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Police arrest former Speaker and Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakanō

By
Kalino Latu
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Police have arrested Lord Tu’ivakanō yesterday Thursday 1, Kaniva News has been reliably informed.

The arrest comes after Police Minister Māteni Tapueluelu tendered his resignation on Tuesday.

The Minister, whose resignation was not accepted by Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva,  told Kaniva News recently he was confirmed by Police they would arrest the former Speaker of Parliament last month.

But the arrest did not go ahead as initially planned and this had worried Hon. Tapueluelu.

As we reported in 2016, Lord Tu’ivakano’s laptop was confiscated by Police as part of a Police passport investigation.

Last year Kaniva News reported that the current Member of Parliament for Tongatapu 3 denied allegations made against him by a former parliamentary employee saying he was involved in improperly sending money overseas and abused his power by using parliamentary staff to do personal work for him.

Lord Tu’ivakanō is one of the king’s members of nobility.

‘Dead’ boy greets Minister by walking into her office

By
Kalino Latu
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A boy who was reported to have been killed by an electric shock outside the office of the Minister of Internal affairs walked into her office

Tonga’s Minister of Internal Affairs and Sports Hon. Akosita Lavulavu said a local radio station reported a boy had died after he was electrocuted in front of her office.

The Minister claimed the boy did not realise a live power line was near the side of the road.

She said the boy felt a shockwave from the power line and in an attempt to escape it he was electrocuted.

The boy was rushed to hospital and was reported dead on the midday news.

However, shortly afterwards, a boy stood at her door and told the Minister he was the one who had been electrocuted.

Hon. Lavulavu quoted the boy as saying in Tongan: “‘Eiki Minisita Koau na’e soki’i ‘aneuhu ka ko ‘eku ha’u ke fakaha atu ‘oku ou Sai pe, Koau eni ‘oku ou mo’ui pe.”

This translates into English as: “Honorouble Minister I was the one who was being electrocuted this morning and I am coming to tell you I am fine. I am alive.”

Hon. Lavulavu posted photos of her, the boy and her staff on Facebook this morning saying she and her staff were happy he was alive. She thanked Tonga Power Ltd for their quick response to the incident.

As Kaniva News reported last week, a man survived an electric shock in Tongatapu on February 21.

The Vaiola hospital superintendent  said the man was in hospital after being electrocuted, but he was alive.

Tongatapu residents were in the process of cleaning up after Tropical Cyclone Gita ravaged it along with the nearby island of ‘Eua last month.

Parliament’s new home leads to redrawing of Nuku‘alofa city boundary map

By
Kalino Latu
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The Tonga National Centre in Tofoa has been set to become part of the City of Nuku’alofa.

This has been announced by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources last week.

Tofoa, which is part of the Kolomotu’a municipality, is three kilometres away from Nuku’alofa.

The redrawn map which showed the new changes was made last week on February 23.

The Pōhiva government is setting the stage to allow Parliament meetings to be held at the Centre.

The Tongan constitution says Parliament “shall always meet at Nuku’alofa and at no other place except in time of war.”

Temporal Parliament

As Kaniva News reported recently Tongan authorities were looking for somewhere to host the next Parliamentary sessions from next week, after the historic legislative assembly building was destructed during Tropical Cyclone Gita last month.

It followed with an announcement by the Speaker Lord Fakafanua that the Parliament meetings will be held at the Fā’onelua Convention centre

However, the Chief Clerk of the Legislative Assembly said yesterday the meetings will be temporarily relocated to the Tonga National Centre.

“The Legislative Assembly was due to relocate to the Fa’onelua Convention Centre, but the venue has been changed to the Tonga National Centre, where the Legislative Assembly will be housed until a new Legislative Assembly complex is built,” she said.

“Because the location of the Tonga National Centre was not within the Nuku’alofa area, an amendment was recently made to a Government Gazette made in 1984 for its inclusion in the Nuku’alofa boundary.

The Legislative Assembly and the Office of the Legislative Assembly, including the Lord Speaker, Honorable Members of the Assembly and all staff, will be hosted from the Tonga National Center, at Nuku’alofa as of Monday 5 th March 2018.”

The Legislative Assembly will also reconvene on the same day as previously announced.

Prime Minister refuses to accept Tapueluelu’s resignation

By
Kalino Latu
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Hon. ‘Akilisi Pōhiva has rejected Minister for Police and Fire Services, Customs and Revenue, Hon. Tapueluelu’s resignation hours after he quit yesterday.

“Hon Prime Minister Does Not Accept Hon. Mateni Tapueluelu’s Resignation”, a statement from the Prime Minister’s office said last night.

“Although I sympathise with the underlying reasons for Māteni Tapueluelu’s resignation from Cabinet I do not accept it. Instead I will, to the best of my ability, continue to dialogue with him as well as other Members of Cabinet in the hope that we can come to a common understanding on how best to resolve the issues that are behind his resignation,” the statement quoted Hon. Pōhiva as saying.

As Kaniva News reported yesterday, Hon. Pōhiva  said Hon. Tapueluelu tendered his resignation because he believed Police Commissioner Steve Caldwell had not done enough in the way he addressed allegations of corruption in the Ministry of Police.

Caldwell told Kaniva News in an email, issues raised in a petition last month addressed to the Minister of Police by the 3 signatories were not new to him.

He said all those issued have been “re-litigated on previous occasions.”

Hon. Pōhiva said his son-in-law, Hon. Tapueluelu was also disappointed because he believed there was a lack of support from Cabinet members over proposals he proposed regarding his power as Minister of Police. This including one he initiated to submit to the Public Service Commission to terminate Caldwell’s employment contract, the Prime Minister said.

Hon. Pōhiva said he believed Hon. Tapueluelu was frustrated after all these did not work.

“I am at the end of my waiting and time may force me to action. At some point the nation will have to come before my Ministry,” Hon. Tapueluelu said in an email.

Hon. Pōhiva said he will do his best, “as I stated earlier, to continue the dialogue with Mateni and the rest of Cabinet to ensure that we address his concerns and retain his membership of Cabinet.”

For further information

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

Māteni Tapueluelu resigns as Minister of Police, Customs and Revenue

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Minister of Police and Customs and Revenue, Hon. Māteni Tapueluelu, resigned from his ministerial posts today.

Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva confirmed to Kaniva News that he had received Tapueluelu’s resignation letter this afternoon.

Hon. Pōhiva  said Hon. Tapueluelu tendered his resignation because he believed Police Commissioner Steve Caldwell had not done enough in the way he addressed allegations of corruption in the Ministry of Police.

Hon. Pōhiva said Hon. Tapueluelu was also disappointed because he believed there was a lack of support from Cabinet members about a proposal he initiated to submit to Judicial Appointments and Discipline Panel and to Privy Council to terminate Caldwell’s contract.

Tapueluelu told Kaniva News last week he was concerned at how cases regarding suspended Police officers were treated by the Police Commissioner.

“I am greatly concerned with the visibly uneven application of the suspension law on police officers. It can imply unfairness and bias and affect morale. In fact it has,” Tapueluelu said.

As Kaniva News reported last week, complaints were raised last month in a petition to Hon. Tapueluelu about Caldwell by a group of suspended policemen.

Caldwell told us the complaints “were not new.”

“The suspensions and continuation of suspensions are for very good reasons,” he said.

Hon. Tapueluelu later issued a statement that appeared to at last partly support the petitioners.

The Minister said that if the Commissioner did nothing, then corruption could cause chaos in the police force.

“I have waited far too long with hope that these internal fights can be solved in a timely and impartial manner,” Hon. Tapueluelu.

“Unfortunately Tonga lacks what New Zealand has, that is an Independent Police Conduct Authority which is not part of the police, but has the authority to investigate the police impartially.

“We do not want the watchers to watch themselves.

“There is a tough call on the Ministry to bring the force together and not split it in half with measures that appear highly questionable.

“However I am barred by law from getting involved. Tonga’s Ombudsman and Auditor General are also barred by law from investigating police. So investigation of high ranking officers are done internally. What can go wrong? A lot.

“I am at the end of my waiting and time may force me to action. At some point the nation will have to come before my Ministry.”

The main points

  • The Minister of Police and Customs and Revenue, Hon. Māteni Tapueluelu, resigned from his ministerial posts today.
  • Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva confirmed to Kaniva Newsthat he had received Hon. Tapueluelu’s resignation letter this afternoon.
  • Pōhiva  said Hon. Tapueluelu tendered his resignation because he believed Police Commissioner Steve Caldwell had not done enough in the way he addressed allegations of corruption in the Ministry of Police.

For further information

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

Tongan feta‘aki design showcased at Buckingham Palace  

By
Kalino Latu
-

A design by a Tongan fashion designer was displayed at Buckingham Palace last week as part of the Commonwealth Fashion Exchange.

The event was hosted by The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton.

Bou Fonua Tanginoa, who designed the work, said the experience was priceless. She said she met some great designers from around the world and had more potential to participate in further events.

She said she has chosen feta’aki for her design, a papery material made from the bark of the Mulberry tree lined with raw silk.

She said it represented the cultural wealth of Tonga, dating back many centuries and used as a sign of respect in gift giving.

“The silk is also made from the mulberry trees and signifies wealth and prosperity,” Tanginoa said.

“The look has been completed with traditionally inspired handmade jewellery made by Rendina Edwards from Nauru.”

Designers were required to choose partners with another country in the Commonwealth to work together and Tonga was paired with Nauru.

She designed the gown and the artisan from Nauru provided the jewellery.

She said she was invited to represent Tonga in the event last December.

International media reports said the Commonwealth Fashion Exchange aimed to create partnerships between designing talent in Commonwealth countries.

Tanginoa said she was given £1000 to spend on her participation including the materials for her gown and airfare.

“We are fortunate to have close family in the London to stay with,” she said

“Most definitely the experience is priceless and at the same time I have met some great designers from around the world and have more potential to participate in further events in different parts of the world,” she told Kaniva News.

For more information

Pregnant Duchess of Cambridge hosts Commonwealth Fashion Exchange at Buckingham Palace

Homicide investigation launched after two bodies found in Lakepa

By
Kalino Latu
-

A homicide investigation has begun after two bodies were found in a bush allotment in Lakepa.

Police said the bodies of the Chinese couple in their early 50s were found with stab wounds to their heads and necks, Sunday afternoon.

As Kaniva News reported yesterday, the couple’s vehicle was missing.

Police were looking for a silver Toyota Sparky 2000, registration plate L16768 “as of interest to their homicide investigation,” a statement said.

Police are appealing for anyone who have any information about this alleged homicide to come forward or contact Police Emergency 922, 23417 or the nearest Police station to you.

Two people killed in Vava’u road accident

By
Kalino Latu
-

Two people have died following a vehicle crash on a road in Vava’u this morning.

This has been confirmed to Kaniva news by a Vava’u Police spokesperson.

It is likely the accident occurred between 3 – 4am, he said.

The driver of the vehicle and a passenger died, he said.

A Police team were still at the scene and a statement will be released soon, the spokesperson said.

The fatal crash came after three people were killed in a two-vehicle crash in ‘Atele, Tongatapu on Saturday night.

In that crash, one person died at the scene while two died in hospital few hours later.

New sailing boat for Niua badly damaged by cyclone Gita

By
Kalino Latu
-

The new wind-powered trimaran for the Niua islands the king commissioned about three months ago had been badly damaged in tropical cyclone Gita.

The category four storm lashed the country two weeks ago leaving many families homeless and caused widespread damage to crops.

Photos obtained by Kaniva News showed one of the outriggers of the  ‘Utuma’atu was broken apart.

It has been pulled out of water for maintenance.

As Kaniva News reported last week, about 40% of fishing boats were damaged and fish fences were damaged by the heavy swells and winds.

The ‘Utuma’atu made its maiden voyage in December. It was funded by the people of Niuas living overseas to the tune of NZ$600,000.

The ‘Utuma’atu was designed to take about 48 hours to sail the 600 kilometres to the Niuas and would be able to carry 12 people and two tonnes of cargo.

“The craft, which was owned and operated by the Nuia community, was a result of several years work initiated by Tongan academic and former politician, Sitiveni Halapua.”

‘Utuma’atu was the name given to the craft by His Majesty King Tupou VI.

Health authorities demand Tonga Dialysis Foundation prove project viable

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Ministry of Health has refused to support a move by the Tonga Dialysis Foundation (TDF)  to establish a national dialysis unit in the kingdom.

Health authorities said the Ministry could not support the project because TDF had failed to show it had links with kidney specialists, had not submitted a financial plan, proved the project would be sustainable, or addressed issues of financial transparency.

TDF president Saia Moehau told Kaniva News they had met with Minister of Health and two doctors a number of times to discuss the proposal for a joint venture.

Moehau claimed the medical authorities were supportive during the meetings, but said different things in public.

“So, we totally stay away from them for the time being and concentrate on giving a second chance of life to whomever wants it,” Moehau said.

He claimed the TDF had the support of the king and queen.

He alleged that the Minister of Health had told their majesties that dialysis was not an option for Tonga.

Dr. Sione Latu, the Royal Physician said that while the TDF project was admirable, the King and the Queen would support TDF’s move with a gift of land to establish a dialysis unit only on certain conditions.

“For the record, Their Majesties will give the piece of land only if the dialysis project is totally a private venture, with no money drained out of the Ministry of Health budget,” Dr Latu said.

“They believe in MOH investing in primary and secondary intervention strategies because of the costs involved.”

The main points

  • The Ministry of Health has refused to support a move by the Tonga Dialysis Foundation to establish a nation dialysis unit in the kingdom.
  • Health authorities said the Ministry could not support the project because TDF had failed to show it had links with kidney specialists, had not submitted a financial plan, proved the project would be sustainable, or addressed issues of financial transparency.
  • TDF president Saia Moehau claimed the project had royal support.

For more information 

Ministry says no promise to open dialysis unit in Tonga, can’t endorse private clinic

No promises for dialysis in Tonga

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