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Samoa Fa’afafine Association protests censor of Elton John film

By
Kaniva Staff
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By Radio New Zealand International

LGBTI rights advocates in Samoa are protesting against the censoring of the Elton John biopic Rocketman.

Samoa’s only cinema revealed the ban on Friday on its Facebook page and employees told local media it was due to the portrayal of gay sex in the film.

In conservative Samoa – where around 98 percent of people identify as Christian – same-sex sexual relations are criminalised, although related laws are unenforced.

Churches also wield considerable influence on communities and institutions.

According to one local businessman who has attended annual meetings of Samoa’s Censorship Board, the body consistently bans content going against Christian values but especially any LGBTI content. The businessman requested anonymity to discuss the matter.

Alex Su’a, president of the Samoa Fa’afafine Association, said the Censorship Board’s policies were discriminatory.

“On the many other movies that I’ve seen being sold in DVD shops and what I’ve seen in cinemas, a lot of it is not really based on Christian principles or values,” he said, adding that LGBTI content seemed to be the only content which was censored.

Tuisina Ymania Brown, co-secretary general of the International LGBTI Association, said the censoring of Rocketman would hurt local non-binary communities in Samoa.

“There are young LGBTI fa’afine and fa’asama living in Samoa who probably are struggling with their sexual identity and their sexual orientation,” she said.

“Maybe if they can go see such a film and if it helps them progress further and make them snap out of whatever moment they’re in and lead a full and happy life and contribute as a citizen of Samoa, why are we witholding these works of art?”

The Censorship Board could not be reached for comment.

Gov’t refutes king’s “no economic vision” speech; Finance Minister details economic plans

By
Kalino Latu
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The government has a clear economic vision for the country, despite the king saying there did not appear to be one, Parliament was told yesterday.

The Minister of Finance, Dr. Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa, told Parliament the government’s economic vision was put under the second part of the Tonga Strategic Development Framework, which runs from 2015 – 2025.

It was a national vision titled: “A more progressive Tonga supporting higher quality of life for all”, Hon. Tu’i’onetoa said.

The Minister made his comments in the House after King Tupou VI said during a speech to open Parliament on May 30 that the economy seemed to suffer from a lack of vision.

The Minister told the House the government had created nine goals under the national vision as launch pads for implementing its economic activities for the next three years including the new financial year which will begin in July, and the remaining two years of the government’s term of office.

The Minister was only able to talk about two of the nine goals in Parliament before his time was up. The Speaker told him he could continue on the following day.

The first goal was an improvement of the government’s public services made under public sector reform.  The government wanted to understand the outcomes it gained from its spending and products made.

He said the government sectors were expected to follow these reforms according to laws and guidelines to encourage better public services and good governance.

These could only work in a  good governmental and political structure and the six new bills the government recently submitted to the House were part of the government’s vision to make its public sector reform a success, Hon. Tu’i’onetoa said .

The appointment of the Attorney General which came into effect  in June 2019 was part of this reform.

The Minister said the government wanted  to deliver better education and health support to the smaller outer islands through the internet. He said the internet fibre cable did not reach these islands and work was underway to install a government sponsored satellite company to cater for the plan.

The government was  also working to  develop the informal sector.

Hon Tu’i’onetoa said it was important to look after poor  people and urge them to trade and move into the formal sector.

The Minister said that doing so could create more economic activities which could boost the economy as a whole. 

“It is estimated 80 per cent or over of the country are in this category,” the Minister told Parliament.

“This was a vision of the Prime Minister and the government to develop this sector so that people could work hard and trade.”

Hon Tu’i’onetoa said it had been proved worldwide that  this policy could help these people to have a better life. 

The foreword to the government’s budget for 2018/19 said:

“The strategic thrust for the 2018/19 budget is to promote growth, enhance economic diversification, and create job opportunities, which are necessary to improve the standard of living of Tongans.”

The Minster said some of these reforms and vision to develop the country’s economy could take years before they showed  outcomes.

Ninety Mile Beach meth importing trial: Guilty verdicts for both accused

By
Kaniva Staff
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By Denise Piper , stuff.co.nz

A man and a woman are facing jail after being found guilty of importing meth discovered during New Zealand’s largest ever drugs bust.

Stevie Cullen and Selaima Fakaosilea were both charged with importing methamphetamine and participating in an organised criminal group, charges which carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

The jury found they were guilty on all four charges after a six-week trial.

The charges relate to the landing of 501kg of methamphetamine at Ninety Mile Beach in the Far North in June 2016, the country’s largest ever drug bust.

The jury of eight women and four men have been considering the case in the High Court in Whangārei for the last six weeks.

There were tears in the public gallery as the guilty verdicts were delivered, from family members of Fakaosilea who had attended much of the trial.

Fakaosilea said to her family “I love you” as she was lead away, while Cullen remained quiet.

The trial officially began on April 29, but problems with empanneling the jury and the sickness of jury members meant several days were lost in the trial.

Over the last six weeks, the jury has heard evidence from nearly 50 witnesses, including 44 from the Crown. Cullen also took to the stand.

The Crown argued Cullen, known by the codename Marvel, was in the Far North in the lead-up to the import, carrying out key activities for the organised criminal group, including researching marine conditions, booking hotel rooms and helping with the boat launch.

The Crown argued Fakaosilea, known by the codename Blaze, played a logistics role from Auckland, organising the hiring of vehicles, obtaining toolboxes and overseeing the distribution of drugs for “buckets” of cash.

But Cullen’s defence counsel Annabel Maxwell-Scott argued that while Cullen was in the Far North, he thought he was on a spiritual journey and a boys’ trip to spread a brother’s ashes.

Fakaosilea’s defence counsel Maria Pecotic said there was no evidence she knew what was going on from Auckland and, while she had pleaded guilty to later distributing Class A drugs, she had no involvement with the import.

Both were remanded in custody for sentencing, which will take place on July 12 at the High Court in Whangārei.

The end of the trial wraps up a three-year investigation by the police’s National Organised Crime Group, after the country’s largest ever drug bust.

Six people have already pleaded guilty to their roles in the importation.

If sold in 1kg lots, the 501kg of meth would be worth between $130 million and $150 million.

Justice Christine Gordon QC thanked the jury for their time and conscientiousness in the trial, which was supposed to last four to five weeks.

Stuff

Brisbane’s ‘Alovili Home founder to participate in Tonga’s Miss Heilala Pageant 2019

By
Kaniva Staff
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The founder of Brisbane’s ‘Alovili Home, Ms Melefifita Percilla Jane ‘Alovili, will be participating in the 2019 Miss Heilala Pageant in the Kingdom of Tonga.

The ‘Alovili Home was established by Melefifita on 15 May 2018 with the goal to raise awareness for mental health and suicide prevention focussing on Pacific Islander people living in Australia. 

Melefifita has inspired hundreds of people with her story of triumph and victory over traumatic circumstances in her own life. ‘Alovili Home’s motto is “love has no barriers and tradition embraces innovation” and is currently receiving up to five new enquiries daily. ‘Alovili Home works around the clock to refer these enquiries to the appropriate service providers in Australia. 

Melefifita was already a runner up in the 2019 Miss Tonga Australia pageant and has now set her sights on the renowned Miss Heilala Pageant in Nuku‘alofa.  

Melefifita said “I am so grateful to have this platform to share my message of hope and educate our people in topics that are unfortunately stigmatised and to be a voice for those who are still trying to find their own.”  

“Our vision and goals for the future of ‘Alovili Home is to educate our people here and abroad to eventually build teams to take our message to our Island homes and educate our people there, that’s just one part of our goal, we have so many more, but this is what we hope to achieve first,” Melefifita added.  

The Miss Heilala Pageant is a popular feature of the Kingdom’s annual Heilala Festival and this year coincides with the 60th birthday celebrations of His Majesty King Tupou VI.   

Media Contact: Sulieni Layt via email on brisbanetongancommunity@gmail.com or mobile on +61(0) 420 639 764. 

Technical help sought for e-government projects; $400,000 donated to Api Tonga

By
Kalino Latu
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A visit by a high level Tongan delegation to the University of the South Pacific in Suva has been described as a success.

A team of two cabinet ministers and government officials were at USP to seek helps for Tonga’s e-government project.

Minister of Finance Dr Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa described the visit as “joyous and successful.”

The team was welcomed by the Director of the University’s Computer Centre, Kisione Finau.

Finau conducted a three-day workshops for the team while they were in Suva.

The World Bank and the Asian Development Bank have provided U$11 million for the project.

The World Bank has donated US$4.5 million to build a secured data centre for the project, mapping and linking all the government’s ministries and creating a government online registry for the public.

The ADB donated U$7 million for a project to computerise hospital patients’ records.

Hon. Tu’i’onetoa said the projects were expected to start in the 2019/20 financial year.

A national unit for the projects would be established to recruit experts for the works.  

The unit could bring together all the government’s ICT to work on the e-government services.

The Minister claimed Tonga was the first of USP’s Pacific partnership countries to visit the newly established Japan-Pacific ICT centre.

The team also visited the  ‘Api Tonga centre in Fiji which is currently under reconstruction.

The government has donated TP$400,000 for the centre which was established to host Tongan students at USP. 

The main points

  • A visit by a high level Tongan delegation to the University of the South Pacific in Suva has been described as a success.
  • A team of two cabinet ministers and government officials were at USP to seek helps for Tonga’s e-government project.

Three arrested after John Herman Tonga shot dead

By
Kalino Latu
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KEARNS, Utah (AP) — Authorities say three people have been arrested in connection with a Kearns shooting that left one man dead and another seriously wounded.

Unified Police say a 38-year-old man from Kearns and a 37-year-old woman and a 45-year-old man from Salt Lake City were taken into custody Saturday.

The names of the three haven’t been released, but police tell the Salt Lake Tribune that two of the suspects are facing aggravated murder, aggravated robbery and weapon charges.

Police say 34-year-old John Herman Tonga was found dead outside a home in Kearns on Wednesday.

An emergency clinic reported a second man who suffered a gunshot wound at the home came in for treatment.

Police appeal for witnesses after stolen car spree in Auckland

By
Kalino Latu
-

By Radio New Zealand International

Police said a man was behaving erratically in the suburb of Mount Wellington about 8.40am, reportedly following a family harm incident.

Senior sergeant Graeme Fleming of Counties Manukau Police said a blue Holden Commodore was reportedly driving dangerously in the Ōtāhuhu area on Great South Road, and continued through Papatoetoe and Ōtara.

The vehicle collided with a motorcycle and injured the rider at the intersection of Te Irirangi Dr and Dawson Rd, Clover Park.

Police believe the driver continued down Dawson Road then crashed into another vehicle, but jumped out and stole another vehicle.

The driver then crashed again in the Murphys Road area and proceeded to steal another vehicle.

He continued to drive dangerously toward the Howick area before being involved in another crash at the intersection of Bleakhouse Road and Ridge Road about 10am.

The man tried to steal another car, but was located and taken into custody by police in Howick after calls from the public.

“The man was driving dangerously at excessive speeds that caused serious risk to the public and it is incredibly fortunate that nobody was seriously injured,” Mr Fleming said.

Anyone who witnessed the man’s driving or were involved in any of the incidents are being urged to contact police.

Ninety Mile Beach meth trial: woman wrongly accused of import, court hears

By
Kalino Latu
-

By Denise Piper, stuff.co.nz

A woman accused of co-ordinating the largest meth importation in New Zealand was wrongly accused, the High Court in Whangārei has heard.

Selaima Fakaosilea is accused, along with Stevie Cullen, of importing methamphetamine and participating in an organised criminal group.

The charges relate to the landing of 501kg of methamphetamine at Ninety Mile Beach in the Far North in June 2016, the country’s largest ever drug bust.

Six people have already pleaded guilty to their part in the case, including Ulakai Fakaosilea, Ms Fakaosilea’s brother.

But just because her brother knew what was going on, did not mean she knew, Fakaosilea’s counsel Maria Pecotic told the jury.

Unlike Cullen, Fakaosilea was not in the Far North in the lead-up to the June 2016 landing. The Crown alleges she was an organiser and financier of the operation from Auckland.

But there was no evidence in the case to show she knew what was going on, Pecotic said.

Text messages between Fakaosilea and her brother about “clothes” were not proven to be code talk about money, as the Crown alleged, and were literally about clothes, Pecotic said.

The Crown’s key witness, Witness X, made an incorrect assumption that Fakaosilea went by the codename Blaze, as she was never introduced to him as Blaze, she said.

Pecotic suggested Blaze was Jermiah Iusitini, also known as Thugga. Iusitini pleaded guilty to importing methamphetamine and participating in an organised criminal group.

Witness X, who was caught by police driving a campervan with 449kg of the methamphetamine, was not the naive 19-year-old the Crown suggested, she said.

“I would suggest he’s a savvy and street-wise young man.”

WILLING TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY

In relation to a different operation, Fakaosilea pleaded guilty to charges of supplying methamphetamine and cocaine, both Class A drugs, in September and November 2016.

Pecotic said those events took place many months after the time period being considered by the jury.

After the arrest of her brother, Fakaosilea was in turmoil and got into a relationship with a drug dealer.

“The charges that she has pleaded guilty to show she’s a person who’s prepared to acknowledge and face her responsibility, and accept when she’s done something wrong,” Pecotic said.

“She does not say that she’s done anything wrong in this action, and she says that she’s been wrongly accused.”

Justice Christine Gordon QC will sum up the five-week case on Monday, before letting the jury out to decide a verdict.

Stuff

Folau files law suit over Rugby Australia sacking

By
Kaniva Staff
-

This story appears on rnz.co.nz

Sacked Wallabies star Israel Folau has launched legal proceedings against Rugby Australia over the termination of his contract.

Folau, a fundamentalist Christian, was sacked by Rugby Australia last month for a post on social media that said hell awaited “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers” and other groups.

He says he’s taking the action in the pursuit of his “right to religious freedom.”

Folau wants Australia’s Fair Work Commission, an industrial relations tribunal, to rule that his employment was terminated because of his religion.

In a statement Folau said “no Australian of any faith should be fired for practising their religion,” he said in a statement that confirmed his case had been lodged.

“Ours is an amazing country built on important principles, including freedom of religion.

“A nation made up of so many different faiths and cultural backgrounds will never be truly rich unless this freedom applies to all of us.”

Rugby Australia was unable to provide immediate comment.

Folau confirmed this week that he had engaged commercial law firm Macpherson Kelley and a prominent industrial relations barrister to act for him in his dispute.

He was found guilty of a “high level” breach of Rugby Australia’s code of conduct by a three-member tribunal after a prolonged hearing last month.

His four-year contract, worth up to $AU5 million according to local media reports, was torn up but he waived his right to an appeal, saying he had “no confidence” in Rugby Australia’s judicial process.

His statement on Thursday said his termination had prevented him from playing at the “peak of his career” and on the cusp of a Rugby World Cup, which could have generated greater exposure and opportunities.

“Accordingly, Mr Folau is seeking substantial remedies from his former employers should they be found to have breached the Fair Work Act in terminating his employment,” it said.

A dual code international, Folau switched to rugby union in 2013 and scored 37 tries in 73 tests, while claiming the John Eales medal as the country’s best player a record three times.

Local media have reported that he is seeking a return to the 13-man code in Australia’s National Rugby League but the sport’s boss Peter Beattie said he would not sanction his return.

-Reuters

Possible partner in Tonga-Brisbane direct flight under investigation by Australian authorities

By
Philip Cass
-

Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority is investigating Nauru Airlines, which has been in talks with the Tongan government about setting up a direct flight to Australia.

Last December Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva met a delegation from Nauru Airlines to discuss the possibility of a service between Tonga and Brisbane.

Hon. Pohiva met Nauru Airlines chairman Trevor Jensen and the managing director of Real Tonga, Tevita Palu, about a potential partnership.

Radio New Zealand reported Mr Jensen as saying that the airline said what it had seen and was keen to pursue the matter further.

According to Australian media reports the CASA received complaint about Jensen from the airline’s former CEO Peter Sheehan, safety systems manager Brian Douglas and the chief pilot.

They claimed he had not allowed the CEO to do his job properly and presided over a toxic workplace environment where staff were bullied and abused.

Jensen has denied the allegations. It is understood he has now taken over as CEO while remaining chairman.

There has been speculation that the airline could post a multi-million dollar loss this year.

It is believed the Nauru government recently gave the airline $10 million.

Nauru Airlines is wholly owned by the Government of Nauru and currently flies to Brisbane, Nadi, Tarawa, Majuro, Pohnpei and Guam.

It owns a five Boeing 737-300 aircraft.

About 6000 Tongans live in Brisbane and up to 600 Tongans work on Queensland farms and orchard under the Seasonal Workers Program.

The main points

  • Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority is investigating Nauru Airlines, which has been in talks with the Tongan government about setting up a direct flight to Australia.
  • Last December Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva met a delegation from Nauru Airlines to discuss the possibility of a service between Tonga and Brisbane.
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