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200 disabled benefit from government’s disability welfare scheme

By
Kaniva Pacific
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The Tongan government began paying out a monthly payment in benefits to the main carers of 50 disabled to help them with their living.

Each disabled receives TP$65 a month.

The government selected 200 disabled from an estimated 600 disabled all over Tonga to start with in the first payout it made last week.

From the 200 selected 50 received cheques of $520 each. The amount included backdated payments they entitled to since July 2014.

Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva said his cabinet made the decision to show his government commitment to its Reach Out Support Programs and to share what it has with people in all levels of living in Tonga including disabled.

New recruits to enter police academy

By
Kaniva Pacific
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Tonga’s Ministry of Police took on 30 new recruits Monday, March 23.

The new recruits have completed a six-month basic police training at the Longolongo Police Academy.

Twenty of them were men and the rest were women.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tonga Power new owner of Laʻā Lahi Solar Farm

By
Alpha Latu
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The Tongan government has resolved to transfer ownership of the Laʻā Lahi Solar Farm in Neiafu to the Tonga Power Limited on March 23, 2015.

It was previously owned by the Tongan government.

The decision was made after government revealed it no longer afford the high operational costs and expenses it has to pay to keep the solar farm running.

The transfer of ownership was signed by Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni and Tonga Power’s new CEO  Robert Matthews.

The $4.7 million dollars project was funded by the United Arabs Emirates (UAE).

The 500 KWh solar farm can save up to 300,000 litres of diesel per year.

ANZ offers fee waiver for fund transfer to Vanuatu

By
Kaniva Pacific
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ANZ Bank has waived fees for international money transfers to Vanuatu as relief works continue following the devastation by Tropical Cyclone Pam.

The fee waiver will apply to fund transfers made before 30 April 2015 by ANZ customers in 22 countries across Australasia, Asia and the Pacific.

ANZ branches were affected by the cyclone, but the bank continues to offer limited banking services from a disaster recovery site in Port Vila as well as the Luganville branch on Vanuatu’s northern island of Espiritu Santo.

Meanwhile Bernie Poort has been appointed as the new CEO for ANZ Bank of Tonga  in Nuku’alofa.

Government cautious over medical assistance for former Ikale Tahi flanker in Romania

By
Kalino Latu
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The Tongan government says it has to carefully consider what type of assistance it can make to help former Ikale Tahi flanker Sione Vaiomoʻunga, who has fallen ill in Romania.

Vaiomoʻunga has kidney disease and needs a kidney transplant.

The 25 year old played for ‘Ikale Tahi at the 2011 World Cup, but moved to Romania in 2013 where he has a contract with the Baia Mare Club.

Half way through his first rugby season Vaiomo’unga was diagnosed and treated for kidney diseases.

He cannot access medical assistance in Romania because of his nationality. He cannot return to Tonga because the medical treatment is not available in the kingdom.

Tonga’s Minister of Health Dr Saia Piukala told Parliament last week other Tongans overseas suffered from  the same sickness.

He said the issue was “delicate” because if the government offered to help Vaiomounga it would have to do the same for other Tongans in the same position.

The minister said he accepted that Vaiomo’unga had played for ‘Ikale Tahi and represented Tonga at the Rugby World Cup.

The minister made his statements after Lord Fusitu’a told the House he received requests for the government to help the sick rugby player.  The noble said these Tongans made the requests through him because they did not understand the government procedures for such requests.

Meanwhile the President of the CSM Science Baia Mare, Calin Matthew, told the Romanian website emaramures in December that the club would help Vaiomo’unga with his medical treatment.

“It will be put on the transplant list, and next year [2015] we will start a media campaign to raise funds for this purpose,” Mathew said.

“Foreigners have another transplant regimen, costs are high, but we hope that everything will be fine. Many thanks to all who helped us when he was in a serious stage of the disease, so that he could go on dialysis.”

Vaiomo’unga is a former student of Tupou College. A reliable source has told us the Tupou College Alumni held a General Meeting last month at which alumni said they wanted to help him.

The main points

  • The Tongan government says it has to carefully consider what type of assistance it can make to help former Ikale Tahi flanker Sione Vaiomo’unga, who has fallen ill in Romania.
  • Vaiomo’unga has kidney disease and needs a kidney transplant.
  • The 25 year old played in the 2011 World Cup, but moved to Romania in 2013 to play for Baia Mare Club.
  • Tonga’s Minister of Health Dr Saia Piukala told Parliament that if the government offered to help Vaiomounga it would have to do the same for other Tongans in the same position.

For more information

Nesian Rugby

Tongan team confirmed for Hong Kong Sevens 2015

By
Kaniva Pacific
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Tonga’s line-up for the 2015 Hong Kong Sevens starting Friday 27 has been announced

Twelve men’s teams will compete in Hong Kong as the world-famous tournament celebrates its 40th anniversary.

Tonga’s pool comprises Zimbabwe and Spain.

Team

  1. Jack Ram
  2. Inoke Finau
  3. Manu Tuifua
  4. Isikeli Taufa
  5. Richard Taliuli
  6. William Hafu
  7. Taliauli Sikuea
  8. Meiohihifo Kuli
  9. Kasye Greer
  10. Sosefo Ma’ake
  11. Fautasi Mau (Captain)
  12. Irwin Finau

Head Coach – Andy Katoa

S and C Coach – Tavake Fangupo

Physio – Rachel Underwood

Police officer runs over Tatakamotonga 8-year-old boy

By
Kaniva Pacific
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An 8-year-old boy from Tatakamotonga sustained head injuries after he was run over at Taufa’ahau Rd by a Police officer Monday 23 at around 10.20am.

The victim was crossing the road in front of Beaulah College when he was hit by the vehicle.

The 33-year-old officer from Nukunuku was charged with reckless driving and causing bodily harm.

He was driving a vehicle with registration plate number P1573, Police said.

It is understood the vehicle belongs to Police.

The boy was still in hospital,

“The accused is a Police Officer with Tonga Police,” Sia Adams from Police Communication Centre in Longolongo said.

“Police continue to investigate this case accordingly as no one is above the law”, she said.

Navutoka suspect may have fled to outer islands

By
Kaniva Pacific
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Tongan Police believed the 28-year-old suspect from Navutoka who beat and tied-up his 20-year-old partner locking her in a hut in a plantation in Puke was hiding in Hahake, Nukuʻalofa or has already left Tongatapu and fled to the islands of Vavaʻu.

The perpetrator illegally imprisoned the woman from Vaini and left her without food for several days before she managed to free herself and got help from people in the area. She was taken to hospital where she received medical assistance.

It was believed the incident took place on February 27.

A local newspaper has named the suspect and the victim but Police said they could not officially release their names as it could affect their search operation.

Media and Communication Officer at the Office of the Police Commissioner, Sia Adams told Kaniva News this morning the suspect was still on the loose.

She said Police have yet to capture the “suspect” and the search operation which involved Police in Nukuʻalofa, Muʻa Headquater and Vavaʻu Islands was still ongoing.

Adams said Police believed these are the fugitive’s current hiding places.

Tongan students in Vila “good” says Minister as USP campus reopens

By
Kalino Latu
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PHOTO: Tongan students in Vanuatu USP campus pose inside a school building after Cyclone Pam. Photo/Joyce Sikalu (Facebook)

The eight Tongan students stranded in Vanuatu after Cyclone Pam are in good condition and the University of the South Pacific’s Port Vila campus was set to re-open today (March 23).

Last week Tongan student Tupou Fa’aoa made an emotional plea for the government on Television Tonga for help, implying they wanted the government to help them return to the kingdom.

However, Tonga’s Minister of Finance Hon. ‘Aisake Valu Eke reassured Parliament on Thursday that the students were well.

Hon. Eke said the government had contacted Kisione Finau the Tongan Director of Information Technology  Services at USP’s main campus in Fiji, who has responsibility for Tongan students at USP.

Finau  confirmed the Law School in Vanuatu would begin classes today (March 23).  Finau said he had checked on the students and that their situation was good.

He said the university had looked after the students to make sure they had food, water and housing.

The university’s electricity supply in Vila had been fixed as part of the preparation to start school.

The Finance Minister said the government had been contacted by the parents of Tongan students in Vanuatu, who confirmed  the students were in good condition.

State of emergency

Vanuatu’s President Baldwin Lonsdale declared a State of Emergency across all six provinces of the Melanesian country after Cyclone Pam struck last week.

Shelter, food, health and water, sanitation and health remain key needs according, to them latest UN Relief Web service report.

Half of Vanuatu’s population, spread over 22 islands and about 166,000 people are estimated to be in need of food assistance for the next three months.

About 57,000 affected school-age children are receiving relief assistance.

There were 16 confirmed deaths and 65,000 people need temporary shelter

The main points

  • The eight Tongan students stranded in Vanuatu after Cyclone Pam are in good condition and the University of the South Pacific’s Port Vila campus was set to re-open today (March 23).
  • Tongan student Tupou Fa’aoa made an emotional plea for the government on Television Tonga for help, implying they wanted the government to help them return to the kingdom.
  • Tonga’s Minister of Finance Hon. ‘Aisake Valu Eke said the government had contacted Kisione Finau the Tongan Director of Information Technology  Services at USP’s main campus in Fiji, who has responsibility for Tongan students at USP.
  • Finau confirmed the Law School in Vanuatu would begin classes today (March 23).  Finau said he had checked on the students and that their situation was good.

For more information

State of emergency declared, ‘monster’ cyclone Pam aid effort kicks in (SBS/Pacific Media Watch)

USP Emalus Campus is set to open tomorrow! (USP)

Statement by the Humanitarian Coordinator for Vanuatu, Osnat Lubrani (UN)

Villagers remove jawbone and teeth from whale washed up on Kolonga beach

By
Kalino Latu
-

Residents of Kolonga in Tonga have been able to remove the jawbone and teeth of a dead whale that washed up on their shore this afternoon, March 22.

The whale, of unknown species, had probably been dead for some time before washing ashore.

Photos obtained by Kaniva News show a barefoot man standing by the dead mammal while another person is inside trying to cut the jawbone.

There is blood in the sea around the whale.

In the photograph, dozens of onlookers, including a Police officer, watch while the men try to remove the bones.

Read more: Dead whale washes up on Kolonga beach

It was not clear who owned the jaw and the teeth and whether the meat was in good enough condition to be consumed.

Normally when stranded whales wash ashore in Tonga, villagers will butcher the carcasses and share the meat.

In the past bones and teeth were significant for Tongan carvers who used them to make works of art, ornamental sculptures and fishhooks.

Whale meat was a delicacy in Tonga and the incident in Kolonga today recalled the tradition of whale butchering.

Old people recall how they enjoyed going to sea to catch whales and bring them home and cook them for the family.

Villagers could identify a home where whale meat has been cooked from a distance because of the strong smell.

In the past whale meat was also sold in the fish market in the capital Nukuʻalofa and when whale hunters arrived in the capital’s harbours the news was announced on the radio.

People from the countryside would travel to Nukuʻalofa to buy whale meat.

After Tonga banned whale hunting in 1978, the practice, which brought villagers together when they shared the meat no longer existed.

The main points

  • Residents of Kolonga in Tonga have been able to remove the jawbone and teeth of a dead whale that washed up on their shore this afternoon, March 22.
  • Photos obtained by Kaniva News show a barefoot man standing by the dead mammal while another person is inside trying to cut the jawbone.
  • Normally when stranded whales wash ashore in Tonga, villagers will butcher the carcasses and share the meat.
  • In the past bones and teeth were significant for Tongan carvers who used them to make works of art, ornamental sculptures and fishhooks.
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