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Justice Minister: Approval of international conventions in “complete chaos”

By
Philip Cass
-

The process of approving international conventions was in “complete chaos,” Tonga’s Minister of Justice said yesterday.

Hon. Sione Vuna Fa’otusia said  some agreements were being signed by ministers then later taken to the king to sign. Other processes involved His Majesty from the beginning

He said the situation had caused the government to suggest amending the constitution so that the executive arm of government was involved from the beginning before recommending the king ratify them.

The PACER Plus agreement had yet to be ratified because the government was still working on the terms of the agreement to see that the country benefitted from it.

“Can you imagine how inconsiderate and insensitive of us it is to get the king involved in the process of signing an agreement from the beginning to the end?” the Minister said.

The Member for Tongatapu 7 said seriously considering all the pros and cons of an agreement before ratification was purely in the domain of the executive government.

“The government of the day should consider it seriously before approaching the king for ratification or otherwise.

“We moved to amend the constitution so that the king ratify it on the recommendation of cabinet.

“What is wrong with such a considered process before involving the king?”

The Minister said the king’s decision to dissolve the house on the advice of the Speaker came after Cabinet had prepared to submit draft legislation to amend the constitution.

The main points

  • The process of approving international conventions was in “complete chaos,” Tonga’s Minister of justice said yesterday.
  • Sione Vuna Fa’otusia said some agreements were being signed by ministers then later taken to the king to sign. Other processes involved His Majesty from the beginning
  • He said the government had suggest amending the constitution so that the executive arm of government was involved from the beginning before recommending the king ratify them.
  • The Minister said the king’s decision to dissolve the house on the advice of the Speaker came after Cabinet had prepared to submit draft legislation to amend the constitution.

For more information 

Speaker has no power to advise king to dissolve Parliament says Justice Minister

Pacer Plus signing followed Budapest convention signing process, Deputy PM says

Massey marks Tongan language week with music, speeches and feasting

By
Philip Cass
-

Tongan language week was celebrated at Massey University yesterday with speeches and a lively performance by the Northcote College’s student cultural group.

Celebrations have been held across New Zealand this week.

Events to come include a film festival and a day of activities on Saturday.

The celebration was opened by the director of the university’s Pasifika centre, Associate Professor Malakai Koloamatangi.

Guest speaker Siaosi ‘Ilaiū said Tongans should use their most important values to enrich New Zealand society in whatever field.

He said this was in line with the motto of language week which was ‘Nofo-‘a-Kāinga: A Tongan way of enriching Aotearoa New Zealand.’

‘Iliaū is a Phd candidate who has been researching the connections between Tongan philosophy and the ideas of ancient Greek philosophers  such as Socrates and Aristotle.

Entertainment for the opening ceremony was provided by selected members of the Northcote College Tongan cultural group, led by Tofia Taufalele.

The group draws in Tongan and part-Tongan students from several schools and is a regular performer at Polyfest.

The group played a number of traditional songs as well as performing several Tongan dances, including the paddle dance.

Guests at the event were invited to join a meal of pork, yam and taro.

One of the highlights of yesterday’s event at Massey was a performance by Soane Tatuila Pusiaki, who played the nose flute, or fangu fangu.

He said the instrument’s name conveyed the idea that the musician breathed in life and blew out a tune.

He said they were traditionally used by about five families who served as court musicians in Tonga.

They would be played outside the sleeping quarters of the royal family to wake them in the morning.

One of his ancestors came from one of these families and so the instrument was handed down to him.

His grandfather taught him to play it.

Pusiaki teaches Tongan at Northcote High and is the only teaching doing this on the shore.

He has 11 students, two of them from Tonga.

He said there was a problem with second generation language loss and said that in some cases if children did not speak Tongan at school they would not speak it at all.

The main points

  • Tongan language week was celebrated at Massey University yesterday with speeches and a lively performance by the Northcote College’s student cultural group.
  • Guest speaker Siaosi ‘Ilaiu said Tongans should use their most important values to enrich New Zealand society in whatever field.
  • Celebrations have been held across Tonga this week.
  • Events to come include a film festival and a day of activities on Saturday.

More Tongan language week events

Tonga short films (Friday)

Tongan language week Te Oro arts centre (Saturday)

Sacked ministers deny involvement in alleged plot to dissolve Parliament

By
Kalino Latu
-

Former Deputy Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni and former Minister of Finance Tēvita Lavemaau have denied Hon. Pōhiva’s claims they had been involved in an alleged plot to dissolve Parliament.

The dissolution last month has ended a four-year parliamentary terms for Hon. Pōhiva and his government ministers which was scheduled to be followed by a general election in November 2018.

Sovaleni told media yesterday in Nukuʻalofa he had never involved in any attempts to dissolve Parliament.

“There is absolutely no truth to that rumour,” Sovaleni said.

“I always committed the best of my abilities, dedication and loyalty to the Kingdom and to serving the people,” he said.

“At all times, I expressed my honest views and beliefs to assist and support the leadership of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.”

Lavemaau reportedly said on Facebook he never knew anything about the Speaker Lord Tuʻivakanōʻs  plan to advise King Tupou to dissolve Parliament.

Both Lavemaau and Sovaleni thanked the Prime Minister for the opportunities he had given them to work with him since 2014.

Hon. Pohiva told media he had dismissed the ministers after he received information they knew about the kingʻs plan to dissolve Parliament days ahead of the dissolution but they did not warn him.

The Prime Minister is currently in Samoa and was expected to return to Tonga tomorrow.

Lord Maʻafu, the Deputy Prime Minister is now Acting Prime Minister while Hon. Dr. Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa had been appointed as the new Minister of Finance.

King proclaims Tonga’s snap general election on November 16

By
Kalino Latu
-

King Tupou VI has issued the Writs of Election, proclaiming Tonga will go to the polls on November 16 after he dissolved Parliament last month.

His Majesty made the sudden dissolution decision after he received an advice from Speaker Lord Tuʻivakanō.

The snap general election comes one year ahead of the November 2018 schedule.

As Kaniva News reported, the sudden timing of the election has hit some of the Tongan citizens living overseas who had plans to run for Parliament in 2018.

The upcoming election was a general election and the new elected representatives will become Members of Parliament for the next four years after the election.

The Electoral Commission has called for the nomination of candidates, who must register over two-days from 27-28 September at the Office of the Electoral Commission in Nukuʻalofa, the Governor’s Offices in  Haʻapai and Vavaʻu, and at the Offices of Government Representatives in ʻEua, Niuafoʻou and Niuatoputapu.

Pacific chief judges meet in Tonga to discuss issues facing  court systems

By
Kalino Latu
-

Chief Judges and judicial officers from 12 Pacific Island countries were meeting in a workshop in Nukuʻalofa to discuss issues facing their court systems.

The law experts were looking at topics including judicial leadership, the drivers of change that were facing the courts of the South Pacific and discussing approaches and tools to support leaders within Pacific judiciaries.

“Overall, the Workshop will provide the opportunity for senior judicial officers across the region to discuss the issues facing their judiciary and develop effective strategies to overcome these issues and strengthen their court systems”, a statement said.

The three-day workshop which will end tomorrow was being hosted by Tonga’s Chief Justice Honourable Owen Paulsen.

“The workshop is attended by Chief Justices and Judicial Officers, among other senior court staff from Tonga, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu”, it said.

“The Judicial Leadership Workshop, which was opened by Her Excellency Sarah Walsh, High Commissioner for New Zealand, is promoting regional leadership as part of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade funded Pacific Judicial Strengthening Initiative (June 2016-July 2021).

“The goal of Pacific Judicial Strengthening Initiative is to build fairer societies by supporting the courts in the Pacific region to develop more accessible, just, efficient and responsive justice services. The Initiative operates in the 12 countries including Tokelau and Tuvalu”.

Missing woman found after false hostage threats, Police say

By
Kalino Latu
-

Yesterday Police were searching for 20-year-old Hivakakala Langoia in ‘Eua after she contacted her family through Facebook claiming she was being held against her will by a man in the island.

Police have located Langoia this morning at 12am and found out “she never went to ‘Eua and claims that were made on kidnapping and associated allegations are false”, Police Acting Superintendent Tevita Vailea said.

Langoia who was found “safe and well” “was picked up last evening at around 12:00 midnight in the company of a male boarding the MV ‘Otuanga’ofa destined for Vava’u, after police received calls from the public,” Acting Supt Vailea said.

Langoia, who goes by the name Sālote Hivakakala Langoia on Facebook, was reported missing since August 25.

As Kaniva News reported, a post on Langoia’s  Facebook account on Monday which appeared to have been posted by her alleged captor alerted her family to go and search for Hivakakala in the sea in ‘Eua.

The poster told her family to stop contacting her on her Facebook account as they will not see her again.

The poster alleged Hivakakala’s family did not like him because of his marital status.

“‘Eua Police cancelled the search last night when she was located after an extensive searched was launched’, Acting Supt Vailea said.

“Police are concerned that the family have been put through this unnecessary worry and also valuable police time and resources have been wasted,”  he said.

Police investigation continues.

Body found in Popua waterway identified

By
Kalino Latu
-

The man whose body was found in the Popua waterway has been named as 22-year-old Kevini Maka of Pātangata.

Police forensic unit pulled his body from the waterway on Tuesday afternoon.

It is understood Police were awaiting an autopsy report to determine the cause of Maka’s death.

The deceased’s friends and relatives were shocked by the news of his death.

A Facebook user who goes by the name Fiufeinga ki he Lelei Taha lamented Maka’s death and wrote that if he was still staying with them in Talafo’ou he was still alive.

Another Facebook user wrote she was devastated after she found out the body Police were seeking help to identify yesterday was that of Maka.

One commentator has described him as “always smiling” and “enjoyed playing with kids”.

Facebook leads Police to search for missing woman allegedly held captive in ‘Eua

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tonga Police have launched an investigation after a photo showing a distressed woman went viral on Facebook this week.

Hivakakala Langoia, 20, who goes by the name Sālote Hivakakala Langoia on Facebook, had gone missing in ‘Eua after she fled her home at Houmakelikao recently.

She reportedly contacted her father through Facebook messenger and told him she was being held by a man against her will.

Some concerned Facebook users have posted a photo of a man to Facebook claiming he was Hivakakala’s captor.

Police could not be able to locate Langoia after a search yesterday. Unconfirmed reports on Facebook said this morning she was found.

A post on her Facebook account on Monday which appeared to have been posted by her captor told her family to go and search for Hivakakala in the sea.

The poster told her family to stop contacting her on her Facebook account as they will not see her again.

The poster alleged Hivakakala’s family did not like him because of his marital status.

In one of the shares of the post on Facebook which had more than 300 comments some commentators threatened to harm the captor if they happened to find them.

Police have appealed to the public to contact the nearest police station if they have information which could help in their investigation.

King affirms dismissals of former Deputy PM and Minister of Finance

By
Kalino Latu
-

King Tupou VI has affirmed dismissals of Deputy Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni and Minister of Finance Tēvita Lavemaau by Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pōhiva.

A letter from His Majesty had been delivered to the dismissed cabinet ministers today, Hon. Dr. Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa has confirmed this afternoon.

As Kaniva News reported, Dr Pōhiva Tuʻionetoa had been appointed as new Minister of Finance.

He said the king had affirmed Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pōhiva’s appointing of Lord Maʻafu as Deputy Prime Minister.  Hon. Poasi Tei took over from Sovaleni as Minister of MEIDECC.

Hon. Dr. Tuʻiʻonetoa said he was expecting an orderly handover of their responsibilities with the former Minister of Finance tomorrow at Treasury.

Police appeal for help identifying tattooed corpse pulled from Popua waterway

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Police were still unable to put a name to the tattooed man whose dead body was pulled from the Popua waterway this afternoon.

The deceased has a tattoo of the words Vola Halasiti on his chest, Police said.

They have appealed to the public to help identify the deceased.

Police were called to the scene at  around 12:45pm.

“Police ask anyone who has any information that can assist us with our investigation or knows any missing person, to call us immediately at 922, 23417 or to the Police Station closest to you”, says Acting Chief Superintendent Tevita Vailea.

Graphic photos of the deceased have been posted on Facebook and have been widely shared.

“…Police are asking the public to refrain from sharing  these photos.

“The dignity of the dead must always  be respected.

“By uploading those photos shows absolutely no respect to this victim. The deceased has yet to be identified and the fact of his death has not been known to the family of the victim at this early stage,”  Vailea said.

There is no further information available at this stage, Police said.

Police Investigation is underway.

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