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Fly Niu optimistic gov’t will approve partnership proposal to build kingdom’s international airline

By
Kalino Latu
-

The director of Fly Niu airline said he was optimistic the government would approve a proposal to work together to build an international airline for Tonga.

Fly Niu director ‘Atu Finau was in Tonga in December and presented his proposal to the Prime Minister and his Cabinet.

He previously met the Prime Minister in Auckland and discussed his plan before he was invited to come to Tonga and present his idea to the cabinet.

Finau said if the government agreed the money generated by the business would stay in Tonga.

As Kaniva news reported, last year Finau proposed operating a service between Auckland and Tonga using two aircraft.

It is planned to include a regional services beginning with Fiji and Samoa.

Fīnau, an aviation consultant and engineer with 25 years experience, said he had access to aircraft from companies in Canada and Iceland which would be ideal to operate in Tonga.

Finau said Fiji and Samoa had their own national airlines which served their people internationally, while Tonga has none.

He said the government as partner would help remove certain taxes and duties which would give  the airline an opportunity to provide cheap airfares for its passengers.

He said the feedback he got after his presentation was encouraging.

The Prime Minister’s media spokesperson said the cabinet continued to discuss the matter and a decision would be announced soon.

The proposal was submitted after the airline was forced out of the kingdom 15 years ago when the then government announced its one domestic airline policy and gave the right to operate local flight services to the late Crown Prince and his business partners’ airline, Peau Vava’u. The airline went out of business in 2008.

The main points

  • The director of Fly Niu airline said he was optimistic the government would approve a proposal to work together to build an international airline for Tonga.
  • Fly Niu director ‘Atu Finau was in Tonga in December and presented his proposal to the Prime Minister and his Cabinet.

For more information

Fly Niu airline presents gov’t proposal to operate Auckland-Tonga flights

Fly Niu airline presents gov’t proposal to operate Auckland-Tonga flights

Tongan US dies following brutal bar attack after attending father’s funeral

By
Kalino Latu
-

A man died in Vaiola hospital last night after he was brutally attacked apparently during a fight inside Tali’eva bar in Nuku’alofa yesterday afternoon.

Our correspondent in Tonga said the deceased, Sione Feimoefiafi of Utah, arrived in Tonga last month to attend his father’s funeral in Tongatapu.

Feimoefiafi intended to return to US shortly but now his family is planning a funeral for him.  

A vicious assault was captured on video and shows attackers punched a man in the head, kicked and dragged him to the floor. It has been claimed that the victim in the video was Feimoefiafi.

At one stage he was seen being dragged from inside the bar outside where he was left motionless in a road while his attackers continued to kick him.

Some people had been seen trying to intervene and break up the attack.

The video had been widely shared on Facebook since yesterday. It looked like it has been downloaded and re-uploaded to Facebook by various Facebook users and groups.

One share  has attracted 838 reactions, 566 comments and 317 shares.

Another share has attracted 917 reactions, 317 comments and 225 shares.

The video has been met with horror online.

Many commenters have condemned the brutality and call on authorities to inflict the maximum penalty on those who were responsible for Feimoefiafi’s death.

Authorities could not be reached for comments.

Septic waste dump fishing ban lifted but Vava‘u fishers still uneasy, says local diver

By
Kalino Latu
-

Despite the lifting of a ban on fishing in the Pangaimotu area, Vava’u fishers still feel uneasy, a local source says.

The government banned fishing and swimming in the sea off Pangaimotu and its surrounding islands after more than 50 septic tank trucks of human waste were illegally dumped in the mangroves near Pangaimotu.

The ban was lifted towards the end of last year and the government said it was safe for fishing and swimming.

An Australian business man in Vava’u, Ian Jones, was convicted by a Vava’u court and fined TP$1000 on June 20, 2018 for the dumping.

The conviction came after an inspection by the Health Authority found infectious disease from the waste in the sea near the dumping site.

The ban affected residents of Pangaimotu, Toula, ‘Utungake, ‘Utulei, Talihau and Neiafu.

Pangaimotu diver Tupetaiki Ma’ilei ‘Otukolo, 49, told Kaniva news the pollution has caused huge trouble for the welfare of the Vava’u residents.

He said although the ban had been lifted he and many other fishers and divers still had an uneasy feeling the pollution could contaminate seafood.

‘Otukolo said he had yet to return and dive at the site since the ban was lifted.

He said some local fishers have fished in the area since the lifting of the ban and he had not heard that they had found any problems in their seafood.

“This was our main source of life and the impact on us was huge,” ‘Otukolo said in Tongan.

“The Pangaimotu people were so angry with the palagi business man and there was a protest march staged last year here to show our disappointment.”

The fine  

‘Otukolo said the fine inflicted by the court on Jones was not enough.

According to an Appeal court judgement on November 2018, the TP$1000 fine was the maximum fine under that regulation.

The prosecutor, Tonga’s Acting Attorney General ‘Aminiasi Kefu appealed and asked the Magistrate to impose that fine as well as three months imprisonment, both being the maximum sentence to be imposed for such offence, but the Magistrate only imposed the TP$1000 fine.

Kefu then appealed to the Supreme Court that the sentence was manifestly inadequate, and that a custodial sentence was warranted by the damage caused by the offence to the environment.

Jone’s lawyer William Clive Edwards Senior opposed the appeal saying that a report submitted by the prosecutor as a basis to find that the lower court was wrong in the sentence was not before the Magistrate at all.

He said it was unfair, and improper, that the Supreme Court, sitting as the appellate court, was given such a document to find that the lower court was in error in failing to have considered it.

Judge Laki Niu  said he had “come to the conclusion that the Magistrate cannot be faulted in declining to impose an imprisonment sentence upon the respondent.”

Mr Niu  ordered that the appeal be dismissed and that the parties bear their own costs.

Mr Niu said the Magistrate properly took into account Jones’ guilty plea and his payment of TP$4000 right away in November 2017.

“He also properly considered that the respondent had not re-offended since then. And, he properly considered that the same offence for which the respondent had paid, $TP2000, was the same offence he was being charged again under regulation 7 [and] was being twice punished for the same act.”

The main points

  • Despite the lifting of a ban on fishing in the Pangaimotu area, Vava’u fishers still feel uneasy, local sources say.
  • The government banned fishing and swimming in the sea off Pangaimotu and its surrounding islands after more than 50 septic tank trucks of human waste were illegally dumped in the mangroves near Pangaimotu.
  • The ban was lifted towards the end of last year and the government said it was safe for fishing and swimming.

For more information

Employee of company which illegally dumped human waste in Vava’u speaks out

Vava’u residents react with fury at fishing ban as accused free to leave Tonga

Arson sentence suspended to give convicted man chance to overcome drink problems

By
Philip Cass
-

The Supreme Court has suspended the whole sentence of a man convicted of arson.

Sione Fakalelei Manu appeared before Lord Chief Justice Paulsen, who sentenced him to 18 months in prison.

However, the judge suspended the sentence on condition that he undertake 80 hours community service as ordered.

Manu was ordered to undergo and successfully complete an anger management course and a course on drugs and alcohol abuse.

He was warned that if he failed  to comply with any of these conditions during his suspension he could be required to serve out his sentence.

In his report on the case, Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said Manu picked up his wife from the hospital, intending to return to their home at Fatai.

He was drunk and they got into an argument. He then drove the car at high speed, causing. his wife to be afraid and exit the car as soon as she could.

She took refuge in a house and refused  Manu’s demands that she get back into the car.

He returned to their home at Fatai where he consumed more alcohol.

He lit a match and threw  it into a pile of clothes in the bedroom and then locked up the house and left to go to a nearby shop.

When he returned the house was fully ablaze. He did nothing to stop the fire and left again. He said nothing could have been done to save the house, which was completely destroyed.

The judge said the house and its contents were worth TP$5000. The house was owned by the wife’s family.

When arrested, Manu admitted the offence and pleaded guilty.

Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said he was suspending Manu’s sentence to give him a chance to rehabilitate himself.

A significant contributing factor in all of Manu’s prior offending was the consumption of alcohol and Manu had shown he was unable to control his rage when he was drunk.

“I think he should be given assistance to deal with these issues in the expectation that in successfully doing so he is unlikely to reoffend,” the judge said.

However, there should be some punitive aspect to his sentence.

The main points

  • The Supreme Court has suspended the whole sentence of man convicted of arson.
  • Sione Fakalelei Manu appeared before Lord Chief Justice Paulsen who sentenced him to 18 months in prison.
  • However, the judge suspended the sentence on condition that he undertake 80 hours community service.

Internet restored after two weeks of outage

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tonga’s international submarine fibre optic cable issue has been fixed this morning at around 12 midnight Friday 1, the company’s CEO Edwin Liava’a has confirmed to Kaniva news.

He  said the project has been tested and it is running smoothly, there’s no hiccup at this stage.

Liava’a said the operations team on board the cable repair ship Reliance suspected a boat with an anchor has dragged the cable.

When the Tonga Cable outage began it took out cell phone and internet coverage.

The cable damage was on its day 12th before the blackout had been restored.

The news came after locals were left without Facebook, YouTube and even some basic services like credit card transactions due to the cable fault in the undersea cable that connects Tonga to the rest of the world.

Initially it wiped out access to the internet almost entirely, and meant people couldn’t even make international phone calls.

“A small internet company that uses satellites has stepped in and helped restore international calls and some other services the government considers vital. But people still typically can’t access social media sites such as Facebook and some businesses remain unable to process credit or debit cards.”

Liava’a said, Ports Authority Tonga was working on its list to identify ships which had been in the area before the outage hit.

Supreme Court bans former rugby board members, president, from election meeting

By
Philip Cass
-

The Supreme Court has banned former members of the Tonga Rugby National League board from attending the election of a new board.

It also banned the former president and vice-president of the TRNL from attending the election meeting.

And it has warned that it may take further action depending on the outcome of the audit of the TRNL finances.

The orders came as the Supreme Court reaffirmed that it had the power to dismiss the TRNL board and to order new elections under the Incorporated Societies Act.

As Kaniva Tonga news reported earlier, the Supreme Court dissolved the Tonga National Rugby League (TNRL) board and ordered an election of new board members.

The sacked board members included Chairman Stan Moheloa, General Secretary Tavake Fangupō, Board Director Siu Fangupō,  Board Director Pita Vakautakakala, and Board Director Mātani Nifofā.

The Court appointed Acting Attorney General ‘Aminiasi Kefu as Amicus Curiae (friend of the court) to organise and oversee new elections.

Judge L.M.Niu said the Incorporated Societies Act required that incorporated societies must be  managed in accordance with their rules and constitutions.

“When a society fails to manage or govern its funds in accordance with its rules, the Supreme Court must make the necessary orders to ensure that it does,” the judge said.

“This Court has found that the defendants have failed to govern and manage the funds of the Tonga National Rugby League in accordance with its constitution.

“Substantial funds are not accounted for.

“The Board of Directors at the time was the body responsible for that failure. The members who constituted that Board must be replaced by new members and the new members must not be persons nominated by or voted for by any person who was member of the Board responsible for the failure.

“They must not influence the nominations and voting for new members. They must therefore be excluded from the meeting at which the new Board of Directors is elected.”

Judge Niu said the President and Vice President of the Society were not members of the Board, but could take part in meetings to ensure the board carried out is functions properly.

“Because the Board has failed to carry out its functions properly, it is clear that the President and Vice President have also failed in their duties,” the judge said.

“Accordingly, they should also be excluded from the meeting at which the new Board is elected.”

Judge Niu ordered that Acting Attorney General ‘Aminiasi Kefu, in his role as Amicus Curiae, convene and conduct a meeting to elect a new board of directors.

He said Hon. Kefu would decide all questions arising at the meeting.

“The new Board shall govern from its election until the election of the Board of Directors is completed at the general meeting which shall be convened by the new Board after the accounts of the society have been audited and after completion of appropriate actions, if any, which shall have been taken by the new Board in consequence of the results of the audit,” the judge said.

The main points

  • The Supreme Court reaffirmed that it had the power to dismiss the TRNL board and to order new elections under the Incorporated Societies Act.
  • As Kaniva Tonga news reported earlier, the Supreme Court dissolved the Tonga National Rugby League (TNRL) board and ordered an election of new board members.

For more information

Supreme Court dismisses rugby league board; orders election of new members

Supreme Court dismisses rugby league board; orders election of new members

Supreme Court hands down manslaughter conviction after man stabbed with scissors

By
Philip Cass
-

The Supreme Court has sentenced Hateni Kaufusi to five years and nine months for manslaughter.

The last two years of the sentence have been suspended.

The sentence has been backdated to February 5, 2018.

Kaufusi was acquitted of murder.

In his report on the case, Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said  that on February 4, 2018 at Te’ekiu, Kaufusi caused the death of Tolifili Tu’alau when he unlawfully stabbed him in the back with a pair of scissors, causing his death.

In the early afternoon of February 4, 2018 Kaufusi was roasting a pig at Vaotu’u to welcome relatives. Tu’alau and another man arrived and they began a drinking session.

Tu’alau insisted that Kaufusi drive him to Pea, despite Kaufusi explaining that his car had no petrol. Kaufusi relented and they set off, but the car ran out of petrol at Liahona and they pushed it to a nearby house.

While Kaufusi was inside the house, Tu’alau had the car towed to his home at Vaotu’u, leaving him at Liahona. During this time the car window was broken.

Kaufusi was able to get a ride back to Vaotu’u and made arrangements with some acquaintances to have his car towed to his home at Te’ekiu. He learned that the car had been damaged and there was an altercation between him and Tu’alau.

The two men made up and apologised to each other. Tu’alau agreed to repair the damage to the ca, which was pushed to the road and made ready to be towed.

Kaufusi said he was surprised when the deceased got into the car for the journey to Te’ekiu and he told him to get out, but he refused.

They towed the car to Te’ekiu and the car was pushed to the rear of the property and Kaufusi and Tu’alau were left alone.

Kaufusi told the deceased he had caused all the problems with the car and the deceased gave a smart answer back and said that Kaufusi should take part in fixing the car.

Kaufusi said he would make a complaint against the deceased. The deceased then lunged forward at him with something in his hand, which turned out to be a pair of scissors.

They argued further and Kaufusi threw a plate at the deceased which hit him in the forehead. He then tackled the deceased who fell back on to chairs.

Kaufusi was on top of the deceased and tried to snatch the scissors from the deceased. He forced the deceased’s hand down and the scissors sank into the deceased’s leg, causing a wound.

Kaufusi was able to snatch the scissors but was punched and thrown to the ground. Tu’alau was on top of him, strangling him, so he used the scissors to stab the deceased. He intended to stab him in the shoulder, but in fact stabbed him in the back.

Kaufusi lifted Tu’alau into a chair and applied pressure to the wound, which was bleeding heavily, and called for help.

He found a neighbour with a flat bed truck who was prepared to help. Tu’alau was taken to the hospital, but died on arrival.

Kaufusi went into the hospital to get the doctor and a bed for the deceased.

He then returned to Te’ekiu and was arrested early the next morning.

A post mortem found that the cause of death was excessive loss of blood due to the stab wound in the back.

Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said Kaufusi was entitled to some credit for his previous record and that because he was genuinely and deeply remorseful and that he was cooperative with the Police.

“In addition Mr. Kaufusi and his family have made peace with the deceased’s widow and her family and in Tongan custom have provided gifts,” he said.

The last two years of Kaufusi’ sentence on condition he not use alcohol or drugs, that he successfully complete an anger management course and a course on drugs and alcohol abuse.

If he fails to comply with these conditions he may have to serve the rest of his sentence.

The main points

  • The Supreme Court has sentenced Hateni Kaufusi to five years and nine months for manslaughter.
  • The last two years of the sentence have been suspended.
  • Kaufusi had originally been charged with murder.

Tonga holds global health regulation workshop as WHO head issues pandemic warning

By
Philip Cass
-

Tonga holds global health regulation workshop as WHO head issues pandemic warning

Tonga was working with the World Health Organisation to strengthen its ability to respond to global health threats, the CEO of the kingdom’s Ministry of Health said today.

Speaking to Kaniva Tonga news, Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola said the Ministry is running a workshop next week on the International Health Regulations (IHR) Monitoring and Evaluation Framework.

Dr ‘Akau’ola  was responding to a warning from the WHO’s new regional director that Pacific nations must prepare for the threat of a pandemic from re-emerging diseases.

Dr Takeshi Kasai was confirmed as new head of WHO at the end of last month.

He said he would support in three key areas that Pacific member states had identified as priorities for the future: health security, non-communicable diseases and ageing and environmental and climate change.

Dr Kasai  said island nations must develop new approaches to cope with these challenges.

He said non-communicable diseases such as heart disease and diabetes were already the leading cause of death in the Western Pacific.

He said the WHO did not know when or where the next pandemic would happen, but  it would happen.

“We are well aware of this report from WHO,” Dr ‘Akau’ola said.

“Tonga is working together with WHO to strengthen our preparedness to respond to these global health threats.”

Dr ‘Akau’ola said the International Health Regulations was concerned with the prevention, detection and containment of public health risks, especially infectious diseases of pandemic potential, at source, before they spread across borders.

The main points

  • Tonga was working with the World Health Organisation to strengthen its ability to respond to global health threats, the CEO of the kingdom’s Ministry of Health said today.
  • Speaking to Kaniva Tonga news, Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola said the Ministry was running a workshop next week on the International Health Regulations (IHR) Monitoring and Evaluation Framework.

For more information

Dr Takeshi Kasai appointed WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific

https://www.who.int/westernpacific/news/detail/26-01-2019-dr-takeshi-kasai-appointed-who-regional-director-for-the-western-pacific

Pacific urged to prepare for threat of pandemic

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/381355/pacific-urged-to-prepare-for-threat-of-pandemic

Former Tongan Director of Health dies in Auckland

By
Kalino Latu
-

Former Tonga Ministry of Health director Dr Laumeesi Malolo has died aged 87.

A family spokesperson has confirmed his death to Kaniva news.

He said Dr Malolo died peacefully in his sleep at Middlemore hospital on Wednesday 30 at 5pm.  

Dr Malolo was Tongan-born New Zealand MP Jenny Salesa’s  uncle-in-law.

His wife Kasānita Malolo is MP Salesa’s aunt.

Fotofili will keep position despite suspension: “He’s still our captain,” says coach

By
Philip Cass
-

Despite being suspended after an on-field incident in Hamilton last Saturday, Tana Fotofili will lead Tonga in the Sydney Sevens this weekend.

Tonga will play South Africa on Saturday morning and Australia at Spotless Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

They will play Argentina on Saturday night.

Australia took out the  men’s and women’s titles in 2018.

Fotofili was suspended after he broke the jaw of American player Perry Baker during a dangerous tackle.

He was also named for an incident during their game with Kenya on Sunday, which they lost 19-12.

Fotofili, 24, was suspended for four games, which meant he was not captain when  the Tongan 7s team defeated Japan 31-7 and France 33-10.

Tonga finished 13th in Hamilton.

Tongan Rugby 7s coach Tevita Tu’ifua said Fotofili would retain his leadership role this weekend.

“He’s still our captain here in Sydney,” Tu’ifua said.

“He’ll be missing the first two pool games and will join in in the last pool game for Saturday.

“Our main target is for (the World Series Qualifier in) Hong Kong.”

The main points

  • Despite being suspended after an on-field incident in Hamilton last Saturday, Tana Fotofili will lead Tonga in the Sydney Sevens this weekend.
  • Tonga will play South Africa on Saturday morning and Australia on Saturday afternoon.

For more information

Tonga 7s stick with suspended skipper for Sydney

https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/381359/sport-tonga-7s-stick-with-suspended-skipper-for-sydney
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