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Independent cabinet MPs will stand by PM in no confidence vote, says Dr Piukala

By
Kalino Latu
-

Vavaʻu 14 MP Dr Saia Piukala said today Saturday 27 he was confident the independent MPs in the Cabinet would vote for Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pohiva in Tonga’s planned vote of no confidence.

Dr Piukala, who is Minister for Health, was one of the independent MPs who supported Hon. Pohiva in his bid for the premiership.

Seven independent MPs who supported Hon. Pohiva were Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni of Tongatapu 2, Hon. Poasi Tei of Tongatapu 6, Dr ‘Aisake Eke of Tongatapu 7, Dr Saia Piukala of Vavaʻu 14 and Hon. Feʻao Vakatā of Niua 17.

Among the Prime Minister’s supporters was former Vavaʻu 16 MP ʻEtuate Lavulavu. His wife has been elected as his replacement and  has publicly announced her support for Hon. Pohiva.

Dr Piukala, who was in Auckland this week to attend the Pasifika Medical Association’s 20th anniversary conference  said today the independent MPs in Cabinet talked from time to time about government matters, including the vote of no confidence.

They regarded it as a serious matter that Hon. Pohiva had no “personal agenda” while becoming Prime Minister and that he did not use his power for his own personal benefit.

He said they could see some shortcomings in Hon. Pohiva’s leadership and performance, but they were minor matters that did not affect the public as a whole when compared to the behaviour of past governments and the corruption which led some MPs to court.

“He is genuine and he is different from those who did things only because they knew they would gain personal benefit out of it”, Dr Piukala said in Tongan.

Dr Piukala said the vote of no confidence had yet to be submitted to the House, although Lord Vaea has declared it would be submitted next week.

He said he would continue to support Hon. Pohiva and was confident his co-independents would do likewise.

Dr Piukala said he was aware that  Lord Vaea told Kaniva News the opposition had already made a deal with independent MPs in Cabinet to join them in a new government

“They were just trying to stir things up, but that won’t happen” Dr Piukala said.

The nobles had nine MPs, but Lord Ma’afu was appointed Minister of Land and Survey, leaving them with only eight.

The other independent MPs who supported the nobles were MP Viliami Hingano of Ha’apai 12 and MP Samiu Vaipulu of Vava’u 15. As it stands the nobles have 10 MPs while Hon. Pohiva has 15 MPs to support him.

Hon. Pohiva has faced criticism over a number of issues since becoming prime Minister. These have included his decision to appoint his son as his Personal Assistant, even though he said he was paying him out of his own pocket.

Critics said this contradicted his opposition to the nepotism and favoritism he claimed occurred in previous governments.

His decision to change the assessment of students’ exam results from the standardisation to use raw marks also drew fire. Last week a meeting in Nukuʻalofa saw some of Tonga’s top educators declaring that Hon. Pohiva has destroyed a great system of education.

The main points

  • Vavaʻu 14 MP Dr Saia Piukala said today he was confident the independent MPs in the Cabinet will vote for Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pohiva in Tonga’s planned vote of no confidence.
  • Dr Piukala, who is Minister for Health, was one of the independent MPs who supported Pohiva in his bid for the premiership.
  • Dr Piukala said the vote of no confidence had yet to be submitted to the House, although Lord Vaea has declared it would be submitted next week.
  • As it stands the nobles have 10 MPs while Hon. Pohiva has 15 MPs to support him.

For more information

Noble MPs vow to topple government with no confidence motion when Parliament resumes

 

Tongan University of Auckland ex-students meet in Nukuʻalofa

By
Kaniva Staff
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The Tongan students who studied at the University of Auckland will formally meet in Tonga for the first time.

The meeting has been organized by the University and the New Zealand High Commission to be held at the New Zealand Residence in Popua.

“The University of Auckland and New Zealand High Commission are delighted to announce the first Alumni and Friends reception to be held in Tonga”, a statement said.

“We warmly invite alumni and their guest to attend what will be a special opportunity to meet other graduates living in Tonga, hear the latest news from the University, and celebrate the achievements of Tongan alumni and current students.

“We look forward to sharing with you the University’s latest research and initiatives, especially those centred on the Pacific, and how these will impact Tonga and our Tongan students”.

Event details:

Date:                        Thursday 1st September 2016

Time:                        5.30 – 7pm

Venue:                      New Zealand Residence, Popua, Nukualofa

Dress code:               Business Casual

Drinks and canapés will be served. There will also be a business card prize draw.

Drinks and canapés will be served. There will also be a business card prize draw.

Online registrations for this event have now closed.  Please contact the alumni office if you have any queries.

NB: Please note, a copy of your invitation email or letter will be required for entry into the event.  If you are an alum and have not received an invitation from us, please contact the alumni office on alumni@auckland.ac.nz

We look forward to seeing you there.

Prisoner now faces 16 years behind bars after sentencing for attempted rape

By
Philip Cass
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The Supreme Court has sentenced Kefu Kalavi to  six years in prison for attempted rape.

He has also been sentenced to two years in prison for housebreaking and six months for assault.

Kalavi, 21, is already serving a 14 year sentence for manslaughter in the death of a shopkeeper.

The bulk of his  new sentence will be served concurrent with his current sentence.

However, two years of the sentence for attempted rape will be served in addition to his current sentence.

This means he will now serve a total sentence of 16 years.

Kalavi was found guilty on July 25 and appeared before Lord Chief Justice Paulsen for sentencing this week.

About 2am  on May 26, 2014, the victim, a young  mother  alone  with  a  baby son, heard  someone outside her house. She went to see who it was and saw Kalavi trying to enter the house by ripping off  its  tin  cladding.  Kalavi was known to the woman.

She called the police on her cell phone and asked for help. Kalavi entered the house, threw her cellphone away,  strangled her and asked for sex. He then dragged  her by the hair and throat outside the  house to a nearby mango tree. He told the woman he was going to have sex with her and kill her  before the police arrived.

At that point the policer arrived. When the woman tried to call out, Kalavi punched her around the  face and then ran off towards the neighbours’ pig sty. Kalavi was arrested the next day when he went back to the neighbouring property  to  retrieve  his pants.

Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said Kalavi had a history  of  serious  offending   which   appeared  to   be  escalating.     He was  convicted  on  two  counts  of  housebreaking in 2010, but the sentences   were  totally   suspended   on  the  condition  that   he  did  not commit  any  further  offences.

In 2011 he  was  convicted of  a  series  of  housebreakings  and  thefts  and  sentenced  to  five  years imprisonment  with  the  final  two  years  suspended  for  three  years.

In July  2014  he  appeared  before  Mr Justice Cato who  sentenced  him to  four  years and  nine  months  imprisonment  for  armed  robbery.  He  was  also  sentenced  to  two  years imprisonment   for   housebreaking   and   two   years   for causing     bodily   harm.

Then, on November 25, 2015, Kalavi was sentenced to 12 years in jail after being found guilty of manslaughter   when   he   killed   a   Chinese shopkeeper after hitting him on the head while robbing his store in February 2014.

In sentencing Kalavi, Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said little could be said in favour of the prisoner.

“He  is  a  recidivist  offender  and  I do  not  believe  he  has shown  any  genuine  remorse  or  that  he  feels  any  remorse  for  what  he did,” the judge said.

The main points

  • The Supreme Court has sentenced Kefu Kalavi to six years in prison for attempted rape.
  • Kalavi, 21, is already serving a 14 year sentence for manslaughter in the death of a shopkeeper.
  • The bulk of his new sentence will be served concurrent with his current sentence.
  • However, two years of the sentence for attempted rape will be served in addition to his current sentence, so he will now serve a total sentence of 16 years.

Supreme Court tells Pohiva to leave Sevele in place and pay his wages until judicial review

By
Philip Cass
-

Tonga’s Supreme Court has ordered the government to keep Lord Sevele-‘O-Vailahi in his position as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Tonga Pacific Games Organising Committee and keep paying his salary until the judicial review of his dismissal in October.

Lord Chief Justice Paulsen made the order in response to a request from Lord Sevele for a temporary injunction to halt the government’s attempts to dismiss him from his position.

Lord Sevele had filed a petition for an injunction at the beginning of June, but no further action was taken because an agreement had been reached to leave him in office until the review. Lord Sevele’s pay was stopped at the end of June and he then sought an urgent review of his claim.

Tonga was named the host of the 2019 Pacific Games in late 2012. The government enacted the Pacific  Games  Organisation  Act  2013  to provide for  the organisation  of the Games. The Act gave the Audit and Governance Authority power to appoint members of the organising committee.

Under the Act, the Games Organising  Committee  is meant to follow any directions of the international body responsible for the event, the Pacific Games Council, which retains overall control of the Games.

In a lengthy judgement, Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said that in his view  the  Act   did   not  give  any   power  on  the Audit and Governance Authority   to   terminate   the   Chief   Executive’s   employment.

On  December 15, 2015, the Prime Minister, Hon. ‘Akilise Pohiva,  wrote expressing the displeasure and concern of the Cabinet at the performance of Lord Sevele and his staff of the Organising Committee.

They said Lord Sevele was being paid too much and that his employment contract had been signed without due consultation with the Remuneration Authority as required by law. The letter also challenged the appointment, salaries and performance of other staff members.

On May 26 this year, Hon. Pohiva sent Lord Sevele a letter saying his employment had been terminated with immediate effect. The letter said the role of CEO and Chair of the Games Organising Committee had been downgraded when most of the committee’s responsibilities were handed to the Government   Facilities  Committee on February 5.

Lord Sevele refused to accept his dismissal and kept working. The   Pacific Games Council has also refused to accept the decision, saying it was not within the power of the government.

However, in early July the Prime Minister’s office ordered that all funds for the Games Organising Committee be withheld, effectively cutting off staff salaries. This triggered the early hearing of the injunction.

After reviewing the arguments put forward by Lord Sevele on the one hand and the Prime Minister and the Audit and Governance Authority on the other, Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said Lord Sevele had a  strong  case  for arguing that his removal was unlawful.

“I am  satisfied  that  it  is  proper  to  grant an  interlocutory  injunction  restraining  the  defendants  (Hon. Pohiva and the Authority) from  taking any  steps  to  remove  the  plaintiff from  office  as  Chief  Executive and requiring  them  to  pay  his  salary  and  other  benefits pending the  hearing of this  action,” the judge said.

Bumpy road to the Games

Legal challenges have not been the obstacles to Tonga’s ambitions to host the Pacific Games in 2019.

There have also been threats from the main organising body and the sheer cost of running an international event.

As Kaniva News reported in May, Pacific Games Council chair Vidhy Lakhan warned the kingdom could lose the international tournament.

Lakhan wrote to the Audit and Governance Authority, which is headed by Hon. Pohiva, threatening that if it pushed for Lord Sevele’s resignation, the Pacific Games Council would start looking at the termination clauses of the host country agreement signed by Tonga.

The government has announced a variety of measures to raise money for the event, including increasing airport taxes and international money transaction fees.

According to a report from consultants Beca International, the kingdom will need to find up to NZ$73.6 million to fund the Games, but the real cost could be more than NZ$100 million.

The main points

  • Tonga’s Supreme Court has ordered the government to keep Lord Sevele-‘O-Tonga in his position as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Tonga Pacific Games Organising Committee and keep paying his salary until the judicial review of his dismissal in October.
  • Lord Chief Justice Paulsen made the order in response to a request from Lord Sevele for a temporary injunction to halt the government’s attempts to dismiss him from his position.
  • The judge said Lord Sevele had a strong  case  for arguing his removal was unlawful.

For more information

Pacific Games Council’s warning to PM latest twist in troubled preparations for tournament

Police arrest two men over US peace corps director attack

By
Kalino Latu
-

Two men have been arrested by Tongan police investigating the assault of the Director of US Peace Corps in Sopu.

The director, who has not been named, was jogging along a footpath behind one of the residences at the waterfront when a man attacked her on Saturday, July 16.

The accused, aged 21 and 23, had been charged with grievous bodily harm and in connection with the attack.

“These arrests reflect very good police work and result from a very thorough investigation,” says Commissioner of Police Steve Caldwell.

“Both accused persons have been remanded in custody and will appear in the Magistrates Court on the 5th of September 2016”.

READ MORE

Film claims US Peace Corps helped accused go free after 1976 Tongan killing

“Peace corps operations continue as normal,” US office says as police follow leads after attack

Fundraising to find US Peace Corps’ attacker as fury surges among Tongan community

Tonga destroys illegal cigarettes arrived from Australia

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tonga will start burning about four millions of illegally imported cigarettes from Australia tomorrow Saturday 27.

The Minister of Custom and Inland Revenues Hon Tevita Lavemaau told Parliament on Wednesday the Ministry will burn the cigarettes at Tapuhia waste management facility.

He said this would be a public demonstration and media were invited to attend.

In June 2015 a 50-year-old Tongan who lived in Australia appeared in court after he was charged with importing tobacco with health warnings and labels that did not comply with font size requirement.

Tongan Police seized the container with 288 cartons.

The court was told there was trade of illegal tobacco, falsifying invoices and tax evasion.

The seizure was made as a result of a joint investigation between local authorities and the Australian Federal Police.

PM signs off on ‘Utukalongalu lease return

By
Kaniva Staff
-

The Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva has signed off on the transfer of the ‘Utukalongalu market lease in Vavaʻu back to government.

The government property was leased out to Pacific Properties Limited (PPL) after it was sold by tender in 2007.

The Government paid TP$1.1 million to PPL as part of the new agreement. PPL lease was supposed to end in 2057.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Forests and Fisheries now is in charge of ‘Utukalongalu.

Child marriage in Tonga “shocking,” Lord Tuʻiʻāfitu says, questions power of Tongan law

By
Kalino Latu and Philip Cass
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Deputy Speaker of the House Lord Tuʻiʻāfitu has told Parliament he is shocked by child marriage in Tonga.

He said that in the past three years 183 child marriage had been recorded in Tonga.

From 2013 to 2015, 17 children aged 15 had married.

He would not give the exact years of their marriages because he wanted to protect the “dignity” of these young ages.

Lord Tuʻiʻāfitu questioned the effectiveness of the law of the nation, which he said was meant to protect the children.

He said the Parent Consent Act 1926, which gave parents power to allow their children to marry, was “embarrassing.”

The law stipulates that parents had to give their consent to the marriage of their children if they were underage.

He said society needed peace and good relationship.

Lord Tuʻiʻāfitu made the statements while reporting to Parliament about representing Tonga at a conference on child marriage in Nepal on March.

The conference was held in Kathmandu and was attended by 13 countries from the Asia Pacific Region.

The conference discussed the importance of designing and implementing laws and policies to promote accountability and accelerate collective efforts both nationally and sub-regionally for ending early, forced and child marriage.

Lord Tuʻiʻāfitu said he raised his concerns about the situation in Tonga in a paper he read to the conference.

The paper was titled “Engaging men and boys in ending child marriage and promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment”.

Lord Tuʻiʻāfitu told the conference Tonga’s legal framework required marriage to be at age 18 and over.

“The level of drop-outs at the high school level is acute, and creates vulnerabilities to child marriage,” the Deputy speaker said.

“Girls giving birth are still at risk of health complications during childbirth.”

Lord Tuʻiʻāfitu said although child marriage was not a serious issue in Tonga, women faced “discrimination in accessing land and property rights through biased inheritance laws.”

Article 16 of the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) explicitly prohibits early and forced marriage.

However, the Tongan government has shied away from the Convention in the face of opposition from conservative groups.

According to the Royal Commonwealth Society, health and education are directly and adversely affected by early and forced marriage, with infant mortality rates double for mothers under 20 years old, and 58% lower for mothers with more than seven years of education.

There was also a direct correlation between early and forced marriage and poverty, with girls from poor families more than twice as likely to marry before they reach 18 years old.

UNICEF defines marriage before the age of 18 as a fundamental violation of human rights.

“Many factors interact to place a girl at risk of marriage, including poverty, the perception that marriage will provide ‘protection’, family honour, social norms, customary or religious laws that condone the practice, an inadequate legislative framework and the state of a country’s civil registration system,” a UNICEF statement said..

“Child marriage often compromises a girl’s development by resulting in early pregnancy and social isolation, interrupting her schooling, limiting her opportunities for career and vocational advancement and placing her at increased risk of domestic violence.”

The main points

  • Deputy Speaker of the House Lord Tuʻiʻāfitu has told Parliament he is shocked by child marriage in Tonga.
  • He said that in the past three years 183 child marriage had been recorded in Tonga.
  • He said the Parent Consent Act 1926, which gave parents power to allow their children to marry, was “embarrassing.”
  • UNICEF defines marriage before the age of 18 as a fundamental violation of human rights.

For more information 

Child marriage is a violation of human rights, but is all too common

Global Coalition to End Child Marriage Launched

Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women

New shipping route connects US with Fiji, Tonga and Samoa

By
Kalino Latu
-

A new shipping route from the United States West Coast and Hawaii to Fiji, Samoa and Tonga has been launched in the South Pacific last week.

MV Islander arrived in Nuku’alofa this week after its maiden arrival in Western Samoa on Friday confirming a link that connects the three islands with the States in only 28 days.

The vessel, which owned by Matson, will leave Tonga to Fiji then back to Honolulu.

It was believed the new direct service was the first in the South Pacific.

Matson’s transportation offerings was “recognized as a leader in Pacific shipping” as “it continues to strengthen its ocean transportation services through fleet enhancements, industry leading on-time arrivals and award-winning customer service”.

Bitter end for ‘Ikaletahi sponsorship plan as  Auckland company pulls out of rugby deal   

By
Kalino Latu
-

A deal with a New Zealand car dealership to sponsor Tonga’s national rugby team has collapsed after the team’s marketing manager apparently demanded more money.

The Tongan sales manager at Henderson Cars in South Auckland, Vaʻa Taliaʻuli, said his company would no longer sponsor the ‘Ikaletahi team.

The sponsorship also involved a plan for the Siutaka rugby team in New Zealand to join the Aoniu tournament in Tonga next month so their players would have a chance to be selected for the ‘Ikaletahi squad.

However, that plan has now come to nothing.

Talia’uli said the dealership received a telephone call last week from a person who identified himself as Siaosi Faka’osi, the marketing manager for ‘Ikaletahi.

Talia’uli said Faka’osi wanted Henderson Cars to pay more sponsorship money, otherwise the ‘Ikaletahi would give the opportunity to another car dealership which, it was claimed, had offered more money.

Talia’uli said he then suggested Henderson Cars could provide $20,000 to sponsor a tournament for the rugby sevens and pay for all costs such as venues but Fakaʻosi did not accept it.

“It reached the point where I hung up the phone,” Talia’uli said.

Talia’uli, who is the vice president of the Siutaka club, said they had also received reliable information that the squad for the ‘Ikaletahi’s upcoming games had already been selected.

He said he thought Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva, who was aware of the original discussions, did not know what Faka’osi had done.

Talia’uli said he was surprised that this had happened as they had met with Hon. Pohiva about the sponsorship and he was happy with the arrangement.

He said they had also met with TRU Chair Fe’ao Vunipola, who also agreed with the sponsorship.

Vunipola told Kaniva News he regretted what had happened.

He said it was unfortunate this had happened as it was important to obtain sponsors for the ‘Ikaletahi.

“I want to apologise to the manager of Henderson Cars for what had happened,” Vunipola said.

He said the incident had not been reported to the TRU.

He said he would investigate what was actually happened before releasing a formal reply.

‘Ikaletahi squad

Vunipola said the information that the ‘Ikaletahi squad had been selected was not true.

He said a “possible touring squad” had been selected, but the real team would be selected on September 30.

He said the TRU reviewed the possible composition of the team from time to time.

He did not say anything about the information given to Kaniva News that the Siutaka had withdrawn from the Aoniu tournament which was supposed to run from September 9 – 17 in Tonga.

Vunipola said work had been undertaken to enable a working partnership between the TRU, New Zealand Siutaka and the Australia Aoniu rugby.

Fakaʻosi could not be reached for comment.

The main points

  • A deal with a New Zealand car dealership to sponsor Tonga’s national rugby team has collapsed after the team’s marketing manager apparently demanded more money.
  • The Tongan sales manager at Henderson Cars in South Auckland, Va’a Talia’uli, said his company would no longer sponsor the ‘Ikaletahi team.
  • The sponsorship involved a plan for the Siutaka rugby team in New Zealand to join the Aoniu tournament in Tonga next month so their players would have a chance to be selected for the ‘Ikaletahi squad.
  • That plan also appears to have come to nothing.

For more information

Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva criticized over not visiting Tongan victims in Katikati

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