A claim on Facebook that government has approved a new TP$50 tax on each bag incoming travellers bring through Fua’amotu airport is not true, the Minister of Revenue and Customs has said.
Hon. Mateni Tapueluelu told Parliament on Monday he had been contacted by concerned members of the public about the claims.
He said any new taxes had to be approved by Parliament.
It was not clear who created the post, but it was quickly picked up and shared by anti-government supporters on Facebook, with some of them adding that the tax was imposed by the ‘PTOA Party government.’
It sparked an uproar on social media, with many calling for a boycott on travelling to Tonga.
In Tongan the message read:
“Ongoongo fakamamahi ke teuteu ki ai e kau folau mei muli ki Tonga: Kuo ongona mai kuo kamata totongi e tax $50 ki he piece kotoa pe ‘a e kau folau atu mei muli ‘i Mala’e Vakapuna Fua’amotu. Kapau ko ha’o ki’i kula kiki ‘e 1 mo ha’o katoleta ‘e 3 ko e taki pa’anga 50 ia ki he taha, ‘a ia ko e $200 fakakatoa te ke totongi. ‘Oku ‘ikai kau heni ho’o kato to’oto’o. Ko e ha nai e taumu’a ‘o e fu’u tanaki pa’anga fakaofo, fakamalohi, fakavalevale, mo fakatupu tamate ko eni ‘oku fai ‘e he Pule’anga Tonga ki he kau folau atu mei muli?
This translate into English as:
“Sad news for those who are travelling to Tonga. It has been told a tax charge of $50 would be charged on each baggage at the Fua’amotu airport. If you were carrying one cooler box and three luggage they would receive a $50 pa’anga charge each, so that makes $200 altogether for you to pay. This does not include your carry on luggage. What is the purpose of this unexpected, forceful, imprudent and homicidal money collection created by the Tonga government.”
This is not the first time fake news on Facebook attacking the government has reached Parliament.
As Kaniva news reported recently, anti-government elements caused an outcry on social media after they twisted a report by Auditor General which reported that Tonga had lost TP$74 million in the financial year 2016 – 2017. According to Minister of Finance this was caused by the fluctuation of foreign and Tongan exchange rates.
However, the anti-government supporters twisted the report and claimed the loss occurred after government abused its financial responsibilities.
The main points
A claim on Facebook that government has approved a new tax fees of TP$50 on each bag incoming travellers bring through Fua’amotu airport is not true, the Minister of Revenue and Customs has said.
The report was quickly picked up and shared by anti-government supporters on Facebook with some of them adding that the tax was imposed by the “PTOA Party government.”
The free National Bowel Screening Programme launched in July for the first time in Counties Manukau, and the Counties Manukau Bowel Screening team are bringing the programme to the South Auckland community on Saturday 17 November, 10am-12pm, Mangere Town Centre.
Guest speakers include Fepulea’i Margie Apa (Chief Executive Officer, Counties Manukau Health), Hon. Aupito Tofae Su’a William Sio, and Counties Manukau Health Programme clinical lead Dr Alasdair Patrick.
There will also be cultural performances from local Pacific and Kapa Haka groups to entertain the whole family.
The programme will save lives by finding bowel cancer early when it can often be successfully treated.
Invitations are sent to eligible participants aged 60-74 years old. Around the time of their birthday, each will receive an invitation letter, home testing kit and consent form through the mail.
Come talk to the team to learn more about the programme and how you can register to receive a kit.
For more information, visit www.timetoscreen.nz or talk to your family doctor.
The free bowel screening programme is being rolled out nationally and is already available to people living in the Waitemata DHB area. Auckland DHB is expected to start bowel screening in 2019/2020.
Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva has condemned Parliament’s Standing Committee on Privileges for rejecting the government’s formal response to a controversial petition by PSA Head Mele ‘Amanaki.
Speaking exclusively to Kaniva news, Hon. Pohiva said it was totally unfair for Parliament to allow the petition to be released publicly without giving them a chance to respond at the same time.
The petition was submitted to Parliament and aired in public in June and Parliament still had not allowed the response from government’s accused to be released.
As Kaniva news reported earlier, the petition was organised by ‘Amanaki after she was dumped by the Prime Minister’s PTOA Party in the last snap election.
The petition alleged some cabinet members, including the Prime Minister, had breached the constitution.
Other allegations in the petition included embezzlement, breaching the government’s procurement laws and failure to complete ministerial annual reports.
Ministers’ responses
Hon. Pohiva said his response to the petition was submitted to the Privilege Committee, but had been returned twice with recommendations from the committee to edit his reply.
He said the Speaker should have treated their responses with the same spirit he used to treat the Petition.
“He allowed the petition to be aired without scrutinising it and leaving it to the people to make their own decision.
“Why didn’t he do the same thing to our response?”
The system has created all these problems, he said.
Hon. Pohiva said he understood the other Cabinet ministers who had been accused in the petition had had their responses rejected and returned for editing by the Committee.
As Kaniva news reported recently, some cabinet ministers who were accused in the petition expressed their dissatisfaction about the situation to the news media, including Kaniva news.
The Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Sēmisi Sika, echoed their concerns.
He described the petition as lies from the beginning to the end.
The Ministers of Education, Finance and Labour and Commerce have also denied the allegations that they breached the constitution to the news media.
Parliament unfair
Hon. Pohiva said the Parliament would not be fair unless the system was changed to allow Members of Parliament to appoint the Speaker.
Constitutionally, the Speaker was appointed by the king, but he has to be a member of the nobility.
He said it was dangerous that not only the Speaker and his deputy were nobles, but that they were unaccountable to the majority of the House, which was dominated by people’s MPs.
He said the Auditor General was also under the control of the Speaker.
This meant the Speaker had the power to tell the Auditor General which Ministry or Minister he wanted audited, the Prime Minister said.
“This combination is so dangerous,” Hon. Pohiva said.
“The system allows them to manipulate whatever they want.”
The main points
Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva has condemned Parliament’s Privilege Committee for rejecting the government’s formal response to a controversial petition by PSA Head Mele ‘Amanaki.
Speaking exclusively to Kaniva news, Hon. Pohiva said it was totally unfair for Parliament to allow the petition to be released publicly without giving them a chance to respond at the same time.
The petition was submitted to Parliament and aired in public in June and Parliament still had not allowed the response from government’s accused to be released.
By James Massola, Karuni Rompies, Amilia Rosa & Jenny Noyes, Sydney Morning Herald
Indonesian authorities have predicted there will be no survivors after a passenger plane carrying 189 people, operated by Indonesian budget carrier Lion Air, crashed into the ocean on Monday.
The Boeing 737 MAX 8, flying from the capital, Jakarta, to Pangkal Pinang in Bangka Belitung province, took off about 6.20am Jakarta time (12.20pm NZ Time) but lost contact with air traffic control at 6.33am.
At a press conference on Monday afternoon, Basarnas (Indonesian’s search and rescue agency) director of rescue operations Bambang Suryo Aji said “my prediction is nobody saved. All dead”.
A Lion Air jet flying from Jakarta to Pangkalpinang in Bangka Belitung province has crashed into the ocean, according to Indonesia’s search and rescue agency Basarnas.
“We found human body parts … we have brought them to the police hospital in Jakarta.”
Bambang added it was likely that the bodies of at least some of the passengers were still trapped, dead, in the fuselage of the plane and underwater. It was likely, he added, that many passengers had died when the plane hit the water, rather than from drowning.
Debris from the tail section of the aircraft had been found not far from where authorities believed the plane was believed to have crashed, Bambang said, and a remotely operated underwater vehicle was on its way to the crash site to locate the main section of the plane, which was still under water.
BASARNAS SEARCH AND RESCUE
A search and rescue team at the crash site of Lion Air flight JT610 collect the remains of the plane and personal effects of the passengers
Tanjung Karawang, where the plane is believed to have gone down, is about 34 nautical miles north-west of Jakarta.
Basarnas initially reported 189 people were on board, but a statement from Lion Air said there were 188 people, including 181 passengers; 124 men, 54 women, one child and two babies. A spokesperson for Lion later confirmed that 189 is the correct figure.
A spokesman for the Indonesian Finance Ministry said 20 of its employees were on the plane.
AL JAZEERA
Boeing 737 with 189 people aboard goes down into the Java Sea shortly after take-off; unclear if there are survivors.
The Australian government announced on Monday night that it had banned all government officials and contractors from flying with Lion until the findings of the crash investigation were clear.
Basarnas has sent out boats and helicopters to search for the plane and has found wreckage and lifejackets. About 150 rescuers, including 40 divers from Basarnas and the Marines, have been sent to the scene.
Basarnas’ deputy head of operations Nigroho Budi Wiryanto had indicated at a second press conference on Monday afternoon that it was unlikely any survivors would be found.
HADI SUTRISNO/AP
A relative of passengers prays as she and others wait for news.
“We are waiting for the miracles from God Almighty,” he said.
The depth of the water where the plane is believed to have crash landed is 30 to 35 metres. Search and rescue workers have still not found the black box or the main body of the plane.
However, rescuers have turned up ID cards, BPJS (government insurance) cards, driving licenses and other personal effects.
Serpihan pesawat Lion Air JT 610 yang jatuh di perairan Karawang. Beberapa kapal tug boad membantu menangani evakuasi. Video diambil petugas tug boad yang ada di perairan Karawang.
The weather at the time of the crash was clear, and Lion Air said the plane’s pilot, Captain Bhavye Suneja, had more than 6000 flying hours of experience. His co-pilot Harvino had more than 5000 hours of flying experience.
The Boeing plane was new, having been manufactured in 2018 and operated by Lion Air since August 15. It had clocked up just 800 hours of flying time.
It’s believed the emergency locator transmitter (ELT) on the plane was inactive.
BASARNAS SEARCH AND RESCUE
A rescuer holds the sodden wallet of one of the passengers on the doomed plane.
Basarnas chief Muhammad Syaugi said early on Monday, soon after the crash was reported, that Indonesia had checked with Australian authorities to see if any signal from the ELT had been intercepted, but it had not.
In a statement, Boeing said it is “deeply saddened by the loss of Flight JT 610”.
“We express our concern for those on board, and extend heartfelt sympathies to their families and loved ones. Boeing stands ready to provide technical assistance to the accident investigation.”
BASARNAS SEARCH AND RESCUE
Personal effects are passed from one boat to another after the plane crash. A total of 17 boats are on site in the Java Sea assisting with the rescue.
Families of passengers on the plane flocked to the airport at Pangkal Pinang, where the plane was supposed to land. Distraught friends and relatives prayed and hugged each other as they waited for news.
At the National Search and Rescue Agency headquarters in Jakarta, family members turned up, hoping desperately for news.
Feni, who uses a single name, said her soon to be married sister was on the flight, planning to meet relatives in Pangkal Pinang.
We’re following reports that contact has been lost with Lion Air flight #JT610 shortly after takeoff from Jakarta.
“We are here to find any information about my younger sister, her fiance, her in-law to be and a friend of them,” Feni said.
“We don’t have any information,” she said, as her father wiped tears from reddened eyes. “No one provided us with any information that we need. We’re confused. We hope that our family is still alive.”
It’s not known if any Australians were on board the flight. A spokesman for the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said “the Australian embassy in Jakarta is making urgent inquiries with local authorities to determine if any Australians were affected”.
SUTOPO_PN/TWITTER
Chief of Indonesia’s disaster agency, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, tweeted images of some of the wreckage and belongings that had been found by rescuers after Lion Air flight JT610 crashed.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the New Zealand embassy in Jakarta was monitoring the situation closely.
“The New Zealand Embassy in Jakarta is in contact with local authorities to determine whether any New Zealanders are affected. The embassy has had no requests for consular assistance to date.”
There are currently 321 New Zealanders registered on SafeTravel as being in Indonesia. New Zealanders requiring consular assistance could call the New Zealand Embassy in Jakarta on (+ 62 21) 2995 5800.
FLIGHTRADAR24
A Lion Air passenger plane has gone missing after taking off from Jakarta, say Indonesian officials. Pictured is its final route before it disappeared from radar.
POOR SAFETY RECORD
Lion Air, which flies to 126 destinations in Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and China, is the second largest low-cost carrier in south-east Asia (after Malaysia’s AirAsia), and is growing fast.
The low-cost carrier had a poor safety record for many years. It was banned by the EU from flying over European airspace along with other Indonesian airlines in 2007, and the ban was only lifted in 2016.
AP
Relatives of passengers comfort each other as they wait for news on the plane crash.
The following year, a similar crash saw a Lion plane land short of the Bali runway, injuring 46 people, four seriously. That crash was blamed on pilot error.
Lion pilots have tested positive to methamphetamine on a number of occasions since 2011, leading to concern of a culture of drug use among Indonesian pilots. The most recent case was in December 2017 when a senior pilot was arrested for crystal meth possession after a hotel room raid, and tested positive for the drug a day before he was due to fly.
This latest crash is likely to undo any trust the airline had gained in recent times.
International trade was now following “the rules of the jungle” the CEO of the Ministry of Commerce, Consumer, Innovation, Trade and Labour said this week.
And he accused the United States, China and Canada of starting a trade war.
Edgar Cocker said the World Trade Organisation’s multilateral trading system was becoming weak and Tonga would be better off pursuing more beneficial trade deals.
He said Tonga should concentrate on joining the Economic Partnership Agreement and benefit from PACER Plus.
As Kaniva news reported yesterday, Tonga is working to joining the EPA which is designed to open up trade between the Pacific and the EU.
Tonga hoisted the signing of the PACER Plus regional trade agreement in 2017 and earlier this year proposed hosting the PACER Plus office in Tonga.
Cocker said United States President Trump, President Xi Jinpin of China and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada had all ignored the WTO’s dispute resolution platform and created a trade war.
“Why is WTO quiet now?” Cocker asked.
“Where is the Appellant system that was put in place by all of the 164 WTO members.
“The global multilateral trading system is now in a handicap mode.
“In my view Tonga should now focus more on EPA and PACER plus, because we have already seen fruitful benefits, and more to come in the near future.”
Cocker said diplomatic action should be taken to launch a global complaint about the trade war because it would kill every country’s economies.
He said market values of US dollars and the Chinese RMB were skyrocketing and the UK pound was weakening against the Euro as a result. I
“It makes our cost of living a nightmare,” he said.
The main points
International trade was now following “the rules of the jungle” the CEO of the Ministry of Commerce, Consumer, Innovation, Trade and Labour said this week.
And he accused the United States, China and Canada of starting a trade war.
The little boy who offered free hugs to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle is Prime Minister ‘Akilisi PÅhiva’s grandson.
His father, Sione Ma’ilei PÅhiva, is Hon. Pohiva’s sixth child.
The little boy’s name is Sitauti Sebastian PÅhiva.
Photographs of Sitauti receiving a hug from Prince Harry while his wife looks on have been seen around the world.
The pair waited for Harry and Meghan to arrive. Photo / AP
“If these photos don’t send Tongan tourism through the roof, I don’t know what will,†an article in the New Zealand Herald said.
The Prime Minister’s eldest son, Siaosi PÅhiva, wrote on Facebook:
“We mostly spent our times looking for matters that are worthless and did not help built up our life and living and ignore important things.
“We criticise things that wasted our times and ignore things much more important. No wonder the Lord loves the little children as the essence of eternal life is hidden in them.
Prime Minister PÅhiva’s daughter Lautala Tapueluelu said:
“A hug that is, yes it is. I bet they were longing to meet children and people in person. Sitauti your mum was smart, must be a huge fan of both.â€
PM Pohiva’s daughter Teisa made this comment about the photographs which have appeared of her nephew’s encounter with the royal couple:
“How very lucky was my little nephew Sitauti Sebastian to have received a royal hug from our favourite royal couple.
“No doubt what they had wanted all along and not kept cooped up in mansions and fancy vehicles like they going to catch some disease if they interact with us commoners!â€
The main points
The little boy who offered free hugs to Prince Harry and Meghan Markel is Prime Minister ‘Akilisi PÅhiva’s grandson.
His father, Sione Ma’ilei PÅhiva, is Hon. PÅhiva’s sixth child.
The little boy’s name is Sitauti Sebastian PÅhiva.
Tonga’s MET Service Director, ‘Ofa Fa’anunu has been elected president of the World Meteorological Organization Regional Association at a time when climate change has been named the most serious threat to Pacific nations.
He was elected during the association’s South-West Pacific meeting in Nuku’alofa earlier this month.
Fa’anunu is the first Tongan to hold the position and will serve for four-years.
He takes over from Andi Eka Sakya, Director General of the Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics.
Minister responsible for Meteorology, Hon. Poasi Tei said this was quite an achievement for Tonga.
At the meeting, attention focussed on the need to accelerate climate change adaptation and improve multi-hazard early warning systems to increase resilience to extreme weather.
Tonga is ranked number two in the world risk index of the most vulnerable countries to the increasing effects of natural disasters.
Prime Minister ‘AKilisi Pohiva told the meeting climate change remained the single greatest threat to the livelihoods, security and wellbeing of the peoples of the Pacific.
“Our island nations will face huge challenges ahead and the grave risks of exceeding 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels – an upper limit of warming small islands states have advocated for many years.
“We no longer have time for complacency or delay on taking action to avert dangerous climate change.
“Extreme weather events such as tropical cyclones, floods and drought experienced in the Pacific and in Asia in the recent years continue to affect our economies.”
Tonga is spending more than US$40 million to upgrade its multi hazard early warning system.
The main points
Tonga’s MET Service Director, ‘Ofa Fa’anunu has been elected president of the World Meteorological Organization Regional Association at a time when climate change has been named the most serious threat to Pacific nations.
He was elected during the association’s South-West Pacific meeting in Nuku’alofa earlier this month.
The Supreme Court in Nuku’alofa has found a man guilty of arson.
Siosaia Latu was accused of setting fire to a van on November 28, 2015.
In handing down his verdict, Lord Chief Justice Cato said Latu had helped set fire to a van following a fight.
Latu and Samipeni Latu had been fighting on that date at Havelu. Siosaia Latu was married to a woman who was Samipeni’s next door neighbour.
A fight ensued which was stopped by a third party. Samipeni went home and later went to work. He did not see the accused again that day.
Samipeni said he met the accused later and the accused apologised for burning his family’s vehicle. He said there had been ill feeling about the accused’s marriage.
Pakiaola Latu said she lived in Havelu and she had woken up about 3am to find her family’s van was on fire. The vehicle was destroyed.
Fekita Mafile’o gave evidence saying he had been present with the accused at about 4.30pm.
He said the accused was with his uncle Oki.
He said he had heard a suggestion that Oki and the accused were going to set fire. Oki took a cardboard box from Siosaia Latu and lit that and a box he was carrying and threw them into the car having torn the plastic cover of the window of the car. The witness saw the box being lit and ran away.
Siosaia Latu denied that he had set fire to the car or had wanted it burned. He had said he intended to beat up Samipeni at the residence and claimed it was Oki who was solely responsible for burning the car.
However, the judge did not accept the accused’s evidence. He said Siosaia Latu had knowingly encouraged Oki to burn the car.
“Although he stood at a distance of about seven meters from Oki when he used the cardboard to burn the car and set it alight he was not merely an innocent spectator,” the judge said.
“He admitted that he did nothing to stop Oki from burning the car.
“I consider that the accused, who had been in a fight earlier with an occupant of the house, was still so angry about what had happened that morning and later that day that he beyond any reasonable doubt gave knowing encouragement to and so did aid and abet Oki to commit serious arson.
“The accused is found guilty convicted of serious arson of a motor vehicle on or about the 28th November 2015. He is remanded in custody for sentence.”
The main points
The Supreme Court in Nuku’alofa has found a man guilty of arson.
Siosaia Latu was accused of setting fire to van on November 28, 2015.
In handing down his verdict, Lord Chief Justice Cato said Latu had helped set fire to a van following a fight.
Tonga is planning to join a European Union trade agreement it hopes will attract more investment and more efficient access to European markets.
The Economic Partnership Agreement governs EU imports from the Pacific region, mostly palm oil, coffee, coconut, and fish and caviar.
EU exports to the Pacific region consist mostly of electrical machinery and equipment.
The EPA offers more efficient customs procedures and better co-operation between administrations.
Tonga hopes to meet with EU officials next month to discuss progress.
According to CEO of the Ministry of Commerce, Consumer, Innovation, Trade, and Labour, Edgar Cocker, membership may be ratified by the Privy Council by 2020.
Cocker said a trade agreement with the EU would help attract large investors into the Kingdom of Tonga. That is what we want.
Tonga’s application is supported by Papua New Guinea and Fiji, which have already joined.
PNG and Fiji exports to the EU have been exempt from duty and quota controls.
According to the world Bank, Tonga has a massive trade deficit of nearly $200 million.
The top export destinations of Tonga are the United States, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Australia.
The main points
Tonga is planning to join a European Union trade agreement it hopes will attract more investment and more efficient access to European markets.
The Economic Partnership Agreement governs EU imports from the Pacific region, mostly palm oil, coffee, coconut, and fish and caviar.
Meeting the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in person was a humbling experience this week for specially selected students from the University of the South Pacific, including two first-year student journalists Apenisa Vatuniveivuke and Dhruvkaran Nand.
Vatuniveivuke, who is an undergraduate student majoring in journalism and law, said he was pleased to be one of 10 students from the Faculty of Arts, Law and Education chosen to speak with the royal couple about their involvement in empowerment projects, women’s development and climate change advocacy.
“I was in the second group on youth leadership to meet the Duchess of Sussex. We were introduced to the Duchess by her escort,†he says.
“But we had a chance to speak to her. I introduced myself, my area of study and the work I was engaged in with civil society organisations and political parties especially working to get young people’s voices in national discussions,.â€
“And she said, ‘Oh, that’s so wonderful. I think more young people should get involved’.
“We had a small display about a marginal man – half-Pacific Islander and half-modernist. Our message through that was to show when we come to USP, we come to get educated but at the same time we try not to forget our culture.
“We were advocating on those types of platforms to ensure that when young people are educated they won’t forget where they’re from. The Duchess of Sussex’s reaction to our theme was wonderful.
‘Broke a bit of protocol’
“She was very receptive. We broke a bit of protocol by having a group photo taken. We were briefed not to do that but she actually agreed to have a group photo.â€
Other student journalists were in the audience to witness the inaugural speeches while other journalism alumni were part of the accredited media team covering the royal tour in Fiji.
Solomon Islands student Cynthia Hou, 22, was another youth leader who was given an opportunity to meet the Duchess.
Solomon Islands student Cynthia Hou (middle) is flanked by friends at USP’s Laucala campus. Image: Mereoni Mili/Wansolwara
“It was an overwhelming experience because I’ve only seen her in magazines and on television. She encouraged me to continue the work I’m doing and to look into issues facing the Pacific.
“It was like a dream that went by so fast but the feeling is indescribable,†she said.
Another student, Sheenal Chand, 20, dubbed her encounter with the royals as an “amazing experienceâ€.
Youth empowerment
“It was one I never thought would be so good. I spoke to her about the youth empowerment work I’m involved in and how our voices as young people can make a difference especially when highlighting issues such as climate change,†Chand said.
Inside the Japan-Pacific ICT Centre, the couple witnessed a cultural performance on the effects of climate change in the Pacific by Oceania Dance group.
They were hosted by the Queen’s Young Leader Elisha Azeemah Bano and the Commonwealth Youth Award recipient Elvis Kumar, two outstanding USP students.
The event was live streamed to several USP campuses in the region.
Mereoni Mili is a final-year journalism student at the University of the South Pacific’s Laucala campus reporting for Wansolwara. She was one of 250 students chosen to be part of the audience inside the USP Japan ICT Lecture Theatre. Wansolwara and the Pacific Media Centre have a content sharing partnership.
Kaniva newshas a republication arrangement with Pacific Media Centre
