Tongan citizens have been classified as a migration risk by Ukraine.
Travellers from the kingdom and Papua New Guinea are the only two Pacific nations on a list of 70 countries whose nationals are considered a migration risk.
People from countries on the list will have to supply biometric data.
This can include fingerprints and other physical evidence.
Heads of state and government, members of parliamentary and government delegations will be exempt.
The list of countries includes Nigeria, Egypt and Pakistan as well as all former Portuguese colonies in Africa.
Ukraine introduced tougher migration rules for Russian citizens following Russia’s invasion of the Crimea in 2014.
Tourism figures fell from 24 million before the invasion to 12 million after the invasion.
Numbers climbed to 16 million in 2016.
It is not known how many Tongans have ever visited the Ukraine.
The main points
Tongan citizens have been classified as a migration risk by Ukraine.
Travellers from the kingdom and Papua New Guinea are the only two Pacific nations on a list of 70 countries whose nationals are considered a migration risk.
Tonga’s new cabinet ministers greeted their senior officials and staff members at their respective ministerial portfolios when they first met them this morning.
Deputy Prime Minister Hon Sēmisi Sika, Minister of Health Hon Dr Saia Piukala and Ha’apai 12 MP Mo’ale Fīnau joined the new Minister of Labour and Commerce, Dr Tu’i Uata during his first meeting with his staff.
The meeting was described as “outstanding” and “remarkable”.
Labour and Commerce CEO Edgar Cocker has confirmed to Kaniva News he and his staff met their new minister Dr. Tu’i Uata this morning.
Cocker said: “The CEO and the staff of the Ministry of Commerce , Consumers, Trade, Innovation and Labour have warmly welcomed this morning , Monday 8th January 2018, the Hon. Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Semisi Sika, the Hon. Minister of Health and Public Enterprises, Hon. Saia Piukala, the Hon. Governor of Ha’apai, Hon. Mo’ale Finau, and in particular, the Hon. Minister for the Ministry of Commerce, Consumer, Trade, Innovation, and Labour , Hon. Dr. Tu’i Uata.”
“The occasion was extremely overwhelming with positive views towards our responsive roles to the growth of the economy, and the consolidated attempts to gradually eradicate poverty, and grow the economy.”
The CEO said their priority was the concerns and needs of the people of Tonga to have a robust economy.
“The occasion was remarkable and absolutely outstanding,” Cocker said.
Two newly appointed ministers
The Deputy Prime Minister and his colleagues first attended new Internal Affairs minister Hon. ‘Akosita Lavulavu’s first meeting with her staff in her office.
It is understood other new cabinet ministers who previously held ministerial posts in the Pōhiva former government held meetings with their own staff while the Deputy Prime Minister took the opportunity to introduce the newly appointed Ministers Dr. Uata and Hon Lavulavu to their staff.
Senior official ‘Ofa Finau from Prime Minister’s office also attended the meetings.
A staff at the Ministry of Labour and Commerce, Fulila Tangata’iloa, shared photos she took during the meeting in their office with Kaniva News.
Staff at Ministry of Labour and Commerce shake hands with Deputy Prime Minister Sēmisi Sika and his delegation as well as new Minister of Labour Dr. Tu’i Uata. Photo/Fulila Tangata’iloa
Some photos of the meeting at the Internal Affairs had been uploaded to Facebook.
Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Sēmisi Sika and his delegation, Minister of Labour and Commerce Dr. Tu’i Uata and CEO Edgar Cocker (Standing) during the meeting. Photo/Fulila Tangata’ilo
The letters of appointment were delivered by the palace office to the Prime Minister and all his proposed new cabinet ministers over the weekend, a reliable source said.
The appointment was made after Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva submitted his cabinet lineup to the king on Thursday.
Ministry of Internal Affairs Deputy CEO Ms. ‘Evaipomana Tu’uholoaki (L), Prime Minister Office Senior Official ‘Ofa Finau (R), Hon. Akosita Lavulavu, Deputy PM Sēmisi Sika and Hon. Tu’i Uata. Photo/Emeline Tongotea (Facebook)
It is understood the king was expected to have an audience with the Prime Minister sometime soon.
The Prime Minister’s office was expected to officially announce the new cabinet positions this week.
Hon. Pōhiva, 76, became Tonga’s new prime minister on Tuesday 2, accepting reaffirmation to govern from the king after His Majesty dissolved Parliament in August 2017.
Hon. Pōhiva, who won a landslide 14 of the 17 people’s parliamentary seats in a snap election in November following the dissolution, has promised to lead a “king, nobility and people’s government” dedicated to social justice over the next four years.
A 35-year-old Tongan man working on a farm in the Bundaberg region, Queensland, Australia, was found dead on Thursday morning.
A Queensland Police spokesman told Courier Mail officers were called to the property shortly before 7am on Thursday.
“He said that at this stage the death was non-suspicious, and that an autopsy would be performed to identify the cause of death,” the online newspaper reported.
The 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.
In a special investigation by The Courier-Mail it has been “revealed 13 workers had died on the Seasonal Worker Program, with extreme neglect allegedly contributing to a number of deaths and serious injuries” in Australia.
The Tongan community will hold a memorial service in Bundaberg, it has been reported.
“There have been 13 deaths since the program became official in 2012, at least eight of them in Queensland.”
The new government of Tonga has been appointed by King Tupou VI with effect from Friday 5, 2018, a reliable source said.
Kaniva News understands letters of appointment were delivered by the palace office to the Prime Minister and all his proposed new cabinet ministers over the weekend.
The appointment was made after Prime Minister ‘Akilisi PÅhiva submitted his cabinet lineup to the king on Thursday.
It is understood the king was expected to have an audience with the Prime Minister sometime soon.
The Prime Minister’s office was expected to officially announce the new cabinet positions this week.
The ministerial appointment comes after Hon. PÅhiva, 76, became Tonga’s new prime minister on Tuesday 2, accepting reaffirmation to govern from the king after His Majesty dissolved Parliament in August 2017.
Hon. PÅhiva, who won a landslide 14 of the 17 people’s parliamentary seats in a snap election in November following the dissolution, has promised to lead a “king, nobility and people’s government” dedicated to social justice over the next four years.
New lineup submitted by PÅhiva
Hon. PÅhiva first announced the new lineup during a private meeting with his Democratic Party in Nuku’alofa last week before he submitted it to the royal palace office.
A copy of the list of the ministerial lineup was leaked to Kaniva News shortly after the meeting.
We sought confirmation of the list from the Minister of Justice before we published it on Thursday morning. The minister confirmed it and said it has yet to be officially announced because it was being submitted to the king as part of the constitutional process.
As we reported the new lineup is as follows:
Samuela Akilisi PÅhiva – Prime Minister of Tonga; Minister of Defence and Foreign Affairs
Sēmisi Sika – Deputy Prime Minister; Minister of Tourism and Infrastructure
Sēmisi Fakahau – Minister of Agriculture & Fisheries, Forestry and Food
Dr. PÅhiva Tuionetoa – Minister of Finance and National Planning
Penisimani Fifita – Minister of Education and Training
Poasi Tei –  Minister of Energy, Environment, Information and Climate Change (MEIDEEC)
‘Akosita H. Lavulavu – Minister of Internal Affairs and Sports
Dr. Tu’i Uata – Minister of Labour and Commerce
Dr. Saia Piukala – Minister of Health and Public Enterprises
Lord Ma’afu – Minister of Lands and Survey
Sione Vuna FÄ’otusia – Minister of Justice and Prisons
MÄteni Tapueluelu – Minister of Police & Fire Services; Customs and Revenue
Police have once again raised concerns about marine safety after three fishermen were rescued at sea on Monday 1.
Lilite 5 left on a fishing trip before its engine died.
Deputy Police Commissioner ‘Atunaisa Taumoepeau said the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) alerted Tongan authority after it picked up a distress signal from the boat about 76 kilometres south of Tongatapu.
Taumoepeau told Radio Tonga news since the boat’s beacon was not registered with Tongan Police it was hard for them to immediately dispatch a rescue team to help it.
He thanked the boating community for their help in which it enabled Police to identify the boat.
Taumoepeau said all boats’ beacons must be registered with Police so they could know the owners and names of the boats for safety reasons.
He also warned boaters to make sure they read their pre-departure checklists before leaving.
Tongan Olympian Pita Taufatofua who drew international attention at the 2016 Rio Olympics is now trying to qualify for next month’s Winter Games as a cross country skier.
Taufatofua lost his taekwondo match against Iranian medal favourite Sajjad Mardani at the Summer Olympics.
Taufatofua was able to compete to qualify for the Winter Games after the International Ski Federation changed it rules after the Sochi Games to allow points accrued in roller-skiing events to count toward cross- country skiing.
That meant that Taufatofua could compete in cross-country roller-skiing races and the points would count toward qualifying for the Olympics, world media have reported.
“To qualify, Taufatofua needed to finish five races with a score that met certain objectives. Over the past year he’s managed four of those finishes, so his Olympic dreams are within reach.”
After the Rio Olympics Taufatofua said: “It took me 20 years to get here, if it takes another 20 we will bring that Gold home! Thank you for the love, prayers and support without you all we would not be here! Malo Aupito, ofa atu.”
At the time his coach, Master Paula Sitapa reportedly said they intended to keep going and push towards the Tokyo Olympics in four years time.
There has been outrage on social media after the king reportedly did not invite Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva and his caretaker cabinet ministers to his 2018 New Year reception party.
He was reportedly told his name was not on the list of guests.
The incidents had surprised Hon. Pōhiva and his cabinet ministers.
It is understood Hon. Pōhiva and his ministers have been invited to the king’s party every new year since they took power in 2014 until last week’s incidents.
Some supporters of Hon. Pōhiva breached the cultural taboo of not speaking against the king and criticised His Majesty.
Outrage
A commentator said in a Facebook group which identified itself as supporters of the Prime Minister and the Democrats it was about time to stop giving pay to everyone who has done this to the Prime Minister including the king, his nobility and law lords.
They said the king’s budget from taxpayers’ money should be stopped because he did not show respect to the Prime Minister and his cabinet.
“The old year has passed and now the New Year comes, but there is no change at all”, another wrote.
However, another commentator said she would agree with the Prime Minister’s supporters if it was a government function. She said the king was free to invite whoever he wanted to his own party.
Invitees
Our source said government CEOs were invited, including former Members of Parliament who supported the status quo.
One CEO who attended the party claimed the foreign high commissioners and ambassadors were surprised during the Party to learn the Prime Minister and his ministers were not invited.
It is understood Mate Ma’a Tonga players including rugby league star Jason Taumālolo was invited and he attended the party.
King and Hon. Pōhiva
The snub comes after King Tupou VI unexpectedly dissolved the Tongan Parliament and ordered a new election last year. The king was unhappy with Hon. Pōhiva and his government after receiving advice from outgoing Speaker of Parliament, Lord Tu’ivakanō.
Hon. Sika intended to go to the Party to assist Josh Tatofi, the first Tongan to be nominated for a Grammy award.
When they arrived at the gate only Tatofi was allowed to enter the Palace.
Hon. Sika, a pianist and musician, recently shared a video clip of him with Tatofi and Atenisi University’s Foundation for Performing Arts mentor ‘Atolomake Helu on social media.
The clip showed Tatofi practicing a Tongan composition by the late Queen Sālote while playing a piano with the assistance of Ms Helu.
King Tupou VI has appointed the president of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga as the chairman of the Tonga Traditions Committee.
President Rev. Dr. ‘Ahio along with five other members were appointed to “serve at His Majesty’s pleasure”, according to an announcement published on Tonga gazette by the king’s Lord Privy Seal, Tēvita Malolo .
The five members were:
Lord Vaea, Dowager Lady Fusitu’a, Tākapu, Rev. Dr. Tēvita Tonga Mohenoa Puloka and Hon. ‘Alematea Vaha’i (Secretary)
The announcement on November 23, 2017 said the appointments were made according to the Preservation of Objects of Archaeological Interest Act (Section 2).
Last year His Majesty appointed the FWC church’s general secretary Rev. Dr Tēvita Koloa’ia Havea to become one of His advisors in Privy Council.
