Home Blog Page 767

PI journos meet in Beijing; China expands on her foreign policies for island nations

By
Kalino Latu
-

A conference organised to provide Pacific Island journalists with first-hand accounts of activities and strategies behind China’s foreign policies had been kicked off in Beijing today.

China wanted to give the visiting reporters a fuller version of  the Communist Party of China’s (CPC) philosophy and strategies as well as her diplomatic relationship with the Pacific Islands.

The two-week forum was organised by China’s International Department CPC  Central Committee in which experts from various fields would talk  about China’s foreign policies for the Pacific Islands (PI) as well as her development projects and involvements in the region.

“We hope this conference gives an accurate picture of China”, the Department’s Director Yao Jiannguo  said.

The journalists will have opportunities to visit historical and new development sites as well as meeting local media.

Headed by Deputy Chairperson of Pasifika Media Association and Editor of Taimi ‘O Tonga Media Network – Kalafi Moala the delegation was joined by the New Zealand based Tongan news online Kaniva Pacific News Founder and Editor – Kalino Latu;  Ruth Caroline Delaivoni – the Deputy Editor of the Fiji Sun; Makereta Komaidure – Manager and Editor of Pacific News (Pac News);  Charles Henry Moi of The Independent State of Papua New Guinea newspaper;  Ryan J. David from the Federated State of Micronesia; Verona Parker of Apia TV3, Pai Mulitalo from the Samoa Observer and Ronald Atesh Kumar – Chief photographer of the Fiji Sun.

The meeting

The forum began by briefing the delegation on CPC’s philosophies as well as its form of governance.

On Friday Chinese experts will talk about China’s foreign policies, her relationship with the Pacific Island nations as well as her PI policies,

The journalists will then visit and meet with the Department’s Vice Minister Guo Yezhou.

They will also visit China International Radio and talk about “deepening China PIC cooperation”.

The delegation will visit the BYD New Energy Automobile and a local media on October 24.

They will also visit new local building and construction sites as well as the former residence of Chairman Mao.

During the ten-day conference the journalists will also visit the city of Guangzhou as well as attending the opening of the Guangdong 21st Century Maritime Silk Road International Expo on October 26.

There will be  an opportunity for the journos to meet with experts from the centre for Pacific Island Cooperation Studies at the Guangdong University of Foreign Studies and China’s Southern Power Grid.

This Saturday however the delegates will be visiting the Forbidden City.

The historical place was Chinese imperial palace since the Ming Dynasty until the Qing Dynasty.

lino-in-china
L-R: Kalafi Moala, Professor Zhu Xiaoqing and Kalino Lātū after the first day of the conference at Wanshou Hotel, Beijing. Photo/Kaniva Pacific News

PI Journalists

The journalists were chosen to represent their various countries by the Chinese embassies in the region.

According to Moala this was the first conference of its kind to be hosted by China for the PI journalists.

Moala told Kaniva News he was glad the journalists could make it to China to take part in this very significant conference.

““It has always been China’s intention in its relationship with Pacific Island Countries to give clear understanding of its policies concerning PICs. This is one of the reasons for inviting senior journalists from certain Pacific states, including Tonga, for a 14-day media forum. It is a joy to be participate with Kalino Latu of Kaniva News in this very important media forum in China,” Moala said.

chinese
(L-R) Sun Yan (interpreter) and Director Yao Jiannguo during the conference at Wanshou Hotel, Beijing. Photo/Kalino Lātū

The forum was funded and hosted by the CPC.

China in the Pacific

China has been increasingly active in the Pacific in the past 20 years after it moved into the Pacific and Africa, building roads, taking over businesses and making loans.

China has spent more than US$2 billion for Island countries since her new aid package for Pacific countries was released in 2013.

Mr Jianguo said: “We are very sincere in our assistance and development in the Pacific”.

Reaction to China’s expansion into the Pacific has been mixed.

Some Pacific governments have looked favourably on Chinese aid.

Fiji has signed several agreements with China for projects that range from road building to dredging. In Samoa, the government has praised China’s involvement.

Tonga and China have open a new tourism opportunity for their countries by signing a free-visa agreement last month.

Not everybody is impressed, however.

The riots which swept the Tongan capital of Nuku’alofa in 2006 had a strong anti-Chinese element driven by resentment at the apparent wealth of some businesses.

READ MORE:

Pōhiva’s warning may come true as China pressures Pacific nations over Spratleys dispute

Veivosa Taka appointed new chairperson of WHC after nominated by nobles

By
Kalino Latu
-

The  MP for Ha’apai 13 Veivosa Taka has been elected as the new Chairperson of the Parliament of Tonga’s Whole House Committee (WHC) after he was nominated by the noble MPs.

The election was made after the former chair Hon. Penisimani Fifita was appointed as Tonga’s new Internal Affairs’ Minister.

vosa
Veivosa Taka. Photo/Tonga Legislative Assembly

Taka’s Party MPs and government ministers supported the nomination of opposition MP Vili Hingano after Lord Tu’iha’anga turned down his nomination.

MP Fe’ao Vakata also rejected his nomination by the nobles to be elected to the post.

Hon. Taka won by 10-7 against Hingano.

NZ and Aus flights cancelled and diverted due to Fuʻamotu airport’s power outage

By
Kalino Latu
-

Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand had to cancel flights on Tuesday due to the power outage at the Fuʻamotu International airport’s runway, the Minister for Public Enterprises said.

The blackout hit at about 6.30pm causing the Australian flight to be diverted to Samoa while the Air New Zealand was diverted to Fiji.

Hon Poasi Tei told Parliament the incident was caused by a faulty cable which was repaired this morning.

A flight by a small aircraft from New Zealand was also cancelled after it was scheduled to return with a patient from Tonga for medical treatment.

As Kaniva reported the airport electricity relied on power supplied by the Tonga Power Ltd and a back-up power supply provided by the Tonga Airport Ltd (TAL).

The TAL backup power should automatically take over whenever there was a main power failure.

However, yesterday’s problem had nothing to do with the power suppliers.

In February passengers who were about to leave for New Zealand and Australia complained after a power failure at the airport had delayed their flights.

Court releases name of father accused after death of his 2yo daughter

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Tongan father who had been  charged in relation to the fatal shooting of her 2-year-old daughter in June can now be named.

He is 26-year old Gustav Otto Sanft .

He was charged with manslaughter after Amokoura Daniels-Sanft was shot dead in the driveway of her family home in Mangere on June 2.

Sanft is also facing charges of unlawful possession of a pistol and possession of cannabis for supply.

The manslaughter charge came after Police believe Sanft did not intend to shoot or kill the child.

He appeared in the High Court at Auckland last week  and applied through his lawyer Sam Fernando to have his name suppression order extended.

Fernando said the man and his family would face “alienation and ridicule” if his name and the details of the alleged manslaughter were made public.

Justice Graham Lang declined the application, saying there was no strong evidence that naming the man would affect his right to a fair trial or cause him or his partner and family any significant hardship.

Sanft will reappear in court next month.

Pohiva plans to cut Games planning costs as PNG promises financial support for 2019

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tonga’s Prime Minister said his government would review existing regulations to make sure the majority of work for the 2019 Games relied on the government’s Facility Committee and not the Organising Committee led by Lord Sevele ‘O Vailahi.

Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva said even though the Supreme Court has reinstated Lord Sevele as chair of the South Pacific Games Organising Committee his part in preparations for the Games would be minimal.

The Prime Minister told Kaniva News this was to reduce spending as much as possible so money could be spent on sport.

He said that in 2015 alone the government spent TP$1 million on the committee’s salaries and operational costs.

Hon. Pohiva said foreign governments and donors sacrificed part of their people’s taxes so they could help fund Tonga’s preparation for the Games.

He said he wanted Tonga to repay that sacrifice by cutting costs and allowances wherever it could.

He said members of the Facility Committee were government officials and were paid their normal salaries.

Hon. Pohiva said he was not paid for his work as chair of the Committee.

PNG Funding

Meanwhile, the delegation from Papua New Guinea will return to Tonga next month as part of the country’s promise to help the kingdom funding the sport.

PNG Sport Minister Justin Tkatchenko led a delegation to Tonga in June to see what areas his country could fund.

Hon. Pohiva said he met the PNG officials at the United Nations meeting in New York last month.

He said PNG Prime Minister Peter O’Neill assured Tonga his country would still assist the Games preparation.

They were waiting for their government’s budget to be passed by Parliament in November, Hon. Pohiva said.

Pacific Games supports Tonga

The President of the Pacific Games Council, Mr Vidhya Lakhan, said last week the Council would continue to support Tonga as the host nation of the 2019 Pacific Games.

“The Pacific Games Council has always taken a flexible and modest approach to the requirements of the sporting facilities to ensure the Games leave Tonga with an affordable legacy,”  a statement from the council said.

The Council said it had never asked for the existing nine hole golf course be re-developed to an 18-hole facility.

The Council said that while Tonga’s budget was smaller than that of the previous two games, it was the same as Samoa’s budget when it successfully staged the Pacific Games in 2007.

“As far as the Pacific Games Council is concerned, the 2019 Pacific Games will continue to be hosted by Tonga,” Lakhan said.

“I urge the Government to fully get behind the Games and move forward with the exciting plans they have developed to build the facilities and deliver the Games in conjunction with the Tonga 2019 Pacific Games Organising Committee.”

The main points

  • Tonga’s Prime Minister said his government would make sure most of the work for the 2019 Games relied on the government’s Facility Committee and not the Organising Committee led by Lord Sevele ‘O Vailahi.
  • ‘Akilisi Pohiva said even though the Supreme Court has reinstated Lord Sevele as chair of the South Pacific Games Organising Committee his part in preparations for the Games would be minimal.
  • The Prime Minister told Kaniva News this was to reduce spending as much as possible so money could be spent on sport.
  • Pohiva said foreign governments and donors sacrificed part of their people’s taxes so they could help fund Tonga’s preparation for the Games.

For more information

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

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

 

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

By
Philip Cass
-

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
-

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.

1...766767768...973Page 767 of 973