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Thousands baby ducks and chickens distributed to promote healthy lifestyle

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Food and Fisheries had given out about 2,400 of free chicks and ducklings among some locals on Friday in an effort to promote healthier lifestyles.

It distributed 1000 of domestic baby chickens among Tongatapu residents, 600 for Vava’u and 400 Ha’apai.

The Ministry had also handed out 180 of domestic ducklings in Tongatapu, 50 in Vavaʻu and ʻEua and 100 among the Ha’apai residents.

Sione Mapapalangi of the Ministry told Tonga Broadcasting Commission people could feed the poultry for six to eight weeks before they can be cooked for food.

It is understood the Ministry had given out thousands of ducklings and chicks before.

Locals can register their names with MAFF to join the programme which was funded by the Tonga Health Promotion Foundation.

Tonga has one of the most at-risk populations in the world for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes and obesity, according to the Tonga Health report Path to Good Health, 

In 2007 it set up the Tonga Health Promotion Foundation to tackle the issue.

Freedom Forum says shutting down TBC wrong way to prove Pohiva’s allegations

By
Philip Cass
-

Pacific Freedom Forum chair Monica Miller says there might be royalists in the TBC who acted unethically in their reporting, but shutting down the TBC was not the right way to prove the Prime Minister’s allegations.

Miller was reacting to Tongan Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva’s criticism of the kingdom’s national broadcaster.

As Kaniva News reported yesterday, Hon. Pohiva has declared the TBC to be “an enemy of the government.” He said the TBC’s operations would be reviewed and said its services could be provided by another broadcaster.

The ABC in Australia today reported Hon. Pohiva as saying he had no immediate plans to close the TBC, but stood by his claim that its journalists were guilty of “biased reporting” against his government.

He had earlier said the role of the state broadcaster was to support the administration.

But Miller said the job of the TBC was to represent the public.

“It is not the job of any news media to support the government of the day and they must be ethical when reporting criticism,” Miller said.

She said the Tongan government should remember its roots as a pro-democracy reform movement.

Miller said the Prime Minister should organise an independent review into allegations that commission staff were biased against his administration.

An independent review could establish what codes of ethic and conduct were in place to prevent unethical reporting and what mechanisms were in place to protect the tax-funded broadcasting commission.

Miller said the Prime Minister was famous in opposition for asserting his right to freedom of expression despite legal threats, imprisonment and censorship.

She said Hon. Pohiva needed to rediscover the spirit of free speech guaranteed under the constitution.

Clause 7 of the Tonga constitution states:

“Freedom of the press – It shall be lawful for all people to speak write and print their opinions and no law shall ever be enacted to restrict this liberty. There shall be freedom of speech and of the press for ever but nothing in this clause shall be held to outweigh the law of slander or the laws for the protection of the King and the Royal Family.”

The main points

  • Pacific Freedom Forum chair Monica Miller says there might be royalists in the TBC who acted unethically in their reporting, but shutting down the TBC was not the right way to prove the Prime Minister’s allegations.
  • Miller was reacting to Tongan Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva’s criticism of the kingdom’s national broadcaster.
  • As Kaniva News reported yesterday, Hon. Pohiva has declared the TBC to be “an enemy of the government” and said its job was to support the administration.
  • She said the Tongan government should remember its roots as a pro-democracy reform movement.

More information

Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva defends his call to close Tonga Broadcasting Commission

Independent review for public broadcaster (Pacific Freedom Forum)

Pohiva declares war on TBC, declares it an obstacle and constraint on gov’t

 

Tongan PM denies claim government hires Dr Eke to assist creating government budget

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tongan Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pohiva has vehemently denied reports that his government has hired former Finance Minister Dr. ʻAisake Eke to assist the treasury in creating its budget for the 2017-2018 financial year.

Hon. Pohiva sacked Dr Eke after he abstained in last month’s vote of no confidence.

“We cannot hire ʻAisake Eke as a consultant while he is a Member of Parliament representing the people,” he told a media conference in Nuku’alofa this afternoon.

“That is not how the policy works.”

Hon. Pohiva’s response was prerecorded and later broadcast by radio FM 87.5 through Tonga Daily News website this afternoon.

The Prime Minister implied that the allegation, which appeared to have been first broadcasted by the Tonga Broadcasting Commissionʻs radio, stemmed from comments by Minister of Finance Hon, Tevita Lavemaau about Dr Eke’s role with the Parliamentary Finance committee.

The Prime Minister said Dr. Eke was still a member of the finance committee and still had a responsibility to comment on the budget.

“If we hire some one as a consultant it has to be someone from outside and not a Member of Parliament,” Hon. Pohiva said.

The Prime Minister said it appeared Hon. Lavemaau was not prepared to talk about the issue when he was questioned and as a result his statement was open to interpretation.

Nepituno webpage said  the Tonga Broadcasting Commission had reported that Dr. Eke had  been hired by the government as a “special consultant”.

Radio Australia reported yesterday that “Tonga’s sacked former Finance Minister has been asked to help prepare the national budget as a consultant.”

The main points

  • Tongan Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pohiva has vehemently denied reports that his government has hired former Finance Minister Dr. ʻAisake Eke to assist the treasury in creating its budget for the 2017-2018 financial year.
  • Pohiva sacked Dr. Eke after he abstained in last month’s vote of no confidence.
  • “We cannot hire ʻAisake Eke as a consultant while he is a Member of Parliament representing the people,” he told a media conference in Nuku’alofa this afternoon.
  • “That is not how the policy works.”

For more information

Eke “shocked” by PM’s claims, but says he has no choice but to resign

Junior Fa takes on Tai in New Zealand title fight

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tongan-New Zealand born boxer Uaine Junior Fa is taking on Auckland based fighter Daniel Tai for  the vacant New Zealand Professional Boxing Association heavyweight title, tomorrow evening, at the ABA stadium in Mt Eden, Auckland.

Fa took to Facebook this morning and told his supporters, “All the hard work is done. It’s Show Time again this Saturday night! Get your tickets and come down and watch a good night of fights where there will be a new NZPBA heavyweight champion!”.

The fight came after Fa won his debut fight in the United States last month.

He defeated Keith Barr with a knockout in the third round of a scheduled six round fight.

This makes 10 wins out of 10 fights for Fa.

Seven of those wins were knockout.

The 27 year old boxer turned professional a year ago with a win against Richard Tutaki.

Although New Zealand born and raised, Fa has represented Tonga internationally, winning a bronze medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in India.

TOP$230,000 worth of uncustomed jewellery, firearm and ammunition seized in Halaleva

By
Kalino Latu
-

Police and custom officers had seized undeclared jewellery with a revenue value of TOP$230,000 including other items on Saturday 11 in Halaleva.

Cash and cheque of over TOP$6,500, herbal medications, electronic devices, one fiream and 1480 ammunition were among the confiscated goods.

Tonga Customs and Revenue boss ʻAnisi Kulufeinga Bloomfield said more than 50 Customs, Inland Revenue and Police officers raided a Chinese property and business in the area at 8am

A statement from the Ministry says:

The Tonga Customs initiated this operation code named: Operation Sparkling in responding to mounted intelligence and investigation.

These jewellery items including 9 – 22 carat gold jewellery, diamonds and pearls were located at the dwelling house with price tags varied from TOP$100 – TOP$1600.

It is alleged that these uncustomed items are to be of Asian origin and were smuggled into country through passengers of commercial flights without declaring at the border.

These items were smuggled into Tonga to be further traded in his licensed premises.

The total value of these jewellery items are over TOP$230,000. The total duty evaded by this company is approximately  TOP$80,000.

This business has been operating for more than 6 years but has no Customs records of imports of jewellery by the business or its owners.

The Tonga Customs has vested interest in this situation as these jewellery items were being sold as imported goods and offered for commercial exchange at comparable prices without any payment of duties or taxes.

Bloomfield said that he is impressed with robust and collaboration efforts of the core law enforcement agencies in sharing resources and capabilities. He is determined to strengthen their cooperation.

The Tonga Customs in partnership with Tax Authorities and Tonga Police are continuing in their enforcement efforts to investigate entities who continue to breach the Customs laws across the islands of Tonga.

Pohiva declares war on TBC, declares it an obstacle and constraint on gov’t

By
Philip Cass
-

Tongan Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva has declared war on the Tongan Broadcasting Corporation.

He has declared the TBC to be “an enemy of the government” and said its job was to support the administration.

Once regarded as a champion of media freedom, the Prime Minister told Radio New Zealand he was not happy with the TBC.

He described the state broadcaster as an obstacle and a constraint on the work of the government.

“They claim the freedom of media should be allowed, should be the same with any other media in Tonga, but they should understand there is a basic difference between a private media and also government media,” he said.

Hon. Pohiva said the TBC’s operations would be reviewed next month.

He claimed it had been losing money for the past decade and its services might be better provided by another broadcaster.

However, Lord Fusitu’a said any move to shut down the TBC would be in breach of the constitution.

“The very basis of any Westminster democracy is the rule of law and once you chip away at freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom of the press, you are chipping away at the rule of law which ends up, in most cases, disregard to the rule of law,” he said.

The Prime Minister has accused the TBC in the past of aiding his political opponents and had Viola Ulakai journalist suspended after she claimed to be calling for a press conference on behalf of the Tonga Media Council.

As Kaniva News reported in May, the President of the Pacific Islands News Association, Moses Stevens, criticised Hon. Pohiva over Ulakai’s suspension.

In a statement issued to mark World Press Freedom Day, Stevens accused the Tongan government of censoring the media.

“The Tongan case is interesting because it involved a Prime Minister who was a respected champion for democracy, free speech, freedom of expression and free media,” Stevens said.

The main points

  • Tongan Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva has declared war on the Tongan Broadcasting Corporation.
  • He has declared the TBC to be “an enemy of the government” and said its job was to support the administration.
  • Once regarded as a champion of media freedom, the Prime Minister told Radio New Zealand he was not happy with the TBC.
  • He described the state broadcaster as an obstacle and a constraint on the work of the government.

For more information

Tonga’s PM calls state broadcaster ‘enemy of govt’

Tongan noble says PM plans are unconstitutional

US recognizes Women and Children Crisis Centre in its efforts to end domestic violence

By
Kalino Latu
-

The United States Pacific Command and the Nevada National Guard have recognized the hard and tireless efforts by Tongaʻs Women and Children Crisis Centre’s to end domestic violence.

The organisations presented a plaque that contains this information:

“Presented on behalf of The United States Pacific Command and the Nevada National Guard in recognition of the Achievement of the Women and Children Crisis Centre’s efforts to end domestic violence”.

It was presented to the WCCC staff in Nuku’alofa yesterday by the US Ambassador to Tonga Judith Cefkin.

“The Women and Children Crisis Center is an NGO works independently outside of the government sector, works very diligently to advocate for the human rights of women and children, and for gender equality, also works to end all violence against women and children, offers free counseling and legal services, among other services”, HE Cefkin said.

“We know the domestic violence is a problem around the world, and also in the Pacific. We also know that when women have a political voice and economic power, they contribute to their families’ and communities development.

“Women, however, are vulnerable to domestic violence and victims need assistance of the type that the WCCC is offering. Raising awareness is the first step to stop the cycle of violence and to raise the stature of women in communities.

I want to commend the WCCC on its excellent support for women and children in Tonga. We are pleased that we, the U.S. government, through the Pacific Command and Nevada National Guard, could partner with the WCCC to assist with and promote your valuable activities in your community,” the US Ambassador said.

No Tongans arrested in US immigration raids

By
Philip Cass
-

Sources inside the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement have confirmed that no Tongan nationals were arrested during last month’s raids.

As Kaniva News reported, unsourced news reports claimed that hundreds of Tongans had been arrested in the raids which occurred across the United States.

The stories also claimed that the Tongans who had supposedly been arrested were liable for deportation.

One site claimed 831 Tongans had been deported in the raids on illegal migrants in the US.

However, this number was higher than the total number of 680 arrests arrests reported by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.

According to ICE statistics, in 2016 a total of 16 Tongans were deported from the US by immigration authorities.

Bogus stories about changes to US immigration laws have also circulated.

Meanwhile, US and Tongan officials are meeting in Nuku’alofa this week to discuss problems surrounding the reintegration of Tongan deportees into the kingdom.

Tongan deportees often face serious difficulties adjusting to a culture, language and traditions with which they may be completely unfamiliar.

US Ambassador to Tonga Judith Cefkin said reintegrating deportees into Tongan society was a major concern.

Some limited services are available to help deportees, but these organisations themselves often struggle for support.

The US has agreed to give the Tongan government three weeks’ notice of the arrival of deportees and to criminal records.

The main points

  • Sources inside the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement have confirmed that no Tongan nationals were arrested during last month’s raids.
  • As Kaniva News reported, bogus stories also claimed that the Tongans who had supposedly been arrested were liable for deportation.
  • Meanwhile, US and Tongan officials are meeting in Nuku’alofa this week to discuss problems surrounding the reintegration of Tongan deportees into the kingdom.
  • Tongan deportees often face serious problems adjusting to local culture and society.

For more information

Reports of mass arrests follow bogus stories about US immigration policy

Two Tongan sisters in US plead no contest to elder abuse in death of mother

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Two San Mateo sisters pleaded no contest Monday to felony elder abuse and infliction of great bodily injury in the death of their elderly mother, who died of pneumonia and was found decaying in her own bed and covered in fecal matter, prosecutors said.

Moala Siafoou Tatola, 41, and Tafolosa Haisaane Tatolamahe, 48, were charged after police responded to a report of a dead body in the 1600 block of Third Avenue on March 9, 2013, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.

Sela Tatola, 78, was nude and her lower extremities were “nearly black due to filth and necrotic tissue,” prosecutors said. Gangrene was found throughout the body.

Defense attorney Mitri Hanania described the defendants as committed and loving daughters who worked full time and stepped up to take care of their mother when other family members did not.

The victim did not want to see a doctor, and her daughters should have encouraged her to seek medical treatment, according to Hanania.

“This wasn’t a case where the daughters weren’t cruel to their mother, they were overwhelmed,” Hanania said. “They should have done better, and they acknowledged that they should have done better.”

“They took responsibility, and that’s why they pled,” he added.

The family is Tongan and that may have been a factor in the case, according to Hanania.

“In the Tongan culture, the theme that I heard a lot was that the matriarch in the family is very, very highly respected, so since she was the mother and the matriarch of the family, the daughters were really committed to listening to what the mother’s wishes were,” he said.

The defendants face no more than three years in state prison and are scheduled to return to court  for sentencing on May 12.

–Fox Television

Missing Tongan man located safe and well

By
Kalino Latu
-

Missing man Semisi Feao has been located safe and well, Victoria Police have said this morning thanking the public for their assistance.

As we reported earlier Semisi Fe’ao, 62, went missing from his Hickory Street, Werribee address at 8pm, Tuesday 14 March.

Police were concerned for his welfare due to a medical condition.

 

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