Seventeen families in Vavaʻu are living in tents amid the massive cleanup effort in the islands following last month’s category four Cyclone Winston.
The Governor’s office in Vava’u said these are families from Feletoa, Ha’alafuli, Tu’anekivale, ‘Utulangivaka, Okoa, Pangaimotu and Mataika whose houses were destroyed during the cyclone.
The tents were part of relief supplies arrived with VOEA Late over the weekend including blankets, tarpaulins, kitchen kits, water and sanitation hygiene kits donated by the New Zealand government. Most of these supplies were for future emergency responses it said.
New Zealand government also helped fund fuel for the VOEA and willing to fund another two trips, depending on needs.
The shipments including building supplies and goods donated by the families of affected people in Vava’u.
Meanwhile Tonga sent one of its naval patrol boats, the VOEA Pangai to Fiji’s island of Vanuabalavu with food, water, shelter and kitchen kits as well as Fijian assessment teams to the island of Namuka.
Fiji’s death toll from Cyclone Winston has been confirmed to be 43 and about 55,000 people living in 899 evacuation centres.
“Fiji helped Tonga back in 1982 I think when we had our big cyclone then. It’s been ongoing relations in the past. This is the first time it’s a major disaster for Fiji and Tonga is only too willing to help,” Tonga’s Director of NEMO told Radio New Zealand International.
JUPITER, Fla. — Players at spring training fall into three general categories. Established major-leaguers with guaranteed contracts are here to get themselves ready for the regular season. Very young players are trying to make good first impressions before they head off to the bush leagues.
The players with the most to gain and the most to lose in the spring are those in between, trying to make the big-league team, but with no guarantees. RelieverSam Tuivailala is only 23, but he has already learned that opportunities aren’t there forever.
“Everyone has a clock on their back,” Tuivailala said. “My time was up. I was lucky enough to have a Plan B.”
Tuivailala was just 19 when his first door closed. A third baseman stuck in rookie ball for the third straight season, he was a career .219 hitter when his manager at Johnson City asked him to step into his office and close the door. Several teams had wanted to draft him out of Aragon High in the San Francisco area as a pitcher. The St. Louis Cardinals drafted him as a hitter, but they were ready to go to Plan B.
Sam Tu’ivailala has become the first Tongan to be promoted to American baseball big league. The 21-year-old pitcher from San Mateo started the season at Class A Palm Beach before joining AA Springfield and then moving to AAA Memphis.
It has worked out well thus far. Tuivailala made his major-league debut two Septembers ago in Cincinnati, a month shy of his 22nd birthday. Last year, he was called up three times and contributed, pitching to a 3.07 ERA and striking out 20 batters in 14 2/3 innings. Now, he’s intent on breaking camp with the team for the first time.
To stick might require a bit more finesse than Tuivailala showed early in his pitching career. Last May, Cardinals pitching coach Derek Lilliquist started insisting he throw cutters as a complement to his upper-90s fastball and slider. Tuivailala said it started feeling more natural this offseason. If he can master it this spring, he thinks it will help him throw off hitters’ timing and make his four-seam fastball seem faster.
As a result, his career timeframe could speed up.
“I just wanted to come this spring to win a job,” he said. “I’m trying to get in that bullpen and show myself I can be consistent. I’m looking forward to it and I feel pretty good.”
Tonga’s Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva visited Mele Hifo Finau, the Chief Executive Officer of Radio Tonga VTF USA internet radio station who is battling cancer at her home.
A video and images uploaded to Facebook this afternoon showed Hon PÅhiva standing by a bedside said to be of Finau, accompanied by his children PoÊ»oi and Lautala as well as Finau’s husband and family.
The Prime Minister is heard saying on the video “I come with my children” to see you.
Kaniva understands PÅhiva is related to FÄ«nau.
Commentaries and caption written on the video said the Prime Minister and his children visited Finau yesterday.
The prominent producer, broadcaster and one of the pioneers of the largest internet radio live streaming station in the Tongan international community has been fighting with the deadly illness recently .
Facebook users made emotional comments on the video and the pictures.
Falamoe Fau’ese Weber wrote: *Tears Tears*… ‘Ofa atu Ta’ahine Mele Hifo, can still hear your powerful voice though, speaking n laughing! Love n endless prayers.
Ofa lahi atu Mele Hifo!!! Praying for relief n comfort for you. I had no idea what you are going through. May our Heavenly Father give you strength n comfort! wrote Tuesday Finau‎
It was with great enthusiasm and words of wisdom that the Prime Minister of Tonga Hon. Samiuela ‘Akilisi Pohiva, officially launched the National Strategy for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases 2015-2020 on Wednesday 24 February 2016.
The National Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Strategy is the result of almost a year of multiple sectorial and stakeholder consultations, including international organisations such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC).
The NCD Strategy is a multiyear strategy funded by the Governments of Tonga and Australia, and other donor partners. The launch included the signing of a five year, A$2.1 million dollar (T$3.2 million) agreement, between Tonga Health and the Government of Australia to support the implementation of Tonga’s National NCD Strategy 2015 – 2020. Australia’s support is part of its A$10 million (T$15.3 million) bilateral support to Tonga’s health sector through the Tonga Health Systems Support Program Phase 2 (THSSP 2).
TongaHealth as the national coordinating body and Secretariat for NCD activities in Tonga, is responsible for ensuring a coordinated and integrated approach in the implementation of the National NCD strategy. Its role will include harmonizing funding streams for NCD prevention, strengthening communication and collaboration among implementing partners and strengthening the monitoring, evaluation and reporting of progress. The introduction of an NCD Secretariat is an innovative first for the Pacific.
As the third phase of Tonga’s National NCD Strategy, this strategy builds on the expertise and knowledge of implementing partners, and global and regional guidelines. It focuses on good practice and feasible actions that address the whole population with a clear emphasis on young people and a healthy start to life.
The launch was attended by Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament, the Australian High Commissioner, His Excellency Andrew Ford, the New Zealand High Commissioner, Her Excellency Sarah Walsh, members of the National Non-Communicable Diseases Committee (NNCDC), and high level Government officials and representatives of implementing partners.
This launch will be televised today, Thursday, 25 February 2016 at 7:30pm on TV Tonga1 and then a repeat on Saturday 27 February 2016 at 7pm. For more information please visit www.tongahealth.org.to.
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.
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.
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.
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.
(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.
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.
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.
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 pilotJessica 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.Footnote: Jessica has even learnt to write with her feet after abandoning prosthetic limbs at a young age.Never held back: She was also the first woman to get a black belt in Tae Kwon DoNever held back: She can surf the waves
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
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.
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 NukuÊ»alofa was buried at MalaÊ»eÊ»Äloa 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.
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”.
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.
