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As Parliament opens, King declares wish for close working relationship with MPs

By
Kalino Latu
-

His Majesty King Tupou VI opened Tonga’s Parliament this morning after a letter from him was read in the House.

Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva is still in intensive care and did not attend the opening ceremony.

HSH Prince Tu’ipelehake, who was accompanied by Lord Fakatulolo and Lord Luani, read the letter to Members of Parliament.

According to a copy of the letter which was written in Tongan released to news media after the soft opening this morning, the king expressed his wish to work together with all Members of Parliament.

The king said it was important to recognise the progress of the economic and social development projects which had been initiated in previous years.

This included the new domestic wharf development which would be opened soon. It would be named  the Taufa’āhau Tupou IV Domestic Terminal.

“I would like to thank foreign countries which assist our country’s development projects including the Communist Party of the Republic of China, Japan, Australia and New Zealand,” His Majesty said.

“Because this is the first Parliament after the election in November last year, I would like to wish good luck to this meeting and hope for a close working relationship in future in accordance with the laws and constitution so that the nation will be advantageous and peaceful.”

Swearing-in ceremony

As Kaniva News reported yesterday, Members of Parliament will be sworn in at a date to be fixed by the Speaker and the Prime Minister.

According to Radio New Zealand, Parliament’s first sitting day will be confirmed once the King can attend.

The Prime Minister was kept from this morning’s open  by ill health.

As we reported yesterday, health authorities advised him to remain in hospital after they learned the swearing-in ceremony would not be hold during this morning’s opening.

Hon. Pōhiva was recovering well at the hospital’s intensive care unit after he was admitted over the weekend with an undisclosed illness, a Health spokesperson said.

Royal message

The king’s message comes after he dissolved Parliament in August last year because he was unhappy with the Pōhiva government.

He ordered a snap election in November which resulted in Hon. Pōhiva and his party winning 14 seats out of the 17 electoral seats for people’s MPs, a victory that enabled them to form the government on their own.

King Tupou VI’s message this morning was the first to be made public from the ruler of the nation after the dissolution, after he appointed Hon. Pōhiva to the premiership on January 3, and approved all Hon. Pōhiva’s ministerial lineup with effect from January 5.

The message gave the nation some relief, especially Hon. Pōhiva’s supporters, as it implied the king has accepted the results of the November snap election.

The main points

  • His Majesty King Tupou VI opened Tonga’s Parliament this morning after a letter from him was read in the House.
  • In the letter the king expressed his wish to work together with all Members of Parliament.
  • Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva is still in intensive care and was unable to attend.
  • MPS will be sworn in at a date to be fixed by the Speaker and the Prime Minister.

For more information

PM attending soft opening for Parliament “uncertain” as swearing-in of MPs postponed

King names new domestic wharf after his father – Taufa’āhau Tupou IV

By
Kalino Latu
-

King Tupou VI has named Tonga’s new domestic wharf after his late father King Taufa’āhau Tupou IV.

The naming was revealed this morning in a letter from His Majesty read to Members of Parliament in a soft  ceremony to open the Legislative Assembly for 2018.

As Kaniva News reported earlier this morning, work on the new multimillion wharf is nearly complete.

TOA Construction is expected to hand over the wharf at the end of the month.

Work on the Japanese-funded $TP66 million project is now concentrating on marking parking bays and pathways and landscaping.

This is expected to be completed by January 13.

The new wharf is expected to be opened by the king.

Tongan Port Authorities CEO Mōsese Lavemai said the new domestic wharf was “the most advanced and modern in the Pacific except Australia and New Zealand.”

New Domestic Wharf in Tonga. Photo/Kalino Lātū

The domestic wharf was now separate from the International wharf known as Queen Sālote wharf and the Cruise ship wharf known as Vuna wharf.

The wharf building was designed to resist earthquakes, tsunamis and cyclones.

The foundations are above sea level to cope with rise in ocean levels.

The wharf facilities were designed to help ships use less fuel during berthing.

The project, being constructed on the western side of Queen Sālote Wharf, includes two ship berthing areas with each having a length of 90 metres and a three story terminal building.

The building was partly powered by solar panels on the roof.

TP$66 million wharf will be “most advanced and modern in Pacific” says CEO

By
Philip Cass
-

Work on Tonga’s new multimillion wharf is nearly complete.

TOA Construction is expected to hand over the wharf at the end of the month.

Work on the Japanese-funded $TP66 million project is now concentrating on marking parking bays and pathways and landscaping.

This is expected to be completed by January 13.

The new wharf is expected to be opened by the king.

Tongan Port Authorities CEO Mōsese Lavemai said the new domestic wharf was “the most advanced and modern in the Pacific except Australia and New Zealand.”

The domestic wharf was now separate from the International wharf known as Queen Sālote wharf and the Cruise ship wharf known as Vuna wharf.

The wharf building was designed to resist earthquakes, tsunamis and cyclones.

The foundations are above sea level to cope with rise in ocean levels.

The wharf facilities were designed to help ships use less fuel during berthing.

The project, being constructed on the western side of Queen Sālote Wharf, includes two ship berthing areas with each having a length of 90 metres and a three story terminal building.

The building was partly powered by solar panels on the roof.

For more information

King performs groundbreaking of $66 million wharf upgrade

Construction begins on huge Faua wharf expansion

New MV Tongiaki arrives in Tonga

By
Kalino Latu
-

The latest addition to FISA’s fleet cruised into Nuku’alofa and arrived at the Faua harbour yesterday after a couple of days trip from Singapore.

The Tongan Government’s new passenger catamaran which operated between Singapore and Batam, will be launched by His Majesty King Tupou VI on Friday 12.

The king has named it as MV Tongiaki.

The ferry will officially join the inter-island fleet sailing on Friday with its maiden voyage to Vava’u and Ha’apai, returning to Nuku’alofa on the same day.

Built at PT Cahaya Samudra Shipyard in Indonesia, the 200 passengers enter through midship boarding doors and sit in forward-facing seats.

The passenger facilities include four seats for crew members and at the aft end of the cabin are a 6-person crew room and kiosk, as well as three heads.

The upper deck, free of passengers, features just the wheelhouse with excellent all-round visibility.

The 33 metre vessel is powered by a pair of MAN D2862 LE463 main engines, rated at 1029kW, driving fixed pitch propellers, Majestic 7 performed well in sea trials, reaching a loaded speed in excess of 30 knots. The vessel will be operated at a service speed of 28knots at a reduced MCR.

The catamaran arrived in Tonga four months after the MV Maui, a TP$1.7 million aluminium double-hull ferry which could carry 390 passengers and six crew, was commissioned by King Tupou VI in August 2017.

MV Maui belonged to the people of ‘Eua and it was operated by the ‘Eua Sea Transport Council.

PM attending soft opening for Parliament “uncertain” as swearing-in of MPs postponed

By
Kalino Latu
-

Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva will probably not be part of his cabinet ministers joining the soft opening ceremony for Parliament tomorrow, according to a government spokesperson.

The swearing-in ceremony for Members of Parliament has been postponed until further notice, Parliament office said today.

In a statement released to news media this morning Parliament office said:

“The Legislative Assembly of Tonga will be opened tomorrow, Thursday 11th January 2018, at 10:30am, by a commission of three Nobles comprising of HSH Prince Tu’ipelehake, Lord Fakatulolo and Lord Luani.

The Members of the Legislative Assembly will take their oath of office on the first sitting day of the Legislative Assembly, to be announced.”

As Kaniva News reported last night Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva was recovering well in hospital according to a Ministry of Health spokesperson.

The Prime Minister was reportedly expected to attend tomorrow’s ceremony.

The government spokesperson said this afternoon the Prime Minister will probably not attend the soft opening ceremony after it has been announced the swearing-in ceremony will be held later.

Tongan Seasonal Worker Program man dies in Australia named

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Tongan man who died last week in Queensland while working as a Seasonal Worker Program employee has been named.

The Toula and ‘Otea communities in Vava’u, Tonga were “reeling” after the Australian Police found 35-year-old Simione Havea’s body in an accommodation on Thursday morning.

His cousin Alex Kaihea told Kaniva News his deceased cousin is survived by his wife and children.

Kaihea, an Australian based Tongan, was currently in Tonga and he said he wished  he was in Brisbane so he could be able to visit Simione’s body.

Simione was the eldest son of his mother Neti from ‘Otea and his father Sinamoni from Toula, Kaihea said.

As we reported yesterday, Simone’s death is the second of a Tongan on the Seasonal Worker Program in the Bundaberg region after Sione Vakameilalo Fifita died in the Royal Brisbane Hospital after falling into a coma in May last year.

According to Australian media, Simione, who is also known as Simi, has become the 14th person to die while working on the controversial scheme.

He had been working on a farm in the Bundaberg region before he died.

The death comes just weeks after a special investigation by The Courier-Mail revealed 13 workers had died on the Seasonal Worker Program, with extreme neglect allegedly contributing to a number of deaths and serious injuries.

Incest and violence charges lead to long sentence in Supreme Court

By
Philip Cass
-

A father has been sentenced to nine years and nine months in prison after being convicted of incest, sexual assault and domestic violence.

The offences took place between December 2016 and January 2017.

In his report on the trial, Hon Justice Cato said the acts had been carried out on the man’s daughter.

The prisoner was married with three children. He lived in the former family home. He had  two other children including the complainant, by his first marriage.

He had a number of convictions for dishonesty dating back to 1992, several for housebreaking and theft including one in 1998 when he received an eight year sentence.

He also had one conviction for growing Indian hemp and possession.

In 2007, he was again convicted of theft and manslaughter by negligence for which he was sentenced  to  three  and half years imprisonment.

He had committed four acts of incest, the first of which occurred while his wife was asleep in the next room.

He had threatened to beat her if she did not smoke methamphetamine, strangled her and threatened to disfigure her with a pair of scissors.

“The  impression I got at trial was that he was an authoritarian, dominating personality, not without cunning and able to present a more affable  personality  when required,” Hon. Justice Cato said.

“The complainant was put through a frightening and humiliating experience.

“I do not consider there are any  mitigating  features. The prisoner in his probation report and again at sentence did not improve his position by continuing to maintain his denial.”

The main points

  • The Supreme Court has been sentenced to nine years and nine months in prison after being convicted of incest, sexual assault and domestic violence.
  • The acts had been carried out on the man’s daughter.
  • The man had also beaten and strangled her.
  • The judge said his daughter had been through a frightening and humiliating experience.

PM recovering well, expected to attend swearing in of Parliament

By
Kalino Latu
-

Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva was in good spirits since last night after being taken to Vaiola hospital on Friday night, a Ministry of Health spokesperson said.

Reports said he was expected to attend swearing-in ceremony of Members of Parliament in Nuku’alofa this Thursday.

As Kaniva News reported last night, Hon. Pōhiva remains in Vaiola and was in stable condition.

He was moved to the hospital’s intensive care unit after a decision to keep him undisturbed by visitors and other patients at the hospital, the spokesperson said.

He said the Prime Minister needs to have good rest.

Health authority did not disclose his illness.

A medical evacuation to New Zealand was planned but later cancelled.

New Government

Hon Pōhiva, 76, was appointed by King Tupou VI on Tuesday 2 as Tonga’s next Prime Minister until 2021.

He submitted his cabinet lineup to the palace office on Wednesday 3 before it was approved by King Tupou VI to be effective from January 5.

His cabinet ministers held first meetings with their staff yesterday in their respective ministerial portfolios.

Captured on video: Police reportedly identify suspect in Office Equipment robbery

By
Kalino Latu
-


Police reportedly believed they knew the suspect responsible for a robbery after inspecting a surveillance video.

The video was released after more than TP$10,000 went missing at the Office Equipment in Fatafehi Road, Nuku’alofa on Saturday night.

Toti Panuve from the Office claimed the suspect has now been identified by Police but no arrest had been made.

He said they hope to get more information from Police tomorrow.

The Office has released a 20 seconds-surveillance video of the possible suspect wanted in connection with the theft on their Facebook page.

A caption on the video says “$500 Reward for this person”.

In the video above, a man is sitting on what appears to be an office chair before standing up and walking round a desk inside the Office.

Anyone who recognizes the man is asked to contact 7825500 or 7825510.

Reserve Bank warns of fines and jail for illegal foreign exchange dealers

By
Philip Cass
-

The Reserve Bank has asked the public to report illegal foreign exchange dealers.

The Bank said there were shops in Tongatapu and the outer islands offering unlicensed foreign exchange services, including cash conversion.

Only dealers authorized  by the Reserve Bank are allowed to move money in and out of Tonga.

“Providing foreign exchange services without the required license is an offence,” the Bank said.

Illegal dealers should immediately stop what they were doing.

Individuals face three years in prison and fines of up to TP$20,000, the National Reserve Bank has warned.

Fines for companies breaking the foreign currency regulations were up to TP$200,000.

Illegal transfers cannot be monitored or taxed and money may not be changed at the legal rate.

According to a World Bank report Tonga on 2016, Tonga was the Pacific country most dependent on money sent home by Tongans working overseas.

The report said remittances made up nearly 33 percent of Tonga’s GDP in 2015.

About 12,000 Tongans work in Australia and New Zealand under seasonal employment schemes.

The  main points

  • The Reserve Bank has asked the public to report illegal foreign exchange dealers.
  • The Bank said there were shops in Tongatapu and the outer islands offering unlicensed foreign exchange services, including cash conversion.
  • Illegal dealers face three years in prison and fines of up to TP$20,000.

For more information

Tonga tops list for reliance on remittances and graduates going abroad for work

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