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Prison boss wrongfully dismissed, Tonga’s new prison commissioner

By
Kalino Latu
-

Sēmisi Tapueluelu has been named as Tonga’s Prison Commissioner.

Tapueluelu replaces outgoing prison commissioner Sione Falemanu.

The announcement was made today by Acting Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni who said Tapueluelu took his oath of office as the Prison Commissioner in his presence.

“It is the Prison’s Department’s main responsibility to assure the safety of the people in the society and that is to put those that the court has ruled in prison because they can’t control themselves. My intention as Prison Commissioner is therefore rest on the main vision of the department,” Tapueluelu said.

The top prison job is not new to Tapueluelu.

He held the post for a number of years since his first appointment as prison warden in 1970s but was wrongfully dismissed in 2002 by the then government after he was wrongly accused of corruption allegations.

He took the government to court in which he won it in November 2014.

The Supreme Court ruled that the government must compensate Mr Tapueluelu for damages caused by his wrongful dismissal and loss of salary.

Yesterday Hon Sovaleni said: “The government views the management and reform of the Prisons as very important and supports Mr Tapueluelu in this key role and we look forward working closely with him.”

Supreme Court rules Tapueluelu’s dismissal unlawful, orders compensation by government

Billy Vunipola named player of the year

By
Kaniva Staff
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Billy Vunipola, George Smith and Maro Itoje were all winners in London on Wednesday.

Billy Vunipola has been crowned England’s Player of the Year after playing a starring role in the nation’s Grand Slam victory.

Vunipola produced three man-of-the-match performances from five games to help England to their first Six Nations Grand Slam triumph since 2003, and the back-rower was rewarded with the top gong at the Rugby Players’ Association Awards in London on Wednesday.

The 23-year-old Saracens star edged Chris Robshaw, Anthony Watson, George Kruis and Anthony Watson to win the award.

Former Wallabies flanker George Smith, meanwhile, was named the Players’ Player of the Year.

Smith – a 111-cap international – showed age is no barrier, the 35-year-old making 17 appearances for Wasps, who made it to the Aviva Premiership play-offs as well as the Champions Cup semi-finals this season.

“It’s a truly humbling feeling to receive this award, especially as it’s voted for by my peers,” Smith said via the Wasps’ official website after beating Nathan Hughes, Charles Piutau, Andy Goode and Thomas Waldrom.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my season playing in England and representing such a determined and driven club like Wasps has made my job so much easier.

“I have cherished each moment I have taken the pitch, the fans in England are superb and I look forward to finishing our season on a high as we strive towards success in the play-offs.”

Saracens youngster Maro Itoje took out the Young Player of the Year, while former Ireland centre Brian O’Driscoll was inducted into the RPA Hall of Fame.

–Sportal

Tongans will pay for Games until 2020 with new foreign exchange levy – Finance Minister

By
Philip Cass
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From now until 2020, the Tongan government will be charging a tax on each pa’anga that enters or leaves the country to pay for the Pacific Games.

The Foreign Exchange Levy will become effective from June 1 this year and will remain in force until June 30, 2020.

“The proceeds from the levy is included in the 2016/17 budget and will assist Government finance its hosting responsibilities for the 2019 South Pacific Games as an important event for the Kingdom,” Minister for Finance and National Planning Hon. ‘Aisake Eke said.

Under the terms of its agreement to host the Games, Tonga is committed to having world class facilities in place to host the athletes who attend the tournament.

However, levying a tax on foreign exchange could be provide a major boost for Games funding.

Tonga is heavily reliant on imports of food, machinery, drugs, equipment and many other items. The kingdom remains heavily dependent on remittances from Tongans living overseas and that means a lot of foreign exchange operations. According to the Tongan Reserve Bank, remittances just in January this year were TP$17.3 million.

Imposing a levy on these kinds of monetary flows will, the government hopes, provide the financial windfall it needs to pay for the estimated NZ$73.6-100 million the Games will cost.

Some outside observers see the Games as a positive factor in Tonga’s financial development into 2017.

The Asian Development Bank said in a recent report that preparations for the South Pacific Games, and investments in tourism and government offices were expected to uphold growth at 2.8% in the 2016 fiscal year and 2.7% in the 2017 fiscal year.

The Ministry of Finance and National Planning said in a statement that under the new law, every financial institutions bank, and money transfer operator would have to collect the levy from every purchase or sale of foreign currency in Tonga and pay to Government on a monthly basis.

The levy is being assessed according to a complex formula which the ministry is describing as ‘half a seniti of the spread’ on every one pa’anga value of every purchase and sale of foreign currency effective.

Financial institutions will be required to keep financial records of all foreign exchange purchases and sales.

Fines of up to TP$20,000 will be imposed on institutions that fail to comply with the new law.

The main points

  • From now until 2020, the Tongan government will be charging a tax on each pa’anga that enters or leaves the country to pay for the Pacific Games.
  • The Foreign Exchange Levy will become effective from June 1 this year and will remain in force until June 30, 2020.
  • Under the terms of its agreement to host the Games, Tonga is committed to having world class facilities in place to host the athletes who attend the tournament.
  • Levying a tax on foreign exchange could be provide a major boost for Games funding.

For more information

Foreign Exchange Regulations (Ministry of Finance and National Planning)

Remittances (Tonga Reserve Bank)

Man in court after running over a man in Longolongo, victim named

By
Kalino Latu
-

A man has appeared in court Tuesday 10 charged with causing the death of a man from Tofoa.

Uini Kava, 46, died after being hit by a car on By-Pass Rd, Longolongo on Sunday, May 8.

A 49-year-old man from Vavaʻu who is staying in Sopu, appeared at the Magistrate Court.

Police suspected the victim and the driver had been drinking.

The victim was taken to hospital and an autopsy was expected.

Health’s immunisation handbook reviewed

By
Kalino Latu
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The way Health Officials in Tonga treat patients with vaccines to produce immunity against a disease has been reviewed at the Tonga Family Health office at Vaiola Motuʻa.

A three-day workshop to fullfil the work began on Monday 9 – 11 was assisted by a specialist doctor from the World Health Organisation in Fiji.

Supervising Public Health Nursing Sister from the Ministry of Health, Afu Tei, was quoted in a statement as saying the review us to update the Ministry’s guidelines with the latest information available about how immunisation is being conducted.

Amelia
Specialist from WHO and Chief Nursing Officer Dr. ‘Amelia Afuha’amango Tu’ipulotu during the workshop. Photo/MOH

Last year Trivalent Oral Polio Vaccine was introduced to replace Bivalent Oral Polio Vaccine in an attempt to eradicate polio around the world and the Pacific region.

“It has been 10 years since the last review in 2005 and we are trying to input the latest data that we have and to update the handbook with the new immunizations that were introduced lately,” she said.

“This is a great achievement for the ministry especially with the immunization division because through this review we are thinking of developing an immunization policy for the future.”

The Immunization Handbook is a guideline for nurses to follow while practicing immunization.

WSIS Forum 2016: Tonga progresses positively on ICT development

By
Kaniva Staff
-

A meeting in Geneva, Switzerland last week was told that Tonga was progressing positively in its efforts to tackle cybercrimes, setting up e-government and improving information communication technologies (ICT).

About 1800 participants attended the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) which was first begun in 2003.

Those who attended the meeting looked at how the rise of technology can affect society and how people can prevent others from being left behind.

(Did you know that 43% of the world’s population is online?)

Some of the big questions raised in the meeting were: “how we can use information and technology to accelerate progress, and how technology can be used to achieve development goals”.

akilisi
The Prime Minister of Tonga, Hon. Samuela ‘Akilisi Pohiva speaking at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum 2016 in Geneva, Switzerland . Photo/PM Office

Representatives from various countries had the opportunity to “learn about what projects others are involved with around the world” including “discussing internet connectivity, mobile, virtual reality platforms, and much more”.

The Tongan government was represented by the Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva.

A statement from his office said: “The meeting was also advised on Tonga’s positive progress to develop ICT through the establishment of the Cyber Challenges Task Force to address issues of cyber-security, cyber-safety and cyber-crime and the Tonga Computer Emergency Response Team (Tonga CERT) focusing on cyber-security.

“Tonga is also in the process of setting up E-Government connecting all Government Ministries, Public Enterprises and Agencies by fibre optic to provide online services.

The Chief Secretary & Secretary to Cabinet, Dr. Palenitina Langa’oi and the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Va’inga Tone also attended the Summit following the meeting of the International Parliamentarians for West Papua that was held in London, England.

Typhoid case reported in Tonga

By
Alpha Latu
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Health officials in Tonga said  a case of typhoid fever has been found in Veitongo.

The authority has asked the public to  follow good hygiene rules, including ensuring food and drinking water are safe and clean for consumption after a four year old girl was diagnosed with the becteria.

Radio Tonga report said public activities in the town  such as social gatherings, feasting and drinking kava at kava clubs are restricted until May 29.

Typhoid fever is a life-threatening illness caused by the bacterium Salmonella Typhi.

Call on princess to assist government’s attempts to get climate funding

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Tongan government wanted Princess Angelika to take action over what they say is the government’s “efforts to access the Green Climate Fund”.

This has been made through a request to the Princess in Nukuʻalofa today by Tonga’s Acting Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni while Her Royal Highness visited MEIDECC.

Hon Sovaleni told the Tongan High Commissioner in Canberra  the funding is monitored by a board that is co-chaired by Australia and South Africa.

A statement from MEIDECC said the Princess was visiting the  Ministry to discuss issues including:

  • A Possible tsunami evacuation drill for the Hihifo District;
  • The Climate Change projects that are currently being implemented, and are in the pipeline for the Hihifo District
  • Tree-planting initiatives both for coastal protection and food security
  • A possible Official visit to the Hihifo project implementation sites

The Acting Prime Minister and Minister of MEIDECC welcomed the Princess.

“We are fortunate to receive Your Royal Highness and your support on the implementation of climate change and disaster initiatives.

“The Ministry is looking forward to working together with your Royal Highness, and the Hihifo Community, to successfully implement climate change and disaster initiatives amongst other initiatives from the seven different departments of MEIDECC’

MEIDECC stands for Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change & Communication.

Passport royal commission uncertain, TPPT investigation continues

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Royal Commission approved by the king to investigate Tonga’s passport scandal has yet to be launched and its mandate is uncertain.

The Tongan government said the investigation is currently being conducted by the Tonga Police Passport Taskforce (TPPT) led by the Police Commissioner Steve Caldwell.

The Prime Minister’s Office said the TPPT reported to the cabinet once a month.

It said the government is closely studying the reports to determine whether or not there is still need to launch the Royal Commission.

The Office said the Commission would be a costly process while the TPPT operations had been proved to be cheap and effective.

Earlier this year Caldwell said the TPPT had made 11 arrests in relation to fraudulent passport activities. Kaniva understands some of those cases are being heard in court in Nuku’alofa since last week.

“The police are taking these matters of national security very seriously indeed. The role of police is to maintain law and order and uphold the rule of law, and in doing so police investigate crime by gathering the best evidence available to support the prosecution of any charges laid by the police in a Court of Law,” Caldwell said

“Because of the complexities and wide scope of this investigation, the completion of this investigation may take some time.”

READ MORE:

King agrees to set up royal commission to investigate Tonga’s passport scandal

PM disobeys King’s order over diplomatic passport

Edwards warns Tongan police and auditor’s office over passport leak

PM to clarify 15 Tongan passports issued to Chinese couple

Auditor general: Passport scandals involved PM’s office

US Navy destroyer visits Tonga

By
Kalino Latu
-

A United States warship on Monday made a port call in Tonga as part of its routine patrols and maritime security operations in the Pacific regions.

The USS Spruance (DDG 111), a guided-missile destroyer from the US Navy’s 3rd Fleet, arrived at capital Nukuʻalofa for a three-day visit, the US embassy said in a statement.

The crew, joined by the staff from the US Embassy in Suva is expected to host a reception on board with guests of honor, King Tupou VI and Acting Prime Minister, Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni and to engage in community relations activities.

“We value our partnership with the Tongan government and are committed to strengthening our cooperative maritime relationships as the basis for maritime security and prosperity,” said Cmdr. Manuel Hernandez, commanding officer, USS Spruance.

The ship and crew of more than 300 Sailors departed San Diego Apr. 19 for a regularly scheduled deployment as a part of a Pacific Surface Action Group (PAC SAG).

Under the operational control of U.S. 3rd Fleet, the PAC SAG is scheduled to conduct routine patrols, maritime security operations and theater security cooperation activities to enhance regional solidity.

“Security and stability at sea serve as the foundation for economic prosperity in the region,” said Hernandez. “Together with our partners, we are committed to keeping the sea lanes open for the benefit of all.”

While in the region, Spruance is also expected to participate in the Oceania Maritime Security Initiative (OMSI) with Law Enforcement Detachment 108 from Pacific Tactical Law Enforcement Team, based out of San Diego.

Upon completion of OMSI, the ship will continue operations in the Indo-Asia- Pacific operating with the PAC SAG.

U.S. 3rd Fleet leads naval forces in the Pacific and provides the realistic, relevant training necessary for an effective global Navy.

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