The man who drowned at sea in Tungua, Ha’apai on Saturday, April 29 has been named.
He was 22-year-old Viliami Halakeituai Vaea.
Police said Makineti tried to swim back to shore but got into difficulty after helping other fishermen to fix an anchored boat.
His body was later found washed up on the shores of the island and was immediately identified.
He has become Tonga’s first drowning death of 2017.
The royal guards’ security protocols are in question after an intruder entered and wandered around the royal palace grounds before he was captured.
The length of time the male trespasser spent at the king’s residence was unknown.
TBC television service report said an investigation was underway to find out how the intruder entered the Nuku’alofa property undetected.
It was not clear whether or not Their Majesties were at the Palace when the interloper showed up but apparently whoever was there at the time was not in any danger from the security breach.
The report claimed the intruder was known to have mental-health problems.
The Tongan government has allocated millions of pa’anga in its annual budget for the maintenance and security of all the royal palaces in Tongatapu.
In 2000 a three-metre iron fence was installed to protect the property against intruders after a huge brawl at Pangai Lahi ended with people fleeing to find protection at the palace.
Tonga has three years to meet its renewable energy goals.
Deputy Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni told Radio Tonga the government wanted to generate half the kingdom’s power from renewable sources by 2020.
It now produces 11 percent from renewable sources.
Hon. Sovaleni told the national broadcaster Tonga was hampered by its isolation, funding and the number of islands.
The government hoped to obtain climate change funding to overcome some of the problems. It is likely to invest in solar and wind projects.
According to a World Bank report, the Pacific faces unique challenges in providing affordable and accessible electricity.
There was a heavy reliance on diesel-fueled generators in many areas to power homes and businesses.
The report said electricity prices in the region were among the highest in the world, with some countries spending as much as 25% of gross domestic product on fuel imports.
This left household incomes, inflation levels and national finances extremely vulnerable to volatile Asia-Pacific oil markets.
The World Bank said Pacific governments were increasingly turning to alternative energy sources, including biofuels, wind, solar and hydro systems.
The shift to renewables may help to address the need for energy which was cleaner and easier to generate in remote areas.
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The Reserve Bank wants to encourage banks to lend money to support the kingdom’s economic growth, Acting Governor of the Reserve Bank Jessie Cocker said today.
The announcement came as the Reserve Bank released figures showing that despite rising inflation, the Bank remained confident of strong economic activity.
In order to promote lending, the Bank would maintain the monetary policy rate at zero percent interest, keep the minimum loans/deposit ratio at 80% and keep the Statutory Reserve Deposit ratio at 10 percent.
Cocker said the domestic economy picked up in February after slow growth in January.
He said the recovery in February had been helped by an improved agricultural sector, construction and growth in the distribution sector.
However, the news was not all good, with foreign reserves falling over the month to $377.7 million due to the deficit in Overseas Exchange Transactions.
The annual inflation rate increased significantly by 8.9% in the year ending February 2017.
This was due mainly to the new customs duty and excise tax introduced in July 2016 which largely drove the 10.5% rise in import prices.
Annual domestic inflation also rose by 6.8%, mainly because of the continued short supply of kava-Tonga and unstable local food prices.
Despite these problems, the Reserve Bank expects strong economic activity to continue for the time being.
Cocker said the level of foreign reserves was expected to remain adequate, supported by estimated higher receipts of remittances and foreign aid.
Inflation was expected to fall in 2017/18.
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The lawyer for Tonga Broadcasting Commission general manager Nanisē Fifita told Nepituno webpage the termination of his client’s contract was a big mistake and should be corrected.
Lawyer William Clive Edwards said he had launched legal action against the government after the Minister of Public Enterprise terminated Fifita’s renewed contract yesterday.
It has been reported that Fifita’s renewed contract was revoked and that she was told to continue working as Acting General Manager.
It was unclear this evening whether she was still working for TBC without any contract as she has sought legal action shortly after her contract was terminated. She has yet to respond to our request for comment.
Former TBC board chair Tapu Panuve confirmed to Kaniva News this morning his role with the board had ended.
He said he was thankful there had been an opportunity for him to help.
In Tongan he said: “Kuo ngata ‘eku fakahoko fatongia ‘i he TBC pea ‘oku ou fakafeta’i pe he ma’u faingamalie ke fai ha tokoni”.
As we reported last night he was replaced by ‘Ahongalu Fusimalohi.
We understand a TBC board meeting this morning was chaired by Fusimalohi.
Fifita’s contract was renewed about a week ago by the Board after it sought advice from government lawyers.
The committee found the contract contained a clause which allowed it to be renewed automatically when Fifita’s term was due to expire.
But the Minister reportedly said that under the law the renewal of her contract should have been first referred to him.
He claimed that as the Minister responsible for the TBC board he had the power to renew or terminate her contract.
Tight lipped
The government had stayed tight lipped over the episode since it leaked to media yesterday afternoon.
Taimi ‘o Tonga newspaper reported this morning Fifita was sacked, “fakanofo.”
The paper’s publisher, Kalafi Moala, said his reliable source said Fifita’s renewed contract was revoked.
“But, they asked her to keep working as Acting GM,” Moala said.
“My guess is that they want her to keep working until they find someone to take over, or they come to a conclusion of what to do with TBC”.
He said he suspected the government was trying to avoid a lawsuit.
“We ran a lead story on today’s Taimi (already distributed in Auckland) that Nanise has been fired “Fakanofo” but the twist to it is that her contract was revoked and she is still working as Acting GM without a contract”, Moala said.
“If she sues the Government, it will be because of the termination of her contract renewal.”
Kakalu ‘o Tonga newspaper also reported this morning that Fifita’s contract agreement was terminated but said she is being allowed to work without a contract.
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Tonga’s press freedom rating sinks; report cites bad blood between PM and broadcaster
The Netherlands government has pledged to pay Tongan officials’ travel to the European Union in a new deal.
This has been confirmed in an agreement signed in Nuku’alofa Thursday 27.
The Dutch will pay for Tongan officials who would travel overseas to attend meetings organised by the European Union in its attempts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping.
Tonga’s Department of Maritime and Ports has applauded the opportunity because it could not afford to pay for its travellers.
A conference on greenhouse gas emissions will be held in June this year in London and Tonga has confirmed its attendance after the signing of the deal.
Tonga is the second nation in the Pacific region to sign such an agreement with a country in the European Union, the government said in a statement.
The Director of Marine and Ports Mrs. Kelela Tonga said: “This signing is a corporation between Tonga and Netherlands which provide opportunities for Tonga to attend conferences that are held in the European Union. And let our voices be heard together with the other Pacific Islands, to address the greenhouse gas emissions over the International Maritime Organization (IMO)”.
(NZ Herald) Veteren Warriors wing Manu Vatuvei is set to trade the black and white of the Kiwis for the red and white of Mate Ma’a Tonga this weekend after being called into the Tongan squad for their match against Fiji in Sydney.
The 31-year-old returned from injury to score a try for the Warriors’ reserve grade side against Wyong on Sunday, and has now been rushed into the Tonga squad as a replacement for former Warriors teammate Konrad Hurrell, who has been ruled out.
Vatuvei is one of the most decorated Kiwis players ever, having won the Tri-Nations in 2005, two Four Nations titles in 2010 and 2014, and a World Cup title in 2008.
He has scored 20 tries in 28 test appearances since his international debut against Australia in 2005.
Tonga’s fixture against Fiji is one third of a triple header at Campbelltown Sports Stadium on Saturday, with the Cook Islands taking on Papua New Guinea to kick-off the day, and Samoa’s clash against England set to conclude it.
Warriors players selected for international sides this weekend:
Kiwis: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, David Fusitu’a, Kieran Foran, Shaun Johnson, Simon Mannering and Issac Luke
Mate Ma’a Tonga: Manu Vatuvei, Tuimoala Lolohea and Ata Hingano
Toa Samoa: Ken Maumalo and Bunty Afoa
Cook Islands: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
Junior Kiwis: Chanel Harris-Tavita, Erin Clark and Isaiah Papali’i
All Tongan Regional Seasonal Employee workers undergo a routine health check every year, Tongan government liaison officer Sefita Hao’uli said this evening.
Hao’uli was responding to a report that a Samoan RSE worker had died in Australia.
Samoa Prime Minister Tuila’epa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi said the dead man collapsed on the dance floor.
A seasonal worker died in New Zealand last month of a suspected heart attack while playing rugby.
Radio New Zealand said the death of the Samoan worker was expected to lead to the launch of a fitness programme and tests for potential participants in the scheme.
Hao’uli said health checks were part of the visa application process for New Zealand and Australia.
They were done so the workers could be insured for health and travel which was required under the RSE policy.
The checks sometimes brought up threats such as heart and blood pressure issues and if they were serious enough, the visa application could be declined, he said.
Where these conditions were manageable, a visa could be issued provided there was insurance cover.
In cases like these, the worker might be required to pay a higher than normal insurance premium.
“We do have workers who play rugby and other sport while they’re in New Zealand and in the event of an injury or death, the provisions of our Accident Compensation Commission (ACC) will cover the costs of these contingencies as well as provisions under the insurance policies,” Hao’uli said.
Medical checks became mandatory for Tongan workers after the death of an RSE worker in 2013.
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The Minister of Public Enterprise Hon. Poasi Tei has fired the Tonga Broadcasting Commission’s general manager Nanisē Fifita, reliable reports said today.
Kaniva News has been reliably informed that the Minister ordered Fifita’s contract with Radio and Television Tonga to be terminated today (May 1).
Our source said the government “apparently have legal reasons in regards to the renewal of her contract. So, based on that they have gone ahead and made the dismissal.”
It is understood that the TBC board has been restructured, with ‘Ahongalu Fusimalohi replacing Tapu Panuve as chair.
This is the latest twist in the Prime Minister’s feud with the Tongan national broadcaster, which he has accused of reporting unfairly on his government.
It comes on the eve of the World Press Freedom Day on which journalists and media around the world celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom and to defend the media from attacks on their independence.
The Pacific Islands Media Association secretary Jason Brown said it is undemocratic for the Tongan government to make vague claims of bias to justify extraordinary threats against news media that belong to the public, not government.
Mr Brown said the government needed to detail specific allegations of when the public broadcaster acted unethically.
Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pohiva told Kaniva News in a recent interview he was not happy when he discovered Fifita’s contract was renewed while his government made a move to review the national broadcaster.
He said the government was investigating the legal implications of the review.
He claimed TBC senior staffers, including Fifita, had unethical, malicious and unprofessional attitudes towards him and his government.
As we reported last week, Tonga’s press freedom rating has sunk on this year’s rating report, released by Reporters Sans Frontiers which was based on an Index ranks of 180 countries.
Tonga was placed 37th in 2016 a rise from 43rd position in 2015.
It now ranks 49th, just above Papua New Guinea (51st) and well ahead of Fiji (67th) but behind Samoa at 21st.
The report cited Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva’s fractious relationship with Tonga’s national broadcaster as some of the factors that tarnished the kingdom’s good record.
Kaniva News has contacted the Chief Secretary to Cabinet, the Chair of TBC Board, the Minister of Public Enterprise and Fifita for comments and confirmation and are awaiting a response.
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Tonga’s press freedom rating sinks; report cites bad blood between PM and broadcaster
A Tongan RSE worker was in a coma and fighting for his life today Monday 1 at Brisbane’s Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital after he was sick.
Sione Vakameilalo Fifita of Kolovai was in Brisbane as a Recognised Seasonal Employer worker.
We cannot be able to confirm the details of his medical and health conditions from the hospital.
A spokesperson for the family, Kennedy Tau said: “He was sick and ended up in comma”,
“Please pray for Sione Vakameilalo Fifita”, he wrote on Facebook.
