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Noble MPs vow to topple government with no confidence motion when Parliament resumes

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tonga’s noble MPs have pledged to topple ‘Akilisi Pōhiva’s government with a no-confidence motion, saying the Prime Minister had failed to deliver transparency and accountability he promised voters.

Lord Vaea confirmed the move to Kaniva News on Planet FM 104.6 this morning.

The Tongan language talkback programme was co-hosted by Kalino Lātū of the Kaniva Pacific News and Kite Tuʻakalau of Dateline Tonga.

It was originally planned that Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva would join the discussion over the phone, but we were eventually told he could not be available.

Lord Vaea, the Leader of the Opposition was in Auckland as one of the delegates accompanying Hon. Pōhiva’s state visit.

Lord Vaea said the House would resume on August 15 and the vote of no confidence would be the nobles’ priority.

He said they wanted to oust Hon. Pohiva because in 18 months in office his government had failed in many respects.

This including the controversial change in the Ministry of Education’s examination assessment policy from standardisation to raw marks.

He said the change had badly affected students and parents.

The restoration of the Sunday Trade Ban law has also hugely affected the business community.

He said an inconsistency in how the government handled the CEDAW convention had not reflected well on the Prime Minister after his government went back on its ratification because there were protest marches back in the kingdom.

Lord Vaea said an outgoing  government minister had been declared corrupt by a parliamentary committee, but escaped being expelled from Parliament because Pōhiva and his government won the vote.

However, a Supreme Court decision led to him being ordered to vacate his seat in Parliament.

Independents

Asked whether or not they would trade with the independents and offer them the premiership and deputy positions, Lord Vaea said the posts were “pelepelengesi” (fragile)  and they should not be used to seek personal advantages.

The Opposition Leader said they had nine noble MPs with a few independents on their side, while Hon Pohiva’s side had 14 or 15 which was obviously a large number to deal with.

He said the election of Hon. Pohiva to the premiership was successfully supported by some of the independent MPs.

Lord Vaea said he was also concerned at how the government repeatedly dealt with the government civil servants’ pay and appeared to have no policy in place for the youth and unemployment.

He was asked if the nobles would become the government after the vote of no confidence and what difference they could make in running the government.

Lord Vaea said there were two types of people in Tonga apart from those in the mainland Tongatapu, the youth and those in the outer islands.

He said young people made up almost half the Tongan population.

Lord Vaea said the government should seriously consider the people who lived in the outer islands because they struggled to find education and employment.

Talk back callers

A caller to the programme who identified himself as Heneli asked Lord Vaea how he thought the nine noble MPs could take part in the vote of no confidence when the nobles were not elected by the people.

Lord Vaea said the nobles were responsible to the nation because they held the “tofiʻa” (estates). He said they were in Parliament as representatives of all districts in Tonga.

He said that during the past 200 years it was the “houʻeiki” (nobles) who welcomed Christianity and Education into Tonga.

Another caller by the name of Mōsese said there was nothing new in what Lord Vaea was referring to in their policies if they became the government.

He said those policies had been promoted by Hon. Pōhiva many times before.

However, Lord Vaea said the timing and how these policies were put into action made a big difference.

The  main points

  • Tonga’s noble MPs have pledged to topple ‘Akilisi Pōhiva’s government with a no-confidence motion, saying the Prime Minister had failed to deliver transparency and accountability he promised voters.
  • Lord Vaea confirmed the move to Kaniva News on Planet FM 104.6 this morning.
  • It was originally planned that Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva would join the discussion over the phone, but we were eventually told he could not be available.
  • Lord Vaea, the Leader of the Opposition was in Auckland as one of the delegates accompanying Hon. Pōhiva’s state visit.

Government considers not giving fund to TASANOC after Sevele was re-elected

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tonga’s Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva says his government may withdraw all funding to TASANOC for Pacific Games preparations.

The announcement follows TASANOC’s re-election of Lord Sevele as vice president finance.

Pohiva said his government stood by its decision two months ago to terminate Lord Sevele’s office as Chairman and CEO of the Pacific Organising Committee.

He said the decision was made after the Government Facility Committee (GFC) took over the majority of the Pacific Game’s Organising Committee.

A government statement described the role of GFC as having inherited more than 60 percent of the responsibilities of the Organising Committee.

Last month new officials for TASANOC were elected on a four-year term contract. They were:

President: Lord Tupou

Vice President-Finance: Lord Sevele

Members:

1.‘Amanaki Fakakovikaetau

2.Michael Bloomfield

3.Lord Vaea

4.Viola Ulakai

5.Sione Taumoepeau

The election was attended by Vidhya Lakhan, President of the Pacific Games Council (PGC) who was appointed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Oceania National Olympic Committee (ONOC) as its representative.

The main points

  • Tonga’s Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva says his government may withdraw all funding to TASANOC for Pacific Games preparations.
  • The announcement follows TASANOC’s re-election of Lord Sevele as vice president finance.
  • Pohiva said his government stood by its decision to terminate Lord Sevele’s role as Chairman and CEO of the Pacific Organising Committee.

For more information

TASANOC elections face legal challenge as anti-Pohiva candidates elected to committee

Disgruntled lay preachers break away to begin SUTT church in New Zealand

By
Kalino Latu
-

Three lay preachers who claim they were stripped of their roles with the Tuingapapai Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga New Zealand in Otahuhu will officially launch the Siasi Uesiliana Tau’ataina ‘o Tonga (SUTT) in New Zealand tomorrow.

Sione Fono Latu, ‘Isileli Tonga and Siulolo Malamala are reported to have claimed the Church’s board of trustees was dissatisfied when it learned they had obtained the sole official right to make, use or sell the name SUTT.

The acronym is Tongan for FWCTNZ or Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga New Zealand.

Tonga said they were told by the church their roles had been removed pending a decision at the church’s September quarterly meeting.

He said since then nothing had happened and no one from the church had visited them.

Tonga told Kakalu ‘O Tonga newspaper the first service for the SUTT church in New Zealand would be held tomorrow Sunday July 31.

He reportedly said they registered the name SUTT because Tuingapapai superintendent Rev. Lopini Filise and the church’s lawyer had re-registered the church as the FWCTNZ.

When the change was made it left no SUTT churches in New Zealand.

Tonga is reported to have said he and his partners feared someone else might register for the name so they decided to do it first.

He said their intension was to keep the name for the church, but they did not know their action would infuriate the Tuingapapai authority.

Tuingapapai Superintendent Minister Rev. Lopini Filise told the paper the Tuingapapai church was still available and open to the disgruntled lay preachers.

The SUTT church’s general secretary in Tonga, Dr. Tevita Koloaʻia Havea, told Kaniva News if some people from the Tuingapapai church had left and established a new church that was a brilliant idea.

“They will be happy with it and free to do their prayers according to what they want”, Dr. Havea said.

Dr. Havea said he wished the lay preachers well.

Kaniva News was unable to contact Tonga for comment this evening.

The new church came after hundreds of members of the SUTT church in Sydney split last August after three pastors of the Pulela’a SUTT church refused to obey the Tongan conference and return to Tonga to work under the control of the President.

The Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga New Zealand’s official website still uses the abbreviation SUTT.

In 2013 hundreds of the Tokaikolo congregants in Auckland defected and started the Mo‘ui Fo‘ou ‘Ia Kalaisi Fellowship.

The new church now operates in Otahuhu in South Auckland.

The main points

  • Three lay preachers who claim they were stripped of their roles with the Tuingapapai Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga New Zealand in Otahuhu will officially launch the Siasi Uesiliana Tau’ataina ‘o Tonga (SUTT) in New Zealand tomorrow.
  • Sione Fono Latu, ‘Isileli Tonga and Siulolo Malamala are reported to have claimed the Church’s board of trustees was dissatisfied when it learned they hadobtained the sole right to make, use or sell the name SUTT.
  • The acronym is Tongan for FWCTNZ or Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga New Zealand.
  • The new church came after hundreds of members of the SUTT church in Sydney broke away split last August.

For more information

Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga New Zealand 

Scuffle breaks out during ‘fakakuata’ meeting in Australia (Kaniva News)

Correction

In the original version of this story Kaniva News described Latu, Tonga and Malamala as ministers. They are in fact members of the congregation who are authorised to preach from the pulpit. Kaniva News is happy to make this clarification.

Pōhiva sticks to Sunday trade ban as Tonga continues to rely heavily on foreign aid

By
Kalino Latu
-

Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva said yesterday his government would not change its stance on restoring the Sunday Trade Ban unless there was a strong reaction from the public.

He told a press conference in Auckland that while the ban had really affected the business community, the decision was made after strong pressure from the public and the church.

“Whether the government likes it or not, you have to listen, especially to churches in Tonga. They are very powerful,” Hon. Pohiva said.

Hon. Pōhiva was responding to a question from Kaniva Pacific News during a news conference at the Government House pavilion.

The Prime Minister was asked: “You have said Tongans should copy Chinese work habits and the kingdom accepts millions of dollars in economic aid money from other countries. How do you think those countries react when they see you restoring the Sunday Trade ban which puts people out of work and takes away from the Tongan economy?”

The Prime Minister, who is currently in New Zealand on his first official visit, did not say how he thought foreign donors would react.

He remained silent and then said: “Tonga will not refuse to accept any assistance from any country.”

Nearly half of Tonga’s $545 million budget for 2016/17, or $266.2 million, comes from overseas grants.

New Zealand has donated $22.1 million in 2015 – 16 to Tonga, mostly spent on energy systems, law and justice, education and tourism.

Critics say the ban does not reflect well on a country that relies heavily on overseas aid money while at the same time it restricts an opportunity for its people to help boost its economy.

The owner of the largest bakery in Tonga, Alfred Cowley, told Kaniva News his bakeries produced most of its bread during the week for people to buy on Sunday evening and Monday morning.

He said the restoration decision was not fair because cigarettes and alcohol were sold to customers at certain restaurants on Sunday.

Meanwhile a petition asking for the Sunday ban to be reversed has been presented to the king.

The petition is strongly supported by the Public Service Association.

The petitioners have told his Majesty the decision to close down the bakeries on Sunday was unfair as some businesses were exempted and allowed to open.

Tonga’s Public Service Association has issued a statement on the Sunday ban, saying: “We all have common Christian Values that Jesus is the Messiah and Lord.

“The one Golden Rule Jesus brought with him was that you love your neighbour as Jesus loved you;

“We feel for the workers whose livelihoods are affected by this unfair decision;

“The Bakeries’ Association stood for us for six and-a-half weeks in Pangai Si’i when we fought the governmnt in 2005 for their unfair decision against us.

“They donated over $20,000 in cash and containers of flour and sugar to feed us.”

The main points

  • Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva said yesterday his government would not change its stance on restoring the Sunday Trade Ban unless there was a strong reaction from the public.
  • He told a press conference in Auckland that while the ban had really affected the business community, the decision was made after strong pressure from the government and the church.
  • “Whether the government likes it or not, you have to listen, especially to churches in Tonga. They are very powerful,” Hon. Pohiva said.
  • Critics say the ban does not reflect well on a country that relies heavily on overseas aid money while at the same time it restricts an opportunity for its people to help boost its economy.

For more information

Government has no record of decision being made to allow bakeries to operate on Sunday

Tongan pastor must pay $500 as emotional harm reparations to the victim of his road rage.

By
Kaniva Staff
-

A Tongan pastor who smashed a truck window with a tyre iron before driving into his helpless victim as he tried to call police has been sentenced to 100 hours’ community work, an emotional harm payment of $500, and reparation for the window of $518.

According to a Fairfax Media report the Christchurch District Court was told it was a case of road rage that went “horribly wrong” when Sione Toutaiolepo was sentenced on charges of assault using a car as a weapon, and wilful damage.

Toutaiolepo, a 46-year-old pastor in the Tongan Church, said he followed a truck that he thought had cut him off in the incident that took place at the Riccarton Rd-Straven Rd intersection on January 14.

He armed himself with a tyre iron and shattered his victim’s driver side window.

The victim got out of the truck and said he was calling the police, so Toutaiolepo drove slowly at him causing him to fall backwards.

When the victim stood up Toutaiolepo drove at him again, and drove forward with the man clinging to the van until he fell off in the middle of the road. He suffered cuts and grazes. Toutaiolepo drove off.

Sam Johnson, the founder of the Student Volunteer Army in Christchurch, came across the altercation and filmed it on his cellphone.

Defence counsel Paul Johnson said Toutaiolepo’s road rage went horribly wrong, but he had no previous convictions. His probation report recommended a fine and reparation.

Judge Paul Kellar said Toutaiolepo told the probation officer that he took the tyre iron with him for his own protection.

He said Toutaiolepo had references that said he was an upstanding mild-mannered man, and was involved in the Tongan community.

Toutaiolepo had pleaded guilty to both charges.

Main points:

  • A Tongan pastor attacked a truck with a tyre iron in New Zealand
  • He then drove his white van over his victim who was calling police
  • A court heard how the attack was a case of ‘road rage gone wrong’
  • The pastor pleaded guilty to two charges related to the attack

Tourism board dismissal justified, new board members elected, Dr Palenitina says

By
Kalino Latu
-

The members of the Tourism Board of Authority were justifiably dismissed and the decision was made according to advice from the Ministry’s legal advisers, Tonga’s Chief Secretary and Secretary to Cabinet Dr Palenitina Langaʻoi said in Auckland.

Dr Langaʻoi, who is currently the Tourism’s acting CEO, said the dismissal was made as stated by the law and the contract signed by the former Minister between the ministry and the former board members.

She said the Ministry has elected new board members.

The new directors are Ken Walker from Air New Zealand, Lovely Maka from the Fiji Airways, Tevita Palu from the Real Tonga Airline, Stafford ‘Aho of the Rising Sun Tour and Saia Moehau, the chairman.

Dr Langaʻoi has confirmed there was an issue with the Ministry’s bank account at BSP bank after a complaint lodged by the former board members.

Tomifa Paea, the former chairman of the Board said in a letter that BSP bank has frozen the Ministry’s bank account.

Dr Langaʻoi said she discussed the matter with the Minister of Finance before she left for Auckland on Friday and they were really concerned at the bank’s action.

She said they have considered moving the Tourism’s bank accounts to ANZ bank.

Dr Langaʻoi was responding after Paea released a letter of complaint to the commissioner of public relation against the Ministry’s Minister Semisi Sika.

Paea claimed the decision by Sika to dismiss them was illegal.

READ MORE

Legal threats after minister sacks tourism board of authority

Tongan pregnant mum killed in car crash, her baby delivered by emergency C-Section

By
Kalino Latu
-

A newborn is fighting to survive after being saved from the lifeless body of her mother, who died after their SUV collided with a FrontRunner train near 600 W. and 900 S. Monday night.

The Tongan mother has been identified as 30-year-old Kaipā ʻOfa KiʻUiha Sateki Kinikini, also known as ʻOfa Kinikini, a Salt Lake City resident.

Her baby was delivered and is in extremely critical condition, said Salt Lake City Police Department spokesman Det.

A auto, driven by a man with the woman in the passenger seat, drove around the crossing arms that were down and the vehicle was hit by the train as they attempted to cross the tracks, according to Utah Transit Authority spokesman Remi Barron.

Kinikini was transported to hospital and later died from injuries sustained in the accident, Californian media reported.

“Today we celebrate pioneer men, women and children who overcame tremendous political persecution, physical challenges and personal adversity to build a new life in the West and make the Utah desert blossom like a rose”. Her infant survived the crash and was hospitalized.

Police didn’t immediately release the identities of those involved.

The train was out of service and headed to Provo to prepare for the morning commute, he said.

Legal threats after minister sacks tourism board of authority

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tourism Minister Semisi Sika could face a legal challenge after claims he took over the board of tourism authority without a Board resolution.

The Chair of the Board Tomifa Paea claimed the Minister’s decision to end their three-year contract with Tourism was illegal.

Paea said the cabinet has yet to make an official decision on their dismissal by Sika.

He claimed Sika’s decision for the acting manager to cease any further contacts with the Board was illegal and that a letter he sent to the bank to change the authorizing signatures for the bank account was made without a Board resolution.

He also claimed Sika has direct conflict of interest with the Tonga Tourism Authority Act 2012 as its business operation is to be independent from the government.

Because of what had happened the BSP Bank has frozen the Tourism’s account, according to Paea.

Tomifā Paea
Tomifā Paea

In a letter received by Kaniva News which was circulated to cabinet ministers and Tourism Authority directors Paea said  the Tonga Tourism Authority Board  approved a resolution on 21 July 2016  to lodge a formal complaint against Sika, the Acting CEO and the Acting Manager of the Ministry.

We had received no response from the Minister when this story was written.

The letter of complaint on July 22 was addressed to the Commissioner of Public Relation ‘Aisea Taumoepeau and was signed by Paea as Chair of the Board.

Paea also claimed that at one stage he and the board members were told to leave the Tourism office and were threatened that Police would be called to deal with them.

He claimed that Sika planned to takeover the  board when he became the Minister of Tourism and Infrastructure.

Paea said he “still strongly support Akilisi and his government”  and if the cabinet  stood by Sika’s decision it would not bother him but he did not accept the minister’s interference with Board matters without following the rules and policy.

Hon Sika was appointed as Tourism Minister on April 18.

Paea was elected chair of the Board by the outgoing MP and Tourism Minister  ‘Etutate Lavulavu who lost his seat in Parliament early this year.

Commercial Bank in Tonga loses license

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tonga’s National Reserve Bank has announced that it has revoked the Pacific International Commercial Bank’s (PICB) license with immediate effect today Tuesday 27.

The Reserve Bank has “advised the public not to transact with any business or person purporting to trade in the name Pacific International Commercial Bank”.

“Members of the public will be advised later of the procedure for the payout of any amount owing to depositors and creditors”, NRB said.

In early 2015 an application had been placed before the Tongan Supreme Court to hear a case brought by Nukuʻalofa Investment Ltd for liquidating the bank.

The PICB was established after Her Royal Highness Princess Pilolevu  led a delegation of Tongan business agents to China in 2010 and began operating on April 7, 2014. It was officially opened in Nuku’alofa by His Majesty King Tupou VI.

Chinese millionaire Mr Jianhua Hu promised the bank would help boost the country’s economy and brings more overseas investors to Tonga.

At the time the bank promised it would set its interest rates at six percent, the lowest rate in the kingdom.

A number of sources, including International Banker have described Princess Pilolevu and Jianhua Hu as major shareholders of the bank.

However, Kaniva News has been informed by a spokesman for the Princess that she holds only eight percent of the shares in the bank.

According to the Tongan Business Registry and other sources, the Princess was a director of the bank until April 8, 2013.

Body of Canadian woman in Vaiola as Police investigation continues

By
Kalino Latu
-

The deceased body of a 56-year-old Canadian woman who was found dead in a yacht they owned with her husband in Vavaʻu on July 7 is still at the Vaiola hospital mortuary.

The case is still under police investigation, Health CEO Dr Siale ‘Akauʻola said yesterday.

The deceased’s  husband from Florida, United States, appeared at the Neiafu court on July 11 charged with the manslaughter of his wife.

The accused remains in Police custody. Police have also seized and impounded the yacht – the Sea Oak.

Earlier reports said the husband told Police he found her wife dead when he went to wake her up.

The couple arrived in Neiafu on May 26.

While in Vavaʻu they were staying in their yacht and were expected to depart Tonga next month on August 21.

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