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Six fishermen missing during strong winds warning rescued after Tonga, NZ and US rescue effort

By
Kalino Latu
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Six Tongan fishermen who went missing during a gale wind warning for Tonga had been rescued today following a joint rescue effort between the U.S. Coast Guard, Maritime New Zealand and the Tongan navy.

The men arrived safely to Tongatapu aboard a Tongan naval patrol boat after they were initially located by a U.S. Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules aircrew from Air Station Barbers Point, Hawaii, a U.S. Coast Guard District 14 Hawaii Pacific statement said.

The fishermen were missing at sea since Tuesday 23 May 2017 and they were reported missing at 10:25am on Wednesday 24 May, Tongan Police said.

“The fishermen left Nuku’alofa on the Lilite 1 heading to an area near Fonoi Ha’apai for a fishing trip on Monday 15 May 2017, they were expected back on Tuesday 23 May, but by Wednesday morning there was no sign of them”.

According to U.S. Coast Guard watchstanders at Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu its Hercules crew were due to return to Hawaii from Auckland following participation in the regional search and rescue conference when they received a request Wednesday afternoon to look for the missing Tongans.

The Hercules were then diverted from their original mission to respond.

According to US Coast Guards, upon arrival to the search area Wednesday evening, about 80 miles off Tonga, the Hercules crew sighted the fishermen waving a white flag.

They released a long range deployable drop kit to the crew of the disabled vessel which included food and water, a VHF radio, and a transponder.

Watchstanders at JRCC Honolulu notified RCC New Zealand personnel of the vessel’s position. Due to fuel constraints the Hercules crew was forced to depart the scene to American Samoa for fuel and crew rest.

RCC New Zealand personnel provided the position to the Tongan naval patrol boat crew who used the transponder to successfully re-located the fishing vessel and rescue all six men. All six fishermen are reportedly on good condition.

“I’m proud of my crew and how well we represented the United States this past week,” said Lt. Cmdr. Michael Koehler, Hercules pilot, Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point.

Pōhiva says media twisted comments about Chinese company not paying tax

By
Kalino Latu
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Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pōhiva has hit back at reports that he told a press conference that “Chinese Businesses in Tonga did not pay any tax at all,” claiming his words were “twisted” in the media.

He also said reports that he said the Chinese would take over the country in the future were taken out of context.

Pohiva told Kaniva News in an interview in ‘Atalanga, Auckland, that what he told media was that a Chinese company, Yan Jian Group Co Ltd, did not pay any tax at all.

“I did not mean all the Chinese businesses in Tonga did not pay tax,” the Prime Minister said.

“That was not true.”

The company has operated in Tonga since 2009 as the principal contractor on a major roads improvement scheme with the aid of the Chinese Government

Hon. Pōhiva said he was surprised when it was revealed in a recent court case that the former government had agreed to allow the Yan Jian Group not to pay any taxes.

The revelation was made during a Land Court hearing in which the judge ordered Lord  Nuku and the Yan Jian Group Co Ltd to pay the current Lord Luani TP$5,556,000 in compensation for a dispute over a block of land in Malapo.

Lawyer Sione Fonua, who acted for Lord Luani, told Kaniva News the Chinese company did not pay taxes and did not file any annual returns with Inland Revenue because of its agreement with the former government.

It has been estimated the company was given TP$80 million for the project.

Regarding reports that Hon. Pohiva had said the Chinese would take over the country, he said he emphasised that only those who were working hard would control the country.

He said he then referred to the hard-working Chinese as an example.

He said his comments had been wrongly portrayed as if he was having a conspiracy with the Chinese or he was supporting them to take over the country.

Hon. Pōhiva was responding to a report by Matangi Tonga Online, which reported:

“He said he had a meeting with representatives of the Chinese community and learned that during the past few years “Chinese Businesses in Tonga did not pay any tax at all”.

“This was a shocking revelation by the PM, taking into consideration that about 90% of all small shops in Tonga are run by Chinese.

The revelation by the PM that Chinese businesses in Tonga did not pay any taxes during the past few years, and that he thinks the Chinese are going to run the country during the next few years, was received with incredulity by the media present”.

Hon. Pōhiva said reports quoting him as saying the Chinese would take control of the country in the next few years was misreported.

He said he only referred to the Chinese as an example because he had seen a report that Tongan civil servants’ commitment to working the country only contained 20 percent of their efforts in comparison with Chinese workers who were committed 80 percent.

He said he reminded the press conference that he believed in one of the oldest economic policies in the world; the passage in Genesis in which God tells Adam: “By the sweat of your brow shall you eat bread.”

He said the Chinese were working hard and expanded their business activities from shops to the tax allotments and grew vegetables and sold them to make money while many Tongans did nothing.

He said if the Tongans could not stand up and work hard like the Chinese there was no way they could beat them in controlling the economy of the country.

Below is what Hon. Pōhiva said in a tape record in Tongan which is written verbatim with an English translation.

In Tongan:

“E pule’i e fonua ko ‘eni ‘e he kakai ngāué. Ko ia pe ‘oku ngāué ko ia ia ‘oku pule. He’ikai te ke mohemohe koe pea ke ha’u ko e ke ke pule. Ne ‘osi fai e savea ki ai pea ko e savea  ‘oku peheni. Ko e ‘avalisi ko e ngāue ‘a e kau ngāue fakapule’anga peseti pe ‘e 20. Pēseti pe ‘e 20 honau ‘atamai mo honau ivi mo ‘enau commitment ‘oku ‘ave ki he ngāué. Siaina pēseti ‘e 80 ‘o fai ki ‘olunga. Tala mai angé pe ko hai ‘e pule he fonua ko ‘eni? ‘E lava e pēseti ‘e 20 ʻo langa e fonua ko ʻení. No! ‘Ai ke mahino ki hotau ‘atamaí pea tau tala ki he kakaí ‘a e me’a ‘e hoko ‘i he kaha’ú. ‘Oku fai ‘emau fakataha mo e kau Siainá. Fai mau fakataha ke mau talatalanoa ki he kaha’u o e fonuá he ‘oku ‘ilo ‘emautolu ‘a e me’a te tau iku ki aí. (Fakatatau ki he foʻi tepí ne hū hake heni e tokotaha ngali ko e ʻētita ʻo e Matangi Tongá Pesi Fonua ʻo lea atu ki he Palēmiá) “Mou fa’ufa’u moutolu ke mou take over ‘emoutolu ‘eni (Hū e kata). (Ka ʻi he tali ʻa Pōhivá ne ne pehē)  ‘Ikai ko ʻemau  ‘uhinga eni ʻamautolu ke vahevahe mai he ko kinautolu te nau pulé. Heʻikai ke hoko ia. Ko e tali atu ia ʻa e tokotaha ko ení. Heiʻilo koe mo hoʻo tali ki aí ka ko e anga ʻeni ʻemau sió ʻamautolu.

Translated:

“This country will be controlled by people who work. Those who work will rule. You would not sleep and wake up to come and rule. There was a survey and the result was this. The work done by the civil servants were 20 percent in average. Their ideas their energy, they committed to work only 20 percent. The Chinese was 80 percent and over. Tell me who will control this country? Could this country be built by the 20 percent? No! Make it clear to our mind and let’s tell the people what will happen in the future of this country. We have a meeting with the Chinese. We are meeting to talk about the future of the country as we know what we would end up with”

A reporter, apparently Matangi Tonga editor Pesi Fonua interrupted while Hon. Pōhiva was talking and asked the Prime Minister: “Are you (‘Akilisi and the Chinese) plotting to take over this country?” (laughing).

But the Prime Minister said: “No. We are meeting to ask them to share with us because they will take control I tell you.”

“That won’t happen,” the reporter replied.

“It’s up do you, but I am telling you it will happen,” the Prime Minister said.

The main points

  • Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pohiva has hit back at reports that he told a press conference that “Chinese Businesses in Tonga did not pay any tax at all,” claiming his words were “twisted” in the media.
  • He also said reports that he said the Chinese would take over the country in the future were taken out of context.
  • Pohiva told Kaniva News in an interview in ‘Atalanga, Auckland, that what he told media was that a Chinese company, Yan Jian Group Co Ltd, did not pay any tax at all.
  • The revelation was made during a Land Court hearing during which Lord Nuku and the Yan Jian Group Co Ltd were ordered to pay the current Lord Luani TP$5,556,000 in compensation for a dispute over a block of land in Malapo.

For more information

Pohiva tells Auckland meeting: Tongans should learn from Chinese example and live in harmony

Land Court finds Lord Nuku and mining company were trespassing

Police officer arrested for armed robbery faces suspension

By
Kalino Latu
-

A 27-year-old Tongan Police officer who was arrested on Tuesday 23 in connection with an armed robbery will be suspended from work today, Police Commissioner Steve Caldwell has confirmed this afternoon.

The suspect will appear at the Fasi Magistrate Court on Friday 26 May, 2017, Caldwell said.

A 38-year-old Pahu male associate is also facing the same charges and will appear at the Magistrate Court on Monday 29 May, 2017.

The incident occurred at 7:00pm Saturday 20 May in Ma’ufanga when a masked man entered the store armed with a knife and threatened the shopkeeper, Caldwall said.

“No one was injured in the incident and the alleged offenders fled the scene with approximately $700 in cash”.

“The allegations are extremely concerning, however the arrest is a very clear signal that no one is above the law and I commend the investigators for conducting a thorough and impartial investigation,” the Police Commissioner said.

The officer was in custody and will be served a Suspension Notice today.

The criminal investigators continue investigating the incident.

The Pope gave Donald Trump a 192-page letter he wrote on climate change

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By Mythili Sampathkumar

Donald Trump was given a gift during his meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican: a papal letter detailing why the world should fight against climate change.

Pope Francis issued the encyclical in 2015, just months before nearly 200 countries signed the historic Paris Agreement on climate change.

The agreement is considered a large part of President Obama’s legacy, particularly his work on environmental issues like establishing a protected national park in Hawaii and passing legislation on clean energy.

The US is one of the largest emitters of carbon in the world and so its role is crucial to the success of the agreement along with China and India, also large carbon emitters.

The encyclical, titled Laudato Si or “Praised Be,” essentially tied protection of the planet made by God to Catholics’ faith in God.

In it he writes that climate change is a “global problem which has grave implications: environmental, social, economic, political, and for the distribution of goods.”

Mr Trump and his aides have often played up the president’s business acumen and experience running a global company. Pope Francis addresses the ties between multinational corporations and climate as well.

“[T]he pollution produced by companies which operate in less developed countries in ways they could never do at home, in those countries in which they raise their capital: We note that often the businesses that operate this way are multinationals. They do here what they would never do in developed countries or the so-called first world.”

He went on to write that “by itself the market cannot guarantee integral human development and social inclusion.”

Mr Trump has repeatedly called climate change a “hoax” perpetrated by the Chinese in the past – a stance which appears to have softened a bit after his face-to-face meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

China has become a leader in renewable energy investments, which topped new money pouring into the oil and gas industry for the first time in 2015 to the tune of $350 billion.

He also appointed former Exxon CEO Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State and a known climate denier, Scott Pruitt, to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

In his proposed federal budget, Mr Trump also plans to cut the State Department and EPA budgets – the agencies where much of federal climate change work is done – by nearly a third.

Climate change programmes across the whole federal government, but especially in the Coast Guard, the maritime security agency of the US which also does ocean and endangered species conservation work.

The president has also caused consternation for many countries in the group of seven (G7) for not making a decision on whether to keep the US in the Paris Agreement. The G7 has issued a cohesive statement on climate change until this year, where they cited the Trump administration’s lack of clarity on their message as a problem.

Several alliances, including the 28-member military alliance North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) have declared climate change as a global security threat, especially in the Middle East where drought and famine are growing concerns.

The Vatican’s Secretary of State brought up climate change during the meeting as well and encouraged Mr Trump to stay in the Paris Agreement. The White House said a decision whether to remain in the agreement would be made after the G7 meeting later this month in Sicily, Italy.

Pacific hurricane season depends on El Nino, forecasters say

By
Kaniva Staff
-

HONOLULU (AP) — Forecasters say the central Pacific region around Hawaii can expect a normal or slightly above-average hurricane season, depending largely on the presence of El Nino conditions.

Chris Brenchley, director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Central Pacific Hurricane Center, said at a news conference Wednesday that the region can expect anywhere from five to eight tropical cyclones from June through November.

Brenchley said there is an equal chance of El Nino and neutral conditions in the Pacific this season.

El Nino is a natural warming of the Pacific that alters weather worldwide.

The average number of storms per year since 1970 is 4.6, but the past four seasons have had above-average activity.

The 2015 season set a record with 15 total named storms that came amid a strong El Nino.

Man dead after crash in Otahuhu

By
Kaniva Staff
-

New Zealand: One person has died after a single-vehicle crash early this morning in Otahuhu, South Auckland.

Police said it happened on Great South Road, between Nixon Ave and Mangere Road, just after 1:30am.

The Police Serious Crash Unit will be investigating.

Pohiva, PSA, win latest round in Tongasat Supreme Court saga

By
Philip Cass
-

Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva has won the latest round in his long running fight with Tongasat over what he says were illegal payments of Chinese money.

Lord Chief Justice Paulsen ordered that Tongasat and the Kingdom of Tonga clearly state what documents they had relating to the transfer of Chinese money to Princess Pilolevu’s company.

The original case focused on a payment of US$25,450,000 made by the Government of the People’s Republic of China to the Government of Tonga in May 2011 and paid to or for the benefit of Tongasat in around June  of that year.

Pohiva argued that the payment to or for Tongasat was unlawful within the meaning of the Public Finance Management Act.

The Prime Minister, who began the case when he was in opposition, and the Public service association want 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.

He said the Prime Minister and the PSA were entitled to costs.

Tongasat argued that it had an Exclusive Agency Agreement with the Kingdom to market and manage the licensing and  frequency  assignments of orbital slots registered by the Kingdom with the International Telecommunications Union.

In its submission to the Supreme Court it claimed a dispute had arisen with China Electronic System Engineering Company (CESEC), a corporation associated with the People’s Republic of China (PRC), over its unlawful use of the orbital slot at 130°E.

Tongasat said it concluded on behalf of the Kingdom a settlement with CESEC under which CESEC would pay US$49,900,000 in two tranches of US$24,451,000 on 31 July 2008 and US$25,449,000 on 31 December 2010 and that Tongasat was to receive  50%  of  the  first  payment and, subject to further negotiations, ·50% of  the  second  payment.

Tongasat  alleged that at the  request of CESEC and the Chinese government the money was recorded as aid grant money and not as settlement of the dispute.

This was for reasons of ‘State discretion,’ but  in  the  knowledge that it  was  really a payment for the unlawful use of the  orbital slot.

The judge criticised the satellite company’s defence.

“The logic underlying Tongasat’s statement of defence is sometimes difficult to follow,” he said.

“There  are important  pieces  of  the  jigsaw  missing.”

Hon. Pohiva and the PSA did not win all their arguments in court.

They had asked the court to order that Tongasat be barred from defending the case because it had not paid the costs awarded against it during a previous hearing on the issue.

He described Tongasat’s failure to pay as unacceptable.

“It has provided no explanation for its long standing failure to pay the costs,” he said.

He said there was “some force” in the submission of Hon. Pohiva’s legal team that the failure to pay should be considered contempt of court.

However, Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said he would not rule against Tongasat in this issue but would defer the matter to June 23 so the plaintiffs could explore other ways of obtaining costs.

The main points

  • Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva has won the latest round in his long running fight with Tongasat over what he says were illegal payments of Chinese money.
  • Lord Chief Justice Paulsen ordered that Tongasat and the Kingdom of Tonga clearly state what documents they had relating to the transfer of Chinese money to Princess Pilolevu’s company.
  • The original case focused on a payment of US$25,450,000 made by the Government of the People’s Republic of China to the Government of Tonga in May 2011 and paid to or for the benefit of Tongasat in around June of that year.
  • Pohiva argued that the payment to or for Tongasat was unlawful within the meaning of the Public Finance Management Act.

Father reveals his son’s last words to him hours before he was killed in US

By
Kalino Latu
-

The father of William Taufa Volomohea Bloomfield, 24, who was killed after he was struck by a car on Sunday night, May 21, in the United States has revealed the last words he received from him hours before he died.

Richard Bloomfield who is in Tonga, said they had jokes on Facebook with his eldest son on Sunday afternoon “with his last words to us…”Dancing in Paradise.” and that’s it”.

“My heart will forever throbbing!”, he said.

Richard also posted to Facebook a photo of him and his son saying it was taken when Viliami (Tongan for William) was 4.

William arrived in the United States from Tonga in 2015.

His aunt Fehoko Bloomfield ‘Okusitino told The Press Enterprise “He came to find a life, get a job and help out his family back home in Tonga.”

“Bloomfield ran into the roadway near 8455 California Avenue – where there is no crosswalk – and was struck by a car, authorities said. The driver remained at the scene while Bloomfield was taken to a hospital where he later died”, the paper reported.

‘Okusitino said he lived in an apartment near where the crash occurred with his wife of one year.

“His wife is heartbroken and cannot hold things together,” Bloomfield-Okusitino said.

“Everyone at the moment is still trying to piece together the news and the shock that William is gone.”

Bloomfield-Okusitino said her nephew is remembered as a “very cool, very happy” person. He was close with his family, including his younger brothers, and called his aunt his “other mum,” Bloomfield-Okusitino said.

“My heart has been broken in pieces,” Bloomfield-Okusitino said. “He was down to earth, always lights up the crowd.”

Tonga sends representatives to 70th World Health Assembly in Geneva

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Tongan government has sent two representatives to the 70th World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, Switzerland.

The Minister of Health Hon. Saia Piukala and SPC Director of Public Health Division Dr Paula Vivili have joined representatives from 194 countries in the international health assembly.

The WHA was held in the Palais des Nations, located near the Place des Nations and Avenue de la Paix on Monday 22 – 25.

The Minister said the meeting was important for Tonga because it looked at prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Tonga accounted for an estimated 74 per cent of all mortality in 2008, according to Commonwealth Health Online.

The Minister told a conference in Shanghai in 2016 that what he called “the obesity epidemic” was affecting young people in the kingdom.

Hon. Piukala cited the example of a primary school in Tonga where a 2011 study found that 30% of the students between five to seven were either overweight or obese.

“Overweight and obesity rates of more than 80% and even 90% of the adult population is common among many Pacific  countries and diabetes prevalence of around 20% and more are not uncommon,” the Minister said.

The country’s life expectancy, which was once in the mid-70s, has fallen to 64.

The assembly also discussed Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Cerebro Spinal Meningitis (CSM) epidemic in Nigeria, and election of a new President of the World Health Organisation (WHO) which were expected to top the agenda of the Assembly.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, a health expert from Ethiopia, was elected as the new director-general to lead the United Nations agency focused on international public health.

Tedros, who prefers to be called by his first name, will be taking over the position from Dr. Margaret Chan, who has been overseeing the agency since 2006.

Billy Vunipola to miss British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand

By
Kaniva Staff
-

London – Billy Vunipola dealt the British and Irish Lions a huge blow after it was announced on Sunday that the powerhouse England backrow was pulling out of the upcoming tour of New Zealand due to a shoulder injury.

The No 8 has been a mainstay for both England in their back-to-back Six Nations title wins and in also helping London club Saracens to consecutive European Champions Cup crowns this season.

But all the while he has been trying to manage a shoulder injury.

The 24-year-old put in another mammoth 80-minute effort during Saracens’ 18-16 English Premiership semi-final defeat by Exeter on Saturday, a match that turned out to be his last of the season as the reigning domestic champions fell short in their quest for a ‘double Double’.

“It is really disappointing for Billy and we know how much he was looking forward to joining the squad,” said Lions coach Warren Gatland in a statement issued by the combined side.

“He has been carrying an injury and feels he wouldn’t be able to contribute fully to the Tour and needs further medical treatment.”

The New Zealander added: “We really appreciate his honesty in making this decision and wish him luck with his recovery.”

Vunipola returned to the England set-up in March for the Six Nations after four months out with a knee injury.

His place in the squad for the 10-match Lions tour, which includes three Tests against the world champion All Blacks, will be taken by England team-mate James Haskell.

However, Wasps star Haskell must first come through the May 27 Premiership final against Exeter at Twickenham unscathed before joining up with the Lions.

This would have been Vunipola’s first Lions tour, with all his 34 Test appearances to date coming with England.

He had hoped to join brother Mako, the Saracens and England prop who featured in the Lions’ victorious tour of Australia four years ago, on the plane to New Zealand.

Haskell had been due to tour Argentina with England next month but his call-up by Gatland leaves Red Rose boss Eddie Jones short of yet another experienced player, with 15 members of his regular squad now on Lions duty.

“We have called up James to the squad, we wish him all the best next weekend and look forward to welcoming him into camp before we depart,” added Gatland.

Gatland’s men leave for New Zealand on Monday, May 29, with their opening tour match just days later against a Provincial Union XV in Whangarei on June 3 as they bid to become only the second Lions side after the celebrated 1971 team to win a series in New Zealand.

This year’s first Test is in at the All Blacks’ Eden Park fortress – where New Zealand have not lost since 1994 – in Auckland on June 24.

Revised British and Irish Lions 41-man squad and fixtures for the tour of New Zealand in June and July after James Haskell replaced Billy Vunipola on Sunday:

Backs

Fullback/wings: Elliot Daly (ENG), Anthony Watson (ENG), Leigh Halfpenny (WAL), Liam Williams (WAL), George North (WAL), Stuart Hogg (SCO), Jack Nowell (ENG), Jared Payne (IRL), Tommy Seymour (SCO)

Centres: Ben Te’o (ENG), Jonathan Davies (WAL), Owen Farrell (ENG), Robbie Henshaw (IRL), Jonathan Joseph (ENG)

Flyhalves: Jonathan Sexton (IRL), Dan Biggar (WAL)

Scrumhalves: Conor Murray (IRL), Rhys Webb (WAL), Greig Laidlaw (SCO)

Forwards

Backrows: Taulupe Faletau (WAL), James Haskell (ENG), Sam Warburton (WAL, capt), Sean O’Brien (IRL), CJ Stander (IRL), Ross Moriarty (WAL), Peter O’Mahony (IRL), Justin Tipuric (WAL)

Locks: Maro Itoje (ENG), Alun Wyn Jones (WAL), Iain Henderson (IRL), George Kruis (ENG), Courtney Lawes (ENG)

Tighthead props: Tadhg Furlong (IRL), Dan Cole (ENG), Kyle Sinckler (ENG)

Hookers: Jamie George (ENG), Rory Best (IRL), Ken Owens (WAL)

Loosehead props: Mako Vunipola (ENG), Joe Marler (ENG), Jack McGrath (IRL)

Coach: Warren Gatland (NZL)

Fixtures

June 03: v Provincial Union XV, Whangarei

June 07: v Blues, Auckland

June 10: v Crusaders, Christchurch

June 13: v Highlanders, Dunedin

June 17: v Maori All Blacks, Rotorua

June 20: v Chiefs, Waikato

June 24: 1ST TEST v NEW ZEALAND, Auckland

June 27: v Hurricanes, Wellington

July 01: 2ND TEST v NEW ZEALAND, Wellington

July 08: 3rd TEST v NEW ZEALAND, Auckland

–Sport 24

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