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Despite ‘serious concern’ after Supreme Court decision, World Rugby vows to support Tonga

By
Kalino Latu
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World Rugby said it will continue to help Tonga rugby despite its “serious concern” over the impact of a Supreme Court decision quashing changes members had made to the Union’s constitution last year.

The international body had written to Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva, Interim Executive Chairman Fe’ao Vunipola and others with a proposal it said should help keep TRU moving forward.

World Rugby had confirmed Fe’ao Vunipola will remain as Interim Executive Chairman of Tonga Rugby Union (TRU) since his appointment was made before the amendments to the constitution took place.

It is understood Vunipola was expecting to call an Annual General Meeting next month  (November).

As Kaniva news reported, a Supreme Court judge revoked the amendments because no notice was given to the members of the intention to vote on the changes prior to the Annual General Meeting.

Also, the amendments were not passed by 75% of the representatives attending the meeting as required by the Constitution.

Kaniva Tonga News understands TRU has filed an appeal against the decision.

“This decision and its impact on the Tonga Rugby Union (TRU) is of serious concern to World Rugby, particularly since the national Representative team is scheduled to play important matches as part of the upcoming November tour,” a letter obtained by Kaniva News which showed David Carrigy, World Rugby’s Head of Development & International Relations, as writer, said.

“It is paramount to the reputation of Tonga and the Tonga Rugby Union that these matches are played without being impeded by governance issues,” the letter said.

“All parties to the Joint Management Committee have Tongan rugby Union’s best interests at heart and while the issues relating to the governance are outstanding World Rugby will continue to implement the High Performance programme agreed by the Joint Management Committee since that course of action will be most effective in continuing to promote, protect and develop Tonga rugby.

“Mr Vunipola will refrain from taking any major or important decisions (since there is effectively no Board to provide him with a mandate to act) and any actions taken by him as interim Executive Chairman will be solely to retain the status quo until a new Board is elected following a properly convened AGM”, the letter said.

“The Tonga Rugby team will continue under the jurisdiction of the Tripartite Committee will play in its scheduled Matches in November as planned and, The Tripartite committee will continue its work.

The Tongan government to pay the players their scheduled payments to ensure continuity and security for the players while the governance issues are being resolved,” it said.

Meanwhile, Head Coach Toutai Kefu has announced the ‘Ikale Tahi Team which is captained by Siale Piutau to tour Europe next month.

Strong Tongan, Pasifika representation in Labour’s new cabinet

By
Philip Cass
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Two MPS with strong Tongan ties have joined a contingent of four Pasifika politicians to win places in the new Labour cabinet.

MP for Mangere, Aupito William Sio, who has been Labour’s spokesperson for Pacific Island Affairs and Inter-Faith Dialogue, said Carmel Sepuloni and Jenny Salesa had been selected as Ministers, along with Kris Fa’afoi, whose family came from Tokelau.

MP for Christchurch East Poto Williams, who is of Cook Islands descent will become chair of a parliamentary select committee.

Sio, who holds a chiefly title in Samoa, will also be a cabinet member in the new government.

For the first time Labour has six MPs of Pacific descent, with the election of list candidate Anahila Kanongata’a-Suisuiki, whose family came from Tonga.

“This is a fantastic achievement that we got because of the overwhelming support from our Pacific community,” Hon. Sio said.

“Out of the six Pacific MPs we have, five have been given leadership roles in the new Labour Government with Anahila placed in a position to learn, grow and develop into her new MP Role.”

“I want to convey to our Tongan community my deepest gratitude for their wonderful support of me and of the Labour Party.

“I am especially grateful to the people of Mangere for their faith and belief in me as their representative.

“The result for me in Mangere was I got 18,810 votes with a majority of 14,597 with the highest Labour Party vote in the country of 19,931.”

Sio said he was overwhelmed with a mixture of emotion of gratitude, excitement and humility.

He said that during nine years of National government inequality had grown and the gap  between rich and poor had become worse, especially for Pasifika communities.

“I know that our Pacific communities have huge expectations of us in the Labour-led Government.

“We are committed to bringing about change to better the lives of our community and with everyone’s help we will set out to do so.”

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will announce the distribution of portfolios on Wednesday.

The new ministers would be sworn in next Thursday.

Parliament will be sworn in at the beginning of November.

The main points

  • Two MPS with strong Tongan ties have joined a contingent of four Pasifika politicians to win places in the new Labour cabinet.
  • Carmel Sepuloni and Jenny Salesa have been selected as Ministers.
  • They will be joined by Labour’s current spokesman for Pacific Island affairs, Aupito William sio, who holds a chiefly title in Samoa.
  • Also joining the cabinet are Kris Fa’afoi, whose family came from Tokelau and MP for Christchurch East Poto Williams, who is of Cook Islands descent.

For more information 

Labour MP blames Māori Party for NZ ‘inequality’ as National’s partners

Government orders “all actions” to be taken against Lord Dalgety; moves to freeze all payments to him

By
Kalino Latu
-

The government has ordered the Electricity Commission to take all possible action against Lord Dalgety to clear up all allegations about the Commission’s missing funds.

The Minister of Finance Hon. Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa told the Commission’s board on Wednesday, October 18, that action against Dalgety should be carried out immediately with “no further delay” according to an email seen by Kaniva News.

“In the minutes there was no reference to further investigation with a view of prosecution because there was allegations (sic) of criminal activities. Paula as Acting CEO should do that for the Board”, another e-mail which listed Hon. Tu’i’onetoa as sender, said.

The Commission’s board members had responded to the minister with an action list which included moving to freeze all future payments to Lord Dalgety

The Electricity Commission’s board resolved to change the organisation’s audit company to the government Department of Audit after an instruction from the Minister of Finance.

The board members also passed a resolution for Auditor General Sefita Tangi to audit the Commission’s financial accounts.

As Kaniva News reported, Lord Dalgety, the Commission’s former CEO,  tendered his resignation last week to the Chairman of the Commission Rev. ‘Alifeleti ‘Atiola citing his old age and health conditions.

However, he said he would stay with the Commission until March 31, 2018.

The Commission’s board members appointed Commissioner Paula Tupou as acting CEO of the organisation until December 2017.

Tupou said one of the reasons why the commission took this step was because of “the realisation of the urgency required to recover from the Dalgety disaster.”

Tupou will issue instructions to staff  regarding the new management arrangement.

Actions to be taken under the new regime will include freezing all payments to Lord Dalgety; advising Clive Edwards to cancel the previous engagement, training providers and informing the relevant institutions and individuals of Lord Dalgety’s segregation from the EC.

A salary review of staff and Commissioners by either Christine ‘Uta’atu or Pacific Management Consultants is to be completed before end of year.

Tupou will be included as a bank signatory of Electricity Commission accounts.

The continued employment of the commission’s two life time contractors may also depend on the findings of the Auditor.

Action will be taken on the auditor’s report and the salary review.

A replacement PA and other staff will be recruited as required.

A locally held directorship short course will be organised.

The main points

  • The government has ordered the Election Commission to take all possible action against Lord Dalgety to clear up all allegations about the Commission’s missing funds.
  • Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa told the Commission’s board that action against Dalgety should be carried out immediately.
  • The board passed a resolution for Auditor General Sefita Tangi to audit the Commission’s financial accounts.
  • Tupou will issue instructions to staff f regarding the new management arrangement.

For more information

Electricity Commission’s interim CEO moves to sack Lord Dalgety

Father drugged and raped own daughter, court told

By
Kalino Latu
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A father from Hahake district, Tongatapu has faced court accused of drugging his own daughter with crystal meth, also known as ice before raping her while his wife from a second marriage was watching.

The father, who cannot be named to protect his daughter’s identity, has pleaded not guilty to 15 charges including incest with daughter, procuring sexual acts by administering a drug and rapes, Kakalu ‘O Tonga newspaper has reported.

He pleaded guilty to one count of domestic violence after he attacked and threatened her daughter with a pair of scissors.

The Supreme Court heard the girl, whose parents were separated, and her mother was living in New Zealand at the time, had been staying with her father in Hahake from September 2016 to January 2017.

The man committed the offences over two months between December 2016 and January 2017.

The abuse apparently began when the girl was with her father in their house while his wife and their young children went to a funeral.

The girl was about to go to a friend’s house when her father allegedly forced her to take the drug.

She took it after her father threatened her. She said she felt weak and tired after taking the drug before her father allegedly raped her, the paper reported.

Since then whenever his father returned home drunk he entered her room and raped her, the girl claimed.

She alleged she was sometimes raped by her father while her step-mother was watching.

The case was reported to Police after the girl opened up to a maternal aunt and told her about her ordeal, and the aunt contacted the police.

It is understood the trial before Justice Charles Cato was set to continue next week.

US tourists fall victim to Vava‘u booking scams

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Nine tourists from the United States had been allegedly robbed of about $10,000 in a scam Police said was organised by a Tongan woman from New Zealand who was staying in Vava’u.

Tonga Police said a 65-year-old man from the United States who was staying on Mala Island in Vava’u lodged a complaint with police and have revealed how they were duped in the online thread last month.

The tourists allegedly paid $9,720 to the 37-year-old woman as payment for their meals, accommodation and transportation while touring Vava’u for whale watching.

They arrived in Vava’u to find the woman only paid for their accommodation and nothing else.

No charges had been laid after the woman paid back the money, Police said.

Police are warning tourists to be vigilant after the incident.

Valerie Adams shares first photo of new born baby Kimoana

By
Kaniva Staff
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Dame Valerie Adams-Price has shared the first picture of her baby daughter Kimoana on Instagram.

The Olympic Gold Medalist, 33, welcomed her first child on October 11.

“The shot put ace posted four photos on Instagram on Monday, showing baby Kimoana being showered with love by her adoring family.”

NZ donates T$202,000 for Tongan snap election

By
Kaniva Staff
-

New Zealand High Commissioner Sarah Walsh has confirmed that New Zealand will contribute T$202,000 to support preparations for Tonga’s November 2017 General Election, as requested by the Government of Tonga.

“The funding will go towards printing of the electoral roll and ballot papers, public awareness advertising and broadcasting, travel and training for election officials, and hiring of venues for polling stations” said Ms Walsh.

The New Zealand contribution came after former Foreign Affairs Minister Gerry Brownlee said the government will provide assistance to Tonga’s election “to ensure they have as efficient and fair and free election as they can.”

Paperwork for the election was expected to be distributed to the outer islands next week, the Election Commission said.

Tonga will go to the polls on November 16.

New Zealand appoints two Tongans to cabinet

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tongan MP Jenny Lātū Salesa who was born and raised in Tonga before moving to New Zealand about 30 years ago has won a place in history when she was appointed to Prime Minister-elect Jacinda Ardern’s cabinet.

MP Carmel Sepuloni who is of Tongan decent was also given a ministerial post.

Sixteen Labour MPs will make up Ardern’s ministerial cabinet and the rest of the spots would be given to four still-to-be-named NZ First MPs.

Announcing her cabinet line-up today in a press conference Ardern said gender balance in Cabinet was something she was not happy about and she had vowed to address it.

She will announce which portfolios the Labour Ministers will hold next week with the exception of MP Grant Robertson.

Robertson, the Labour’s MP for Wellington Central and Labour’s Finance Spokesperson in the government of Bill English, will be Finance Minister.

“Ms Ardern repeated her statements from the campaign trail that she was interested in the Arts and Culture portfolio, and wanted to keep involved in childrens’ issues.”

The Labour and NZ First led-government will be 52nd in power and Ardern will become the 40th prime minister.

Ardern said the Labour Cabinet Ministerial positions were decided through election by the Labour team at 2pm this afternoon in accordance with the party’s written rules.

The Ministerial positions outside of Cabinet were decided by Ardern.

Other cabinet members will be:

Jacinda Ardern, David Clark, Clare Curran, Kelvin Davis, Chris Hipkins, Iain Lees-Galloway, Andrew Little, Nanaia Mahuta, Stuart Nash, Damien O’Connor, David Parker, Grant Robertson,  Phil Twyford and Megan Woods.

Five ministers who will sit outside Cabinet:

Kris Faafoi, Peeni Henare, Willie Jackson, Aupito William Sio and Meka Whaitiri.

King commissions largest multi-million solar farm in Tonga

By
Kaniva Staff
-

A TP$9 million new 2-megawatt solar farm in Tonga was commissioned by His Majesty King Tupou VI yesterday at Matatoa, Tofoa.

The largest solar farm to be installed in the kingdom consisted of 7440 solar panels and it covered 6.3 acres.

Chinese company Zhuhai Singyes Green Building Technology funded the project after an agreement signed with the Tongan government in 2016.

It is expected to generate over 2,828,84 kWh of electricity over the first year of operation which is an equivalent of 680, 000 litres of diesel which could be saved in its first year of operation.

“The solar plant alone is expected to add another 5% towards the nation’s renewable energy target”, said the Minister for Public Enterprises and MEIDECC, Hon. Poasi Tei.

Carl Sanft, the Chairman of the Combined Utility Board said, “To date 12% of the renewable energy target for Tonga has been achieved”.

“ The project, permitted by Zhuhai Singyes Green Building Technology, is selling all the electricity generated from the plant to Tonga Power Ltd to assist the Government with the 50% renewable target by 2020 at TOP 0.33 per kWh which will remain the same for the next 25 years”, said the Chairman of the Utility Board Mr. Carl Sanft.

“ In order for TPL to help the Government achieve 50% renewable energy generation by 2020, grant financed investments of between US$32-$35 million is needed to help generate an additional 43% in renewable energy penetration through investments in solar, wind farms, as well as installation of much needed battery storage. This means that we can reduce the power tariff by 20 to 30 seniti per kWh”.

“The Government of China and Tonga Power Ltd have also commenced a dialogue, for the installation of a 2 Megawatt wind power generation project in Tonga and the Government of Japan had granted funding for a 1.3 MW wind generation project”.

“By engaging an Independent Power Producer like Zhuhai Singyes, it contributes to the energy sector achieving its goals by utilizing third party investments in clean electricity generation”, said Tonga Power’s CEO, Robert Matthews.

In his address to the gathering, His Excellency Mr. Wang Baodong congratulated the effort by Tonga Power Ltd and the Government of Tonga.

“It is good to see the interest that the people of China have invested in Tonga in the energy sector and we look forward to more Renewable Energy in the future”.

The Chairman of the Utility Board, Mr Carl Sanft, acknowledged the support from the development partners such as the Government of Australia, China and Japan as well as the European Union and the Asian Development Bank, Zhuhai Singyes Green Building Technology Co. Ltd and private investors for their support towards Tonga’s Renewable Energy Target.

Honourable Poasi Tei acknowledged Sam Leung, the Deputy CEO of Zhuhai Singyes Green Building Technology, CCECC, JH Electrical, T.E.A.M Power, SPS, Kramer, Ausenco and AECOM New Zealand Ltd for their contributions towards building a more resilient and prosperous Tonga.

The ceremony was also attended by the Ministers of the Crown, Ambassadors, church leaders, overseas visitors and distinguished guests.

Princess Pilolevu out of Tongasat amid company’s ongoing battles in court

By
Kalino Latu
-

As its legal battles continue, Tongasat is now being operated by only one director after the removal of Pilinisesi Pilolevu Tuita as director.

The princess owned Tongasat, which was also known as Friendly Island Satellite Communications limited, after the venture was introduced to her by American businessman Mats Nilson in 1990.

The company is currently being directed by Lucy Anna ‘Ilaiū, a director who was appointed with the Princess in December 2009.

Sēmisi Poanesesi Pānuve, who was also appointed as director in 2009, left the company in November 2015.

According to Tonga’s business registries website ‘Ilaiū was appointed as shareholder in May 2016.

The other shareholder was Nilson Research Corporation, which has owned shares since 2001.

‘Ilaiū held 8000 of the shares while Nilson held 2000.

The departure of the Princess came after the Supreme Court ordered in July that Tongasat and the Kingdom of Tonga had to release to Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva and PSA documents relating to the transfer of US$25,450,000 to Tongasat.

The money was originally paid to the Tongan government as a grant from the Government of the People’s Republic of China

The court decision was a result of a long running legal battle between the Prime Minister and the Princess after Hon. Pōhiva argued that the payment to or for Tongasat was unlawful within the meaning of the Public Finance Management Act.

The original case focused on the payment of the money paid to or for the benefit of Tongasat in around June of 2011.

As part of their attempts to have the money returned to government, the Prime Minister, who began the case when he was in opposition, and the Public Service Association, wanted Tongasat and the Kingdom of Tonga to hand over all documents relating to the transfer.

The judge ordered the company to make a full disclosure about what it holds.

Last month the Supreme Court allowed an appeal by the Ministry of Revenue and Customs against a decision by the Tax Tribunal over a dispute with Tongasat.

The Ministry issued Tongasat with a Consumption Tax assessment for the period July 2006 to March 2015 amounting to just under TP$18 million, not including penalties for late  payment.

Tongasat filed notices of objection to the taxation decision which was accepted by the Tax Tribunal.

However, the Supreme Court ruled the Tribunal was erred in its decision.

Tongasat indicated it would appeal the Supreme Court’s decision.

Kaniva News has been unable to reach Princess Pilolevu or Tongasat for comment.

The main points

  • As its legal battles continue, Tongasat is now being operated by only one director after the removal of Pilinisesi Pilolevu Tuita as director.
  • The princess owned Tongasat, which was also known as Friendly Island Satellite Communications limited, after the venture was introduced to her by American businessman Mats Nilson in 1990.
  • The company is currently being directed by Lucy Anna ‘Ilaiū, a director who was appointed with the Princess in December 2009.
  • The other shareholder is Nilson Research Corporation, which has owned shares since 2001.

For more information 

Tongan Business Registry   

Supreme Court allows Ministry’s appeal on Tongasat tax argument

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