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Little boy Prince Harry hugged on royal tour is Prime Minister’s grandson

By
Kalino Latu and Philip Cass
-

The little boy who offered free hugs to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle is Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva’s grandson.

His father, Sione Ma’ilei Pōhiva, is Hon. Pohiva’s sixth child.

The little boy’s name is Sitauti Sebastian Pōhiva.

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 Pōhiva, 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.

“I wish that Tonga could have this.”

Prime Minister Pōhiva’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.”

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!”

The main points

  • The little boy who offered free hugs to Prince Harry and Meghan Markel is Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva’s grandson.
  • His father, Sione Ma’ilei Pōhiva, is Hon. Pōhiva’s sixth child.
  • The little boy’s name is Sitauti Sebastian Pōhiva.

For more information

Adorable little boy steals Meghan and Harry’s limelight in Tonga 

Tongan takes over as head of weather association amidst warnings on climate change

By
Philip Cass
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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.

For more information

Regional Association for Asia Pacific focuses on resilience

Accused in arson attack that destroyed van was no innocent bystander says judge

By
Philip Cass
-

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 planning to join EU trade agreement

By
Philip Cass
-

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.

For more information

Economic Partnership Agreement

Royals talk empowerment, gender and climate advocacy with USP students

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By Mereoni Mili in Suva

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,.”

“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.”

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 experience”.

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 news has a republication arrangement with Pacific Media Centre

Rabuka acquitted on assets charge, free to contest 2018 general election

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By Litia Cava in Suva

Former Prime Minister and Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) leader Sitiveni Rabuka is now sure to contest the 2018 general election next month.

The Suva Magistrates Court acquitted him today on a charge of failing to declare his assets, liabilities and income.

Magistrate Jioji Boseiwaqa ruled that the prosecution had failed to prove the elements of the alleged offence.

Rabuka, the original coup leader who staged two military coups in 1987, was charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICA) in relation to his alleged failure to declare his assets, liabilities, and income contrary to the Political Party Act.

In the second matter, Rabuka was charged for allegedly interfering with a prosecution witness.

Defence lawyer Filimoni Vosarogo informed the court that he would be liaising with FICAC on whether they would proceed with the matter.

The case has been adjourned to November 23, 2018 – more than a week after the general election.

Kaniva News has a republication arrangements with Asia Pacific Report

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle add their own colour to royal tour of Tonga

By
Kalino Latu and Philip Cass
-

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s tour of Tonga has been a colourful affair, with the royal couple’s own choice of colours winning them praise from the public.

They wore the colours of Tonga during their visit, with Meghan Markle in a red dress and Prince Harry in a light weight white suit.

When they visited Tupou College today Markle wore a sky blue shirt dress by Veronica Beard while Harry wore an ocean blue cloth, which is known in Tongan as moana colour,  the colour of the college.

This colour has a long cultural history since this was the colour chosen for the first college in Tonga and probably in the South Pacific, which is Tupou College.

The largest denomination in Tonga, the Free Wesleyan Church, which owns Tupou College, is associated with this colour.

While at the college they dedicated two forest reserves to the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy.

The royal couple were entertained by students from the college with a song about mosquitos that had them in stitches.

During other performances Princess Angelika, who welcomed them to the kingdom on Thursday, could be seen explaining what was happening.

The Princess accompanied the royals on a tour of the Fā’onelua Centre, where they visited an exhibition celebrating Tongan handicrafts and products.

In a speech at the centre, Princess Angelika describe the royal pair as an “inspiration”.

“Your visit today draws attention to the fundamentals of today’s youth, youth leadership, youth empowerment and addressing the social, economic and environmental challenges of our region,” she said.

“Your visits inspires and has been an inspiration for the youth of Tonga to be the best they can be.

“You are a beacon of hope to us all.”

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex began today’s tour with a meeting with Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva and the cabinet

They were met with a colourful display by more than 50 civil servants wearing red and black shirts and traditional costumes.

During the last day of their tour, the royals also wore the chiefly flower garlands or kahoa kakala ‘eiki. Markle wore the Nusi Heilala while Harry wore the Pito’ingalau.

They also wore the most popular faka-Ha’apai or ornamental girdle around the waist known in Tongan as kiekie or ta’ovala. The word Tonga appeared on the kiekie.

Tongans on social media showed their appreciation for the visit, the way the couple appeared to the public and their choice of colours. They described it as fabulous and magnificent.

A Tongan dance composed by Late Queen Sālote Tupou III known as Nepituno or Neptune has been  performed repeatedly since the couple arrived in Tonga.

It was composed to be part of the royal welcoming entertainment for Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip when they visited Tonga in 1953.

Some of the metaphors used in the song included ‘E Hina mo Sinilau ke Hake or Hina and Sinilau you are welcomed to our shore. Hina was the well-known mythical beautiful young Tongan woman and Sinilau was the mythical Tongan young attractive man.

Another metaphor in the song was taulua tavake oma or two kind of sea birds known as Tavake well known significantly for their really beautiful white colour.

Again, the Queen was referring poetically to Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip in 1953. However, when the song was performed and was danced for Prince Harry and Meaghen those who grew up when the Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip visited Tonga, said on social media they remembered it with fondness.  They said it fitted the welcoming event for Harry and Meghan.

The royal couple were farewelled this afternoon by Princess Angelika. They flew to Sydney where they will attend the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games before flying to Wellington on Sunday for the last leg of their tour.

The main points

  • Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wore the colours of Tonga during their visit this week.
  • Markle wore a red dress while Prince Harry wore a light weight white suit.
  • When they visited Tupou College today they wore ocean blue clothes, the colour of the college.

For more information 

Tonga gives woven mats to Duke and Duchess

Three students, two teachers hospitalised after De La Salle College BBQ explosion

By
Kalino Latu
-

Five people have been rushed to hospital after an explosion at De La Salle College in Māngere East, south Auckland.

It is understood a barbeque exploded. A total of eight people, including six schoolchildren, were treated for burns injuries at the scene by ambulance staff.

Police are assisting emergency services at the incident that occurred at approximately 11.50am this morning.

Police received a report of an explosion at the college which is believed to have been generated from a butane canister,  Sergeant Ollie Nation said.

St John paramedics assessed eight people at the scene.

One person received serious injuries and seven others received minor injuries and were transported to Middlemore Hospital.

The injured were both students and teachers.

Worksafe NZ has been notified.

No further information is available at this stage.

Queen Elizabeth’s message recalls Queen Sālote’s attendance at her own Coronation

By
Kaniva Staff
-

EXPRESS.COK.UK/PACNEWS

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrived in Tonga for the next leg of their 16-day overseas tour which has already seen them visit Australia and Fiji.

Speaking at the reception and dinner with King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u at Consular House, Harry read a personal message from Her Majesty, with the UK’s monarch reflecting on her Commonwealth reign in the touching note.

The message said: “Your Majesties, it gives me great pleasure that my grandson and his wife are visiting the Kingdom of Tonga.

“Our two families have enjoyed a deep and warm friendship over many years, and I hope that our close relationship continues with the next generation.

“To this day, I remember with fondness Queen Salote’s attendance at my own Coronation, while Prince Philip and I have cherished memories from our three wonderful visits to your country in 1953, 1970 and 1977.

“In the months and years ahead, I wish Your Majesties and the people of Tonga every good fortune and happiness.””

Harry went on to say thank you for the warm welcome he and Meghan received in Tonga.

He said: “We are deeply grateful to you all for welcoming Meghan and me to Tongatapu (the main island of Tonga) and to Your Majesties for making us feel at home here.”

The duke delighted guests by ending his speech with “malo ‘aupito”, Tongan for “thank you very much”.

And pregnant Meghan showed off a hint of her baby bump in a beautiful full-length white gown at the glitzy evening event.

It comes after the Queen first visited Tonga in 1953, during her whirlwind tour of the Commonwealth nations following her coronation in June that year.

And the duke and duchess have followed in the Queen’s footsteps on their first overseas tour, drawing comparisons to the UK’s longest serving monarch.

In Fiji, Meghan and Harry stepped out onto the balcony of the Grand Pacific Hotel, replicating the Queen’s balcony moment with Prince Philip in 1953.

The Queen and Philip had greeted royal well-wishers from the same spot 65 years ago during their visit to Fiji.

Kaniva news has a republication arrangements with PACNEWS.

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Angry Tongans lash out at UK article about Tongan royals

VIDEO: Concerns mount as video, photos, emerge of bloody ritual led by Tongan cult leader who now claims she is God

By
Kalino Latu
-

The followers of a Tongan preacher who claims she is God have been filmed weeping in agony after apparently injuring themselves at her instigation.

A video, which has been shared on social media, shows them dropping on their knees on to a flat, solid object and injuring their knees.

There has been a public outcry on social media and calls to report the practice to the Australian authorities.

The video clip and photos show what appear to be blood stains on the flat object.

Two women with what look like knee injuries are shown lying on the floor.

The video clip showed controversial preacher ‘Esita Smith lamenting.

In the video Smith can be heard saying in Tongan: “Ko hoku toto ‘i loto ‘i hoku mafu ke u foaki kia kimoutolu ke mou ma’u ‘a e tau’ataina ‘o e mo’ui. Ka ‘oku faingata’a kiate kimoutolu ke fakatafe homou toto kiate au.”

This translate into English as: “I give you the blood inside my heart so that you can have freedom of life. But it is difficult for you to shed your blood for me.”

She pauses and then shouts: “You all can see it.”

Still lamenting and weeping, Smith, whose legs appeared to be injured and stained with blood, then fell on the object.

The two women who were still lying on the floor appear to have been trying to cover the flat object and protect Smith from falling on it again.

However, Smith fell on top of the women who then helped her up.

It appeared that her words and actions led one of the women to stand up and repeatedly drop on the flat object with her bloodied knees.

In one photo, Smith appears to have been talking to a young woman who was weeping and whose legs were bloodstained.

Some commenters on Facebook claimed the woman was Smith’s daughter.  Kaniva news has not been able to verify this.

The video had been shared more than 81,000 times, drawn 451 reactions, received 897 comments and been shared 784 times.

The photos have been shared 406 times, had 311 reactions and received 223 comments.

‘Esita Smith

In 2016 Kaniva news reported that, Smith, who operates in Australia, claimed she was a true Prophet and new messenger of God.

At the time she said she was fed up with people who regarded themselves as Christians and at the same time showed hatred towards her and her followers.

She said she ignored them because what she did was what God had told her to do.

She named her followers, who declared that they believed in Smith’s preaching and teachings, as apostles.

Some of her videos have been viewed more than 20,000 times and shared more than 200 times on Facebook.

This year Smith claimed on Facebook that she was God.

Although she has been widely mocked and rejected on social media, the latest video and photos appear to show some people still follow Smith.

They appear to have accepted whatever Smith tells them to do, including harming to themselves.

Some commenters on Facebook described the practice on social media as disgusting and sickening.

Some who claimed they knew Smith personally and her family said a complaint should be now lodged with the Australian authorities.

The main points

  • The followers of a Tongan preacher who claims she is God have been filmed weeping in agony after apparently injuring themselves at her instigation.
  • A video, which has been shared on social media, shows them dropping on their knees on to a flat, solid object and injuring their knees.
  • There has been a public outcry on social media and calls to report the practice to the Australian authorities.

For more information

Minister lashes out as woman who claims she is God’s messenger gains growing following

 

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