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After Ula and Winston, Tonga and other island nations warned to prepare for cyclone season

By
Philip Cass
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Pacific island nations need to be vigilant as the cyclone season approaches, regional weather agencies have warned.

Tonga suffered from two cyclones this year, with Ula and Winston causing major problems in the outer islands.

About 10 tropical cyclones have been predicted during the cyclone season which normally runs from November to April.

Weather conditions are expected to be near average, although it is possible weather conditions could intensify later in the season.

In the past two years two severe cyclones, Pam and Winston, caused major damage in Vanuatu and in Fiji and Tonga.

Cyclones in 2016

Tonga’s tropical cyclone season normally runs from November to April, but severe weather can occur at any time of the year.

Tonga began the year recovering from the impact of Cyclone Ula. Tonga’s National Emergency and Management Office said there had been major destruction of fruit crops, with 10 percent of crops on Vava’u lost.

The category three tropical cyclone caused great destruction in the outer islands, with damage to a number of shelters and buildings that had not been built properly.

Cyclone Ula left Tonga and moved towards Fiji where it caused minior damage in the Lau Group.

Tonga’s outer island group of Vava’u bore the brunt of Cyclone Ula, with fruit crops  destroyed on the eve of the harvesting season.

Kaniva News’s correspondent reported the destruction of crops on the main island of Neiafu.

Cyclone Ula caused significant damage in Tuvalu, Kiribati and Tokelau.

Cyclone Winston affected about 230 homes in Vava’u and trees and crops were extensively damaged when it struck later in the year

The category five cyclone struck the Vavaʻu group twice, slamming into the group twice in one week.

Major cyclones to affect Tonga

Ofa 1990

Kina 1992

Nina 1992

Hina 1997

Ron 1998

Waka 2001/2002

Cilla 2003

Heta 2003/4

Tam 2006

Urmil 2006

Vaianu 2006

Lin 2009

Wilma 2011

Jasmine 2012

Cyril 2012

Ian 2014

2015/2016 Ula

Winston 2016

The  main points

  • Pacific island nations need to be vigilant as the cyclone season approaches, regional weather agencies have warned.
  • Tonga suffered from two cyclones this year, with Ula and Winston causing major problems in the outer islands.
  • About 10 tropical cyclones have been predicted during the cyclone season which normally runs from November to April.
  • Weather conditions are expected to be near average, although it is possible weather conditions could intensify later in the season.

For more information

Ten cyclones predicted for Pacific

New Year’s visits to church leaders and families resume in Vava’u after cyclone

Crops destroyed, houses damage as Vavaʻu outer islands feel the worst from Cyclone Ula

Intensifying Cyclone Winston turns back towards Tonga

Lavulavu kicked out of Dr Latu’s house; family does not accept reconciliation

By
Kalino Latu
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The wife of former MP Dr Viliami Latu, Natalia Palu Latu, kicked former Tongan MP ʻEtuate Lavulavu out of her house in Fasi on Thursday.

Police were called to the scene and a request to ban Lavulavu from the residence was formally lodged.

Lavulavu said he was shocked by what had happened and he had not even said a word.

The incident happened after Lavulavu joined his wife, MP Akosita Lavulavu, who was with a parliamentary delegation which had arrived at the Latus’ residence to conduct a prayer service for Fatani Latu, who died the previous week.

Fatani worked in Parliament and was Dr Latu’s older brother.

Lavulavu claimed Natalia swore and pointed her finger at him while telling him off.

Natalia did not respond to questions from Kaniva News about the incident.

Lavulavu claimed the incident occurred as part of a political feud between him and Dr Latu.

Lavulavu and Dr Latu contested the Vava’u 16 seat in the 2014 elections. Lavulavu won but Dr Latu immediately took him to court on a complaint of  bribery. Dr Latu won and Lavulavu lost his seat.

A by-election was held seeking a replacement for Lavulavu. Dr Latu ran as candidate, but this time he ran against Lavulavu’s wife Akosita, who won.

Dr Latu told Kaniva News his family did not want to see Lavulavu after he launched a petition against his father Fotu. The petition was related to lands Fotu leased to the government for the Lupepau’u airport.

Fotu was one of the king’s heralds who owned land. The town of Leimatu’a in Vava’u was his estate.

Dr Latu said he was aware that Lavulavu had joined a presentation to Fotu by residents from Leimatu’a after the death of his brother Fatani.

He said while the kāinga presented the traditional gift, Lavulavu apologised to Fotu for what he had done. Dr Latu said Fotu accepted his apology.

He said that after Lavulavu left, Fotu asked how Lavulavu dared enter his property after he had launched a petition and complained to the king about him.

Police Minister Hon Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa said he had heard about the incident, but had yet to be informed by the Police about what happened.

Dr Latu said because Lavulavu had upset his parental family, they sent their ‘ulumotu’a (head of the clan) Samiu Latu Faletau, to tell Lavulavu to not turn up to the funeral as the family did not want to see him.

Dr Latu claimed the ‘ulumotu’a told Lavulavu about the family’s wishes on October 9.

The main points

  • The wife of former MP Dr Viliami Latu, Natalia Latu, kicked former Tongan MP ʻEtuate Lavulavu out of her house in Fasi on Thursday.
  • Police were called to the scene and a request to ban Lavulavu from the residence was formally lodged.
  • Lavulavu said he was shocked by what had happened.
  • The incident happened after Lavulavu joined his wife, MP Akosita Lavulavu, who was with a Parliamentary delegation.

For more information

Supreme Court finds Lavulavu guilty of bribery and calls his evidence ‘untruthful’

Daughter holds father’s photo as his body arrives back in Tonga

By
Kalino Latu
-

A daughter of Paulo Kivalu was holding a picture of her deceased father while his body had been carried away from an Air New Zealand aircraft yesterday in Tonga.

About dozen men carried the coffin on their shoulders into a building at the Fu’amotu International Airport where hundreds of mourners were waiting.

The daughter, visibly heartbroken,  walked in silence in front of his father’s coffin while holding the photo.

The body of the 40-year-old was welcomed into a poignant and emotional ceremony attended by relatives and government officials at the airport.

It was later taken to his family home in Fanga.

A fruit picker who joined thousands of Tongans who were in Australia to work on the Seasonal Worker Programme, Kivalu died in hospital two weeks ago after he was rushed from work.

The cause of his death had not been officially released

Tongan fruit pickers were under the control of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

This means the Ministry’s newly appointed Minister Penisimani Fifita had faced a sad situation in the first day of his job.

He was sworn in yesterday morning before he and his staff had to be at the airport in the afternoon to welcome Kivalu.

Kivalu’s body was laid to his resting place this afternoon.

Viliami Fifita new government Statistician

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Dr Viliami Konifelenisi Fifita has been appointed as the new Government Statistician for the Bureau of Statistics.

Fifita has been appointed effective as from 19 August, 2016 for a term of two (2) years.

Fifita is currently completing his Doctoral thesis on Poverty Analysis at Bristol University in England since October 2011. He holds a Master of Applied Statistics (2008) from the

Fifita is currently completing his Doctoral thesis on Poverty Analysis at Bristol University in England since October 2011. He holds a Master of Applied Statistics (2008) from the Australian National University, Australia and has also attained a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Pure Mathematics (2003) from Waikato University, New Zealand and a Bachelor of Science from the University of the South Pacific, Fiji (1995).

Fifita’s career in the public service began in 1996 when he was appointed as an Assistant Teacher in the then Ministry of Education.Since then, he has taken over senior positions in the Ministry including Senior Lecturer prior to his transfer and promotion to the position of Assistant Government Statistician at the then Statistics Departmentviliamituilautala in 2004.  Fifita was also a part time lecturer at the University of the South Pacific from 1997 to 2006 and also at the Tonga Institute for Higher Education for the Diploma in Information System and Diploma in Computer Science from1999 to 2007.

During Mr. Fifita’s tenure as Assistant Government Statistician at the Statistics Department he assisted the Secretariat of the Pacific Community and some Pacific Islands in designing poverty modules, manuals, discussion papers on advantages of Consensual Approach (CA) to poverty measurement and provide training for their various surveys which included Tonga Demographic Health Survey (DHS) 2012, Tonga Household Income Expenditure Survey (HIES) 2012, Solomon Islands DHS 2015, Tuvalu HIES 2015 and Fiji Labour Force Survey (LFS) 2015.

Fifita has sat on various professional committees namely the TVET programs under the then Ministry of Training, Employment, Youth and Sports as a short term Technical Advisor in 2011. He was also a Consultant for UNICEF (Impact of the Global economic crises to women and children in Tonga 3rd round) in the same year. Mr. Fifita was also a moderator and chief marker for the South Pacific Form 7 Certificates in Mathematics with Statistics.

The Public Service Commission welcomes Mr. Viliami Konifelenisi Fifita appointment as the new Government Statistician for the Bureau of Statistics and wishes him success in his term in Office.

Chiefs’ fullback fined after his dog attacks young girl

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Chiefs’ player Glen Masiva Fisiʻiahi who owned a dog that attacked a young girl was ordered to pay $3850 fines and reparation.

His wife Leuina Tema was also charged but it was later dropped and she was discharged without conviction.

The court was told the pitbull called Son-Son, bit a young girl’s arm after she put it through Fisiiahi’s gate in March this year.

The couple weren’t at the Glen Innes property when the incident happened.

glen
Glen Masiva Fisiʻiahi

However the court was told there was an earlier incident at the property after which Fisiiahi had been warned to find a way to stop the pitbull from sticking his nose through the fence.

In November 2014 the dog had put his muzzle through the fence and ripped the jacket of a child passing by.

Following the incident in which the child was uninjured and no legal action taken, the couple was told to put protective mesh across the property to prevent further incidents.

The pair’s defence lawyer John Munro said it was a “tragic incident” and “not typical” of usual Dog Control Act prosecutions.

Glen Fisiiahi was said to be “exceptionally remorseful” when he appeared for sentencing in the Auckland District Court on Friday.

Fairfax Media defends journalists’ behaviour as MPs complain to Parliament

By
Philip Cass
-

Fairfax Media has claimed its staff always behave professionally after complaints about the behaviour of Fairfax journalists in Tonga.

The Fairfax journalists appear to be in Tonga to cover the Georgian tourist case.

Several senior Members of Parliament have complained about being harassed by visiting journalists over the past few days.

And now it is alleged that police removed the New Zealand journalists from the lodge where the tourists are staying.

Kaniva News is awaiting comment from Tongan Police on the incident, but it is understood that complaints have been made that the journalists behaved aggressively towards the Georgians.

A Parliamentary security official complained that one journalist had turned up to Parliament wearing shorts.

Following questions from Kaniva News, a spokesperson for Fairfax issued this one sentence response: “All I can say is that our journalists always act professionally and with integrity and I have confidence that they will continue to do so.”

Matangi Tonga reported that Lord Nuku said he felt he had been “molested” and that the journalists were “disrespectful.”

A reader commented in Matangi Tonga, which has been reporting on the issue, said: “A bit precious are we? These MPs should be in overseas so that they know what constitutes harassment. Getting asked questions that they don’t want to hear or answer isn’t harassment. They just don’t want to be accountable for their actions.”

The Georgians arrived in Tonga on forged Greek passports and were arrested on October 7 following information from New Zealand immigration authorities.

They were charged with forgery and have appeared in court for a preliminary hearing.

They have been placed under house arrest until they appear in court on October 24.

Georgian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, met the Tongan Foreign Minister last year.

A government statement said Georgia wanted to develop relations with Pacific island states.

The main points

  • Fairfax Media has claimed its staff always behave professionally after complaints about the behaviour of Fairfax journalists in Tonga.
  • The Fairfax journalists appear to be in Tongan to cover the Georgian tourist case.
  • Several senior Members of Parliament, the Speaker of the House and Police have all complained about being harassed by visiting journalists over the past few days.
  • And now it is alleged that police removed the New Zealand journalists from the lodge where the tourists are staying.

For more information

Georgians back under house arrest  – but did Olympian inspire them to come to Tonga? 

Georgian Foreign Minister has met the Foreign Ministers of Tonga and Fiji

Three Tongans face robbery and firearm charges in Salt Lake

By
Kalino Latu
-

Three Tongan men in Salt Lake City, United States had been charged with robbery and theft of a firearm, Police said.

Fusi Kaufusi,18, Dwayne Finau, 19 and Sositine Pututau, 18 were in Police custody after allegedly robbing and assaulting a clerk at a Salt Lake City 7-Eleven.

Police responded to 1690 S 900 W Wednesday evening just before 10:30 p.m.

According to police, the three men stole items from the convenience store and attempted to flee. A clerk working at the time attempted to stop the suspects when one of the men assaulted the clerk.tongans

The clerk told the suspects he had a gun and suspects fled again causing the clerk to chase the men, police said.

Sometime during the chase one of the suspects circled behind and attacked the clerk where all three men assaulted the clerk and stole his handgun, authorities said.

Police found the three suspects at 1520 W Van Buren Avenue shortly later.

Tonga Reserve Bank warns as photos of defaced paʻanga coin shared on social media

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tonga’s Reserve Bank has warned people to keep an eye out for fake currency after a Houma shopkeeper posted photos of a defaced paʻanga coin on line.

However, the Bank said it had not received any official reports of a defaced coin.

Mary ‘Ahio became concerned after an apparently defaced Tongan coin was used to buy goods from her shop.

This morning Tonga Reserve Bank  warned members of the public to carefully check all coins and banknotes they were using.

‘Ahio took photos of the one paʻanga coin and uploaded it to Facebook.

She said the coin did not clearly show the images of the king and the seal of Tonga as it should.

‘Ahio said it was hard to tell whether or not the images had  been intentionally removed or something had gone wrong when it was produced.

The Tonga National Reserve Bank said it had not seen any fake money.

defaced-seniti
Left – top and below are Tongan one sēniti. Right – top and below are defaced one sēniti.

“The National Reserve Bank of Tonga wishes to inform the general public that the Reserve Bank has not received any report of a 1 Pa’anga counterfeit coin.

“The Reserve Bank has prepared a pamphlet outlining security features to assist members of the public in identifying genuine coins and banknotes. Pamphlets are available free of charge from the National Reserve Bank of Tonga or can be downloaded from the Reserve Bank website on www.reservebank.to

“Members of the public and the business community are again reminded to carefully check all currency coins and banknotes which come into their possession. Counterfeit coins and banknotes carry zero value and will not be accepted by the Commercial Banks or the Reserve Bank.

“The Public is urged to report and submit any counterfeit coins and banknotes to the National Reserve Bank of Tonga and Police for further examination and further appropriate action. Makers and distributors of counterfeits are breaking Section 59 and 61 of the Criminal Offences Act 1988.”

Tongan coins are produced by the Royal Australian Mint.

The main points

  • Tonga’s Reserve Bank has warned people to keep an eye out for fake currency after a Houma shopkeeper posted photos of a defaced sēniti on line.
  • However, the Bank said it had not received any official reports of a defaced coin.
  • Mary ‘Ahio became concerned after an apparently defaced Tongan sēniti was used to buy goods from her shop.
  • This morning Tonga Reserve Bank warned members of the public to carefully check all coins and banknotes they were using.

 

Penisimani Fifita Tonga’s new minister of Internal Affairs

By
Kalino Latu
-

Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva has appointed Penisimani Fifita as Tonga’s new Minister of Internal Affairs.

Fifita has replaced the outgoing Internal Affairs minister Feʻao Vakatā.

“Pursuant to Clause 51 (2) of the Constitution, the Honourable Prime Minister, Samuela ‘Akilisi Pōhiva has nominated the People’s Representative for Tongatapu 9 Constituency and the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole House of the Legislative Assembly, Mr. Penisimani ‘Epenisa Fifita, as the new Minister for Internal Affairs, effective from Friday 14th October, 2016.

“The Ministerial appointment has been granted the approval of His Majesty, King Tupou VI, and was sworn into His Majesty’s Cabinet today, Friday, 14th October, 2016.

“Honourable Penisimani Fifita, began his political career in 2014, when he was elected to Parliament as the People’s Representative for the Tongatapu 9 Constituency. During his tenure as People’s Representative in the Legislative Assembly, Honourable Penisimani Fifita also undertook the esteemed role as the current Chairperson of the Committee of the Whole House, as well as Chairperson for the Standing Committee on Social Services. Since 2015, Honourable Penisimani Fifita was a member of three other Standing Committees of the House, including Agriculture and Fisheries, Population and Development and Anti-Corruption.

“The Honourable Minister has over 38 years of experience in Government at the Ministry of Education and Training since 1975 until he retired from the civil service in 2013.

“From 2011-2012, the Honourable Penisimani Fifita was also the Acting Deputy Director for the Culture Division of Ministry of Internal Affairs”.

Pōhiva told not to waver over Tonga’s commitment to 2019 South Pacific Games

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tonga’s Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva was told not to waver over the South Pacific Games 2019 after he told Parliament he doubted whether Tonga could host the games.

Tonga’s Former Deputy Prime Minister Sāmiu Vaipulu responded by saying “we must spend money so that we can make money.”

Hon. Vaipulu said the main problem Tongan sport players faced was a lack of facilities where they could prepare to compete successfully at international level.

He called on the government to continue the preparation for the Games and make sure Tonga hosted it in 2019.

Opposition Leader Lord Vaea supported Hon. Vaipulu and pleaded with the Prime Minister to continue the work the government has done to host the Games.

Lord Vaea said it had been proved that sport had brought large sums of money to island nations like Fiji, Samoa and Vanuatu.

He said there was plenty of ways for the government to fund the Games.

The Prime Minister told Parliament on Monday his government had to honour the Games policies initiated by the former government, but his government had not planned to build sporting facilities.

His government had other plans for the country, but had found it difficult to implement these policies.

He criticised the salaries the former government has arranged for the members of the Games’ Organising Committee chaired by Lord Sevele.

He said TP$1 million has been spent on the Organising Committee in 2015. He said Tonga would spend TP$6 million on the committee by 2019.

He said most of the expenses for the Games would be collected from taxes. He said he was really concerned when he compared that to the money being spent on Organising Committee.

The government was paying TP$3.4 million each year to the Pacific Games Committee for hosting the  Games.

He said the TP$10 million the Ministry of Finance had collected so far for the Games was a matter of concern.

The relocation of Tonga High School in preparation for the Games had cost TP$4 million.

Opposition

Opposition Leader Lord Vaea reminded the Prime Minister the money Tongan sport players obtained from their performance overseas was far better than what the kingdom’s civil servants earned.

He said he came to New Zealand with the Year 14 sport players and some of these children were picked by the Waikato team. He said these children now had financial values in sports.

“The tree that was planted in this country has produced fruit,” he said of the players.

Lord Vaea was one of the MPs in the delegation which went to Wallis and Futuna in Tonga’s bid for the Games.

He reminded the House one of the reasons Tonga wanted the Games was because it had been proved that sports brought a lot of money to their nations.

There were many ways for the government to collect money without relying on collecting money through taxes.

He said Tongans in Brisbane, Hawai’i and Auckland raised money through tourism.

The Prime Minister said he was not worried about the talents of the Tongan sport players, but the sport committees were of great concern for him.

He wanted to reform the country’s sport federation so they could come out with sports policies that made use of the full talents of Tongan players.

The main points

  • Tonga’s Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva was told not to waver over the South Pacific Games 2019 after he told Parliament he doubted whether Tonga could host the games.
  • Tonga’s Former Deputy Prime Minister Samiu Vaipulu said the main problem Tongan sport players faced was a lack of facilities where they could prepare to compete successfully at international level.
  • He called on the government to continue the preparation for the Games and make sure Tonga hosted it in 2019.
  • Opposition Leader Lord Vaea supported Hon. Vaipulu and pleaded with the Prime Minister to continue the work the government has did to host the Games.

For more information

Games costs could hit NZ$100 million mark and estimates do not include many items

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