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Princess Angelica Lātūfuipeka attends Canberra reception

By
Kaniva Pacific
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Princess Angelika Lātūfuipeka Tuku’aho attended a reception held by Australian Foreign Minister, the Hon. Julie Bishop MP, for the women Ambassador in Canberra on October 22.

The event was an opportunity for the ambassadors to meet and dialogue with female Members of the Australian Parliament and Senate on issues of importance, particularly the empowerment of women. Also attending was the speaker of the House of Representatives, the Hon Bronwyn Bishop MP.

There are 14 female Ambassadors accredited in Canberra, out of a total of 103 Ambassadors.

Hon Julie Bishop and the Princess
Hon Julie Bishop and the Princess

“Women empowerment and gender balancing concerns are pressing issues the Princess has advocated for since she took up the ambassadorial role in August 2012.

“Australia is the largest bilateral grant donor to Tonga with an aid budget of AUD$30.3 million for 2014/2015.

“Australia works closely with the Government of Tonga to deliver on the strategic objectives of the Partnership for Development. The Partnership is a joint Tonga–Australia agreement to reduce poverty, promote economic opportunities and improve the lives of the people of Tonga”.

Ha‘asini stabbing death victim named

By
Kaniva Pacific
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The 19-year-old male teenager stabbed to death in Haʻasini on Monday night has been named by Police as Matangi Fakavā.

The deceased allegedly went to a residence to see a woman, claimed to be a sister of the accused Police said.

The woman was not there and the victim left after an argument with the accused.

Police alleged that the accused followed the victim with a knife.

The victim was later found with deep injuries that consistent with stabbings.

Acting Deputy Police Commissioner Sālote Tonga said Fakavā was found injured on a road in Haʻasini about 8.50 pm on Monday. He died while he was rushed  to Vaiola Hospital despite attempts to resuscitate him.

The accused was remanded in custody at his first appearance at the magistrate court.

First Tongan to be appointed to the court of appeal

By
Kaniva Pacific
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Tonga’s court of appeal has appointed a Tongan to its panel, the first in Tonga’s history.

Lord Tevita Tupou of Kolofo’ou was appointed in Nuku‘alofa last week along with Hon Justice Rodney Hansen of New Zealand to join the panel of judges that would review 16 appeals including nine criminal, six civil cases and one land case.

The appointment was announced by the Appeal Court’s Vice-President Hon Mr Justice Peter Salmon during the court of appeal opening session this week.

The judges for the Court of Appeal of Tonga were usually foreign nationals selected  from Commonwealth jurisdictions.

Throughout his career Lord Tupou of Kolofo’ou, who was formerly known as Tevita Poasi Tupou, was Tonga’s first attorney general in 1988 but before that he was the crown solicitor.

He was appointed as interim speaker of Parliament in 2010 by His Late Majesty King George V.

Boy, 16, charged with murder of Haʻasini teenager

By
Kaniva Pacific
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A 16-year-old boy has been charged in relation to the death  of a 19-year-old boy in Haʻasini on Monday night 20.

The victim was found injured at about 9pm after an argument with the accused according to Police.

He was taken to Vaiola hospital but died a short time later before reaching the hospital.

The accused was remanded in custody when he appeared at the Nukuʻalofa magistrate court today.

ʻAkilisi Pōhiva pays TP$22,000 legal costs before election deadline

By
Kaniva Pacific
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Tonga’s Democratic Leader ʻAkilisi Pōhiva has cleared his way to Parliament before the November general election after he paid his TP$22,000 legal costs,  ordered by the Supreme Court in Nukuʻalofa,  yesterday.

The payment was confirmed today by the Registrar Office at the Supreme Court.

Minister of Justice, Hon Clive Edwards said: “‘Akilisi paid the full cost ordered by Salesi Mafi to the Supreme Court on Monday, 20th October 2014 to await the hearing of his application on the 7th November 2014.

“‘Akilisi has an application for Judicial Review on the decision of the Magistrate, Salesi Mafi, which requires leave to be granted. ‘Akilisi will need to have that argued before the Supreme Court to determine whether he is entitled to review the decision of Salesi Mafi or not.

“Because his application does not stay or overrule the order of Salesi Mafi, he applied to the Court for an order to stay (stop) the order from taking effect because it would bar him from running in the forthcoming election. The argument in support of his application turned on whether he should be treated differently from everybody else”.

Chief Justice Michael Scott ordered Pōhiva to pay the money no later than today October 21 after Pōhiva appealed Police Magistrate Sālesi Mafi’s decision ordering him to pay legal costs for three legal counsels.

The legal counsels were Tonga’s Minister of Justice Hon. Clive Edwards, Legal Counsel William Clive Edwards Jr and Legal Counsel Stephen Stanton. The trio represented four respondents namely Tonga’s Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakano, Princess Pilolevu Tuita, Hon Clive Edwards and the Friendly Islands Sattelite Company after Pōhiva took them to court  but eventually lost his claims.

The Tongan consitution stipulates that a candidate for Parliamentary elections has to get a written clearance from the Supreme Court and Magistrates Court showing he or she has no record of outstanding order before he or she can register to become a candidate.

Pōhiva said he settled the full amount of the legal costs today while he and his legal counsel appeal the Supreme Court decision in the Court of Appeal.

“I have to pay the amount of TP$22,000 so that I will still be eligible to become a candidate in the November election. If the court of appeal rules in favour of my submission the respondents’ legal counsels have to pay back my money,” Pōhiva said.

Tonga's public servants strike action cancelled

By
Kaniva Pacific
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A planned industrial action by Tonga’s public servants as part of an ongoing row over pay rise has been called off.

Members of the Public Servants Association (PSA) were due to stage strike action next week beginning Monday 20 – one month before Tonga’s general election holds on November 27.

In a statement, the PSA said its executive in a meeting on Friday last week had decided to “withdraw” the strike action claiming it was because the Minister of Justice, Hon. Clive Edwards announced the government will “declare Tonga as state of emergency if it reach to a stage that the strike goes ahead”

“The priority to PSA is the safety of the public servants and their families as the Emergency Powers does not allow political meeting of 5 people or more and they can use the military to take them to prison without a warrant”, PSA’s Secretary General, Mele ‘Amanaki said in the statement.

However in a statement issued to Kaniva News, Hon Clive Edwards denied government planned to declare emergency law or “issued any threats to anyone” if civil servants would go on strike.

“It is unfortunate that the Minister of Justice has to deny the false allegations that Cabinet will activate Emergency Powers to prevent the Public Service from going on strike,” the statement says.

The claim by PSA against the minister came after the minister was interviewed by Radio FM89.5 on Friday.

Following the interview PSA released a statement through internet saying, “The Minister of Justice, Mr. Clive Edwards, confirmed to radio 89.5FM news today that Cabinet will activate the Emergency Powers! Cabinet will now resort to use guns to prevent the public servants from exercising their Constitutional Rights.”

The PSA release, which was also sent to Radio 89.5FM, was quickly corrected by the Radio claiming it was “misleading” and “incorrect”.

The managing director of the Radio, Katalina Tohi,  in an email to ‘Amanaki said: “…according to the minister government is prepared to provide needed services at any time during any strike even if  it’s needed to declare a state of emergency. I cannot interpret for the Minister’s comment and everyone is free for his or her own interpretations but my interpretation is calling for help like recruiting volunteers locally or internationally”.

PSA

The PSA demanded a 20 percent cost of living allowance (COLA) citing the 40 percent increase of the consumer price index since the last pay rise in 2005.

In the government’s financial budget 2012/14 a 5 percent COLA was granted and 1 percent was granted in the 2014/15 budget.

The PSA recommended 6-10% for the 2014/2015 to be paid in the 2015/2016 or 2016/2017 budgets in which cabinet refused to accept.

The PSA claimed the government has failed in its responsibility to abide by the memorandum of understanding signed following the largest ever industrial action held in the country in 2005.

“When resolving this strike, the Government agreed in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with those who were on strike that the salaries will be reviewed every two years to avoid this problem from happening again. The Government did not abide by its promise”, the PSA statement says.

Government

The Secretary for Finance in a statement says the government does not have the money to financially meet the pay increase PSA demanded

The Parliament passed a resolution in August 2014 allowing the government not to grant further higher COLA for the civil service because of its “tight fiscal situation in 2014/15”.

The government agreed to talk with PSA authority and in October 3 Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Samiu Vaipulu met with PSA team saying they would negotiate a deal that could satisfy both sides.

On October 9 however the negotiators returned to the negotiation table but this time the government team which included the Finance Minister Hon. Dr ‘Aisake Valu Eke  told PSA the government has already done enough after it granted the 6 percent COLA in its budget 2013/14 and 2014/15.

The PSA disagreed and threatened it would go on strike on October 20.

World food relies on family farmers

By
Kalino Latu
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The world “agriculture and food systems” rely heavily on “family farmers” said UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon in a statement he delivered to mark World Food Day yesterday October 16.

He said they run the vast majority of farms in the world and they are the “cornerstone of inclusive and sustainable” agriculture and food system.

Yesterday in Tonga the Prime Minister Lord Tuʻivakanō along with Minister for Food and Agriculture Hon. Sangster Saulala were at Vuna Wharf to view a dispaly of varieties of food ranges from vegetables to root crops and to locally manufactured food products by locals.

This year’s theme is “Family Farming: Feeding the world, caring for the Earth, and has the stated goal of drawing attention to the world’s 500 million smallholder farmers in an effort to help eradicate poverty and help safeguard the environment”.

At the same time last year, the FAO awarded FAO’s World Food Day Model Farmer Award to Malia Guttenbeil of Vava’u, Tonga,  for “her success as an agriculture entrepreneur and leader of women’s handicraft groups”.

Lord Fakafanua’s wedding goes ahead with profound dignity

By
Kalino Latu
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Tonga’s Speaker of Parliament, Lord Fakafanua married his long-time fiance, Kristy Fane Kite, yesterday (October 15).

The marriage ceremony went ahead as planned, but with respect for Lord Fakafanua’s aunt, the late Princess Fusipala Vaha’i, who was buried on Sunday.

It is customary in Tongan for a 10-day taboo to be in place after a person is buried.

In some villages the 10-day taboo is counted from the day the person dies.

The law stipulates a three-day taboo after the burial. Royals and nobility have a 100-day taboo.

Traditionally, entertainments and certain social activities are strictly restricted when a funeral taboo is put into place.

Lord Fakafanua and Lady Kristy Fane Fakafanua
Lord Fakafanua and Lady Kristy Fane Fakafanua

However, it is now up to the immediate family’s decision to enforce the taboo or not if an important event such as a wedding or birthday falls within the taboo periods.

The late Princess Fusipala Vaha’i was Lord Fakafanua’s mother’s eldest sister.

Kaniva News was informed it was Fakafanua’s decision to go ahead with the wedding programme, but that it was a profoundly dignified ceremony as a sign of respect to his late aunt.

A mixture of lamentation and jubilation was felt and seen among those who attended the wedding ceremony at Lord Fakafanua’s estate in Maʻofanga yesterday.

Although there was dancing and music, dancers in black clothes and ta’ovala, were seen performing with dignity and without much joy because of the funeral.

Following the ma‘utohi (registration of the marriage in government) yesterday a reception was held by Lord Fakafanua’s family to welcome his wife Kristy Fane Kite Fakafanua and her family.

The couple exchanged vows at Tonga’s Registry Office in Nuku’alofa before 100 guests including royalty, kāinga and dignitaries from overseas.

Fane wore a simple white long-sleeved dress. The 29-year-old Fakafanua, who is the estate holder of Ma’ofanga, Nga’akau in Tefisi, Vava’u and Faleloa, Ha’apai, wore a black suit.

His kāinga and members of the royal family wore black clothes and ta’ovala.

The President of the Free Wesleyan Church, the Rev. Dr ‘Ahio, led the wedding’s religious ceremony.

Fakafanua’s father, the late Fakafanua, died of a heart attack in 2005. Fane’s father, the late Sione Kite died in 2003 after he gave up his battle against a long-standing illness.

The main points

  • Tonga’s Chair of Parliament, Lord Fakafanua married his long-time fiance, Fane Kite, yesterday (October 15).
  • The marriage ceremony was delayed out of respect for Lord Fakafanua’s aunt, the late Princess Fusipala Vahai’i, who was buried on Sunday.
  • The wedding ceremony was profoundly dignified and although there was dancing and music, dancers in black clothes and ta’ovala, were seen performing with dignity and without much joy because of the funeral.
  • The President of the Free Wesleyan Church, the Rev. Dr ‘Ahio, led the wedding’s religious ceremony.

Vuna wharf welcomes pacific pearl

By
Kaniva Pacific
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The Pacific Pearl cruise ship glided into Vuna Wharf in Nuku’alofa this morning and those travelling on it have started swarming the central city streets.

The 247 m ship brought more than 1,700 passengers from Australia and is expected to depart for Norfolk this evening.

Featured photo, retrieved from Kingdom of Tonga’s Facebook page.

Ben Tāmeifuna named in 'Īkale-Tahi's squad for Europe

By
Kaniva Pacific
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Auckland-born Waikato prop Ben Tāmeifuna has been named in Tonga’s squad for tests against Georgia, the United States and Scotland, it has been confirmed today.

The 23-year old Tongan, who had been called into All Blacks’ training squad in 2012, was last month suspended for five weeks for pushing a referee out of his way during a provincial championship match.

Tāmeifuna will join his uncle ‘Alisona Taumālolo, who also represented the Chiefs in Super Rugby, in the ‘Īkale-Tahiʻs 31 squad.

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