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Helicopter rejected by Tongan authority welcomed in Samoa

By
Kaniva Staff
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A helicopter Tongan authority could not give its owner a license to fly in Tonga had its maiden flight in Samoa last week.

According to Samoa Observer, Caretaker Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, met with the Company’s principal and founder, Rodger McCutcheon early last week before he granted approval for the copter to fly in Samoa.

“When it comes to private investments where lives will be saved then government must take decisive action,” Tuilaepa was quoted by the website as saying.

“It is utter nonsense and ridiculous for any government to discard a service of this nature”, he added.

The helicopter was brought to perform life saving emergency work, sightseeing flights for tourists and commercial work.

McCutcheon told Kaniva News the Eurocopter AS350 helicopter arrived in the kingdom last month and because Tongan civil aviation authority could not allow them to fly it on their Australian licenses they decided to transfer and send it to Samoa

He said another helicopter was on its way to Tonga but still they do not have a license to operate it in the kingdom.

McCutcheon said the civil aviation authority needs “up to 3 months to bring in experts to assist them with approving us to fly in Tonga”.

Tonga’s civil aviation authority would not respond to our request for comment but the manager of Tonga International Airport Viliami Ma’ake said he was approached by McCutcheon about the helicopter. He said he told him to talk to civil aviation authority.

Tonga’s aviation safety rules came under strict scrutiny since 2013 after the kingdom accepted the  controversial Chinese MA-60 aircraft in 2012.

The aircraft, which is based on an old Russian design, has been involved in several accidents in different countries. In the worst accident 27 people died.

The New Zealand government released a travel advisory warning that New Zealanders flying in the Real Tonga MA60 did so at their own risk and withheld $10 million aid for Tonga’s Tourism industry because of concerns over the aircraft.

In 2014 the International Civil Aviation Organiation demanded Tonga to fully respond to its request to submit a report on Real Tonga’s controversial MA60 aircraft.

In his response the former Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakano promised the international body he would revise Tonga’s civil aviation rules and regulations within 60-90 days, commit to meet New Zealand aviation standards and replace the Real Tonga with a New Zealand operator during the revision period.

READ MORE: 

Mothers and children dying in childbirth prompted plan for helicopter rescue service 

Mothers and children dying in childbirth prompted plan for helicopter rescue service 

PM revokes Real Tonga’s airline license, promises to adopt New Zealand aviation standards in confidential letter

Rift over Chinese aircraft splits Tu’ivakano and Deputy

Vaipulu removed from Infrastructure portfolio because of errors in aviation report, Justice Minister claims

Valerie Adams on Real Tonga aircraft as it slides off runway at Fua’amotu

VTF’s radio host, Mele Hifo, laid to rest

By
Kaniva Staff
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The funeral of Tonga’s  radio internet personality Mele Hifo Finau took place today in Nukuʻalofa.

Hundreds of fans gathered to say their final goodbyes to the Tongan prominent broadcaster and producer, after a short but brave fight with cancer.

Amongst those in attendance were Managing Director Katalina Uili Tohi and staff of Letio Tonga FM 87.5. The radio broadcasted the funeral services live on air and on internet.

Earlier this week the manager and staff of the government’s sponsored national radio and television Tonga in which Hifo was a former employee arrived at her residence with holo (gifts).

The funeral sermon was held this morning at Fasi’s SUTT church.

Many of Hifo’s friends and colleagues over the years attended the services, among them many Tonga High School’s ex-students and prominent members of the Tongan communities in US and Tonga.

One dead after car hit tree in Haʻapai

By
Kalino Latu
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One man was dead after a car he was driving in crashed into a tree in Haʻapai.

The crash occurred this morning March 12.

Police in Haʻapai could not be reached for comment.

This is developing story. More to come.

Prince Ata attends first Sunday service held for LDS followers in ‘Atatā

By
Kaniva Staff
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Prince Ata joined church leaders who held the first ever Sunday prayer service for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the island of ‘Atatā.

The ceremony marked a  milestone in the history of LDS church in the island as the church members will start to worship and hold meetings in the island. In the past they have to take 30 minute travels to Tongatapu, the main island of Tonga to attend Sunday services and church meetings.

President Tuʻihalangingie told his congregation, “I recall the times when members have travelled back and forth from ‘Atatā to attend Church; there are days when the ocean is calm and welcoming—and the next day it is rough and angry!”

According to the church’s news website the church thanked His Royal Highness for “allowing them to dedicate the home which has been renovated into a meetinghouse so members don’t have to travel back and forth to Tongatapu to attend religious services”.

The historical event included baptising of Lesieli Paea-he-Lotu Nau and her younger brother Kelepi Mafi Nau to become members of the church.

The prince was quoted by the website as telling the congregation in ʻAtatā, “The Holy Ghost will help us to become better people. This Church will make us happy.”

Prince Ata was baptised into the Church in 2015 months after the king ordered the former Prime Minister and his royal guards to intervene and stop the baptism ceremony.

Ata is the king’s second son and he is number 5th in the line of succession to the throne.

READ MORE:

King sends PM to stop Prince Ata’s christening into Mormon Church

Prince Ata baptised in Mormon church despite king’s repeated requests to postpone  ceremony

LDS leader attacks Prince’s baptism, charges “terrorism” and “bribery”

Princess attends prayer service, Tongans in San Francisco meet to build stonger community

By
Kaniva Staff
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Princess Pilolevu Tuita was guest of honour at a religious service  in San Francisco that marked the begining of a campaign to set up social work activities to support Tongans in Bay Area as well as local communities they live in.

The gathering was held on World Day of Prayer in which fourteen churches met  in a prayer service that followed by a community meeting.

The Tongan community is currently engaging in the San Francisco Tonga Interfaith Just Serve project in which members can come together at weekends to plant trees and clean up places in the area.

Ane Pasina from the community said they also launched a new drive to encourage Tongan locals to become more actively involved in donating blood and organs to their local blood bank. This project is led by one of the Tongan members, William DeBruce.

Tonga SF

Five churches participated in their first community work on March 5 which were led by Rev Maile Koloto of the  Methodist Fale Hufanga, The Tongan consular in San Francisco Sela Tukia,  Leafa Tuita Taumoepeau from Taulama Ma’a e Tonga, members of the St Timonthy Catholic Church of San Mateo and  Siteiki Paula Tonga from Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints.

Tongan SF2

Tongan SF7
Members from Methodist San Bruno. Suaesi Maafu, Matapule Tuono, Leafa Tuita Taumoepeau and Kamila Tongilava Maafu. Photo/Ane Pasina

Twins born to different fathers, DNA test confirmed

By
Kaniva Staff
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All siblings can have different fathers but how about twins?

It may be rare but it did happen. Twins can have different fathers.

A DNA test in Vietnam confirmed two-year-old twins were born with different fathers after their mother had sex with two men in the same ovulation period, the state-run Tuoi Tre newspaper has reported.

The bi-parental twins were taken for testing after the family of the man insisted the pair do not look alike.

Le Dinh Luong, president of the Genetic Association of Vietnam, reportedly said it was an extremely rare case.

“Our Centre for Genetic Analysis and Technology lab has tested and found a pair of bi-paternal twins,” he said. “This is rare not only for Vietnam, but for the world.”

The family were shocked after they received the test result according to the reports.

DNA testing of the Vietnamese mother to rule out a mix-up of the twins with other babies at the hospital confirmed that both children were hers.

The birth of twins to two different fathers is not unheard of according to The Guardian.

“It requires the woman to ovulate two eggs at the same time, and have viable sperm from two different men waiting inside her to fertilise the eggs”.

A 1992 report on paternity suits over non-identical twins – those produced when two separate eggs are fertilised and carried at the same time – found that 2.4% had different biological fathers. It is common enough to earn its own lengthy name: heteropaternal superfecundation.

“For this to happen there’s got to be whole series of events that line up and happen in same few hours. Not only has she got to have sex with two men in a relatively short time, that has got happen at a time when she’s ovulating two eggs rather than the usual one,” said Allan Pacey, a professor of andrology at the University of Sheffield. “The trick is that the woman would have to have intercourse with the two men within five or six hours of each other.”

Fungavaka’s children cannot claim compensation and is ‘late’, AG says

By
Kaniva Staff
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Tonga’s Acting Attorney General says the children of Kali Fungavaka cannot launch a proceeding to seek compensation from government and it is  late for them to do so.

‘Aminiasi Kefu told Kaniva News the settlement agreed between the Tongan government and Fungavaka’s widow Audra Watt entitled the children to some of the money.

He said the widow will set up a trust for that purpose and to benefit the children.

The Attorney General’s Office will supervise the setting up of the trust for the children.

The AG’s comment was made after it was revealed New Zealand based lawyer Kahungunu Afeaki would launch a proceeding on behalf of the children to seek compensation from the Tongan government.

Afeaki did not respond to our request for comment but he told New Zealand newshub “they planned to launch their own proceedings and he says he knows nothing of any money or apology”.

Fungavaka’s first wife Cally Ruahe and mother of his five children only found out earlier this week that a settlement had been reached between the Tongan government and the widow.

“It first came to my attention when my brother sent me a text asking if I had seen a newsfeed on Facebook, until he sent me a screen grab of article and that’s how I came to know about it,” she was quoted by newshub as saying.

The Tongan Government has announced it will apologise to the family of Kali Fungavaka who was killed in the kingdom after an assault in police custody four years ago.

Giant cruise liner visits Neiafu

By
Kaniva Staff
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The Pacific Aria arrived in Neiafu’s Port au Refugee habour this morning March 10  bringing nine-hour cash injection to the islands’ economy.

The cruise liner anchored at  Talaufanga at 7:30 am where the passengers were transferred on cruise tender boat to the wharf.

The Tonga Tourism Authority said they were “very happy with everybody’s contribution to the Vava’u Cruise Boat Steering Committee for a successful operation looking after the passengers from the cruise boat”.

The liner which carries a maximum of 1,700 passengers and  560 crew with nine guests deck visited Nukuʻalofa yesterday March 9 before it headed for Vavaʻu.

“Big thank you to the Vava’u Tourism Association for the cleaning up and picking rubbish yesterday in Neiafu and everybody that helped. Tonga Tourism Authority working goal is to draw more cruise boat into Port Neiafu in the near future,” Tonga Tourism Board Chairman Tomifā Paea said.

VV3
Tourists are welcomed in Vava’u. Photo/Tomifa Paea

“Tourism is everybody business, the cooperation  from Taxi Drives, Bus Driver, Water Excursion Tour, Tour Guide, Handicraft Venders, security from Marine & Ports, Pacific Forum Line, EM Jones, Ministry of Fisheries in Vava’u and Vava’u Fishing Council made us all proud to show our beautiful Island and the people of Vava’u”, he dadded.

VV
Passengers were transferred to the wharf by tender boat. Photo/Tomifa Paea

Teacher imprisoned after pleading guilty to sexually violating primary school boys

By
Kalino Latu
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A Tongan teacher has been sentenced to two years and ten months imprisonment for sexually assaulting five boys with the last 12 months suspended.

Tēvita Pōʻese Mahe, 24,  pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court of Tonga to  five  counts  of  indecent assault on a male child under 12  years of age contrary  to section 125 of the Criminal Offences Act for which  the maximum sentence is 7 years imprisonment.

Mahe was sentenced to one year and 10 months on two counts of sexual assault and four months’ imprisonment on three counts of indecency. The sentences are to be served  concurrently.

Justice Charles Cato suspended the final 12 months of Mahe’s imprisonment on counts four and five on the conditions that Mahe:

  • Commit no further offences punishable by imprisonment for  the period of suspension
  • Is placed on probation for that period
  • Attends a  course  on  child  abuse  under    the direction  of  probation  and  the  Women  and Children’s crisis centre during the  period of his   suspension.

The prison sentences  were backdated to his period of being remanded in custody.

The judge said that the incident had ben humiliating and taken place in the presence of others boys. The sentences would have been longer if there had been evidence of injury.

The court was told that on September 14, 2015 Mahe  had in  his care four primary school students aged between 9 and 11. About midday they  went  with  him  and another teacher to an allotment to bring coconuts and bananas.

Mahe and the students were  in the  back of the truck. The other  teacher  was  in the  driver’s cab.

Mahe discovered that  some  of the  boys had drunk the coconut and became  frustrated.

While  they  were driving along the road he told the  complainants  to  lie down on coconut fronds that had been collected.

He told Complainant A to take off  his pants and  instructed  Complainant  B to rub a banana on A’s buttocks.

Complainant B did so  because  he  was  scared  of Mahe.

Mahe  gave  his mobile  phone to  Complainant C to take photos of the incident.

He then told B  to  take off   his  pants  and  for  A   to  rub  the  banana  on   his buttocks.

Again, A complied with the instruction because he was afraid of Mahe.

Mahe then ordered  a fourth  boy, Complainant  D, to take  his pants off and for B to rub his buttocks. The accused  then  took  the  banana and inserted it into D’s  anus.

After  this,  he told  Complainant E to take off his pants and  told  B to  place the  banana  in E’s anus. Complainant B did so because he was afraid.

The complainants reported the matter to Police on September 16, 2015.

Mahe   admitted   that his  actions amounted  to  sexual  assaulting  the  boys  who  were  all  under the age of 12.

Mr Justice Cato said that at the time of the offences, the boys were in his care. He was  responsible  for instructing one  of the boys to sexually violate the anus of another and he himself engaged in this activity with another child.

Mr Justice Cato said he  considered  these  were  serious departures,  from  what could  be viewed by members of any community of the ordinary standards of decency and conduct expected of a school teacher caring for young boys.

He said it involved  not  merely  an  assault  on the buttocks of the boys, but sexual violation of the anal areas of two of his young students.

In sentencing Mahe yesterday Mr Cato said he considered his early guilty pleas, his co-operation with police and his expression of remorse.

Mahe had no previous convictions and the offending was out of character. He was a good candidate for rehabilitation and qualified for the suspension of part of his sentence.

He was a person of good character and came from a good family  with  parents involved in teaching   and in religion. He had done well at school  in Niuafo’ou  before  also  doing well at school in Tongatapu and working for a bank before embarking on teaching.

Mr Justice Cato said Mahe’s guilty plea saved the boys any further humiliation. He had expressed contrition for his offending  and had apologised for his  behavior.

Mahe was represented in court by legal counsel Siosifa Tuʻutafaiva while Moa represented the Crown.

The main points

  • A Tongan teacher has been sentenced to two years and two months for sexually assaulting five boys.
  • Tevita Po’ese Mahe, 24, pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court of Tonga to  five  counts  of  indecent assault on a male child under 12  years of age contrary  to section 125 of the Criminal Offences Act for which  the maximum sentence is 7 years imprisonment.
  • Mahe was sentenced to one year and 10 months on two counts of sexual assault and four months’ imprisonment on three counts of indecency.
  • The sentences are to be served concurrently.

Tonga and Kiribati approved US$20.01m upgrade for aviation

By
Kaniva Staff
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Tonga and Kiripati’s  International Airports are embarking on one of their biggest projects in decades.

In releasing the details of the funding today the Bank said the airports would undertake major upgrades to runways including terminal infrastructure and air traffic control management systems, along with sector reform in the Pacific.

“Additional funding for these vital aviation projects in Tonga and Kiribati will enable both countries to finance critical investments with long-lasting impacts across the aviation sector,” said Franz Drees-Gross, World Bank Country Director for Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and the Pacific Islands.

“Aviation plays a crucial role in the day-to-day running of Pacific Island countries – transporting people, goods and services, while also assisting rapid response in the face of increasingly severe natural disasters.”

The Tonga Aviation Investment Project will receive a total of US$7.56 million in additional grant and credit support to fund further investment in airport operations and security compliance to meet International Civil Aviation Organization standards.

Airline safety standards will also be reviewed to ensure that Tonga’s access to international markets and tourism can be maintained.

The two-year extension of the project will include activities to preserve and extend the service life of existing runways, terminal facilities and other equipment, reduce energy consumption, cut ongoing maintenance and operational costs, and improve environmental efficiency.

“Improved airport facilities and operations will enhance the future sustainability and competitiveness of Tonga’s aviation sector,” said Hon. Dr. ‘Aisake Eke, Tonga Minister for Finance and National Planning.“The Tonga Aviation Investment Project has delivered solid results for the sector over the past four years and we look forward to this work continuing.”

The Kiribati Aviation Investment Project will receive a total of US$12.45 million in additional grants under a two-year extension to improve the operational efficiency and financial sustainability of Kiribati’s two international airports. Activities will include the upgrade of the Bonriki terminal in South Tarawa; a larger terminal and more sophisticated screening facilities at Cassidy International Airport on Christmas Island; completing seawall works on the Tarawa runway to protect from coastal erosion; substantial investment in navigation aids, four fire tenders and other key safety equipment to withstand the harsh marine environment and; and a two-year airport management contract for Bonriki and Cassidy airports.

Two grants of US$0.63 million and US$7.1 million will be provided to Tonga and Kiribati respectively from the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank’s fund for the world’s poorest countries. An additional IDA credit of US$6.62 million will be provided to Tonga. A further two grants of US$0.31 million and US$5.35 million from the Pacific Regional Infrastructure Facility – funded by the governments of Australia and New Zealand – will be provided to Tonga and Kiribati respectively for safety and security oversight and advisory support services.

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