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Pacific people say National out of touch

By
Kaniva Pacific
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The Samoan community has seen right through John Key’s political manoeuvrings in appointing Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga outside cabinet, says Labour’s Spokesperson for Pacific Island Affairs, Su’a William Sio.

“I heard today during my weekly radio slot with Samoa Radio 1593am that the community has interpreted Peseta’s ministerial appointment as a political sleight of hand, appointing him as a minister, but keeping him outside of Cabinet.

“People are reading this as a National Government being disingenuous and that National doesn’t take Pacific peoples seriously. These actions reflect how out of touch they are with Pacific peoples and our aspirations and dreams for our children and New Zealand as a whole.

“Mr Lotu-Iiga’s very first utterance as a Minister speaks loud on how out of touch he and his Government are on Pacific peoples in business.  Not only do we have Pacific people in small businesses, but we’ve got Pacific people who own and run big multi-million dollar businesses. He only needed to speak to the Pacific Business Trust to know this.

“He is also parroting the former minister’s belief about Pacific languages and he is also washing his hands from supporting, encouraging and protecting Pacific languages.

“Many in our community recognise that Peseta is well qualified to be a Minister but when they learnt he is outside of Cabinet, have aired their disappointment and are now wondering if he is simply a puppet for the Puppet Master,” said Su’a William Sio

PSA fights for 22% cost of living adjustment

By
Kalino Latu
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The Tongan Public service Association has submitted a new proposal for a 22 percent cost of living allowance.

The PSA submission was made to Finance Minister Dr ‘Aisake Eke on January 24.

Hon Eke said he will submit it to cabinet, according to PSA.

The Tongan government recently approved a five percent allowance.

The PSA said its claim was a compromise between the 23% calculated by National Reserve Bank CEO Dr Ngongo Kioa and the 20% recommended by the Ministry of Finance, which was based on the rate of inflation since 2005.

PSA secretary Mele ‘Amanaki said the Finance Minister agreed with their figure. If the government did not approve a 20-23% COLA now it would have to spend more money in the future.

After a six week strike by PSA officers in 2005 the Tongan government announced pay rises of 60-80 percent, funded by cuts in government services.

Approving the five percent COLA early this month, Tonga’s Deputy Prime Minister, Hon Samiu Vaipulu, said the government initially approved 20 percent, but the World Bank advised against this, citing the country's financial difficulties.

The PSA secretary claimed the IMF and World Bank reports only looked at quick ways of cutting expenditure. They did not give advice on government spending.

A World Bank spokesperson told Kaniva News: “As part of the World Bank's financial and technical support process to Tonga, we have an on-going dialogue with the Government on any upcoming fiscal and economic pressures and challenges.

“In this particular case, the World Bank's role was to provide technical analysis examining the costs and budget implications of different pay scenarios in order to inform the Government's decision making process.”

The PSA has made a number of recommendations to the Public Service Commission about areas from which funds could be recovered or increased.

It said the money paid to Tongasat – an issue first raised in Parliament and the subject of a series of legal battles involving Opposition leader ‘Akilisi Pohiva – should be returned. The money was transferred in two tranches of TP22 million ($NZ14 million) and TP32 million ($NZ21 million) in 2008 and 2011 .

The PSA recommended that all revenues from sale of the Tongan passports to foreigners in the past 15 years be collected.

It also said share dividends from profitable public enterprises should be increased from 10% to 50% from it in order to return profits to the people of Tonga.

‘Amanaki said the PSA supported the high level of benefits paid to employees in public enterprises, even though these were higher than those paid to pubic servants.

However, it did not support the level of benefits paid to members of the enterprise’s boards of directors, who, she said, only worked during board meetings and at official social functions.

The main points

  • The Tongan Public service Association has submitted a new proposal for a 22 percent cost of living allowance.
  • The PSA submission was made to Finance Minister Dr ‘Aisake Eke on January 24.
  • The Tongan government recently approved a five percent allowance.
  • After a six week strike by PSA officers in 2005 the Tongan government announced pay rises of 60-80 percent, funded by cuts in government services.
  • The PSA has made a number of recommendations to the Public Service Commission about areas from which funds could be recovered or increased.
  • These include recovering money from the sale of Tongan passports and returning the TP54 million paid to Tongasat.

L-R: PSA Secretary Mele 'Amanaki, Finance Minister Hon 'Aisake Eke and Vili Vete a PSA Executive Member. Image Source: PSA

Woman flees when her $50 fake pa’anga spotted

By
Kaniva Pacific
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Tongan police arrested a man with a $50 fake note yesterday while searching for a woman who fled after a shop keeper in Havelu was examining a TP$50 the woman gave for shopping.

Police said the woman went to the shop with a TP$50. While the shopkeeper scrutinised the pa'anga the woman fled.

Police took the pa’anga from the shop and they have confirmed it is counterfeit.

Tonga National Reserve Bank has also warned the public after it obtained a $50 counterfeit pa’anga note.

Police said counterfeit currency is currently in circulation and have issued a warning to shopkeepers and members of the community to be aware of it.

Police investigation continues.

How to Spot a Fake Note:

You can spot a counterfeit note with a quick examination;

  *   The feel of the paper and raised print – many fake notes are flat

  *   The watermark – is it present, does it look genuine?

  *   The metallic thread – is it present?

Counterfeit notes are worthless. It is a criminal offence to hold onto or pass on counterfeit notes. If you suspect a note is counterfeit, take it to the police as soon as possible.

Ha’apai: no need to fear water scarcity

By
Kaniva Pacific
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Nuku'alofa, TO – Tonga Water Board said there is no need to concern about water supply in Ha’apai after it installed a water distillation plant in Pangai this week. 

This will provide thousands of Ha'apai residents with enough water to survive up to July.

It says this was part of the work done by the board’s workers to areas affected by the cyclone last month.

“A new water distillation machine has been set up on the island.  This can turn up to 20,000 litters of seawater into drinking water,” Radio Tonga quoted Tonga Water Board’s CEO Saimone Helu as saying.

“When we left at the weekend the available water supply processed through the plant was almost 60,000 liters. That is going to be ongoing and that means we will have more water available for the people.

However the amount of drinking water is lowered to 10,000 liters a day in order to maintain the distillation machine. At the moment there is no concern of insufficient water supply in Ha’apai, unless an unexpected problem occurs,” the radio said.

Te'ekiu disaster response & community centre

By
Kaniva Pacific
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Nuku'alofa,TO – A new community and disaster response centre in Te’ekiu built by the NMCB 3’ Construction Civic Action Detail seabees is expected to be completed in few weeks' time.

The 710-square-meter structure will provide Te’ekiu residents a safe place to shelter during storms and hold community events.

Joint by the Tonga Defence Force, US seabees  share construction techniques and strengthen friendships while building the estimated $700,000 project.

“Our community doesn’t have the money to pay for things like this,” said Tevita Tau'aho, a Te’ekiu resident and father of three. “During a hurricane or something like that we would gather in our chapel. Now, with this new center, we feel much safer. My family is very thankful to the Navy.”

The solid cement structure is framed in high-density steel with a concrete foundation. Its construction took a wide range of engineering trades that required efficient teamwork between the TDS-Seabee team.

“They’ve become our friends,” said Equipment Operator 3rd Class Elizabeth Andrews. “We communicate really well, we help each other without having to ask and when it comes to laying block — which is more than half of our project — they’ve been doing it for years. It’s been a really great experience.”

CAPTION: Tonga Defense Force Lance Cpl. Saili Laisolo and BU3 Paige Abernathy, assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 3's Construction Civic Action Detail (CCAD) in Tonga, give each other a high five after completing a row of block. Photo by MC1 Chris Fahey / NMCB 3

Tonga police seize drugs

By
Kaniva Pacific
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Tongan Police Officers on January 28 searched and seized about 41 cannabis plant, 5 packets of cannabis leaves and one packet of approximately 218 cannabis seeds at a tax allotment in Fua’amotu

They also arrested and charged a 17 year old man with possession and cultivation of these drugs and is detained until he appears at the Magistrate Court on Monday 3rd February, 2014. 

Police have gathered information relating to this tax allotment for sometimes and on Tuesday have gathered enough information to conduct the search warrant.  

The street value of these drugs if it was sold on the market is approximately at around TOP$100, 00.00.  Further Investigation continues. 

On Wednesday 29th January, 2014 Tonga Police Officers from the Criminal Investigation Unit while conducting a Search Warrant at Houmakelikao on a different case, seized 5 Cannabis palnts and 8 small packets of Cannabis leaves. 

They also arrested and charged two male ages 47 and 23 from Houmakelikao with Possession and Cultivation of Illegal Drugs and are detained until they appears at the Police Magistrate Court on Monday 3rd February, 2014.  Investigation Continues.   

McCully to visit Tonga

By
Kaniva Pacific
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Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully will visit Tonga for two days this week.

Mr McCully will hold bilateral discussions with Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Lord Tu’ivakano, as well as other cabinet ministers.

“This is a timely visit in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Ian. 

New Zealand is committed to supporting the Tongan Government as the recovery and reconstruction effort continues,” Mr McCully says.

“This visit is also an opportunity to discuss further development work and engage with the local business community.”

 

Hakaoro jailed after Tongan overstayers speak out

By
Kaniva Pacific
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An immigration advisor who bilked Tongan immigrants out of thousands of dollars has been jailed for a year and eight months.

Hakaoro Hakaoro was found quilty of providing immigration advice without a licence at Manukau District Court on 22 January 2014.

The 54-year-old pleaded guilty to six counts of providing immigration advice without a licence and one count of holding himself out as an immigration adviser at an earlier hearing in October 2013.

The Immigration Advisers Authority found Mr Hakaoro had received more than $13,000 from six Tongan nationals who were trying to obtain lawful immigration status for themselves or relatives.

The migrants eventually spoke out after they discovered Mr Hakaoro had carried out little or no immigration work on their applications.

The court heard Mr Hakaoro, a Cook Island national with New Zealand citizenship, had talked three families into paying increasing amounts of money by making several false claims.

Mr Hakaoro offered to help one couple become permanent residents around November 2009. He told them he could assist them even though they were ‘overstayers’ as he knew all the right people.

Mr Hakaoro asked for $3,000 to assist them with their application and $3,000 to provide job offers. Later he also asked to borrow a further$2,000 to pay for his immigration adviser licence.

Anyone giving New Zealand immigration advice, whether onshore or offshore, must be licensed by the Authority, unless exempt. Exempt people include New Zealand lawyers.

Less than six months later, the couple were contacted by Immigration New Zealand (INZ) and informed they had to leave New Zealand. No visa applications had been submitted.

In 2010, Mr Hakaoro offered to help a woman, her mother and her husband. The three paid $3,750 and were asked for an additional $3,000 for Mr Hakaoro to travel to Tonga to obtain police records and check their status with INZ.

When the woman became unhappy with Mr Hakaoro and her son tried to intervene, Mr Hakaoro threatened to call INZ and expose the family’s unlawful status.

Mr Hakaoro told another couple that he had worked for INZ and could get visas for them and members of their family.

The couple’s daughter took out a loan to pay Mr Hakaoro’s fees only to find out from INZ that no visa applications had been submitted for their family.

Judge Eddie Paul said: "Your victims were vulnerable people, anxious to secure their status in this country. One can hardly think of a more vulnerable person than one in a foreign land being offered an opportunity to remain in that foreign land when the reality was that offer was unlawful and delivered in a deceitful way."

“Home detention is not appropriate. It would send the wrong message to the South Auckland community that persons like you can offend and return to the community.”

Mr Hakaoro was ordered to repay $5,000 to his victims at the rate of $20 per week upon release.

TRU CEO to be picked ‘on merit alone’

By
Kalino Latu
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Members of the Tongan Rugby Union want their new CEO to be Tongan.  

The TRU is currently shortlisting candidates for the role after applications closed in November 2013.

Kaniva News has been reliably informed some applicants are concerned after hearing members of the TRU met in December and pushed to assign the CEO position to Tongan applicants only.

‘Epeli Taione, Chairperson of the TRU believes those fears are unfounded.                                           

“With regards to the CEO being non-Tongan or Tongan, yes it was mentioned and deliberated in the 6th December meeting,” said Taione.

“I think it will be very naive and unprofessional on behalf of TRU to recruit the CEO with a premeditated view on the sex, age and ethnicity of the candidates.

We will pick the best we can for the role based on merit alone,” he told Kaniva news.

However Taione said it was his long–term goal for Tonga rugby to be administered only by Tongans.

“With due respect to Peter Harding who is by far the most credible import for TRU in the last decade, in the future, it is my dream to have everything Tongan; from top of administrations, to coaches and the technical support staff of the Union.

“It is always a major problem for smaller rugby nations in the Pacific – foreigners in key roles in administrations and coaching use the 2nd Tier nations as a 'step up' for bigger and greater jobs elsewhere.  

“When they come and leave on that basis, whole operations collapse and everything starts from scratch again and again; this uncertainty and inefficient cycle needs to stop. 

“We need continuity and consistency in Tongan rugby; we cannot rely anymore on anyone other than that of our own.

“I have seen it all both as a player and a sports administrator, we are more than capable of being the best in rugby in both codes in the world.

“We need to believe in our own abilities both on and off it, Argentina is closing in on rugby world power houses doing it the Argentinian way.

Let’s do it in the Tongan way, wholeheartedly but professionally,” Taione said.

The CEO position for the rugby union in Tonga was advertised in October last year after TRU terminated CEO ‘Emeline Tuita’s period of probation. 

The list of shortlisted applicants is to be announced next week.

They will be questioned before a panel of four interviewers including ‘Epeli Taione, Deputy Prime Minister Hon Samiu Vaipulu, Tonga’s Solicitor General Aminiasi Kefu and Graham Mourie, Taione said.

Body of 6 year-old girl found near 'Ananā

By
Kalino Latu
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A 6 year-old girl from Folaha drowned on January 23 while swimming with other children at Moli beach in Nukuhetulu.

They were floating on a broken refrigerator door near the beach looking for seaweed.

Two of the children got into the water to gather the seaweed while the deceased and another child were paddling the broken door.

Police said the surviving paddler lost the paddle and while trying to retrieve it, realised they were floating towards deeper water.

The paddler managed to get to shore and call for help.

When helpers arrived they found the broken door but the girl was not there.

They searched and found her body close to ‘Ananā beach.

CPR was performed, but to no avail.

She was subsequently taken to Vaiola hospital where she was pronounced dead.   

The police also reported a 19 year-old woman from Lapaha died on the 25th after she fell from a pickup.

Police said she fell after the driver tried to evade piglets crossing the road.

Police arrested the driver of the van, a 53 year-old man from Lapaha, and he remains in  custody.

On the same day,  a 46 year-old man died on the Ha’apai’s island of Fonoi after he collapsed while diving for fish.

The victim went diving with two other fishermen.

According to police, the diver came up with his catch and got into the boat.

The unidentified man, who had been diving using a gas cylinder, then told the two fishermen they should return to shore.

While sitting in the boat he died. The doctor in Nomuka confirmed the victim died from decompression.

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