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King Tupou VI approves new appointment and reshuffle of ministerial posts

By
Kalino Latu
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His Majesty King Tupou VI has granted request by Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pōhiva to appoint a new minister and reshuffle some of the government portfolios to be effective from March 6.

A statement from the Prime Minister’s office said Hon. Māteni Tapueluelu became the new Minister of Police and Fire.

Hon. Tēvita Lavemaau became the new Minister of Finance while his Revenue and Customs portfolios go to Hon. Pōhiva Tuʻiʻonetoa, the former Police and Labour and Commerce Minister.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been shifted from the Prime Minister’s portfolios and brought under the control of the Deputy Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni.

The Prisons Department has been also shifted from Police and brought under the control of Justice Minister Vuna Fāʻotusia.

The move is part of a wider cabinet reshuffle following the resignation of Dr. ‘Aisake Eke as Finance Minister.

According to the statement this is how the restructure stands after it was granted by the king according to the constitution.

“The Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni continues as the Minister for Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications and will also be the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

“The Hon. Tēvita Lavemaau, ceases to be the Minister for Revenue and Customs and is reassigned to the ministerial portfolio of the Minister for Finance and National Planning.

“The Hon. Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa:

(a)   has ceased to be the Minister for Police, Prisons and Fire Services;

(b)   continues as the Minister of Commerce, Consumer, Trade, Innovation and Labour; and

(c)    will also be the Minister for Revenue and Customs.

“The Hon. Sione Vuna Fa’otusia continues as Minister for Justice and will also be the Minister responsible for Prisons.

“The Hon. Māteni Tapueluelu, People’s Representative of Tongatapu No. 4 Constituency, is appointed as the Minister for Police and Fire Services”.

Diver, 72, found floating off Pātangata

By
Kalino Latu
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A 72-year-old man was pulled from the ocean near Pātangata on Tuesday 7.

The diver was found floating near the coast by villagers at about 10pm.

His family said the man went for a dive off the coast.

He was confirmed dead when his body arrived in hospital

An inquest into his death was underway, Police said.

Man electrocuted while using washing machine in ʻEua

By
Kalino Latu
-

A 52-year-old man was electrocuted while using a washing machine at his house in ʻEua on Monday.

A family member found Lopeti Touliki ‘Aholahi unconscious near the machine at around 4:00pm, Police said.

Health authority reportedly said ʻAholahi died at scene.

His autopsy report has confirmed he died from electrocution.

In March 2013 Suliasi Tonga Maʻasi , 22, of Haʻavakatolo was killed by the electric current from a washing machine he was using.

Tonga A players wear armbands to honour Queen Mother

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tongan rugby players who were in Fiji to play in the World Rugby Pacific Rugby Challenge (PRC) this Friday will wear black armbands to honour Queen Mother.

Queen Mother Halaevalu Mataʻaho, 90,  died in Auckland on February 19 and she was the mother of Tonga’s current king.

The team were planning to win the tournament as part of their show of respect to the matriarch.

The team is made up of 19 local players and nine overseas players, four from Australia and five from New Zealand.

After playing against the Fiji Warriors this weekend they will face the Samoa A on 14 March, then against the Junior Japan on 18 March.

Coach Isi Fatani told Fiji media they were expecting the weekend’s game to be a tough one.

“The team has been preparing for the past two months for the competition. We have only six players who played for Tonga last year while the others are new to the team,”  Fiji Times has reported.

“We are looking forward to the tough competition as we know Fiji has always been a tough team to beat, especially playing at home.”

“This team is better prepared for the challenges ahead. We have a number of quality players compared with last year,” he told Fiji Times.

Tonga A and Fjii Warriors match will kick off at 5.30pm on Friday half and hour after the match between the Junior Japan and Samoa would begin.

Tonga A:

  1. Sione Lolohea
  2. Leiataua Kilifi
  3. Roy Pome’e
  4. Sailosi Malimali
  5. Sosaia Masima
  6. Duane ‘Aholelei
  7. Siaosi Nginingini
  8. Charlie Pahulu
  9. Vainanuma Manu
  10. Katilimoni Tu’ipulotu
  11. Timote Paseka
  12. Frederick Kei
  13. Halafo’ou ‘Akau’ola Laula
  14. Topui Sekona
  15. Constantin Nova Kauvaka
  16. Samiu Muna
  17. John Ika
  18. Sosefo Fahiua
  19. Fe’aomoeuasi Hui
  20. Christino Manuolevao
  21. Fe’ofa’aki Kaumavae
  22. ‘Oleni Ngungutau
  23. James Faiva
  24. Vai Hausia
  25. Tu’ihakavalu Ika
  26. Paki afu
  27. Sione Loseni
  28. Alfred Hausia

‘Isileli Fatani, Head Coach
Sione Fetuani, Assistant Coach – Backs Coach
Sione Lino, Team Manager
Duke Mataka, Team Doctor
Siosaia Vakasiuola, Team Physio
Semisi Fonua, Trainer
Joh Fifita, Performance/video Analyst

Tongan leader recognised at US awards

By
Kalino Latu
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Tongan Civil Society leader Siale ʻEmeline ʻIlolahia has been named as one of the four recipients of the Jose Edgardo Campos Collaborative Leadership Award 2017 in Washington yesterday.

The Awards showcased individuals who have made a meaningful impact and contribution to their organisation and community.

The Pacific Leadership Program nominated Mrs. Ilolahia for the Oceania region, for her efforts in building and supporting coalitions for change in Tonga.

As the Civil Society Forum of Tonga reported ʻIlolahia was the Executive Director and co-founder of the Civil Society Forum of Tonga.

It said she has been instrumental in bringing together and supporting coalitions working on issues as diverse as women’s access to finance, women’s leadership and political participation, and deep sea mining.

Siale ʻEmeline ʻIlolahia. Photo/Facebook

Mrs. Ilolahia was also a founding member of the Tonga National Leadership Development Forum, a group of leaders from a range of sectors who developed a National Leadership Code for Tonga.

The Leadership Code defines Tonga’s vision for good leadership and reflects progressive leadership norms of accountability and transparency.

In developing the Leadership Code, Mrs Ilolahia helped facilitate nationwide community conversations on leadership and what it means in to the Tongan people.

More than 20,000 people have now signed up to the code and committed to uphold its values (a significant figure in the context of a total population of just over 100,000), including King Tupou VI, the Queen, Crown Prince, Princess Mata’aho, the Prime Minister and members of Cabinet.

The Pacific Leadership Program’s Team Leader, Georgina Cope, confirmed Mrs. Ilolahia was a worthy recipient of the Award.

“We are thrilled that Siale’s hard work and talents have been recognised internationally.

Over the past decade, she has worked tirelessly with civil society actors and government to encourage collaboration for policy and other reforms in Tonga”, Ms Cope explained. “Under Siale’s leadership, Tonga’s civil society has become a force for development change which is helping everyday Tongans build a strong voice that is being heard by government and the nobility”.

The Awards were instituted in the memory of Jose Edgardo Campos, who used collaborative leadership to drive successful reform programs, including in his home country of the Philippines.

Mr. Campos was a Practice Manager for Leadership and Governance at the World Bank Institute and passed away in 2014.

The Jose Edgardo Campos Collaborative Leadership Awards were presented by the Global Partnership on Leadership for Development at the Global Leadership Forum currently underway in Washington, DC.

Other Awards recipients are Sir Fazle Abed, Bangladesh (Asia), Paula Gaviria Betancur, Colombia (South America) and Sofiane Ben Mohammed Sahraoui, Tunisia (MENA, Africa).

Tongan student’s killer sentenced, will walk free after two years

By
Kalino Latu
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Nauruan national Julian Henrich who had been found guilty for the killing of Tongan student Sione Tufui will walk free after two years, a Fiji High Court Judge said.

Justice Salesi Temo said Henrich was a first time offender and he did not start the fight.

“I will not impose a non-parole which means you can be released after two years”, Justice Temo was quoted by Fiji Sun as saying.

The three year sentence came after two years of a brawl that involved Tufui and Henrich inside the Dragon Night Club in Suva.

Fiji Broadcasting News report said, “….some Tongan boys had thrown a broken beer bottle at Henrich, which hit his head”.

The fight continued outside the night club.

Fiji Village reports said Tufui was rushed to hospital where he later died.

Four other Nauruan nationals who were charged with Henrich had their proceedings terminated by the high court in March 2015 after the prosecution filed a formal notice of abandonment by the plaintiff or nolle prosequi.

The pathologist, Dr Kalougivaki told the court the cause of death was a result of brain haemorrhage which was caused by a blunt force trauma from the alleged assault and the presence of multiple traumatic injuries.

Henrich has 30 days to appeal his sentence.

VIDEO: Young Hon. Lavinia ‘Ahome’e was tearful as Princess Pilolevu cut her hair in honour of Queen Mother

By
Kalino Latu
-

Scroll down to watch the video

The only daughter of late Lord ‘Ahome’e and Lady Tangikina, Hon. Lavinia Veiongo ‘Ahome’e, was tearful and emotional while Her Royal Highness Princess Pilolevu cut her hair to honour the Queen Mother.

The late Lord ‘Ahome’e was a nephew of the Queen Mother. He married Lady Tangikina, the daughter of Lord Nuku and they had three children who were all at Matahiva during the ceremony.

Princess Pilolevu also cut the hair of some members of her maternal family to honour the matriarch.

The traditional ceremonial haircut of females who had a subordinate blood relationship  to the deceased was also performed on the Queen Mother’s Blake and Tangulu families at Matahiva’s residence yesterday.

Princess Pilolevu also performed haircuts at her Māhinafekite residence.

The ceremony was followed with the presentation of Tongan handicrafts and gifts.

Radio institution Roger Hau’ofa, passionate about PNG and its people, dead at 73.

By
Philip Cass
-

Papua New Guinea broadcaster Roger Hau’ofa has died of kidney failure in his wife’s village of Iare in Central Province.

Hau’ofa, 73, was the brother of Tongan author and sociologist ʼĒpeli Hau’ofa, who founded the Oceania Centre of Arts and Culture at the University of the South Pacific.

He suffered kidney failure in 2015 and had been on dialysis ever since.

His daughter Michelle told the media he did not want to die in hospital and was flown back to  Iare to be with his family.

“Dad had suffered for more than a year now and had spent a month in intensive care at the Pacific International Hospital,” she said.

“In the end, he was just tired of the needles and tubes as it was a very painful experience for him.

“He asked to stop all treatment.”

She described her father as “passionate” about PNG and its people.

Hau’ofa was described as the voice of Papua New Guinea’s political, social and economic consciousness.

He worked with the national  broadcaster, the NBC, and later with FM100.

PNG writer Martyn Namorong told Radio New Zealand Hau’ofa was “a real institution” whose voice had been heard by millions of Papua New Guineans.

“During some of the biggest crises that PNG has gone through – political upheavals like the Sandline crisis, the Somare crisis in recent times – Roger was a neutral voice that all parties could talk to and get their message out on radio,” Namorong said.

“So he definitely was someone that not just the ruling political class listened to and respected, but the everyday Papua New Guinean too.”

Hau’ofa was born of Tongan missionary parents Isikeli Hau’ofa and Mele Sikimeti on Misima Island in Milne Bay on Dec 28, 1943.

He had two sisters and two brothers. One of the sisters, Mele, ironically dying on the same day as he did but 21 years ago.

The  main points

  • Papua New Guinea broadcaster Roger Hau’ofa has died of kidney failure in his wife’s village of Iare in Central Province.
  • Hau’ofa, 73, was the brother of Tongan author and sociologist ʻĒpeli Hau’ofa, who founded the Oceania Centre of Arts and Culture at the University of the South Pacific.
  • He suffered kidney failure in 2015 and had been on dialysis ever since.
  • Roger Hau’ofa was described as the voice of Papua New Guinea’s political, social and economic consciousness.

For more information

PNG’s radio talkback broadcasting legend Roger Hau’ofa dies

Voice of PNG’ Roger Hau’ofa passes away

Hau’ofa passes away 

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

By
Kalino Latu and Philip Cass
-

Tongan Finance Minister Dr Aisake Eke said today he was shocked by Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva’s claims that he had been sack because they had disagreements.

In a letter to Hon. Pohiva, Hon. Eke said this amounted to saying that he was causing problems with the Prime Minister’s leadership.

“I take it that you are just making it up to find strong excuses for demanding my resignation,” Dr. Eke said.

The minister said when he and the Prime Minister met on February 28, Hon. Pohiva  told him their work relationship was fine and there was no problem even though he abstained from last week’s vote of no confidence.

The Prime Minister demanded Dr Eke’s resignation in a letter delivered to him during a Sunday service at the Free Wesleyan Church.

In the letter Hon. Pohiva cited Dr Eke’s abstention from the vote of no confidence and disagreements on issues of national interest.

Dr. Eke said he abstained from voting because he believed some of the accusations in the motion of no confidence were true and some were false.

He said the accusations about the Prime Minister’s behaviour over outgoing Minister ‘Etuate Lavulavu and Pacific Sports CEO Lord Sevele were true.

The court quashed his dismissal of Lord Sevele.

“I advised you to just use the Pacific Council Sports power given to the Audit and Good Governance Committee to monitor Sevele and his committee and that this would help us avoid taking any illegal action against him,” Dr. Eke said.

“Members of Parliament have a right to vote against or for whatever he or she thinks is the best for the nation and the people as a whole.

“This is why I chose to abstain. However, I knew for sure the majority would vote for you and that you would win.”

Dr. Eke said the Prime Minister had the right to dismiss members of his cabinet and he had no choice but to resign.

“We have been in politics since 2011 and I have come to know things about you that I did not know before,” he said in his letter to Hon. Pohiva.

“I would like to thank you very much for the opportunity you have given me to serve the nation.

“I apologise to you if my performance did not meet your expectation.

“I wish you good luck and may God give you wisdom and blessing so that you continue to lead our nation throughout the last two years of your parliamentary terms.”

The main points

  • Tongan Finance Minister Dr Aisake Eke said today he was shocked by Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva’s claims that he had been sacked because they had disagreements.
  • In a letter to Hon. Pohiva, Dr. Eke said this amounted to saying that he was causing problems with the Prime Minister’s leadership.
  • “I take it that you are just making it up to find stronger excuses for demanding my resignation,” Dr. Eke said.
  • Dr Eke said the Prime Minister had the right to dismiss members of his cabinet and he had no choice but to resign.

For more information

Minister’s future in doubt as PM considers replacement in wake of no confidence vote

Villagers in typhoid hotspot banned from sharing food until end of month

By
Philip Cass
-

Residents of Nakolo village have been banned from sharing food and told to wash their hands after a case of typhoid was detected.

The ban has been extended to public gatherings and lasts until the end of March.

It is understood the patient has been treated and that since the diagnosis villagers are concentrating on hygiene standards.

Nakolo has historically been described as a hot spot for typhoid due to the number of outbreaks of the disease that have occurred there in the past.

Radio Tonga reported that a villager from Fanga had also been diagnosed with typhoid.

The Ministry of Health said it would monitor the case before any ban was imposed in that village.

The Ministry said villagers needed to ensure food preparation areas were hygienic and that people washed their hands.

Typhoid

Typhoid is transmitted through contaminated food or water, particularly from human waste. It is especially a problem in villages where people use pit latrines or where septic tanks overflow.

Last year similar restrictions were imposed in Veitongo after a student was diagnosed with typhoid.

In 2015 Kaniva News reported that the village of Vaini faced the same clamp down on activities and students from a boarding school were sent home because of fears for their health.

There were eight cases of typhoid in Tonga in 2014.

The Centre for Disease Control in Atlanta recommends travellers to Tonga are immunised against typhoid, especially if visiting rural areas.

The main points

  • Residents of Nakolo village have been banned from sharing food and told to wash their hands after a case of typhoid was detected.
  • The ban has been extended to public gatherings and lasts until the end of March.
  • Nakola has historically been described as a hot spot for typhoid due to the number of outbreaks of the disease that have occurred there in the past.
  • Last year similar restrictions were imposed in Veitongo after a student was diagnosed with typhoid.

For more information

Food sharing banned in Tongan village following typhoid case

Two diagnosed with typhoid, one from Nakolo and one from Fanga

Typhoid in a Tongan Village

Typhoid alert in Tonga

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