Tongan police are hunting for 10 men who attacked officers yesterday.
The men, who are known to police, were travelling in an unlicensed vehicle when they were stopped by police in Mailetaha.
Police Acting Superintendent Tevita Vailea said the men began attacking the officers with sharp objects including machetes.
The officers fled for their own safety.
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An Assistant Teacher at Tonga College, Mrs. Petina Ulakai Vi will be presented with three gold medals at the USP Medals and Prizes Awards Ceremony to be held on Wednesday, 29 March, 2017 at 6pm at the Japan Pacific ICT Multipurpose Theatre, USP, Suva, Fiji.
Tonga’s Ministry of Education said Vi’s three Gold Medals were awarded after she was outstanding in the following courses:
1. The Gold Medal and Prize for the most outstanding graduate majoring in education
2. The Gold Medal and Prize for the most outstanding graduate majoring in Literature and Language
3. Gold Medal and Prize for the most Outstanding Bachelor of Education graduate
Mrs. Vi was advised of the above-mentioned awards through a letter from the Group Manager – Student Administrative Service, USP, Fiji on 17 March.
Tonga will play Wales in Auckland on June 16, a day earlier than originally scheduled, UK media have reported today.
The test had originally been scheduled for June 17.
World Rugby assessed facilities in Tonga and has confirmed the match has been moved.
The WRU had expressed doubts over the readiness of Tonga’s Teufaiva Sport Stadium, which is being redeveloped.
Another concern was the availability of medical cover should a serious injury occur.
Delegations from World Rugby and the WRU visited Tonga in December to see whether sufficient progress had been made, but concerns remained that the pitch would not be fit for purpose.
The match will take place the day before the British and Irish Lions take on New Zealand Maori in Rotorua, while Wales’ game in Samoa will go ahead as planned in Apia on 24 June.
Wales’ last Test in Tonga was in 1994
Tonga has rarely had the the opportunity to host tier-one nations.
The last time Wales toured the islands in the South Pacific was in 1994.
In February World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont said: “World Rugby shares in Tonga’s disappointment that this match will be moved given the huge effort made by the Tongan Rugby Union (TRU) to date.
“But the decision was jointly agreed by the WRU and World Rugby with the objective of ensuring that the fixture can go ahead albeit in a different location.”
Fans and travel companies had been in limbo for a number of months as they were unable to confirm itineraries for those wishing to travel.
A venue has yet to be confirmed, though North Harbour’s QBE Stadium is among those being considered.
A Tongan woman in London had received a text message from her husband warning her to stay inside a cathedral because a terror attack had hit nearby.
Falasima Tuʻifua Kautoke was attending a Mass at the Westminister Cathedral in which she said it took only eight minutes to walk from there to the scene of horror.
Five people have died and at least 40 were injured after the attacker drove a car along a pavement in Westminster, stabbed a policeman and was shot dead by police in the grounds of Parliament.
The dead officer has been named as PC Keith Palmer, 48, a husband and father.
Dressed in black, the UK Prime Minister condemned “the sick and depraved terrorist attack
on the streets of our capital this afternoon.”
She added: “We will all move forward together, never giving in to terror and never allowing the voices of hate and evil to drive us apart.”
Police believe that the attack was “inspired by international terrorism” and that they know the attacker’s identity, but did not give further details. Authorities are also looking at the suspect’s possible associates.
Falasima and her family were in London while her husband was working as Director of the Trade Division of the Commonwealth Secretariat.
She took to Facebook and wrote: “Terrorist attack in Westminister resulted in loss of lives and injured many pedestrians right at the heart of London.
“I was at Westminister Cathedral for Mass and Adoration (about 8mins walk from the site for (sic) the attack), totally unaware of the attack.
“It was after the Adoration at 4.45pm and was about to leave the Cathedral when my husband messaged me to remain in Church and informed me about the attack.
“Watching the evening news at home my heart went out to the innocent victims and their families and friends. May they rest in the love and peace of God”.
Her family members and friends on Facebook commented on her post and told her to “stay safe”.
“…thank God you’re safe and sorry for those who have lost their lives rip”, another commenter wrote.
“…he protects you from this terrorist attack coz you were at the right place….ofa atu and keep safe”, another commenter wrote.
The Tongan government should find the real economic problems facing Tongans, the CEO of Revenue and Customs ‘Anisi Bloomfield said today.
Bloomfield said it was time to stop relying on solutions from economic textbooks.
As Kaniva News reported last month, the government announced that from now on budgets would be set according to a policy of aligning expenditure with GDP ratios.
“This problem has been raised from time to time and people are sick of it,” Bloomfield said.
He said economic policy was the cause of the civil servants’ strike in 2005.
Budget allocation should reflect activities and solution to stop these problems.
“It is about time for us to talk about the solutions to these problems,” Bloomfield said.
“If not, we cannot resolve our problem.”
He said Tonga faced high unemployment, but still imported foreign workers.
“The government still issues visas to taxi drivers and shop keepers and after staying in Tonga for five years these foreigners are allowed to apply for permanent residency,” Bloomfield said.
He said solutions needed to stop the government from having to absorb employees, including those who have just finished university.
“Is the policy for selecting our scholarship candidates still valid and should it still be based on government’s need or is it about time to include the views of the private sector?” the CEO asked.
“We should not only look at Government human resource development but also national human resource development so the private sector should absorb part of those human resources.
“I am afraid otherwise we will reach a stage where 80% of our budget goes to the salaries and wages and only 20% goes to service.
“If we do not do something about it now while the rate of unemployment is high our situation will be worse.”
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Finance Ministry sets financial targets to underpin future budgets
Citizens of Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati, Tuvalu and Fiji are encouraged to register for this year’s ballot under the Samoan Quota and Pacific Access Category, which takes place between 3 and 28 April.
Immigration Instructions recognise the special relationship between New Zealand and Samoa and the Pacific Access Category countries of Tonga, Tuvalu, Kiribati and Fiji. Each year up to 1100 Samoan citizens, 250 Tongan and Fijian citizens and 75 Kiribati and Tuvaluan citizens are selected by ballot to be considered for the grant of residence in New Zealand.
Eligible citizens of these five countries must be aged between 18 and 45 to register under the ballot. The successful registrants selected from the ballot process will have eight months to lodge their resident visa applications; the principal applicant must also have an acceptable job offer from a New Zealand employer.
Prospective ballot registrants are reminded to make sure that they have the required forms and necessary documents. Only one ballot registration form is needed for each family. Photocopies of birth certificates must also be provided for everyone named on the registration form.
Immigration New Zealand will contact each ballot registrant via a mobile text message or email to acknowledge receipt of their ballot registration form including their Client Registration Number. Ballot registrants will need to hold on to this number to check the status of their registration after the ballots are drawn.
Pacific Access Category quota ballots will be drawn on 9 June and results will be announced on 16 June.
This year the Samoan Quota ballot will be drawn later to manage the significant number of registrations traditionally received. It will be drawn on 30 June and results will be announced on 7 July.
The relevant ballot registration forms and guides can be found at the following link https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/apply-for-a-visa/tools-and-information/forms-and-guides/live-permanently. Limited numbers of forms will be available at the INZ offices in Nuku’alofa and Apia.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to register their interest as early as possible.
The match between Muʻa Saints and Fasi Maʻufanga Vikings rugby league teams had to be stopped after brawls broke out between players and fans on Saturday 18.
Both teams were unbeaten before the match and when officials decided to call the game 20 minutes before full time Muʻa Saints leads 20 – 6.
The trouble started when a Viking player landed a dangerous high tackle on a Muʻa Saints player, according to Talaki Newspaper.
Within a couple of seconds nearly every member of both sides was involved in a full-on mass brawl, with so many punches thrown it would be impossible to count.
Their supporters also got involved before the referee Tei Tahituʻa could be able to bring it under control.
The paper said both teams would face an executive committee final decision against their behaviour this week.
A groundbreaking ceremony on Monday has marked an epoch in the history of the Catholic Church’s Carmelite Sisters in Tonga after living in poor housing conditions for more than a year.
Cardinal Mafi who led the prayer services during the ceremony thanked those who have helped made the dream to build the new monastery comes true.
The nuns arrived in the kingdom in 2011 and they immediately moved into a temporally monastery at the village of Fāhefa.
It was not long before the Sisters had to deal with housing issues including structural defects and roof that leaks whenever it rains.
Fr Sione Malakai Kātoa described the situation on his Facebook page and said:
“In heavy rain, they have buckets all over the place because the house is leaking. Many girls have come knocking at their door, but they haven’t got enough rooms for them”.
“Our people and the Diocese of Tonga have done a lot raising fund for this project. Our Communities overseas have helped out also”, said Fr Katoa.
A delegation from Samoa led by Mother Superior Sr Maria Elisapeta ocd, Sister Antonina ocd and members of the Samoa Charity Foundation for Carmelite Mission attended the historical ceremony.
They were joined by the Samoan Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Laauliolemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt, who is the Chairman, Karameli Tuala, Theresa Thomsen, Mulipola Anarosa Molio’o and member of the OCDS.
“It is my prayer that this Mission Appeal will help the Carmelite and the Diocese of Tonga to make this vision come true. It all began with Late Bishop Finau….then picked by his Successor Late Bishop Foliaki now Cardinal Mafi has embraced this Vision and with God’s help, we will make this dream finally come true in our time. Praise the Lord”, Fr Katoa said.
A 54-year-old man has been charged with reckless driving causing death after a Vaiola hospital shuttle hit and killed a church minister in Haʻateiho on Monday.
Rev. Tevita Mausia was walking to an early morning church service in Haʻateiho when the incident happened.
The Ministry of Health Director Siale ʻAkauʻola said the driver was one of their long serving employees and was an experienced driver.
He said they were shocked when they knew he was involved in the fatal accident.
A daughter who reportedly beat and verbally abused her mother has been arrested and was in Police custody.
Police acted after a caller revealed the incident to Radio 87.5 FM on Monday morning.
Police said the mother has been taken to Vaiola hospital for examination and she was later relocated to stay with another family member in Ha’ateiho.
As we reported, a woman told the radio talk back show the mother had repeatedly tried in vain to escape while her daughter beat and verbally abused her.
She alleged the mother has been dragged from a car and on the road while neighbours watched.
It was also alleged the mother, who is now confirmed to be 68-year-old, had been held against her will and forced to bathe on her own after being beaten.
It was claimed the mother was losing weight and regularly sought help from her neighbour.
At one stage the neighbour had threatened to call the Police when the daughter allegedly arrived at her home to retrieve her mother after she tried to escape while she was being beaten.
Radio host Katalina Tohi said she was shocked to hear about the incident and said the radio station would contact the Police.
“That’s cruel,” she told the caller.
The caller alleged the incidents began late last year after the mother returned from the United States, but because she respected her neighbour she had been reluctant to call Police.
She said this morning she had reached the stage where she could bear it no longer when she saw the mother being dragged inside the house and beaten.
She said they could tell when the mother was being beaten because they could hear her crying and screaming.
She said that recently, while they knew she was being beaten, they could not hear her voice, a sign she was physically losing energy and weight.
The woman appealed to the radio station to do something to help as the situation was deplorable.
She said she would not go into details on the matter, but she was willing to give evidence with her family if there was legal action to save the mother.
