Home Blog Page 875

Tongan koloa on display at Miami Convention Centre

By
Kaniva Pacific
-

Tongan made handicrafts  known as koloa faka-Tonga were on display at the Cruise Shipping Miami Convention Centre in Miami from 16-19 March, 2015.

These were mats and tapa cloth known as ngatu and they were among 900 stands from 125 countries which were displayed during the conference.

It was an opportunity for the Tongan tourism committee to promote its new manual that contains updated and correct tour guide information about Tonga.

Monalisa Palu, National Coordinator of the Tonga Handicrafts and Cultural Tourism Support Programme said: “Our culture is truly unique and rich and people are awed by our heritage arts so we were delighted to have brought the ngatu all the way from Tonga.”

“We decided to hang it up on our wall in the combined South Pacific Cruise Alliance booth featuring 8 Pacific islands including Tonga. It gave us a point of differentiation from our neighbouring countries and immediately drew the attention of visitors,” she added.

Monalisa  said the Chairman of Tonga’s Cruiseship Steering Committee Steve Edwards presented the ngatu as a gift to Tahiti’s Minister of Tourism during the  Presidents of the Member Cruise Lines Welcome Reception hosted by Tahiti.

“Again, Tonga was promoted here because we laid out the full ngatu and the process and story was explained which made it even more fascinating for the audience and in this highly competitive cruise industry with so many ports and destinations, it is important to be authentic and unique,” Monalisa said.

The conference was also an opportunity for Tonga  to share its “biosecurity requirements and quality assurance manual on handicrafts developed by the Tonga Handicrafts and Cultural Tourism Support Programme which was reviewed and approved by Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, New Zealand’s Ministry of Primary Industries and Tonga’s Ministry of Agriculture & Food, Forests and Fisheries”.

Monalisa said it appeared the information currently given to tourists about Tonga were outdated resulting in lack of buying of handicrafts and local products when cruise ships arrived in Tonga.

She said: “some of them were advised on the ship not to buy and so we worked towards reducing the impediments and providing the correct information thanks to Tonga’s MAFFF, Australia and NZ”.

Monalisa also said: “Last year we met with managers in Miami and realised the issue and since this is where the decision makers come to, we had to ensure we could furnish the right information so last year we made sure we got this manual done and more importantly, reviewed by the authorities and this year for the first time, we were able to share this so that they could then pass on the correct information to their ships visiting our shores.”

The Tonga Handicrafts and Cultural Tourism Support Programme aims to Enhance the Sustainable Livelihood Opportunities for Handicrafts and Cultural Tourism Experience providers.

Tonga, second most at risk country in the world to natural disasters

By
Alpha Latu
-

Tonga is the second most-at-risk country in the world to natural disasters and hazards such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions and tropical cyclones.

“Most recently, Tonga’s Northern Islands Group of Ha’apai, was hit by Category 5 Tropical Cyclone Ian resulting in loss of one life and displacing almost 70 per cent residents at a cost close to US$48 million at the beginning of last year, 2014,” said Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni during the Third United Nations World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (3WCDCC), which was held from 14-18 March 2015, in Sendai, Japan .

“Later in the year, severe drought in most part of Tonga affected some key agricultural export products. The year closed off with volcanic eruptions between the Hunga Islands, only 62 kms away from the capital, Nuku’alofa, which had caused disruptions to international and domestic air transportation”.

“These natural occurrences have increasingly eroded our development gains, and affect the overall level of sustainability of our Disaster Risk Reduction.”

“My Ministry ensures that the limited resources and technical expertise available are effectively and efficiently share and utilized, as part of our effort to building a more resilient Tonga against these risks” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

Tonga is the first country in the Pacific to develop and approve a Joint National Action Plan (JNAP) for the integration of Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management, he said.

The Tongan government has also brought Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management departments together under one ministry as part of its attempts to ensure its commitments to its resilience projects.

“Tonga continues to work together with its regional organizations and development partners in addressing its high degree of vulnerability to climate change and disaster risks” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

“We seek greater investment in science and technology to better inform risk reduction activities and improved early warning systems,” Hon. Sovaleni said.

200 disabled benefit from government’s disability welfare scheme

By
Kaniva Pacific
-

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
-

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
-

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
-

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
-

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
-

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
-

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
-

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.

1...874875876...964Page 875 of 964