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Legal action contemplated over Tonga Airways Christmas no fly debacle

By
Kalino Latu and Philip Cass
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The woman organising tickets for more than 60 passengers who were stranded in Nuku’alofa just before Christmas is considering suing Tonga Airways.

As Kaniva News reported on December 22, the group   was traveling to Vava’u for the St Peter Chanel (Kelana) College reunion.

When they landed in Tonga they expected to transfer to flights to the outer island, but some passengers were left stranded at Fua’amotu Terminal.

As we reported, the passengers had bought tickets with Tonga Airways, which had been selling tickets even though it did not have permission to fly. It had planned to operate with aircraft leased from Fiji airways.

About 200 passengers were affected. Bridget James, who had been organising tickets for the reunion, was able to re-book tickets with real Tonga airlines, but it meant they arrived in Vava’u over a period of three days, rather than in one group.

Attempts to contact Tonga Airways for comment on that story were unsuccessful.

Real Tonga airline’s CEO Tevita Paul accused Tonga Airways of committing fraud, saying that selling tickets without an airline license was dishonest.

Real Tonga flew more than 40 of the Kelana group to Vava’u on December 21 and the rest over the next two days.

Now Bridget James is contemplating taking legal action against Tonga Airways.

In a string of e-mails made available to Kaniva News, she documents how she booked tickets for the group, only to be discovered only a few days before they were due to travel that the airline was not operating.

Ms James said: “$5000 Tongan Paanga were confirmed to have been received into Tonga Airways Ltd’s bank account. Tonga Airways Ltd passed on this money to Real Tonga at my request”.

Her first inkling that the group were going to fly with Real Tonga came in an e-mail from Tonga airways CEO Michael Fa’asolo on December 15.

“Sadly due to various legal and operational restriction reasons,Tonga Airways has been placed in a position where it had to withdraw its Charter Seeking approval from Tonga Civil aviation Division,” Fa’asolo said.

“I have approached and humbly gained Mr Fakatele Faletau’s, Chief Operation Officer of Real Tonga  help our guests in providing seats.”

Three days before that, the Tonga Airways board had raised the cost of airfares  “as a result of having to cover unforeseen aircraft hiring from overseas to cater for the Christmas period.”

Earlier in the month Fa’asolo suggested to James that she try to get the group to travel on the Friday (December 23) because they were only able to fly on Mondays and Fridays.

And Fa’asolo said that the delays in transferring passengers to Vava’u on December 21 were caused by the terminal being unable to handle a Boeing 777.

He also blamed Air Terminal Services staff for not announcing to passengers that the flight to Vava’u was leaving and that it left 800kg underloaded.

James described the situation as “hugely disappointing.”

The main points

  • The woman organising tickets for more than 60 passengers who were stranded in Nuku’alofa just before Christmas is considering suing Tonga Airways and Real Tonga airlines.
  • As Kaniva News reported on December 22, the group was traveling to Vava’u for the St Peter Chanel (Kelana) College reunion.
  • Real Tonga flew more than 40 of the Kelana group to Vava’u on December 21 and the rest over the next two days.
  • Group organiser James described the situation as “hugely disappointing.”

For more information

Police called in after aviation Minister claims MP Vaipulu attacked him and swore at him

Real Tonga slams government, Tonga Airways, after passengers stranded

‘Eiki Faka’osifono and his kāinga meet king as royal wedding in the air

By
Kalino Latu
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Eiki Fakaʻosifono Valevale, who proposed to the king’s only daughter,  and his Kolonga kāinga have arrived with presentation and Tongan faiva at the Nukuʻalofa royal palace this morning.

ʻEiki Fakaʻosifono  proposed to  Princess Latufuipeka Angelika Tuku’aho in February 2014.

Spokespersons at the Palace Office who did not want to be identified said the presentation this morning was a “faitohi” or the practice of approaching the princess’ parents seeking her hand in marriage.

Lord Nuku, Faka’osifono’s father, has told Kaniva News this afternoon the presentation was basically a normal procedure for the nobility and their kāinga (relatives, families and residents of their estates) to visit and meet the king in the new year.

Princess Latufuipeka Angelika Tuku’aho

He said part of the presentation was to check on his son’s proposal to the princess.

He said the king’s herald responded and said he was not in a position to say “yes or no” on the proposal.

According to Lord Nuku this meant the king has yet to make decision on the proposal.

Lord Nuku denied reports on social media that His Majesty has assented for ‘Eiki Faka’osifono to wed Princess Latufuipeka.

“No the king has not made any such royal assent. We are still awaiting his decision”, Lord Nuku told us.

The son of Lord Malupo of ‘Uiha, ‘Eiki Makahokovalu presented a Tongan Christmas card to the Princess on December 2014.

Makahokovalu’s Christmas card presentation was intended to be followed with his wedding proposal to the Princess on March 2015. But this has been postponed since then.

‘Eiki Faka’osifono Valevale

Under the Tongan constitution, “It shall not be lawful for any member of the Royal Family who is likely to succeed to the throne to marry any person without the consent of the King. And if any person should thus marry the marriage shall not be considered legal and it shall be lawful for the King to cancel the right of such person and his heirs to succeed to the Crown of Tonga”.

Princess Latufuipeka, 33, is number five in line to the Tongan throne.

READ MORE

Princess Lātūfuipeka to receive Christmas card and marriage proposal from Lord Malupoo’s son

‘Uiha Islanders present food at palace ahead of gift of kaati to Princess Lātūfuipeka next week

Royal romance is in the air

Queen mother’s niece death “devastating”, Tourism Minister says

By
Kalino Latu
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The Queen Mother’s niece Kololiana ʻOtuangū Naufahu, 63, died suddenly at Vaiola hospital on Saturday 7.

Tonga’s Minister of Health Saia Piukala has confirmed her death.

“Yes Kololiana was admitted to Vaiola and she collapsed in the ward on Saturday evening”, Hon. Piukala said.

As a business woman Naufahu’s death has shocked Tonga’s tourism industry.

The Minister of Tourism Hon Sēmisi Sika said her death was so devastating

Naufahu was the Ministry’s Expo Commissioner before she died and she was responsible for Tonga’s plan to participate at the World Expo 2017 scheduled to take place between June 10 and September 10  in Astana, Kazakhstan.

“It is sympathetic that she died before the expo is due as she did her utmost and was passionate about it”, Hon. Sika said.

He said Naufahu has an easy-going demeanour that would allow her to get along with sponsors when the Tourism board was seeking funding from businesses and donors.

He said Naufahu’s involvement with the Tonga Tourism Association (TTA) can be traced back into 2005.

The association was an umbrella for various tourism sectors such as accommodation, transportation,  handicrafts, entertainments, hotel,  airline, restaurants, travel agents, tour operators , resorts, bars, night clubs and ​handicraft gift shops, the Minister said.

As secretary of TTA she was instrumental in paving the way for Tonga to participate in various international expos and trade shows, the Minister said.

“It was her favourite and she did it with her best”.

She was an active member of Tonga Tourism’s current Board of Directors and she also involved in a lot of works with the Heilala Week Festival organisation.

She was born on September 27, 1953. Her mother was Kaufo’ou Falekihetoa ‘Ahome’e, Queen Halaevalu Mata’aho’s  young sister.

Correction: St Peter Chanel’s head boy killing story

By
Kalino Latu
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In a story January 5 the Vavaʻu Police erroneously released to Kaniva News the name of the brother of the man accused in relation to the death of Kelana College’s head boy .

The accused’s name is Saia Tapueluelu, not Tevita Tapueluelu.

Vavaʻu Police  have made the correction this morning.

A corrected version of the story is below:

A man accused of murder following the death of Kelana College’s head prefect has been named by Police

He was Saia Tapueluelu, 28, of Fungamisi.

He was accused following Kelekolio Fahiua’s death on Saturday morning after joining the college’s Golden Jubilee celebrations.

Falakiseni said Kelekolio Fahiua’s body was laid to rest yesterday Wednesday 4.

Tapueluelu was a soldier  in His Majesty’s Armed Forces and he confronted Fahiua after he  was trying to break up a fight among the village’s youth when Fahiua appeared with friends.

The soldier confronted him and knocked him down.

Falakiseni said Fahiua was not involved in the fight or have anything to do with it.

The TBC reported that the soldier, who has since been charged with manslaughter, rushed Fahiua to hospital.

The schoolboy was declared dead two hours later.

Health professionals “shocked” by results of HIV, prostitution survey

By
Kalino Latu
-

The results of a recent survey of sexually transmitted diseases in Tonga has shocked health authorities.

About 100 Tongan homosexuals and prostitutes were interviewed over a week for the survey.

Dr Seini Kupu told the Letiō Tonga 87.5 recently she was shocked by the results.

She said she told the palangi woman who came to Tonga to do the survey she would find hardly anybody to interview, thinking there were not many homosexuals and prostitutes in the kingdom.

Dr Kupu said she and her colleague were perturbed by the numbers of people interviewed, but said they were courageous for talking freely about their sexual conducts.

“There are many of them who do this, even well educated people, university students and those who got good jobs”, Dr Kupu said.

She said married people were also involved in these forms of sexual behaviour.

She said she believed these people were willing to share their experiences because it was a palangi who did the interview.

“They felt confident to talk to her”, she said.

Dr Kupu warned that not all surveys were perfect, but the numbers and information provided by the survey had been a warning.

Dr Kupu attributed these forms of sexual activities to “poverty” which she said was  mentioned by many during the survey.

She said it was pitiful and she felt for women who prostituted themselves because they had children and families to look after.

Dr Kupu asked the public to discuss this issue in a way that could help these people.

HIV Virus

The Minister of Health, Hon. Saia Piukala, told an audience in Nuku’alofa last month that Tonga had recorded 20 patients with Aids and the HIV virus since 1987.

In December 1, 2016 three of them still lived with the virus.

He invited people to have health checks at hospitals. If somebody was infected by the HIV virus they could be treated in Tonga.

According to a 2015 UNESCO report, the last HIV diagnosis in Tonga was made in 2012.

The prevalence of AIDS in Tonga is 0.02 percent of the population.

The main points

  • The results of a recent survey of sexually transmitted diseases in Tonga has shocked health authorities.
  • About 100 Tongan homosexuals and prostitutes were interviewed over a week for the survey.
  • Dr Kupu said she and her colleague were perturbed by the numbers of people interviewed, but said they were courageous for talking freely about their sexual conducts.
  • The Minister of Health, Hon. Saia Piukala, told an audience in Nuku’alofa last month that Tonga had recorded 20 patients with Aids and the HIV virus since 1987.

For more information

Global AIDS response progress report 2015

Crash in Nukuʻalofa after car failing to stop at give way sign

By
Kalino Latu
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A car that did not stop at a give way sign at the intersection of Vaʻahakolo and Wellington Roads in Nukuʻalofa hit a van this morning at around 9am.

An eyewitness who was at the scene when the incident happened said no one was injured.

Body of third bus crash  victim will return to Vava’u on  Monday

By
Philip Cass
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The body of Leotisia Malakai, the former head tutor for girls at Mailefihi Siu’ilikutapu College, will be flown to Tonga on Monday, December 9.

Malakai, who has been described as a much-loved and highly-respected teacher, died in Waikato Hospital on January 1.

She suffered head and internal injuries in the bus crash south of Gisborne on Christmas Eve.

The bus was carrying members of the college’s brass band and supporters on a fund raising tour.

Other members of the group will fly back to Tonga on Tuesday as originally scheduled.

Malalkai’s body needs to travel early so it can be transferred to the afternoon flight to Vava’u.

Ms Malakai’s cousin Sinai Maafoou, told the Gisborne Herald that she and other family members had been singing, praying and comforting her until the end.

Malakai would have celebrated her 56th birthday on January 3.

She had worked at the college for 40 years.

She was transferred to Waikato Hospital’s intensive care unit on Christmas Day.

The Herald reported that despite her injuries, she was able to speak to family who rushed to her bedside from all over New Zealand.

“All the students loved her very much,” her aunt, Vea Havea, said.

A prayer service will be held for Malakai tonight at the Ongoongo Lelei church in Tuingapapai, Mangere.

Taumalolo and Fifita

The bodies of Sione Taumalolo and Talita Moimoi Fifita, who died on Christmas Eve, have already been returned to Tonga.

They were welcomed by members of the Free Wesleyan Church,  families and relatives.

The welcoming prayer services were attended by Queen Nanasipau’u and led by the President of the Free Wesleyan Church and its Secretary General, Dr. Tevita Havea.

Dr. Havea told the mourners the ceremony had been organised in accordance with advice from the Palace.

Hundreds of people earlier attended a memorial service for Taumalolo and Fifita in Auckland.

It was also attended by Princess Pilolevu Tuita, New Zealand’s Minister for Pacific Peoples, Hon. Alfred Ngaro and the president of the Methodist Church of New Zealand, Rev. Prince Devanandan.

 

The main points

  • The body of Leotisia Malakai, the former head tutor for girls at Mailefihi Siu’ilikutapu College, will be flown to Tonga on Monday, December 9.
  • Malakai, who has been described as a much-loved and highly-respected teacher, died in Waikato Hospital on January 1.
  • She suffered head and internal injuries in the bus crash south of Gisborne on Christmas Eve.
  • The bodies of Sione Taumalolo and Talita Moimoi Fifita, who died on Christmas Eve, have already been returned to Tonga.

For more information

Bus crash claims third life

Princess Pilolevu bids farewell to the duo that died in the Gisborne bus crash

ACC will provide funeral grant for Gisborne bus crash victims

Samoan chiefly title for Three Houses Down’s co-founder

By
Philip Cass
-

The Tongan-born co-founder of reggae group Three Houses Down, has been given a chiefly title in Samoa.

New Zealand-based Sione Niumotu Pome’e and his sister-in-law, Leilani Fa’alogo-Fangatua, were given the chiefly title of Tupuola last week.

Tupuola Sione is originally from Tonga. He is married to a Samoan.

“I feel very honoured to be given the name Tupuola,” he told the Samoan Observer.

“Although I’m Tongan married to a Samoan with two kids I definitely won’t take the chief title lightly.

Tupuola said he was ready to serve his family both in Samoa and Tonga.

“I am looking forward now to serve to the fullest and carry the name Tupuola proudly,” he said.

Tupuola Sione Niumotu Pome’e and his brother Charlie Pome’e. Photo/Samoa Observer

“In Tongan Tupuola means a new beginning to success. The day of my title marked a new beginning for me.”

Otara-based Three Houses Down was formed in 2004 by Robert Pome’e, Lisiate Langi, Sione Pome’e, Charlie Pome’e, Loiola Pome’e after Rob left another band that was based  three houses up the road from their parents’ home.

The band has released two studio albums, Breakout and Dreadtown and an EP, Moon and Back.

They have toured locally and internationally and played alongside international acts such as UB40, Ali Campbell, Inner Circle, Wailers, Ziggy Marley, Shaggy and Beres Hammond.

They recently played at the Rhythm and Vines festival.

Three Houses Down will be appearing in the One Love festival in Auckland on February 5.

The main points

  • The Tongan-born co-founder of reggae group Three Houses Down, has been given a chiefly title in Samoa.
  • New Zealand-based Sione Niumotu Pome’e and his sister-in-law, Leilani Fa’alogo-Fangatua, were given the chiefly title of Tupuola last week.
  • Otara-based Three Houses Down was formed in 2004
  • The band will be appearing in the One Love festival in Auckland on February 5.

For more information

Tupuola title honour for top musician

Three Houses Down home page

Three Houses Down Facebook page

Vavaʻu-Fiji Airways passengers fuming after luggage go missing

By
Kalino Latu
-

Fiji Airways passengers for Vavaʻu on Christmas Eve were fuming when they arrived in Neiafu and discovered their luggage were left behind.

According to Letio Tonga FM 87.5 there were 70 passengers in the flight and only 22 had received their bags on arrival.

A couple had to return to Australia after about 12 days since their arrival and still they did not receive their luggage.

Siaosi Lavaka of the radio said he was in Vavaʻu and he received a number of complaints from the unnamed passengers who flew from Australia, New Zealand and US through Fiji to attend the Kelena College’s 50th anniversary celebration.

He said some passengers started receiving their luggage two days later but food that were brought for the Christmas and the celebration were damaged.

Lavaka said on the radio  the two increasingly frustrated travellers from Australia were still missing their luggage after he left Vava’u for Tongatapu yesterday January 5.

They had no new clothes or anything to change into while they were staying in Vavaʻu, he said.

He said the Australian couple were told by airline representatives to fill out the compensation form application but after submitting it three times they still did not receive their luggage .

Fiji Airways’ two-times a week flight services between Nadi and Lupepau’u International Airport began in April 2016.

Kaniva News contacted Fiji Airways for comments.

VIDEO: Alumni president rejects criticism; says head tutor told her she wanted tour to continue

By
Kalino Latu
-

Scroll down to watch the video

Survivors of the bus crash that killed three members of the Mailefihi Siu’ilikutapu college brass band touring party were not showing disrespect to the deceased by continuing their tour, the president of the college’s alumni association said yesterday.

Rev. Mele Suipi Latu, who is president of the college’s alumni association in New Zealand, told Kaniva News the decision for the college’s brass band to continue fundraising in New Zealand was no disrespect at all to those who died as a result of the Christmas Eve crash.

Rev. Latu said head tutor Leotisia Malakai told her she wanted the tour to continue before she died. Malakai died of injuries received in the crash on January 1.

Student Sione Taumalolo, 11, wife and mother Talita Moimoi Fifita, 33, died on December 24 when the bus in which they were travelling with the band crashed on State Highway Two south of Gisborne.

Kaniva News reported on December 29 that the survivors were offered the chance to fly back to Tonga with the bodies of Taumālolo and Fifita, but elected to stay.

The announcement that the band would stay in New Zealand infuriated people who commented online, saying the organisers’ decision showed a lack of respect for the deceased.

Some said the organisers put money first before the souls of the dead.

“To me – and this is my view – it is important to help those who really need help”, Rev. Latu said.

She said in an earlier Facebook statement that the band came to New Zealand with a mission to raise TP$200,000 to help the school in its 70th anniversary.

Rev. Latu said most of the college staff were in Tonga and Vava’u to fulfil the college’s duties at the funerals of the three people who died.

She said the brass band did its utmost in New Zealand while the bodies of Sione Taumālolo and Talita Moimoi Fifita were in New Zealand to complete what was culturally and responsibly required of them.

Rev. Latu said the Bible said the dead should be left to bury the dead.

To her this meant the band had done its part for the dead and now they had to complete its mission.

“The dead are dead and life has to continue,” Rev. Latu said.

The decision has been criticised by many people on social media.

However, she said most of the people who had criticised the decision to keep touring had not “come on board” and helped with the fundraising.

She said the churches which were willing to donate were told to feel free about how they wanted their donation be presented. They could ask to have the band play hymns while they presented their donation or they just do it without the band.

She said some churches wanted the band to perform and some had chosen to do it without the band.

While the bodies of Taumalolo and Fifita were in the mortuary, the rest of the group, including those who escaped with minor injuries, performed for Gisborne’s Methodist parish.

The furore over the  tour continuing was stoked yesterday morning after a video was uploaded to Facebook showing the band playing some music while churchgoers danced and fakapale (offered money for the performance) at a Glen Innes Methodist church.

Funeral taboo

It is traditional and became law in Tonga that whenever there were funerals in a town or village, normal businesses and certain social activities have to be cancelled.

The public is expected to show respect to the funeral by wearing ta’ovala and black clothes. They have to keep noises down when talking in public and any entertainment must be stopped and can only resume three days of the burial services.

Singing can only be hymns and religious songs and hiva kakala (love and popular music) are strictly prohibited.

There were recent changes to the taboo of funeral in Tonga and the practice of fakafaingofua (relaxing cultural taboos) came in.

In some villages in Tonga, if a fundraising or social function had been organised and somebody died on the day it was scheduled, the organisers could go to the family of the funeral and ask permission to conduct their function. The request was usually accepted because of the costs already spent on the event.

In New Zealand Tongan hiva kakala were allowed to be sung during vigils and wakes for the deceased.

They were mostly in accordance with whatever instructions the deceased, mostly elderly people, had left with their family. They might tell them they wanted hiva kakala sung at their wake, rather than hymns.

Controlling of noise is no longer a matter of importance among Tongan communities overseas as other countries do not have funeral taboo laws. Noises in public places and businesses will continue as usual.

When Late King Tupou V died in 2012 Tonga should have observed the traditional and lawful taboos for 100 days.

However, His Majesty King Tupou VI announced the state mourning would only last 12 days. He later said observing the taboo would not help the nation’s economy.

The following video was recorded yesterday at the Methodist church in Glen Innes during the band’s fundraising.

The main points

  • Survivors of the bus crash that killed three members of the Mailefihi Siu’ilikutapu college brass band touring party were not showing disrespect to the deceased by continuing their tour, the president of the college’s alumni association said today.
  • Mele Suipi Latu, who is president of the college’s alumni association in New Zealand, told Kaniva News the decision for the college’s brass band to continue fundraising in New Zealand was no disrespect at all to those who died as a result of the Christmas Eve crash.
  • Latu said head tutor Leotisia Malakai told her she wanted the tour to continue before she died. Malakai died of injuries received in the crash on January 1.
  • Student Sione Taumalolo, 11, wife and mother Talita Moimoi Fifita, 33, died on December 24 when the bus in which they were travelling with the band crashed on State Highway Two south of Gisborne.

For more information

Gisborne bus wreckage retrieved as survivors prepare to play memorial concert tonight

 

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