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Tonga’s new dialysis centre to be built at king’s Tufumāhina estate

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tonga’s new dialysis centre is planned to be built at His Majesty’s Tufumāhina estate, a Ministry of Health spokesperson said.

He said negotiations are underway to secure the site opposite Tonga Gas Ltd for the centre which is about 2 kilometres away from Vaiola hospital.

Queen Nanasipau’u Tuku’aho has gifted the centre with a land from the royal estate, the spokesperson said.

As Kaniva news reported, a newly registered non-profitable organisation has been set up to run the operation.

Members of the organisation are the Minister of Health Saia Piukala, Director of Health Siale ‘Akau’ola, Victorina Afeaki Kioa, Dr Sione Lātū, Dr Lisiate ‘Ulufonua and Lord Vaea.

The facility would be established “at no cost to the government.”

A private company in Salt Lake City, Utah which currently operates three clinics including a dialysis centre, was partnering with the Ministry.

They offered free services for the public.

The US organization involved philanthropists who wanted to leave some of their money and wealth to charity, the spokesperson said.

As Radio New Zealand reported at the time, the Ministry has said in the past that it could not fund its own dialysis programme “because it would eat up 20 percent of the annual health budget for less than one percent of the population and it is not equitable distribution of meagre resources.”

The Ministry said there was a 17.7 percent prevalence of diabetes in Tonga, a number revised after it was regionally reported as 34.4 percent.

The Minstry said there were 200 patients in the kingdom with varying degrees of kidney disease and around 66 patients, or a third, are in Stage 5, requiring renal replacement therapy, or dialysis.

Tongan patients in New Zealand and around the globe have faced a painful death if they were sent back to Tonga because dialysis was not available there.

Last year a Tongan national, Tamahanga Tukunga, was among a growing number of Tongans in New Zealand who requested help from the New Zealand government.

He received dialysis three days a week and as a foreign national he was not entitled to that treatment and could be deported to Tonga within a year.

His treatment was paid by his relatives through fundraising, including sausage sizzles back in Tonga, and sending yams to sell in New Zealand.

The cost of the medical treatment was always a critical factor for overseas countries in deciding whether or not to grant visas to Tongan patients.

As Kaniva news reported recently, Sosefo Lakalaka was ordered to leave New Zealand by May 2019 after a tribunal found the burden on New Zealand’s public health system outweighed the exceptional humanitarian circumstances of his case.

Mr Lakalaka was paying off a $US10,768 medical bill and his ongoing treatment was costing the taxpayer $US13,463 a year.

A Tongan international and ‘Ikale Tahi player Sione Vaimo’unga, who was trapped in Romania on dialysis, was luckier after  Tonga’s Ministry of Health sought support from the Romanian government in 2017.

The Pacific Rugby Players Welfare finally reported last year that Vaiomo’unga was recovering well from a transplant after he had been on dialysis after being diagnosed three years previously.

Read more

New dialysis centre set to open in Tonga “at no cost to government” – claim

Supreme Court finds broadcaster broke Electoral Act rule with Hon. Sika interview

By
Philip Cass
-

The Supreme Court has overturned a Magistrate’s Court decision to acquit Tonga Broadcom of breaking the law restricting broadcasting on election day.

Section 23(1)(g)(i) of the Electoral Act prohibits anybody from broadcasting at any time on polling day before the close of the polls any statement “advising or intended  or  likely  to  influence  any elector  as to  the candidate  for whom the electors should or should not vote.”

The Supreme Court heard that about 7am on election day, November 16, 2017, Broadcom transmitted an interview with Deputy Prime Minister Semisi Sika.

The  interview had been recorded a few days earlier, but Hon. Sika was  unaware it would be broadcast on polling   day.

The  broadcast focussed on the work and achievements of Hon. Sika,  the need to continue this good work and his desire to be returned to  finish off  the work for the benefit of Tonga.  It then urged listeners to exercise their vote.

Another candidate standing for No 2 Tongatapu constituency  heard the broadcast  and laid a complaint. A prosecution was launched in the Magistrate’s Court.

The Principal Magistrate found that the offence  had  been  proven, but acquitted Broadcom on the grounds that the law was not meant to restrict the publication of any candidate’s name in any printed or broadcast news.

The Supreme court was told  the records did not show that the Principal Magistrate provided  any reasons for his conclusion.

Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said Section 23 created a blackout period on polling day banning the publication, distribution or broadcast of statements likely to influence how people voted.

This balanced the right to campaign and free speech   with   the   maintenance   of   a free voting environment.

The proviso was unambiguous and did create a general exception   for   publications or broadcast that might be considered news.

“It recognises that on polling day the media has a legitimate interest in reporting on  the election,  but  not to the extent of disseminating information influencing the manner in which electors vote,” the judge said.

“The Principal Magistrate was correct to find that all elements of the offence under Section 23(1)(g)(i) were proven beyond reasonable doubt,” Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said.

“He was wrong to acquit the respondent.

“The decision of the Principal Magistrate is quashed  and Broadcom is convicted  of  the  offence  under  the Electoral Act.”

The main points

  • The Supreme Court has overturned a Magistrate’s Court decision to acquit Tonga Broadcom of breaking the law restricting broadcasting on election day.
  • Section 23(1)(g)(i) of the Electoral Act prohibits anybody from broadcasting at any time on polling day before the close of the polls any statement “advising or intended  or  likely  to  influence  any elector  as to  the candidate  for whom the electors should or should not vote.”

Plane makes emergency landing with no front wheels

By
Kaniva Staff
-

A Myanmar pilot saved the day after his aircraft’s landing gear failed, forcing the jet into an emergency landing with no front wheels on Sunday morning, an official said.

The nail-biting touchdown – in which nobody was injured – was the second instance of a malfunctioning flight in less than a week within the country.

The Myanmar Airlines flight UB-103 – an Embraer-190 model – was grounded at around 9am in Mandalay (2.30am GMT), a city popular among foreign tourists, with all 89 people on board including seven crew members, safe.

An unverified video circulated on social media showing a graceful landing before the nose of the jet tipped over and ground to a halt.

The pilot tried a backup emergency procedure to pull down the wheels but that was unsuccessful. 

The aircraft did two fly-bys past the tower for air controllers to check visually whether the wheels had deployed. 

The captain followed emergency procedures to dump fuel to reduce the landing weight, and made a safe landing at 9:09am, said the statement.

Video apparently was shot by one of the passengers and posted online showed an urgent but orderly evacuation of the passengers and crew. 

Passengers were seen walking away from the plane across the airfield, several of them smiling.

In another video posted online, smoke could be seen coming into the cabin around a passenger’s legs as many began rushing to the emergency exits to evacuate. 

Ye Htut Aung, deputy director general of Myanmar’s Civil Aviation Department, said the pilot tried repeatedly to drop the landing gear at the front of the plane — first through its computer system, then manually.

‘They tried hard twice by flying around twice and asked to check whether the nose wheel dropped or not,’ Ye Htut Aung said, calling it a ‘technical fault’.

‘So they had to land with the back wheels… The pilot could land it skillfully,’ he said. ‘There were no casualties.’

Myanmar National Airlines are now sending engineers to Mandalay International Airport to check on the aircraft, Ye Htut Aung said, adding that all jets get a daily flight check.

Passenger Soe Moe said: ‘Smoke came out a little when we landed… All passengers are okay.’

Kyaw San, a spokesman for the airport, said the pilot informed the control tower before landing that he was unable to pull down the nose wheels.

A statement on the airline’s Facebook page explained that the plane’s EICAS – Engine Indicating and Crew Alerting System – indicated a failure of the front landing gear to deploy.  

Flight operations at the airport were temporarily suspended, and allowed to resume after about two hours for smaller aircraft. The runways were expected to be reopened for use by larger Boeing and Airbus aircraft by late afternoon.

Sunday’s incident comes just days after a Biman Bangladesh Airlines plane crash-landed and slid off a runway while landing in Yangon airport during a storm on Wednesday, leaving 11 passengers injured.

Photos of the plane showed it lying partly on the wet runway and partly on the grass. Its fuselage appeared to be broken in at least two spots. 

Myanmar’s monsoon season has caused problems for commercial and military flights in the past.

A military plane crashed into the Andaman sea in 2017 with 122 people on board – one of the deadliest aviation accidents in the country’s history – which authorities attributed to bad weather.

And in 2015, a passenger plane by Air Bagan veered off the runway due to bad weather and heavy rain.

US$4.65m Digital Upgrade benefits Tongan Public Services

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Tongans will soon benefit from improved digital access to key public services, including significant upgrades to Tonga’s civil registration and national ID systems, following the approval of a US$4.65 million grant by the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today.

The Tonga Digital Government Support Project will strengthen digital access, efficiency and security in Tonga’s public service, by supporting a number of whole-of-government digital initiatives, including a new National Government Portal that will improve Tongans’ access to services and information across all Government ministries and agencies, as well as improvements to Tonga’s regulations for digital economy and digital government, data protection and privacy, and cyber security.

In addition, the project will improve Tonga’s civil registration and national ID systems, ensuring that each Tongan citizen and resident is assigned a unique ID number at birth, that their legal identity can be authenticated for accessing services in-person and online, and that birth, death and marriage records are linked. 

For Tongan families, this will mean that newborns can be registered more quickly, and that all Tongans will have better access to education, health, employment, elections, immigration, property ownership and banking. These efforts will accelerate achievement of Sustainable Development Goal target (SDG) 16.9: to “provide legal identity for all, including birth registration.”

Tonga’s remote location, small size and dispersed islands pose many challenges to its economic development, including inefficient public service delivery and high transaction costs.

Despite recent investments in improved connectivity in Tonga — notably, World Bank-supported broadband internet access – further investment is required to build a whole of government approach to digital government, and to more effectively connect Tongan households and businesses. 

At present, the civil registration and national ID systems are not effectively linked, and Tonga has limited data protection standards.

“Delivering effective online public services to our people is essential to the development of Tonga,” said Hon Dr. Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa, Tonga’s Minister for Finance. “We are delighted to be working with the World Bank to improve our digital technology across all government agencies and advance digital access and efficiency for Tongan communities.”

“Our work in the Pacific has shown us that integrated, shared and inclusive information flow within and across government agencies can improve the quality of life for citizens, and reduce the complexity for businesses trying to grow,” said Michel Kerf, the World Bank’s Country Director for Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands. “We are proud to be working with the Tongan Government on this project; the first of its kind supporting digital government in the Pacific.”

The US$4.65 million grant comes from the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank’s fund for the most in-need countries and will be implemented by Tonga’s Ministry of Finance.

The project has been supported by the Australian Government through collaboration with the Commonwealth Digital ID Initiative of Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), and the Korean Government through the Korea-World Bank Partnership Facility (KWPF).

Tongans community in Brisbane welcomes possible increase in kava imports

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Tongan community in Brisbane has welcomed suggestion that Australia will ease restrictions on the importation of kava for personal use.

Proposals being studied include increasing the quantity of kava for personal use to 4kg under a pilot programme and suggestions that the programme be evaluated after two years.

There are more than 10 kava clubs in Brisbane which meet regularly.

The clubs have been described as the financial backbone to fund raising ventures for community development and visitors from the Kingdom of Tonga.

These clubs also played a prominent role in funding activities in the Kingdom through special lunches for the disabled and disadvantaged people from the Ālonga, OTA and Vaiola Psyche Ward .

President of the Brisbane Tongan Community steering committee, Rev. Maile Molitika, said kava had a strong musical element.

“Not only do the kava clubs provide music for traditional dancing during weddings, birthdays and fund raisers, but we also keep alive the compositions of Tongan composers and musicians both past and present,” Rev. Molitika said.

In its submission to Parliament, the Tongan community in Brisbane said kava was consumed or shared among family, church members or in a social kava club. 

It said it was rare that one 2kg imported by an individual is consumed by that individual only.

“We support the easing of the restrictions as it not only provides for the needs of our people in Brisbane for example, but also assists in the economic growth in Tonga,” Rev Molitika said.

“The cost of kava has increased tremendously over the years.

“By opening these opportunities up, it also allows our people to expand their investment opportunities and assist in capacity building in the Kingdom of Tonga and the diaspora.”

The main points

  • The Tongan community in Brisbane has welcomed suggestion that Australia will ease restrictions on the importation of kava for personal use.
  • Proposals being studied include increasing the quantity of kava for personal use to 4kg under a pilot programme and suggestions that the programme be evaluated after two years.

For more information

Submissions in support of the Pilot Program to ease restrictions on the importation of kava for personal use

Folau controversy: Churches’ teachings on homosexuality often differ from followers’ beliefs and public statements

By
Philip Cass
-

Israel Folau, arguably one of the greatest footballers ever to play in Australia, has been embroiled in a storm of controversy ever since he posted statements online saying that homosexuals were going to hell unless they repented.

Folau’s stance has led to his disciplining by the Australian rugby authorities and the apparent end of his career in that country. He has also been attacked by secular commentators for his views.

However, there has been little attempt to put Folau’s words into context, or to examine the doctrinal issues behind his statements or what church leaders and their followers are actually saying about the issue.

Folau posted a message on Instagram in which he said that “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars and fornicators” would go to hell unless they repented.

“Those that are living in sin will end up in hell unless you repent. Jesus Christ loves you and is giving you time to turn away from your sin and come to him,” he said.

Supporters

A number of Folau’s fellow Islander football player have supported his stance.

Radio New Zealand reported that England number eight Billy Vunipola and Queensland Reds captain Samu Kerevi were among several Pasifika athletes to “like” Folau’s original post on Instagram.

It said many other players may share similar views.

Family and friends defended Folau,  saying the only thing that mattered to him was how he would be viewed by God and saying his religious views came from “a place of love, not hate.”

A petition named ‘#istandwithIzzyFolau’ has gathered almost 10,000 signatures since it was posted on the change.org site, claiming Folau is the victim of discrimination.

“This is discrimination by the Rugby Union Australia against freedom of beliefs… against Christianity and someone’s religious beliefs,” the petition reads.

The ‘My Tongan – Online community’ has shared the petition with its 17,000-plus members.

Former rugby league player, retired boxer and devout Muslim Anthony Mundine defended Folau’s right to express his beliefs and said he was being persecuted because of his colour.

“People are missing the point here, it’s not about the Bible or the Biblical quote that Izzy put up, it’s a black man expressing it,” Mundine said.

“I commend Izzy for sticking up and facing such racism and being persecuted and not having the right to make a living … there’ve been guys out there been done for drugs, assaults … yet he (Folau) can’t express his mind?”

Assemblies of God

Folau, who is of Tongan descent, was born a Mormon, but converted to the Assemblies of God, a pentecostal church which takes a literalist approach to scripture.

Folau’s comments reflect AOG doctrine.

In August 2014 the General Presbytery of the Assemblies of God in the United States issued a statement saying that homosexual behaviour was sinful because it disobeyed scriptural teachings.

The Presbytery based its ruling on Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 which prohibit homosexual behaviour.

“Scripture consistently identifies homosexual behaviour as sin,” the Presbytery said.

“Not only do the Scriptures condemn more flagrant examples of homosexual violence and promiscuity, they also provide no support for the popular modern idea that loving and committed homosexual relationships between two long-term partners, even if legally married, are morally acceptable. Homosexual activities of every kind are contrary to the moral commandments God has given us.”

However, despite this official stance, such beliefs are not universal within the church. Research by the US-based Pew Research Centre, found that about a third of AOG members surveyed in that country believed homosexuality should be accepted. The figure was highest for church members between 30-49 and women.

Catholic church

In New Zealand, the Catholic Church’s spokeswoman, Dame Lyndsay Freer, said Folau’s words were damaging to the Christian faith.

“I feel very sorry for what Israel Folau has done,” the Otago Daily Times quoted her as saying.

“(He is) . . . presenting God as a God of punishment and a God of vengeance, not a God of love, and mercy and compassion.

“It’s dangerous territory when you lump everyone together as sinners and damned because at the end of the day it’s God that makes that judgement, not us, and not Israel Folau.”

The official position of the church is that homosexuality is “objectively disordered” and says that gay people “are called to chastity.” However, it also says that gay people “must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided.”

Public perceptions of Catholic approaches to homosexuality have changed greatly under Pope Francis.

Last month Pope Francis said homosexual tendencies were “not a sin,” but added: “Tendencies are not sin. If you have a tendency to anger, it’s not a sin. Now, if you are angry and hurt people, the sin is there.”

The Pope is famous for answering a question about homosexuality with the reply: “Who am I to judge?”

However, some would argue that he has been careful to tread a fine line between expressing love and tolerance for the sinner, but rejecting what he sees as a sin.

It has been reported that he recently said that in a confidential meeting with Italian bishops, the Pope said that men with “deeply rooted” homosexual tendencies, or who “practice homosexual acts,” should not be allowed into the seminary.

At the meantime, however, the Catholic news service Crux reported that Juan Carlos Cruz, a Chilean survivor of clerical sexual abuse, said that during a private meeting with the Pope in April, Francis had said it did not matter that he was gay.

“Juan Carlos, that you are gay doesn’t matter,” Francis reportedly said.

“God made you like this and loves you like this and it doesn’t matter to me. The pope loves you like this, you have to be happy with who you are.”

Methodist church

Homosexuality has been a divisive issue in some section of the Methodist church. In New Zealand the Methodist Church approved the ordination of openly gay and lesbian ministers in 2004. The church allows each local congregation to determine its own policy on the issue. In 2013, when same-sex marriage was legalized in New Zealand, congregations that opted to do so were able to perform same-sex marriages.

However, dispute over the issue led to the creation of a Wesleyan Methodist church and a Tongan Methodist church, the Vahefonua Tonga o Aoteoroa. In 2012 the Vahefonua Tonga opposed the same sex marriage bill on the ground that it went against Tongan traditions,  cultural  and religious beliefs.

Sexuality in the Pacific

Churches in the Pacific have been generally conservative on sexual issue. Tonga, for instance, remains the only Pacific island nation not to have signed the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women because certain church leaders believed it would mean that it will mean Tonga would be forced to legalise homosexuality and allow same sex marriage.

Homosexual, third gender and trans gender people have occurred historically and in contemporary Pacific culture.

In certain countries there are men such as the fa’afafine in Samoa who fulfil traditionally female roles. Fakaleiti in Tonga play a similar multi-gendered role and are famous for organising the Miss Galaxy Pageant in Tonga.

However, such people may not necessarily align with western concept of transgender or gay and lesbian identities.

Tonga customs officer in court over drug smuggling

By
Kalino Latu
-

By Radio New Zealand

A Tonga customs officer has appeared in court following the seizure of a large quantity of drugs last month.

59-year-old Paula Naitoko is facing nine charges for engaging with others to import illicit drugs, and for aiding and abetting the importation of illegal firearms and ammunition.

Tonga Police reported its Drug Enforcement Taskforce seized drugs with a street value of more than $US2.5 million dollars.

The haul included methamphetamine, cannabis and cannabis oil, allegedly smuggled into Tonga from the United States.

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

Tonga keen on recruiting Israel Folau

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By Radio New Zealand

Scorned by Rugby Australia, controversial rugby star Israel Folau could be offered a place in the Tongan national side.

Former Wallaby Toutai Kefu is the head coach of Tonga and says Folau would be welcome in his team.

“I’d love that. I think he would get a lot of satisification out of playing for Tonga,” Kefu told the ABC.

Folau is waiting to find out just what penalty will be imposed by Rugby Australia after an independent panel found him guilty of a “high level” breach of his contract – for his controversial social media posts.

Folau’s parents are Tongan, but Kefu acknoweldges World Rugby rules mean he would be unable to play on International stage for three years.

“He could definitely be available for the next World Cup (France 2023),” he said.

“If he does get dismissed by Rugby Australia, he could play in the UK or France, there is plenty of top level competition for him.”

Kefu admits Folau would need to take a massive pay cut.

“Tongan Rugby Union has no money, we are 100 per cent funded by world rugby.

“We cant afford to pay our players. So our players they play for pride of jersey, they play to representative their families, they play to go to a World Cup,” Kefu said.

Another option for Folau could be Australian billionaire Andrew Forrest’s Global Rapid Rugby competition.

Forrest started the competition after Western Force were axed from Super Rugby and it’s, is set to expand next year and the tournament is seeking star signings.

The Australian has reported there’s interest in making Folau the marquee signing of one of the overseas clubs – Hong Kong-based South China Tigers, Singapore-based Asia Pacific Dragons, Fiji and Samoa are involved in a showcase 2019 tournament.

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

Drug Taskforce arrests four over cannabis and meths for sale in kingdom’ latest drugs bust

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Police have arrested four men in the kingdom’s latest drugs bust.

Deputy Police Commissioner Pelenatita Fe’ao Vaisuai said the Drug Enforcement Taskforce made the arrest in Longolongo.

He said the accused had illicit drugs  packed ready for sale.

Police seized 55 packs of cannabis (49.86 grams) and15 packs of methamphetamine (97.47 grams) along with drug paraphernalia and cash.

The four men included a 35-year-old man from Longolongo, a 29-year-old man from Hala’ovave, a 30-year-old man from Hoi and a 26-year-old man from Haveluloto.

“These arrests should reassure the community that preventing illicit drugs supply is a high priority for Police,” Deputy Commissioner Vaisuai said.

“We will continue to target those who supply drugs within our community.”

In recent weeks Tongan police have made several arrests.

During the Easter Public holidays, they arrested 17 people at three different locations in ongoing drugs operations.

On 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 were charged with unlawful possession of illicit drugs while the 10th man was charged with unlawful possession of ammunition.

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.

On the same day police 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.

A man 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.

Police recently seized about $US1.2 million worth of methamphetamine during a drug operation in Fahefa.

Anybody with information about drug related offending is asked to contact the police on 922.

The main points

  • Police have arrested four men in the kingdom’s latest drugs bust.
  • Deputy Police Commissioner Pelenatita Fe’ao Vaisuai said the Drug Enforcement Taskforce made the arrest in Longolongo.
  • He said the accused had  illicit drugs  packed ready for sale.

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

Supreme Court hands down six year sentence for machete attack on policeman

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Pouono ‘Aisake has been sentenced to six years imprisonment for grievous bodily harm.

The imprisonment has been backdated to March 15.

On August 23, 2018, at about 7pm ‘Aisake’s wife was at her parents’  house in Hofoa when her partner visited.  ‘Aisake arrived and was asked   to leave, but he did not.

He went into the house and was again asked  to leave,  this time by his mother-in-law. This time he left, but returned with a machete. The Police were called and Snr Police Constable Tafokitau ‘Ahokava and another officer arrived.

‘Aisake said he did not know the Police had arrived, but hid inside the back room while holding the machete.

When Snr Constable Tafokitau  opened the door to the back room  ‘Aisake struck him on the head with the machete causing a grievous injury.

When ‘Aisake  was arrested and interviewed he pleaded guilty.

His childhood was marked by his father’s alcoholism and violence and he dropped out of primary school. ‘Aisake has a criminal record, including a  previous  conviction  for armed  robbery  involving  the  use  of a firearm, and a history of alcohol and drug abuse.

Mr ‘Aisake said he was angry at  his  wife and mother-in-law for asking him to leave and that he had brought the machete from  his home  for his personal protection  from  his  wife’s  brother  with whom he had fought before.

Snr Constable Tafokitau  underwent surgery after the attack.

“While it appears that the victim has recovered physically, the same cannot be said for his mental and his emotional states,” Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said.

“He has suffered memory loss and is forgetful at work. He has become  cautious, angry at home, is easily startled and has interrupted sleep. He can no longer participate in activities that may risk further injury such as touch rugby.

“Mr ‘Aisake did not visit the victim in  hospital and apologised  to him only the   day before he was arraigned and not in the traditional Tongan manner.”

The judge said the Supreme Court had signalled that it would deal harshly with perpetrators of machete attacks.

He quoted Mr Justice Cato who said: “The  use of  a  machete which  is  a  potentially  lethal  weapon  as  an instrument  of violence must be denounced.”

“The offending was serious involving  a surprise attack,” Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said.

“It was an act of extreme, pre-meditated violence using  a  machete to the head of the victim who was not only entirely vulnerable, but  had done nothing  to provoke  Mr ‘Aisake.”

The judge said he would not suspend any part of ‘Aiseke’s sentence because he had previously had a suspended sentence and still re-offended.

He therefore imposed a sentence of six years.

The main points

  • Pouono ‘Aisake has been sentenced to six years imprisonment for grievous bodily harm.
  • The judge said he would not suspend any part of ‘Aiseke’s sentence because he had previously had a suspended sentence and still re-offended.
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