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Outrage as government bans girls from school rugby sports in Tonga

By
Kalino Latu
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A controversial letter purported to send a message  from the Ministry of Education and Training to a government principal informing them of a decision to ban girls from participating in footballs and boxing has sparked anger among the sport community.

The letter which was written in Tongan was addressed to the principal of Tonga High School on March 15. It was widely shared on Facebook since last night.

It claimed the decision was made by the Ministry’s CEO.

“Ko hono ‘uhinga he ‘oku fepaki ia mo ‘etau ‘ulungaanga fakafonua ki hono tauhi ke molumalu ‘a ha’a fafine, ‘o taau mo e tala tukufakaholo na’e fatu’aki ‘a e fakava’e na’e fakatoka talu pea mei ono’aho ‘o kehe ai ‘a Tonga pea mei ha toe fonua ‘i he Pasifiki pea mo mamani.”

This translates into English as: “The reason is because it is against our culture to keep women dignified so it still upholds the tradition of which its basis had been set out since the olden days making Tonga exceptional in the Pacific and the world.”

In an email to Kaniva News this morning, the Ministry’s CEO Claude Tupou did not deny the letter.

However, he told us to contact the principal of Tonga High School and asked them if they had received “an exact copy of the letter” which we sent him.

The Kaniva has not yet been able to reach Tonga High School principal.

Many took to Facebook to show their disbelief and anger.

One commentor wrote: “How about if he used his time to intervene with the school fights rather than ripping individuals off from having the opportunity to succeed in the future. Some may not do academically well but are beasts on that field. It’s also a sexist thing to do! We’re in the 21st century now! Can our government stop depriving our people by limiting what they should and should not do? Whether female or males, they should be granted the same opportunity. So dearest Minister of Education, you’ve killed a tree and wasted paper on some stupid ban!”

“Rubbish!!! why not?? girls have talents as well as boys! So much for equality!! That is why women should speak up for their rights! Then why allowed women in parliament?”, another wrote.

“I honestly cannot believe what I’m reading. So disappointing”

“Shouldn’t the minister be more concerned about the fighting amongst the schools. He should support and let the young women have that right to choose to play rugby or box.”

“What are we in the 1900’s!! Girls in Tonga should have the right to choose whatever sport they want, whether its rugby or boxing … instead of worrying bout girls playing rugby and boxing the minister of education should be looking at more important things LIKE how he can unite all schools as one to stop these brutal fights amongst eachothr … or something thats gonna contribute in a positive way not take away from Tongas education system! No disrespect in any way shape or form to our tongan traditions and customs but these are new times and a whole new generation … can someone remind him that its 2018 lol.”

Not everyone agreed with the critics.

Some said the Ministry made the right decision because they believed rugby and boxing were sports for men.

New Zealand Tonga Business Council raises $5000 for cyclone relief

By
Philip Cass
-

The New Zealand Tonga Business Council has raised NZ$5000 to aid recovery from Cyclone Gita.

The money will be  donated to the Tongan branch of the Red Cross.

Council chair Sione Taufa said most Tongans on the executive who had homes on Tongatapu which were damaged during the cyclone.

They also had relatives whose homes were damaged.

The money was raised during dinner after the annual lawn bowls event from donations and an auction.

Items auctioned off on the night were donated by Air New Zealand, Scenic Hotels, Villa Maria, Bob Wilton from Delegats, Reddy Group, New Zealand Warriors, Ralph Elika from ECG and Lion.

About 55 people attended, including Labour MP Anahila Suisuiki, broadcaster John Pulu and Dr. Staverton Kautoke.

The Tongan Tennis Club entered two teams sponsored by Digicel.  Tongan entrepreneur Lopi Faleafa and Rhys Faleafa entered a team, as did Pacific Trade and Investment.

This is not the first time the Council has raised funds for cyclone relief.

After Cyclone Ian in 2014 a breakfast auction was held to raise funds for Oxfam projects in Ha’apai.

The main points

  • The New Zealand Tonga Business Council raised NZ$5000 to aid recovery from Cyclone Gita.
  • The money will be donated to the Tongan branch of the Red Cross.
  • Council chair Sione Taufa said most Tongans on the executive had relatives whose homes were damaged.

Ministry accuses Chinese businesses of trading illegally and violating visa rules

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Ministry of Labour and Commerce has written to some Chinese-owned businesses in Tongatapu, demanding that they cease trading and warning that they have breached worker visas.

Businesses have been warned about violating health standards, of employing workers in areas not covered by their visas and providing fraudulent documents.

There were also concerns about Chinese business submitting documents in Chinese, rather than English.

Kaniva News has seen a letter dated January 23, 2018, addressed to the owner of Zenith Co. Ltd in Fangaloto. In the letter the Ministry’s CEO Edgar Cocker told Mrs Hui Qin Yu he was aware that Miss Chulin Zhang, Mr Qiuming Wu and Mr Wenchao Lin were all issued with Domestic Helpers Visas.

He said this meant they were only allowed to work in Hui’s resident in Pea and not at the business and factory at Fangaloto.

“In addition, Mrs Meili Song was issued a temporary visa in which the condition clearly stated that business, employment and study are prohibited. You are now violating the Immigration and Employment Act of Tonga,” Cocker told Hui.

“In inspecting your premises, the outside of the building is loaded with filthy and unpleasant materials and rubbish that are strictly prohibited and have health safety issues that the Ministry of Health should be made aware of.”

He said Hui breached her tenancy agreement which said the tenant must keep the premise and its surroundings clean.

In a letter to the Directors of GX Enterprises Co. Ltd in Nuku’alofa, Mr Guangxiong Chen and Ms QiQi Li on January 22, 2018 Mr. Cocker said the business operated without a license and what they had written on their statement of management and ownership was “a fictitious statement, that is not acceptable…”

“You are carrying a business activity that is considered illegal. You must close your business now, and provide me with factual and verified statement to furnish your application for a Business License,” Mr. Cocker said.

Mr. Cocker also wrote to Mr Jianhua Hu and Mr Yingjian Zhang of the Tonga Tourism and Economy Development Group Ltd and said he could not  accept documents they submitted in the processing of their business license which were in Chinese.

“I cannot accept signatures in Chinese by Shudong Zhu, Jian Hua Hu and Mr Yang Lu,” Mr. Cocker said.

Labour inspectors found some Chinese premises did not meet hygiene and safety standards.

There were also concerns about the labelling of some products in Chinese that were not translated into English. There were also claims that they appeared not to have been approved for sale by Health authorities.

There were also claims some of these businesses had breached their tenancy agreements.

For more information

Tongan stores defunct as Chinese businesses increasingly take over, businessman claims

Teen duo arrested after Lapaha shopkeeper attacked with rock

By
Kaniva Staff
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Police have arrested two male teenagers aged 16 and 17 after a 61-year-old Chinese woman was rushed to Vaiola hospital last night Sunday 18.

The victim remains in hospital in critical condition after she was assaulted.

Police said the teenagers forced their way into the shop in Lapaha after they knocked on the door and it was opened for them at around 9pm.

They pretended to buy cigarettes, Police said.

Once inside they allegedly hit the victim’s head with a rock and fled with cigarettes, cash and other items.

Police alleged the teens had been sniffing benzene before they committed the crime.

Reports on Facebook last night said locals were surprised when they spotted two Police vans outside the shop.

They said the woman was known to the locals as Malia Siaina.

A poster who posted the incident on her Facebook page last night said this afternoon Monday 19 the shop remains closed.

Tonga wants three year visas for Seasonal Workers’ Programme in Australia

By
Philip Cass
-

Tongans employed in Australia’s Seasonal Workers’ Programme should have access to three year visas, but says workers need to lift their game in several areas.

These are some of the recommendations from an official visit to Australia to investigate the programme led  by Minister for Internal Affairs by Akosita Lavulavu.

A three year visa has been piloted for workers from Kiribati and Nauru.

The Ministry report said a three-year multiple visa would reduce the cost and time of having to do health and police checks every year.

The Ministry’s official report on the  visit also recommended changes in the way Tongans are recruited. It said workers were often ripped off by labour agents. They should avoid using middlemen, contractors or labour hiring agents. This would reduce costs for them.

Major areas of weakness in the programme were the recruiting process and pre-departure training, the report said.

However, the report also noted that workers needed to improve their performance, saying that there were major issues with worker attitudes, hygiene and health both during and after working hours.

Employers were also concerned about problems with alcohol and absconding.

The report said family members in Australia influence seasonal workers to abscond and that this often occurred on arrival in Sydney.

It recommended that seasonal workers be made to sign an agreement with the Ministry before leaving Tonga that if they absconded, their family members would not be able to visit Australia until they returned to Tonga.

The report said there was a need for pastoral care and culture change among the workers. It suggested this could be supported by training group leaders in ways to manage the group and handle issues among workers and employers

The report also recommended that workers be given basic training in IT, first aid and English.

In December last year, the Tongan official responsible for the seasonal workers, Fanau’ifo’ou Akau’ola told Radio Australia that appointing Pacific Island Liaison officers in Australia early in 2018 would help provide safe avenues for complaints to be heard.

Akau’ola said the number of Tongans going to Australia has risen to 2690.

It is estimated that the minimum salary for each worker is Aus$600 per week.  The Ministry estimates Tongan seasonal workers sent home more than Aus$45m remittances in the 2016/2017 financial year.

The main points

  • Tongans employed in Australia’s Seasonal workers’ Programme should have access to three year visas and more staff should be appointed to deal with worker applications.
  • These are some of the recommendations from an official visit to Australia to investigate the programme led by Minister for Internal Affairs by Akosita Lavulavu.
  • A three year visa has been piloted for workers from Kiribati and Nauru.

For more information

Seasonal Worker Program in Australia gets backing from farmers but with concerns about rogue operators

Woman drowns at Veitongo beach

By
Kalino Latu
-

A woman has died after drowning at Veitongo beach yesterday, Saturday 17.

Tonga Police Chief Superintendent Tēvita Vailea said they received reports of a person in trouble in the water.

He said Police alleged the deceased was intoxicated.

Vailea told Kaniva News to expect further details of the incident later today.

Veitongo beach has a reputation for dangerous conditions.

As Kaniva News reported in 2015, ʻEmeline Ngalu Pousini, from Maʻufanga  and Vili Foekina-ʻI he-Langi Jagroop of Fasimoeafi died while they had a picnic with friends at the beach.

Faith and simplicity key to future of Catholic church in Tonga says Cardinal

By
Philip Cass
-

The future of the Catholic church in Tonga depends on faith shining through simplicity, according to Cardinal Sōane Patita Mafi.

“For me, ours is a journey along the path to growth in finding real joy in ‘being who we are’, and even in the beauty of just being alive,” Cardinal Mafi told Catholic Outlook in New south Wales.

“In other words, we ‘shine out’ in being ‘simple’.”

Richness in faith, love and joy gave beauty to many of the poorer Tongan families.

“These people still show joy in their ordinary way of living even when they still give to others out of their own poverty. There is also a ‘glow’ of certain grace in people in homes who on a daily basis take good care of their sick and elderly members,” he said.

Cardinal Mafi, who is also Bishop of Tonga and Niue, was appointed to the cardinalate by Pope Francis in 2015.

He sees the spread of Mormonism in Tonga as a challenge to the Catholic church.

The Latter Day Saints have claimed that 60% of Tongans are Mormon, although this figure is disputed.

Cardinal Mafi sees this growth “Whatever the real story behind the counting process normally used by the Mormon Church, what is perhaps more important here is something for all other churches including the Catholics to learn from,” the Cardinal said.

He described the growth of the LDS, whose members include Prince Ata as  “a wake-up call for all churches and especially for our local Catholic churches.”

He said the Mormon’s “untiring door-to-door home visitations and their charitable offerings to struggling families and individuals,” was an inspiring example for Catholic pastoral work.

“Understandably there are many of our people who do struggle with financial needs to their families,” he said.

He said Caritas and the Society of St Vincent de Paul helped the marginalised with necessities and environmental initiatives.

Caritas had been involved with community projects in villages and parishes to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Projects included planting trees along shorelines as soil protection and to screen buildings from the wind.

“Long before Caritas was established in Tonga, the St Vincent de Paul Society was already functioning on the parish level in helping out those poorer families and those who were lacking in the basic needs in life, such as shelter, water and food,” Cardinal Mafi said.

Cardinal Mafi said when he was growing up cyclones and storms sometimes prevented his family from attending mass.

“On days of bad weather where devotional prayers or Masses were cancelled, we as a family would have our own time for family prayer at home,” Cardinal Mafi said.

“There were always times at the end of evening family prayers for our Dad as head of the family to give his advice and words of correction and encouragement to all.

“Consistency and endurance are perhaps key words to describe the way my parents went about doing the daily devotional prayers, such as morning and evening rosaries, and praise and thanksgiving prayers,” he said.

“The only major concerns that we often heard from our Father for us children were to complete our education and to go to church.”

This is an edited version of a story by Jordan Grantham which appeared in Catholic Outlook, diocese of Parramatta, Australia.

Court documents allege Tu’ivakanō involved in illegal activity worth more than TP$400,000

By
Kalino Latu
-

Court documents setting out charges against former Prime Minister and Speaker Lord Tu’ivakanō allege he was involved in illegal activities worth TP$416,391.84.

The court documents were addressed to ‘Eiki Tu’ivakanō (aka) Siaosi Ngalumoetutulu Kaho (aka) Siale ‘Ataongo Kaho.

They ordered Lord Tu’ivakanō to appear at the Fasi court on March 26 at 10am.

The documents were published by Kele’a newspaper this week. One of the documents alleged Lord Tu’ivakanō had received TP$199,408.94 on November 18, 2013 from Sien Lee and Ying Huang Lee while the king’s noble was the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

It said the money was given to persuade him to act in their favour and that he allowed the issuance of documents which proved the holders were Tongan travellers.

According to the document, the application was lodged by ‘Isapela Sātua Tu’akoi with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Immigration Department.

As Kaniva News reported last year, Tu’akoi was one of 15  people listed by the Tonga National Reserve bank as being involved in suspicious money transfers.

The second court document alleged that Lord Tu’ivakanō secretly and illegally transferred money on November 29, 2013 in Nuku’alofa in breach of the laws regarding money laundering and bribery.

The document alleged he received TP$216,982.90 from the proceedings of serious criminal activity and attempted to hide it by depositing it in his housing loan account with BSP bank in Tonga.

As Kaniva News reported, Lord Tu’ivakanō was arrested on March 1 and was charged with making a false statement for the purpose of obtaining a passport, perjury, acceptance of bribery and money laundering.

In 2014 Kaniva News revealed e-mails between staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which alleged Lord Tu’ivakanō had ignored King Tupou VI’s warning not to issue any more diplomatic passports to Chinese man Sien Lee.

According to the e-mails, Sien Lee was a close friend of the Late Queen Mother.

The charges against Lord Tu’ivakanō are the result of an investigation pushed by the Pohiva government since 2015.

As we reported at the time, the king assented to the establishment of a royal commission to investigate the passport scandal in 2014.

However the Tu’ivakanō government delayed establishing the commission and wanted to make another proposal to the king.

Lavulavu

Meanwhile, another document had been served on the Minister of Internal Affairs and her husband, the former Minister of Infrastructure ‘Etuate Lavulavu.

It said the Lavulavus had been charged after they allegedly committed crimes on August 2014 using forged documents contrary to section 172 of the Criminal Act to support an application by the Unuaki ‘o Tonga Royal Institute to obtain supplementary government funding to assist students.

Police said the Lavulavus were charged after the Auditor General’s office said hundreds of students supposedly attending their private school could not be identified and that the Institute should repay TP$553,800 to the Technical  Vocational Education and Training fund (TVET).

They were ordered to appear at Fasi court on March 26 at 10am.

One person critically injured in Mangere crash

By
Kalino Latu
-

One person is in a critical condition following a crash in the south Auckland suburb of Mangere this morning.

Motorists were advised that there had been a crash on the South-Western Motorway SH20A at Mangere, Auckland and delays were expected.

One car has crashed into a barrier and one person has critical injuries.

The crash occurred shortly after 9am and was westbound on SH20A on the route to the airport.

One lane was blocked due to the crash.

Motorists were asked to avoid the area if possible.

Law firm claims charges against police not based on “clear and fair grounds”

By
Philip Cass
-

A Tongan law firm has written to Police Commissioner Steven Caldwell claiming he has not acted fairly over charges and suspensions of 17 police officers.

The firm says only five of the officers have been suspended.

The letter, signed by Siosifa T. Tu’utafaiva, has been copied to the Minister of Police.

“We do not understand the reasons for suspending those five police officers and not the others,” Tu’utafaiva wrote.

“Some of the officers who are not suspended face serious allegations, and we are aware of the senior police officers who face serious criminal allegations but they are not suspended.”

Tu’utafaiva asked for the Commissioner to reconsider the case of Sergeant Malia Fanua, who he said had been suspended without pay.

Sgt Fanua had not been paid for three months.

He said officers who were facing criminal charges were still paid their salaries and not suspended from duty.

Tu’utafaiva, a former Minister of Police, said because no criminal proceedings had been commenced against Sgt Fanua, the decision to suspend her should be considered null and void.

“It may be not appropriate for you to comment on other cases currently under the disciplinary process, but those cases show that the exercise of your discretionary power to suspend police officers from duties is not based on clear and fair grounds,” he said.

Police Commissioner Caldwell has not responded to allegations about his handling of police discipline and corruption because he is restricted in what he can say publicly.

As Kaniva News reported earlier, Minister of Police, Hon. Mateni Tapueluelu, has openly sided with a number of officers protesting about their treatment.

Hon. Tapueluelu said the government told New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern the government did not want the  Police Commissioner’s contract extended.

The Police Commissioner’s position is largely funded by New Zealand.

Last month a Police spokesman said officers had been suspended for “very good reasons.”

“The Commissioner is confined by what he can say publicly on individual criminal and disciplinary cases currently under investigation,” the spokesperson said.

Tonga’s police force has a troubled history of corruption and abuse.

It also has a history of New Zealand police officers working in Tonga being faced with entrenched opposition from police opposed to attempts to clean up the force.

For more information

Hon Lavulavu denies he told mechanical supervisor to fake TP$1 million valuation, threatens legal action

Petition complaints nothing new say police, as Commissioner works on cyclone recovery

 

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