Methamphetamine and cash have been seized after multiple homes were raided in a sting targeting drug suppliers in Tongatapu.
Police arrested three men and one woman with methamphetamine from three
different locations in Tongatapu.
Police seized 21.54 grams of methamphetamine, over TOP$6,000 pa’anga cash and drug utensils during these arrests.
All four accused have been charged accordingly and to appear
in court at a later date.
A/Deputy Commissioner Vailea said that these arrests show that those who are seeking to profit from the harm these drugs cause can continue to expect to be targeted by Police.
“Drugs have no place in our community; they destroy the lives of the users, harming our children and our communities. We hope these arrests will bring some reassurance to the community.”
A/DC Vailea also wanted to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of staff who were involved in the seizures, and their commitment to intercepting the supply of these harmful drugs, keeping our communities safe and protected.
He urged anyone who has information on drug dealing in our communities to contact police on 22782.
Kiliki ‘i he halangaope ‘i ‘olunga’ ke ke fanongo ki he fakataha ‘a e kāinga Tongatapu 1’ mo e ‘Eiki Palēmia’ ‘i he lea fakaTonga’.
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Audios of the Prime Minister’s meeting in Tongatapu 1 were provided by the Prime Minister’s office and transcribed and translated into English by Kaniva News. This English version of the audios had been abridged.
A residential area in Kolomotu’a has been described as threatening and the Minister of Police, Lord Nuku, has been asked to give it special treatment.
A
resident has likened it to Sodom and Gomorrah in the Holy Bible.
It has been claimed there were ongoing loud party music, singing and swearing (“lau e veesi lauloto kehekehe”) coming from party goers in this area known as Israel (“’Isileli.”)
Police when called sometime turned up and sometime they didn’t, it has been claimed.
The road pits in the area had been likened to an underground oven. The Minister of Police told residents he did not know their problems went that far.
Lord Nuku also denied rumours that the Tu’i’onetoa government was using the Prime Minister’s roading project as a political campaign tool.
The noble said the roading priority policy was created based on what had been recorded by Parliament every year in the past four decades after it annual visits to all constituencies as people’s top urgent needs. He said people’s second top priority was water,
Lord Nuku said the Prime Minister’s Roading Project for the whole of Tonga has yet to begin. He said the government was currently repairing roads under its normal road maintenance policy.
He said the government has approved an estimate of TOP$700 million for the Prime Minister’s Roading Project and an allocation of $18 million to spend on road maintenance until June.
The revelations were made during a meeting organised by the Prime Minister’s office for the Prime Minister and some of his Cabinet ministers to meet with the Tongatapu 1 constituents to hear their urgent needs.
As Acting Minister of Infrastructure, Lord Nuku told the ‘Isileli residents the Ministry will repair their roads soon after repair works currently underway at Pea. His response was followed by applause.
The government told the constituents it would build and upgrade evacuation centres to include special features required for people with disabilities.
The meeting was reminded that the Tu’i’onetoa government was just on its fourth month after it came to power in October 2019.
The situation at ‘Isileli has been also described as disrespectful to a retired minister of the Free Church of Tonga, Manase Tafea, who was one of only four residence owners in this particular area of Tongatapu 1.
Joi
Schaumkel told Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa during the meeting the
situation was threatening.
She
said she and her husband always carried with them in their vehicle a machete as
a weapon to protect them if somebody tried to attack them when their vehicle
had to run at low speed because of the road pits.
She
said during night time whenever she heard vehicles speeding up in their road
she woke up and put the light on.
Schaumkel told the meeting the Japanese surveyed the area as part of the plan to construct the roads, but when the construction began the area was not included.
She asked the Prime Minister to repair the roads.
A
Tongan man who said he was living in the US told the Prime Minister during the
meeting to consider building drainage first before the roads because the area
was swampy.
He said they did this in the US when constructing roads in swampy areas because if drainage was not provided the water would damage the road from time to time.
Other concerns from the residents included asking the Prime Minister to defer putting an end to building materials’ tax and duty free policy it offered after recent tropical cyclones.
A
woman has asked the Prime Minister to help provide accommodation for children she
said she looked after because their mother had died.
Another
woman told the Prime Minister when it rained his children could not go to
school because of poor road conditions. He asked Hon Tu’ionetoa to repair the
road.
Tongatapu 1 MP Siaosi Pōhiva told the Prime Minister he was concerned after he was not invited to be part of those people who were given the roles to organise the meeting.
MP
Pōhiva said he wanted politicians to be united and set aside their political
differences to enable them to work together for the benefit of the people.
The death of a young girl in Touliki on Friday has prompted questions about what international safety measures are in place at public swimming pools.
The girl’s body was recovered from the ocean pool about 2pm. She was identified by relatives and friends on social media as 13-year-old ‘Elisapeta Heitonga of Tofoa.
Local reports said attempts to revive Heitonga at the scene failed.
It is understood the girl was with
members of a sport team from Lavengamālie College.
In 2013 a 41 years-old man drowned at
the pool, which was then closed for two
months.
In New Zealand public swimming pools
generally have volunteer or paid lifeguards who keep an eye on swimmers.
Government regulations lay out strict
rules on supervising pool users, particularly children. Responsibility
stretches to a range of staff.
A minimum of one qualified lifeguard
is required at all times, with more depending on the number of users.
At New Zealand beaches lifeguards
maintain a watch on swimmers and mark out safe areas with flags.
In Australia there is a strong
culture of lifeguards on public beaches and in public pools and in both
countries lifeguards have to qualify for the position.
In California lifeguards have to
undertake qualifications of up to two years and undertake life saving and CPR qualifications.
A young Tongatapu girl drowned in the swimming pool at Touliki this morning.
Police rescue team was called shortly after the girl went missing in the pool area.
Her body was pulled from the water after 2pm.
Local reports said attempts to revive the girl at the scene failed.
It is understood the girl was with members of a sport team from Lavengamālie College.
No further details available.
The death came after authorities temporarily closed down the pool in 2013 after the body of a 41 year old father was recovered after he was swimming there with his children.
Police are seeking witnesses to a firearms incident that
occurred at an address on Marion Avenue, Mount Roskill at approximately 7:42am
this morning.
On arrival, Police found three men who had sustained gunshot
wounds.
The men, who had injuries ranging from critical to minor,
were all transported to Auckland Hospital where they are currently receiving
treatment for their injuries.
Police are also seeking information about a dark coloured
SUV or people mover type vehicle that was seen fleeing from the vicinity of
Marion Avenue at speed shortly after the incident occurred.
Anyone with information about the vehicle or the incident
itself is asked to come forward and contact Police on 105.
Information can also be passed anonymously via Crimestoppers
on 0800 555 111.
Police are at the scene today conducting a scene examination
and a scene guard is in place.
We would like to reassure the public that we are committed
to ensuring the safety of the community and bring those responsible to justice.
A man was killed and another injured in an overnight shooting in South Auckland, police said this morning.
About 11:45pm Police were called to a report of a firearm being discharged on Bairds Rd, Ōtara.
On arrival Police located a
critically injured man and attempted to provide medical attention, however he
died at the scene.
A second person was moderately
injured and taken to Middlemore Hospital.
Scene guards remain in place.
“Locals should expect to see a
strong Police presence in the area today,” says Detective Inspector
Tofilau Va’aelua, Counties Manukau District Crime Services Manager.
“I want to reassure the
community that we are absolutely committed to finding those responsible for
this and holding them to account.”
A jail sentence was the only way to deter school violence, the Supreme Court has been told.
Soane Patita Toutai’olepo was sentenced to one year in jail for his part
in an attack on a truck carrying Tupou
College student.
Lord Chief Justice Whitten said
it would be inappropriate to suspend any of the sentence.
This would risk sending a message that if somebody causes serious injury
by taking part in school violence, they could escape prison time.
“If that ever was the belief, it must be dispelled,” the judge said.
“Such mindless violence must not continue.
“It is incumbent on the Court to apply the law in a manner which reinforces
that community expectation and which serves to protect all school students from
street violence initiated for no other reason than that they different
schools.”
Toutai’olepo was one of a group of Tonga College students who threw
rocks at a truck carrying Tupou College students home after a school sports
competition.
The accused threw a large rock at the truck which hit 12 years-old Lata
‘i Lapaha Funakia. He was knocked unconscious and was rushed to Vaiola Hospital
where surgeons operated for a compound depressed fracture to the left side of
his skull.
The court was told that conflicts between school was a serious problem
in Tonga.
The victim’s father said despite the fact that Toutai’olepo had not
apologised, they had forgiven him
When arrested he cooperated with police.
In sentencing the accused, the judge said he had to provide an opportunity for rehabilitation and deter
others from future acts of violence between rival schools.
Toutai’olepo was sentenced to two years in prison. The second year of
the sentence was suspended. Two weeks were deducted from the first year of
prison because of time already spent in jail.
The Heilala Festival 2020 is expected to officially begin on May 11 in Vava’u.
The national event which included beauty pageant contest, cultural competitions, and celebrating the Royal Birthday of His Majesty King Tupou VI, will then move to Lifuka, Ha’apai on May 15 – 22.
On May 25 – 29 the event was expected to be celebrated in ‘Eua before the final events in Tongatapu on June 22 – July 4.
“In bringing Tonga Tourism Industry to actively
engage in working hand-in-hand with the Ministry of Tourism, we wish to invite
you to join and celebrate with us on this significant and colourful event,”
Tourism CEO Sione Mafi said in a statement.
“Governors
of Vava’u and Ha’apai as well as the Government Representative of ‘Eua, are absolutely
supportive and totally ebullient and happy to brace the National Event.
“The
Ministry wishes to acknowledge every Heilala Festival‘s major sponsor, Fiji
Airways, in which it’ll be again this year’s major sponsor.”
Last year the traditional event ended in bitter controversy after 2018 – 2019 Tongan beauty queen Kalo Funganitao’s title was stripped off after she spoke of alleged mistreatment and bullying by organisers.
2018 runner up, Lupe Vete, was
then recognised as Miss Heilala for the 2018 to 2019 period.
