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Minister vows to establish children’s court and restorative justice system for Tonga

By
Kalino Latu
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Tonga’s Minister of Justice, Vuna Fāʻotusia, has revealed work is underway to establish a Children’s Court and a restorative justice system for victims.

Hon. Fāʻotusia said the current justice system dealt only with punishing offenders and nothing was done to make sure the lives and welfare of victims of crime were restored to the way they were before the crime took place.

Speaking in Parliament, he said the need for the new justice system for Tonga was long overdue.

The Minister’s announcement came after a report released in the United Kingdom listed Tonga as one of the countries where the court system was ineffective in defending children’s rights.

The list ranked 197 countries from number 1 as the best down to number 197. Tonga was ranked number  165 while its neighbours,  Fiji was placed 116 and Samoa was in number 105.

“Two things I want to tell you members, there is work underway to establish the juvenile court, and the rights of the victims – the restorative system,” Hon. Fa’otusia told the House.

Fāʻotusia was responding after Lord Vaea told the House he wanted the government to establish juvenile courts for children under 18.

The noble was concerned that children under 18 were sentenced in Tongan courts with the same laws used to sentence those regarded as adults.

Lord Vaea said it would be wise to have a special court to take care of children when they committed offences.

He said he felt that under the current system children were affected, especially when it comes to crime of sexual abuse.

Children and justice

The Child Rights International Network (CRIN) 2016 Report was released in Britain on February 15.

Entitled Rights, Remedies and Representation, it condensed  findings from 197 country reports, researched with the support of hundreds of lawyers and NGOs.

It said the report was not a ranking of how well countries protect children’s rights, but of how well states enabled children to access justice and enforce their rights.

“Nonetheless, it is hard to ignore the fact that the countries with the most deplorable human rights records do not score well on access to justice,” the report said.

Writing in the report’s forward, the Chairperson of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, Benyam Dawit Mezmur, said: “I hope this study is only the beginning of a new shift in making access to justice for children a priority that will enable other rights to be fulfilled.”

The main points

  • Tonga’s Minister of Justice, Vuna Fa’otusia, has revealed work is underway to establish a Children’s Court and a restorative justice system for victims.
  • Fa’otusia said the current justice system dealt only with punishing offenders and nothing was done to make sure the lives and welfare of victims of crime were restored to the way they were before the crime took place.
  • Speaking in Parliament, he said the need for a new justice systems for Tonga was long overdue.
  • The Minister’s announcement came in the wake of a report released in the United Kingdom listed Tonga as one the countries where the court system was ineffective in defending children’s rights.

For more information 

Rights, Remedies and Representation (full report)

United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child

Haʻapai schools open after US$10.8 million rebuild

By
Kaniva Staff
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Twelve primary schools in Haʻapai group in Tonga have reopened today following a US$10.8m rebuilding programme while one government high school is still under reconstruction.

The schools have been refurbished after they were affected by Cyclone Ian in 2014.

Building work was funded by the Asian Development Bank and  New Zealand government including funding for the restoration of the entire electricity network on Lifuka and Foa

ADB provided US $4.5 million while  New Zealand “committed US$6.3 million (NZ$7.4 million) to help with damage assessments, relief supplies, restoration of the electricity network and longer term reconstruction efforts”.

Tonga’s Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva was pleased that the schools reconstruction was completed before the opening of the new school year. He said:  “The Government of Tonga values our relationship with ADB and the Government of New Zealand. We appreciate their support for rebuilding more climate resilient primary and high school facilities on the Ha’apai Island Group. As you know, Tonga has one of the world’s highest exposures to natural disasters so it is vital that our schools are climate proofed.”

Asian Development Bank (ADB) Vice President, Stephen P. Groff said: “The new, refurbished schools on the outer islands of Ha’apai have been built back better to be more resilient to extreme weather and the effects of climate change, such as Tropical Cyclone Winston, which passed through last week.”

Mr. Groff said: “ADB provided US$4.5 million toward schools reconstruction and the restoration of the entire electricity network on Lifuka and Foa”.

Last year August 2015 in Haʻapai. Prime Minister Samiuela ‘Akilisi Pohiva arrives at Fakakai Primary School. The classroom block (on the right) was rebuilt by the Tongan company, Puloka Construction Limited, with funding from the New Zealand Aid Programme and the Asian Development Bank.
Last year August 2015 in Haʻapai. Prime Minister Samiuela ‘Akilisi Pohiva arrives at Fakakai Primary School. The classroom block (on the right) was rebuilt by the Tongan company, Puloka Construction Limited, with funding from the New Zealand Aid Programme and the Asian Development Bank.

In her speech during the opening ceremony New Zealand High Commissioner to Tonga, Sarah Walsh said her country “is always ready to assist our friend and neighbor, the Kingdom of Tonga, in times of need. As such, we came forward in the immediate aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Ian and committed US$6.3 million (NZ$7.4 million) to help with damage assessments, relief supplies, restoration of the electricity network and longer term reconstruction efforts”.

“We were pleased to work with ADB on the reconstruction of badly damaged schools given their expertise in implementing climate resilient infrastructure project,” Sarah added.

On 11 January 2014, the worst tropical cyclone to hit Tonga in decades slammed into the country’s northeast island of Ha’apai, causing widespread devastation.

Haapai
Last year August 2015. Staff housing at Fakakai Primary School was rebuilt after it was completely destroyed by Cyclone Ian. Photo/Ana Bing Fonua (Facebook)

The category 5 storm, with winds of more than 200 kilometers per hour, affected two-third of the population of about 8,000.

The storm flattened houses, uprooted trees, destroyed 90% of power lines and severely damaged or destroyed more than half of Ha’apai’s 31 primary and secondary schools.

The school rehabilitation project has allowed classes to resume sooner than expected in a safe, clean learning environment, and will reduce the number of days that schools are closed during and after future disasters.

Reconstruction of the Ha’apai high school is also underway, and classrooms have been refurbished prior to the start of the school year. The remaining work will be completed on schedule by June.

Fakakai
(Last year August 2015) Fakakai children have been attending class in temporary facilitates at the local church of the Latter Day Saints. The children were delighted to see their new classrooms. Photo/Ana Bing Fonua (Facebook)

In the energy sector, ADB helped restore power to 1,000 households, and fixed over 45 kilometers of power lines. The project also upgraded Ha’apai’s main electricity network, making it more resilient to extreme weather events to ensure future delivery of reliable power supply.

ADB has significantly scaled up support for Tonga in recent years. Since 2008, ADB has committed over US$70 million, more than in the entire period since Tonga joined ADB in 1972, with most of the financing on grant terms. ADB helped finance Tonga’s first Internet broadband cable in 2013, make improvements in water and solid waste management in Nuku’alofa, promoted renewable energy in the outer islands, and supported government reforms and service delivery, among other projects.

ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members – 48 from the region.

The world’s first armless pilot

By
Kaniva Staff
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With full of hope and determination that she can do anything that people with arms can do Jessica Cox, 33, becomes the world’s first licensed pilot with no arms.

‘There’s nothing that can substitute the tactile ability of flesh and bone – and my feet have that ability,’ she said.

The feat has gained her a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Born in  the American state of Arizona, Cox was also the first armless black belt in the American Tae Kwon Do Association and has learnt to surf and played piano.

Let It Go: Jessica and husband Patrick are currently learning to play the Frozen song on the piano Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3143119/Arizona-Woman-Jessica-Cox-born-without-arms-learnt-fly-feet.
Let It Go: Jessica and husband Patrick are currently learning to play the Frozen song on the piano.

She married Patrick Chamberlain, 30, who was an instructor he met at the school, proving that her disability would not be a barrier to love.

Mrs Cox is able to drive a car without modifications, type on a keyboard

She said: ‘Naturally people saw me not having arms as a limiting factor – but I was there to prove them wrong.

Cox5
Write foot: Jessica sending an email on her phone. There’s almost nothing she can’t do with her feet

‘At three years old I was involved in gymnastics, at six I started tap dancing lessons, I did modelling, I swam at five, 10-years-old I was doing Tae Kwon Do, I did every activity you could imagine.’

Five years ago Jessica met her husband, Patrick Chamberlain, through their mutual love for Tae Kwon Do.

Looking up: Jessica poses with flight instructor Parrish Traweek while on the way to becoming a pilot
Looking up: Jessica poses with flight instructor Parrish Traweek while on the way to becoming a pilot
Cox 56
Jessica can do almost anything that others do with their arms, with her feet. The only thing that she does need husband Patrick to do is her hair, which he offered to do after seeing how frustrated she got with it in her face all the time.
Cox 53
Footnote: Jessica has even learnt to write with her feet after abandoning prosthetic limbs at a young age.
Cox 52
Never held back: She was also the first woman to get a black belt in Tae Kwon Do
Cox 51
Never held back: She can surf the waves

Tonga sends condolence to Fiji amid moments of grievous losses

By
Kaniva Staff
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Tonga’s Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva has sent condolence letter to Fiji’s Prime Minister Frank Voreqge Bainimarama expressing his sincere sympathy over the loss of lives and widespread devastation Cyclone Winston has left in his country.

Fijian officials said today Friday 26 there are currently 59,000 people in 275 evacuation centres. The death toll now remains at 44 including two people still missing.

The damage bill after various assessments of the damage in Fiji has already reached $650 million, the government says

In his letter, the Hon Pohiva said:

“I would like to express on behalf of the Government and People of the Kingdom of Tonga, our sincerest condolences and extend our deepest sympathies to all the victims and families affected by the unrelenting Tropical Cyclone Winston over the weekend.

The reports of widespread devastation, tragic loss of lives, homes and livelihoods in particular on the Western

Prime Minister of Tonga Hon ʻAkilisi Pohiva
Prime Minister of Tonga Hon ʻAkilisi Pohiva

Side of the island group has deeply saddened our nation.

We admire the resilience of the Fijian people and even though you will face many challenges in the days ahead, with the blessings of the Almighty and the strong leadership of your government we are certain that you will quickly recover and rebuild your nation.

Our prayers and thoughts remain with you and the people of Fiji in the coming days, please be assured that you have the support of our nation.”

Meanwhile His Majesty’s Armed Forces’ patrol boat VOEA Late departed for Vava’u yesterday loaded with relief supplies.

The ferocious Cyclone Winston affected about 230 homes in Vava’u and trees and crops were extensively damaged before it veered away and hit Fiji.
The cyclone struck the Vavaʻu group on Tuesday. It continued north before making a U-turn and slamming into the group again on Friday.

As this story was being written, some residents in Neiafu were still without electricity and water.

Kings’ kaifono dies in Tonga

By
Kaniva Staff
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The man who was given the privilege of taking away and eating kings of Tonga’s fonos or food served with kava during special royal ceremonies died in his Sopu residence on Sunday 21 after he lost his battle with cancer.

Masanori Kawaguchi, 63, a Japanese business man who operated restaurant business in Nukuʻalofa was buried at Malaʻeʻāloa chiefly cemetery on Thursday, February 25. He was widely known to many Tongans as Masa.

Masa and his family were not alone. Their Majesties King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u attended a private royal prayer service at the consular house to pay their tribute to the deceased.

The sacred practice of kaifono allows only foreigners to take away and eat His Majesty’s fono given that the current king has no fahu or paternal aunt in Tonga to serve such cultural duty and privilege.

Masa 2
Masanori Kawaguchi is striking the fono at King Tupou VI Taumafa Kava in Pangai Lahi, July 2015. Photo/Facebook

Masa’s last kaifono was believed to have been during His Majesty King Tupou VI’s coronation celebration last year.

During the national royal event at Pangai Lahi he was seen escorted to the pangai (kava circle) where he hit the fono with his hand indicating to the king’s herald Motu’apuaka that he was the kaifono and he was there to take the royal fono away.

He was also Late King George V’s kaifono.

The former Japanese volunteer to Tonga during 1970s through JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) is servived by three sons and grandchildren.

A photo of two of his grandchildren in black clothes and taʻovalas was posted to Facebook this afternoon in memory of Masa.

The caption under the photo inferred how his Japanese family appreciatd the duty Masa was given to serve in Tonga for the royal family  in which they said it “incorperate both heritages”.

 

Dr. Lia Lātū Maka appointed as New CEO of Office of the Public Service Commission

By
Kaniva Staff
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Tonga’s Office of  Public Service Commission has announced the appointment of Dr. Lia Lātū Maka as their new Chief Executive Officer to be effective from March 1.

Dr. Maka holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Language Education (1996) and a Master in Education (1993) – both from the University of Nottingham, England. Dr. Maka also holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and Politics (1984) from Macquarie University, Australia.

Dr. Lia Maka’s career in the public service began in 1984 when she was appointed as an Assistant Teacher Graduate in the then Ministry of Education, followed by senior positions in the Ministry, including Senior Education Officer, Acting Chief Education Officer, Acting Deputy Principal and Principal for Tonga High School until December 1999.

Dr. Maka joined the University of the South Pacific as a Lecturer in 2000 and later a Part time Lecturer, Editor and development consultant from 2003 to 2004.

In November 2004 to March 2015, Dr. Maka was employed by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (Fiji) as the Head of a community development programme and as senior technical adviser to the Division of Education, Training and Human Development. More recently, Dr. Maka has been working as an International Development Consultant prior to taking up her appointment as Chief Executive Officer for the Office of the Public Service Commission.

Dr. Maka has sat on various regional professional committees namely the School of Social Science Program Advisory Board and TVET Standards and Quality Committee of the University of the South Pacific and was also SPC representative for the Council of Regional Organisation’s of the Pacific (CROP) Human Resource Development Committee for a number of years  including that of  the Australian Pacific Technical College.

The Public Service Commission welcomes Dr. Lia Maka’s appointment as the new CEO for the Office of the Public Service Commission and wishes her success in her term in Office.

Alo Namoa pleads guilty, she “ had documents on how to make a bomb”

By
Kaniva Staff
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Alo Bridget Namoa, the Tongan Christian who converted to Muslim, pleaded guilty to 31 counts of failing to answer questions relating to her husband’s terrorism charges, when she appeared via video link in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court Thursday 25.

Police found she had a hunting knife and “document in Arabic text which provides instructions on how to make a detonator for an improvised explosive device connected with the preparation of a terrorist act,’ police allege in court documents.

The 18-year-old Tongan teenage wife was also facing terror related charges over an ¬alleged plot with her husband to stab a random member of the public.

Bridget Namoa hus
Sameh Bayda

Her husband Sameh Bayda, also 18, was charged with terror-related offences earlier this year and remains on remand in Goulburn SuperMax jail.

Yesterday Namoa was granted bail by magistrate Christopher O’Brien but said a ¬detention application would be heard next Thursday.

The Crime Commission questioned Namoa over her boasts that she and her husband wanted to become the ­“Islamic Bonnie and Clyde” and why she was downloading Islamic State propaganda. She refused to answer the question.

She will be sentenced at the Downing Centre local court on May 13.

Bridget Namoa 1
Alo-Bridget Namoa leaving Silverwater prison with her mother and family members earlier this month. Picture: Craig Greenhill Source:News Corp Australia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

READ MORE:

Tongan teenage bride links to ISIS terrorists in Australia revealed

Billy Vunipola and brother Mako can hold key to England’s Six Nations hopes

By
Kaniva Staff
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It wasn’t all brotherly love and mutual admiration when the Vunipola boys joined forces for England at Murrayfield last Saturday. Billy’s attempts to encourage Mako didn’t go down well. He was met by the ‘death stare’.

Days after being named as one of three vice-captains in the national team, 23-year-old No 8 Billy was named man of the match for his rampaging display in the 15-9 RBS 6 Nations win over Scotland.
But Mako, the older sibling by two years, was not prepared to be totally eclipsed, so the prop emerged from the bench to reinforce England’s previously shaky scrum and help conjure a try for Jack Nowell with a sublime ‘out the back’ pass to Owen Farrell.

All in all, it was a triumphant occasion for the giant Anglo-Tongan forwards who are becoming increasingly influential both for Saracens and their adoptive country. In fact, England’s new head coach Eddie Jones declared that Billy has all the credentials to become the world’s best player in his position.
His exploits brought a torrent of acclaim, but they didn’t spare him when he tried to galvanise his brother.
‘I always try and gee him up in the scrums but I can see he’s angry at me and telling me to shut up,’ said Billy. ‘I’m just trying to help him. He helps me whenever I’m carrying the ball.

Mako3
Mako Vunipola, not to be out-done by his brother, gave a perfect out-the-back pass to Owen Farrell

‘It’s good fun playing with your brother. Not many people get to do it at international level. He’s definitely got better skills than I have — he’s more comfortable with ball in hand. For him to come on and put it out the back (to Farrell) was great, but he also did very well in the scrums.’

Mako confirmed that he was not best pleased to receive a set-piece pep talk, adding: ‘I try to focus on my job so when people tap me on the back or get in my ear it puts me off a bit.
‘If Billy does that, I give him the death stare, but sometimes we are blowing and you need that energy from the back five.

‘I was disappointed not to be starting but Eddie has always told us that it is a 23-man squad and everyone who came off the bench made an impact. The biggest thing for me was to scrum well but it was lucky I got the call from Owen and the pass went to his hands.’

Mako1
Mako admitted that he gave his brother a ‘death stare’ when Billy’s encouragement put him off his game

So much of the post-match focus was on Billy Vunipola, and rightly so. He was the outstanding figure in the midst of a disjointed, untidy contest. His powerful ball-carrying was England’s trump card.
Just as significant was the fact that he lasted the full 80 minutes of a full-throttle Test match, something previously beyond him. He is also happy about the England environment these days, after claiming that it had been too sterile and joyless during the World Cup.

Asked about the new man in charge, he said: ‘I respond more to the love and compassion he shows the boys, me especially. He is very personable.
‘He has been really good for me since he came in. He has filled me with confidence and that is something I thrive on.

‘I don’t need someone to shout at me. I know what I have to do. I just need someone to reassure me and look after me.’

Billy Vunipola
Billy celebrates with his back-row team-mates Chris Robshaw (left) and James Haskell, with the Calcutta Cup.

Jones has relaxed the off-field restrictions on the England players since he took over; allowing them to go out together for dinner and share a few beers from time to time.
Having bemoaned the lack of such socialising opportunities under Stuart Lancaster, Billy said: ‘It works better when you have a relationship with someone rather than just rocking up and playing for England.
‘We have had a few bonding sessions. It’s important for me to know what someone else is about, what motivates them; whether it’s their family or scoring tries. It’s something you can’t really measure or see but I definitely think it works. I’m enjoying being with the boys and being in camp.’

On Sunday, Billy will be pitched into a duel with Sergio Parisse. He described Italy’s talismanic captain as ‘awesome’ — despite his ill-judged drop-goal attempt in Paris last weekend — adding: ‘He can probably do what he wants!’
For now, England’s No 8 is not going to try to emulate the great Italian stride for stride and off-load for off-load, instead limiting himself to modest targets. ‘At the moment I’m just trying to stay in the team,’ he said.
‘I’m working every day to get better and try and get closer to those who are at the top. Toby (Faletau, his cousin) as well. They’re very good players and I want to be in that bracket but I’ve got to keep doing what I do — trying to get over the gainline.’
If Billy and Mako keep doing what they do, they could have a profound impact on the outcome of this Six Nations campaign.

– Daily Mail

Haʻakame housefire victim, 10, remembered as ʻgenerous young boy’

By
Kaniva Staff
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A 10-year-old boy from Haʻakame died last night in a housefire while his two older brothers escaped the blaze shortly after 11pm, Wednesday 24.

A cousin has confirmed  the victim was Mahe Fonohema and remembered him as a generous young boy.

Sosefina Fonohema said on Facebook Mahe has a heart of gold and always wanted to share his food with her whenever she came to his house.

Condolences are pouring in for the victim across social media with many expressing how they wished to share with them the grief of his mother, Sapulina Fonohema.

Social media users have reported the fire last night on Facebook and said they tried in vain to rescue the boy from the house.

They  eventually brought him out of the blazing but everything they did to save his life was too late.

Some reports said the firefighters arrived but the house had already collapsed.

Tongan authority would not respond to our request for comment.
 

R.I.P Mahe Uhila..peheage mai koe lele atu ne toe felave…fanogo kiho leo he ui o tuti miniti hoko pe ke puli koe…sii tagi ho faee moho ui…toka aa ihe noga ae eiki

Posted by Kisepi N Iesilika Fonohema on Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Prince Tuʻipelehake closes parliament, king warns nation to stay vigilant after cyclone

By
Kaniva Staff
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His Serene Highness Prince Tuʻipelehake closed the doors on parliament this morning and said  His Majesty King Tupou VI is warning that this is cyclone season and it is important for people of Tonga to stay vigilant.

In a less than one minute speech His Serene relayed His Majesty’s condolence to residents of Vavaʻu  following the deadly cyclone which hit the neighbouring islands of Fiji over the weekend claiming more than 40 lives.

Cyclone Winston destroyed 29 houses in Vavaʻu and affected two hundreds more. Trees and crops were extensively damaged.

The Prince said the king was grateful for the leadership of Speaker of the House at this year’s special session and also for overseas countries for what they have done to assist Tonga.

The special parliament was opened on February 1 and this morning the Speaker announced the 2016 session would open in June 2.

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