam, taro and cassava.
The Governor of the Reserve Bank, Sione Ngongo Kioa, said exports of fish had almost tripled compared with the same period last year.
New data for
the fisheries sector showed that exports of fish since the beginning of 2019
averaged 188 metric tons per month compared with an average of 67.2 metric tons
per month in 2018.
Nearly all
the exported fish were tuna, which accounted for 96.6% of the total 164.0
metric tons exported in April.
The export
of aquarium products also rose by 94.7% over the month. Receipts from exports
of fish and other marine products also grew by 3.6% over the same month.
Kioa said a
drop in loan to the industry may indicate that activity in the secondary sector
had slowed.
Loans to the
construction and manufacturing sectors declined by 5.7% and 15.3% respectively.
However,
container registrations rose by 7.7%, largely due to an increased volume of
business containers reflecting active commercial trading.
International
air arrivals also rose by 23.7% and the arrival of two cruise ships during the
month may have supported the tourism sector.
Travel
receipts also recorded a 1.9% increase, whereas receipts for other trades in
services also increased by 19.2%, mostly transport and construction services.
Tonga’s
economic growth prospects remained positive in the medium term, but weather
uncertainty posed a risk.
Official
foreign reserves slightly declined by $0.8 million to $464.2 million during
April. The monthly movement was attributed mainly to repatriation of unspent
project funds and net outflow from interbank foreign exchange deals.
The annual
headline inflation slowed further to 0.2% in April
Foreign
reserves were projected to remain at a comfortable level and inflation was
likely to remain below the reference rate of 5% per annum. The banking system
was anticipated to continue to remain sound.
The
main points
Agricultural
exports doubled in April, according to the latest report from the Reserve Bank
of Tonga.
The
bank said 642.3 tonnes of produce was exported, consisting of an driven by an
increase in the sale of root crops such a yam, taro and cassava.
After a day of cold and rain, Mate Ma’a Tonga went down 14-34 against New Zealand Kiwi this evening.
The Kiwis
were leading 16-4 at half time.
Brandon
Smith scored the first try of the evening for the Kiwi in the 11th
minute.
Shaun
Johnson scored three tries for New Zealand Kiwis, with Brandon Smith, Jahrome
Hughes and Joseph Manu also going over the line and Esan Marsters making five
successful conversions.
Solomone Kata,
SioSiuaTaukeiaho and Daniel Tupou scored tries for Tonga with Taukeiahoscoring
a conversion.
Commentatorsdescribed SitiliTupouniua and ManaseFainu as the
outstanding players on the Tongan ide.
During his
live coverage of the game, New Zealand
Herald reporter Christopher Reive said: “They should just give the ball to
SitiliTupouniua every play. He’s the only one having any success tonight.”
This
evenings’ game was important for Mate Ma’aTongas’ long term goals.
Mate
Ma’aTonga prop TevitaPangai Jr told the Herald: “We know as a goal, going
into the World Cup we want to be a top three nation,”
“Our
eyes are on the Kiwis, and we’re looking longer term.”
Playing more
matches against top tier teams is the first step for Tonga to make progress in
the standings. The Rugby League International Federation’s ranking system gives
more points for a win over a strong nation than for a victory over a country
with a lower rank.
Tongan team
As we
reported yesterday, the Tongan side was missing Andrew Fifita, who has been suspended
for three matches.
Fifita told
the media before the game he was“absolutely gutted” not to be playing, but said
“I can’t wait to see the red sea this weekend.”
AddinFonua-Blake
was listed to takeFifita’s place in the front ow.
The Mate
Ma’a squad announced for this evening’ game were Will Hopoate, DanielTupou, Kotoni Staggs, Solomone Kata,
David Fusitu’a, John Asiata, TuimoalaLolohea, Siliva Havili, SioSiuaTaukeiaho,
TevitaPangai Junior, Manu Ma’u, Jason Taumalolo,ManaseFainu, AddinFonua-Blake,
PeniTerepo, SitiliTupouniuaandfSioneKatoa and TevitaTatola a reserves.
Asiata, Staggs, Fainu and Tupouniua were making their
debut for Tonga.
Red and white
The run-up
to the game had drawn some concern, with tickets till available only hour
before the match.
This was in
contrast to previous games where the enthusiasm of Tongan fans had been
widespread.
However,
this evening’s number were estimated at 23,624 and Radio New Zealand reported
that cars adorned with Tongan flags had reappeared on the Auckland’s streets.
The national
broadcaster said houses on Rockfield Road, a few blocks from the stadium, were coated
in red and white.
RNZs’ Jamie
Wall concluded his report on the game by describing it as “a fun evening here
at Mt Smart.”
“There’s
still a ton of Tongan fans hanging around waiting for their heroes. It really
shows how important test rugby league is.”
The
main points
After
a day of cold and rain, Mate Ma’a Tonga went down 14-24 against New Zealand
Kiwis this evening.
Solomone
Kata, SioSiuaTaukeiaho and Daniel Tupou scored tries for Tonga with Taukeiahoscoring
a conversion.
First-five Richie Mo’unga grabbed two tries in a flawless 23-point game as the Crusaders stormed into the Super Rugby semi-finals with a 38-14 hiding of the Highlanders in Christchurch.
With a breathtaking blend of defensive grunt and attacking inspiration, the double defending champions kept their perfect home record in playoffs intact and extended their unbeaten winning streak at Rugby League Park to 29 matches.
They will return to the venue to meet the winner of the Hurricanes and the Bulls, who play their quarter-final on Saturday.
“We knew it was going to be tough, quarter-finals are always tough,” Crusaders captain Sam Whitelock said.
“We knew these guys were going to try to pin us down in our own half … We want to pressure every team right across the board.
“To get the win is what you need and we got it.”
All Black Mo’unga had an outstanding night, grabbing a try in each half and slotting all five conversions and an early penalty.
It was a tougher night for his All Blacks team mate Liam Squire, who was yellow carded early in the second half for a shoulder charge after the Highlanders restricted the home side to a 17-14 lead at the break.
It proved the turning point as the Crusaders ran in two tries to blow the game open while Squire was in the sin-bin.
“Obviously we prepared to come up here and give it our best shot and we were in it for most of the game,” said Highlanders co-captain Luke Whitelock.
“They’re very good at what they do and they execute it really well.”
The Crusaders came into the match after a week off and it showed in a scrappy opening quarter as they struggled with a few handling errors and a shaky set-piece.
They allowed the visitors the first try in the 17th minute as centre Rob Thompson made a brilliant step and offload to Ben Smith to crack open the Crusaders defence, with the departing co-captain putting winger Sio Tomkinson across near the left corner.
The home side snatched back the lead, however, with an unmarked David Havili jogging through a huge defensive hole to cross under the posts.
The Highlanders could do little about the Crusaders’ second try, as Scott Robertson’s men launched a breathtaking raid from midfield to the right corner.
A majestic offload by George Bridge to Whetu Douglas was flicked wide to Mo’unga who crossed and converted his own try to put the Crusaders up 17-7 in the 28th minute.
The Highlanders rallied again, rumbling forward to earn a scrum near the try-line.
Halfback Aaron Smith hurled a long, flat pass wide to inside centre Teihorangi Walden who burst through and planted the ball just over the line as the Highlanders kept in touch in a relentless first half.
Five minutes after the restart, however, Squire was sin-binned and the Highlanders unravelled.
A defensive blunder giftwrapped the Crusaders their third try in the 48th minute as the Highlanders stood off a rolling maul and allowed Douglas to barge over.
With Squire still stewing in the sin-bin, replacement prop Michael Alaalatoa grabbed the Crusaders’ fourth five-pointer, with Mo’unga kicking the Crusaders to a 31-14 lead into the final quarter.
Mo’unga capped a fine individual performance by grabbing his second try with brute strength in the 69th minute, rushing forward to chase a kick over the line and ripping the ball off Marty Banks in mid-air before planting it down.
Speculation
is growing that Tonga’s Ombudsman will make an announcement about the three
petitions attacking the government on Monday.
The
Ombudsman has called a press conference for 10am on June 24.
As Kaniva news reported last month, King Tupou VI has referred three petitions attacking the government to the Ombudsman.
The
petitions, demanding the government be dissolved, have been organised by long-standing
opponents of the government.
Professor
Steven Ratuva, Director of the Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies at
the University of Canterbury in New Zealand told Radio Australia the case was a
litmus test for Tongan democracy.
“The
King still has considerable power despite the reforms in the Constitution in
2010,” he said.
“Recently the Government has been trying to push what it
refers to as ‘urgent’ bills’ to be passed by parliament.
“At least
two of those bills refer directly to reforming the power of the King in terms
of appointment of some of the senior officers of Government including the
Commissioner of Police.”
Professor
Ratuva said the petitioners were using this to convince the King that his power
was under threat.
In August November 2017 the Speaker persuaded the king to dissolve Parliament and put the government of ‘Akilisi Pohiva out of office.
However,
only a few months later, Hon.Pohiva’s government was voted back into power.
In June last year, a petition to impeach the Prime Minister and seven of his cabinet ministers was submitted to parliament.
Three
petitions with more than 10,000 signatures were presented to the palace in
Nuku’alofa.
Former government minister Clive Edwards presented a petition signed by former politicians.
He said he believed that once a Royal Commission for Investigation was appointed, a caretaker government would need to be put in place.
Noble MP Lord Nuku presented a petition from the country’s nobles.
The third petition was presented by former MP Teisina Fuko from members of the general public.
The Lord Privy Seal said the Ombudsman would investigate complaints in the petition, take such action as he considered appropriate and decide whether any maladministration had occurred.
The
Ombudsman would report to the king.
If any case was established the petitions would be referred to the Attorney General, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Commissioner of Police.
The
main points
Speculation is growing that Tonga’s
Ombudsman will make an announcement about the three petitions attacking the government
on Monday.
The Ombudsman has called a press
conference for 10am on June 24.
As Kaniva
news reported last month, King Tupou has referred three petitions attacking
the government to the Ombudsman.
For
more information
King orders petitions from government’s
enemies to be referred to Ombudsman
Police have arrested and charged a 22-year-old after a man was shot in Nukunuku.
The incident occurred after
midnight last night at Hihifo rd.
A 22-year-old man from Fua’amotu was at Vaiola hospital with an injury sustained from a gunshot wound to his stomach during an altercation with the suspect, Police said.
Police also seized a .22
rifle from the suspect.
The suspect is in police
custody while police investigation continues.
