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

By
Philip Cass
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Kaniva News has learned that TASANOC’s former acting president, ‘Ahongalu Fusimālohi, is considering legal action over last week’s elections of TASANOC officers.

Fusimālohi, interim CEO ‘Emeline Tuita and 10 other candidates were disqualified by the Elections Commission.

Kaniva News understands that:

  • Fusimālohi believes the elections were illegal because they were held outside the 30 day warning period mandated by the National Olympic Committee constitution.
  • The candidates who were not allowed to stand were disqualified on the grounds of conflict of interest. It is understood they wanted a review of the process.
  • Some candidates claimed the nomination forms were incomplete and did not contain all the criteria for the position.

Internal e-mails seen by Kaniva News shows that Fusimālohi tried to stop the election on June 16 and have it postponed until June 23.

Before the meeting he wrote to committee members saying that he had given members incorrect advice at the annual general meeting about when an electoral assembly could be held.

“I take full responsibility that I and the Secretary General have misled the AGM with the wrong advice.”

But a letter to the NOC from the International Olympic Committee seen by Kaniva News shows that while it was aware of the irregularities of the election process, it allowed the meeting to proceed because they had been approved by TASANOC’s annual general meeting.

The IOC, which has been at loggerheads with the government over Lord Sevele’s dismissal, confirmed that the meeting was being held without the 30 day notice required by the National Olympic Committee’s constitution.

However, the IOC said it appeared the date of the general assembly to vote for members had been approved at the NOC’s last general assembly.

Several committee wrote to the IOC expressing their concern at the early date of the meeting.

“We expect that all those involved in the meeting will act fairly and responsibly to avoid any unnecessary disputes and to make sure that, after years of unproductive conflict, the situation of the NOC can be normalised in the interest of the Olympic movement and the athletes of your country,” the IOC said.

Instead, what looks like open rebellion against Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva has broken out in TASANOC, with the election of Lord Sevele and Viola Ulakai.

Lord Sevele, was dismissed by the government from his position as head of the kingdom’s Olympic committee over alleged failings and delays in preparation for the Pacific Games which Tonga is hosting in 2019.

Ulakai was stood down from her job as head of news at the Tongan Broadcasting Commission after infuriating the Prime Minister during an interview.

Also elected, as chair of the committee, was William Edwards, who is believed to have been associated with Lord Sevele’s legal action against his dismissal.

The election meeting was attended by IOC observer Vihdya Lahkan, who has been regarded as supporting Lord Sevele in his dispute with the government.

Earlier this year Lahkan threatened the Prime Minister that the kingdom could lose the Games.

The main points

  • Kaniva News has learned that TASANOC’s former acting president, ‘Ahongalu Fusimālohi, is considering legal action over last week’s elections of TASANOC officers.
  • Fusimālohi believes the elections were illegal because they were held outside the 30 day warning period mandated by the National Olympic Committee constitution.
  • Internal e-mails seen by Kaniva News shows that Fusimaholi tried to stop the election on June 16 and have it postponed until June 23.
  • Lord Sevele and Viola Ulakai, who have publicly cashed with Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva, were elected.

For more information

Pacific Games Council’s warning to PM latest twist in troubled preparations for tournament

TASANOC proposes compromise to end deadlock over removal of Lord Sevele

Dr Halafihi new fisheries department CEO

By
Alpha Latu
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Tonga’s Fisheries Department has appointed Dr Tu’ikolongahau Halafihi as its new Chief Executive Officer.

He is employed for a period of three years with effect from June 17, 2016.

Dr. Halafihi holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Ecology (2015) from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand and a Master of Science in Chemistry (2008), Postgraduate Diploma in Chemistry (2002) and a Bachelor of Science (1995) – all from the University of the South Pacific, Fiji.

He began serving the Tongan government on July 11,  1995 as an Assistant Teacher (Graduate) at Ministry of Education.

Dr T
Dr Tu’ikolongahau Halafihi

Dr. Halafihi then moved and became a Senior Fisheries Officer in the Ministry of Fisheries in 2005.

Since then, he took up  a number of  senior positions within the Fisheries Department including becoming  the Manager of the Tu’imatamoana Fish Market, Principal Fisheries Officer, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Acting CEO for Fisheries.

The Public Service Commission welcomes Dr. Tu’ikolongahau Halafihi’s appointment as Chief Executive Officer for the Fisheries Department and wishes him all the best in his professional careers.

Maori trust to own Tonga forests, company renamed as Aotearoa-Tonga Forest

By
Kalino Latu
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A Maori trust from New Zealand has secured rights to operate and control the Tonga Forest Products Limited for at least 50 years.

The new company will be known as Aotearoa-Tonga Forest Products Limited.

It will take control of the ‘Eua Forest Reserve, Vaitaki Sawmilling Site and Mataliku Forest Plant.

The Tongan government said “the Trust has agreed to pay TOP $9,737,795.00 in return for the control and management of the company for 50 years, with the option to renew for a further 25 years”.

“At the end of the term of the agreement, the Trust will return the assets and business to the Government, together with any new improvements or additional assets and businesses that the Trust has established during the term of the Agreement.

This was the first time the trust invested in the Pacific it said.

The Trust will conduct replanting scheme at  ‘Eua Forest Reserve in the first 10 years.

Hon Poasi Tei/Photo (Facebook)
Hon Poasi Tei/Photo (Facebook)

The current employees at the Tongan company will still be employed by the Trust and for those who wanted to leave will be offered severance packages.

“The Chief Executive Officer of Tonga Forest Products limited was excited about the potential growth of the company under the management of the Trust, and in particular the expertise which the Trust brings in the forestry industry.  He saw the Agreement as an opportunity for employees in Tonga Forest Products Limited to learn from their New Zealand counterparts, and to build local capacity for the future.

The Board of Directors of Tonga Forest Products Limited are fully supportive of the Agreement between the Government of Tonga and the Trust.

Young boy dead after being run over in Pea, 72-year-old man appears in court

By
Kalino Latu
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The Tatakamotonga community is rallying around the family of a 10-year-old boy who died after being run over in a road in Pea.

The boy from Tatakamotonga was hit on Taufaʻāhau Rd on Saturday 18 June 2016 at around 2.30 pm, Police said.

A 72-year-old man from Touliki, Maʻufanga was arrested and charged in relation to the boy’s death. He was expected to appear in court this afternoon. He was charged with reckless driving causing death.

The accused was driving northbound on Taufaʻāhau Road in a car “when he swerved to the right side and hit the deceased and also a traffic sign”, Telēsia Adams from Police Communication Office said.

“The deceased was rushed to the hospital where the Dr confirmed that he has already passed away”, Adams said.

Fatter than Samoans – grim statistics as health officials gather for debate on disease epidemic

By
Philip Cass
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Tongans are fat, unhealthy and ripe for heart attacks and diabetes.

As government and United Nations officials gather in Nuku’alofa for the Pacific Non-communicable Diseases Summit, a recently released report on global nutrition paints a worrying picture of health in Tonga.

According to The Global Nutrition Report, Tonga has the highest level of adult diabetes on the planet.

Out of 190 countries surveyed by report, Tonga has the highest incidence of the disease, with 26% of its population affected.

“Across the globe, excessive intake of energy-dense food, a form of malnutrition, together with reduced physical activity, has led to an epidemic of obesity, overweight, and nutrition-related non-communicable diseases,” the report said.

Small island developing states in areas like the Pacific and the Caribbean had been particularly affected.

The Pacific Community, which is organising the Nuku’alofa summit, has described non-communicable diseases such heart disease, cancers, lung disease and diabetes as the leading cause of death in the Pacific.

In some countries life expectancy was falling because NCD-related premature deaths.

Island nations face increasing costs from NCDs, especially when they are too poor to provide medical services or prevent  non-communicable diseases.

According to The Global Nutrition Report, Tongans are fatter than Samoans, with 74.8% of the adult population affected, as opposed to 74.3% in Samoa.

And there is little comfort in knowing that when it comes to all-out obesity, Tonga is slightly better off than Samoa, with 43.4% of the population affected, as opposed to 43.4% of Samoans.

The Global Nutrition Report says nearly all women in the kingdom are overweight and 70 percent of them are obese.

Along adults, nearly all women are overweight and 70 percent of them are obese.

A total of 86 % of men are overweight, with 49 percent obese.

The report says more than half Tonga’s teenagers are overweight and a fifth of them are obese.

Warning signs for non-communicable diseases are present in a large proportion of the population.

The Global Nutrition Report says that 44% of Tongan men have high blood pressure, 17% have high levels of blood sugar and 45% have high levels of cholesterol. Among Tongan women, 35% have high blood pressure, 19 percent have high blood sugar and 45 % have high levels of cholesterol.

These are all indicators of heart disease and diabetes.

Other worrying signs are that nearly one fifth of women of child bearing age have anaemia and 17% of all pre-school age children have vitamin A deficiency.

Government spending on health in Tonga rose marginally from 8.8% of GDP in 200 to 9.6% in 2010 while spending on social protection has shrunk from 5.5% in 2000 to 1.8% in 2010.

According to the report, guidelines on managing non communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension and been only partially implemented when data was gathered in 2010.

Fattest on the planet

The Global Nutrition Report listed the following countries as having the highest prevalence of adult overweight and obesity. Seven of them are small developing Pacific islands. The other three are oil rich Gulf states.

Kiribati 73.1$

Tuvalu 73.2%

United Arab Emirates 74%

Samoa 74.3%

Tonga 74/8%

Kuwait 75.4%

Marshall Islands 75.8%

Nauru 77.8%

Qatar 78.1%

Palau 79.3%

For more information

Pacific Non-communicable Diseases Summit (Pacific Community)

Global Nutrition Report

First Pacific Non-Communicable Disease Summit Underway in Tonga (EMTV, PNG)

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Court orders Tonga’s national rugby league committee to hold election

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tonga’s highest court has ordered the Tonga National Rugby League (TNRL) to make sure it will hold its election on July 15.

All current officials must vacate their positions before the election will take place, Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said.

The new election will clear the way for the court to remove its order that remains in place preventing the national sporting body from using the TNRL funds for any purpose not authorised by the board.

The judge said he would not make a final order on his ruling in May to audit the financial accounts of the TNRL for the 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 financial  years.

The ruling comes after the court had heard in May of serious allegations against the TNRL.

It was alleged that hundreds of thousands of pa’anga are unaccounted for, accounts have remained unaudited for years, the constitution has been violated, fraudulent elections have been held and court orders ignored.

“The 2016 Annual General Meeting of  the TNRL  is to  be held on  15  July  2016 (the meeting)”, Mr Paulsen said.

“The meeting  is  to  proceed  notwithstanding  that  the audited financial balance sheet for the preceding  year (that is 2015) is not available.

“At the meeting all Officers of the TNRL are to vacate their posts and the election of all Officers is to take  place.

“The Secretary  of the TNRL  is to  forthwith  give  notice  of the date, time and venue  of the  meeting to  all  members of the TNRL and to anyone else entitled to attend the meeting under the Constitution of the  TNRL:

According to the five-page ruling the meeting must address the following:

“The business of the meeting.

“Advise  the  members  that  at  the   meeting  all Officers of the TNRL will vacate their posts  and the election of all Officers will be held at the meeting.

“Require  all  nominations  for  Officers  to  be lodged with the Secretary of the TNRL no later than 21 days before the date of the   meeting.

“Except as otherwise expressly stated, the procedures and business of the  meeting  shall be as set out in the Constitution of the  TNRL

“Leave  is reserved to any  party to  apply to vary  or apply for  further  directions  as  to  the conduct of the meeting on 24 hours   notice”.

In regard to an interim ruling he made in May to audit the financial accounts of the TNRL for the 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 financial  years, Mr Paulsen said he was not yet in a position to issue final orders on it  “as Counsel are having further discussions with the Tonga Office of the Auditor  General  in relation to the preparation and audit of the financial accounts of the TNLR”.

In April the court issued an interim order preventing the use of  the  funds  of the  TNRL  for any purpose not authorised by the Board pending the election  of Officers.

Mr Paulsen said the order will still “remain  in  effect.  Following the election of Officers either party may apply on notice to discharge those Orders”.

The case was brought to the court by Silivenusi Taumoepeau, Tavake Fangupo and Taufa Fukofuka.

The plaintiffs were President Semisi Sika, Stan Moheloa and the Tonga National Rugby League Incorporated Society.

READ MORE:

Tonga National Rugby League “dysfunctional for years” says Supreme Court judge

Four candidates competing for Vavaʻu 16 vacant parliamentary seat

By
Kalino Latu
-

Four candidates are vying for the same parliamentary seat for Vavaʻu 16 with elections taking place on July 14.

‘Akosita Havili Lavulavu the wife of former outgoing Vavaʻu 16 MP, ‘Etuate Lavulavu,  is seeking election and will stand against her husband’s political rival Dr Viliami Lātū.

Two other candidates are ‘Atalasa Misilemoti Pouvalu and ‘Īpeni ʻAlamoni Siale.

Siale unsucessfully stood for the Democrats in the last election.

Pouvalu was an independent  candidate in the last election for Tongatapu 7 but the constituency was won by the current Justice Minister, Vuna Fāʻotusia.

The last day for intending candidates to register for Vavaʻu 16’s  by-election was today Monday 20.

The candidates in order of their numbers:
Candidate Number 1 – Mrs Akosita Lavulavu
Candidate Number 2- Viliami Uasikē Lātū
Candidate Number 3 – ‘Atalasa Misilemoti Pouvalu
Candidate Number 4 – ʻĪpeni ʻAlamoni Siale

The by-election was called by the Speaker of the House, Lord Tuʻivakanō, after Mr Lavulavu was disqualified as an MP after his conviction by Tonga’s Supreme Court for committing bribery during his 2014 election campaign.

Mr Lavulavu appealed his sentence.

His case was brought to court by the unsuccessful candidate, Dr Lātū.

Tongan Born New Zealander wins second Professional bout

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Tongan Born New Zealander, Nailini Helu has won her second professional bout. Helu won against Sarah Long by unanimous decision.

The 22 year old is currently ranked 10th in the world by independent boxing records keeping and computerized rankings system box rec.

Helu is also ranked 10th currently in the UBF.

Helu is the older sister to Professional boxer Panuve Helu.

Panuve Helu just recently came off a win against Tauranga Resident Jonathan Taylor.

Panuve is scheduled to fight Fili Mailata in August in a rematch after a controversial draw and again in september against an opponent that is still to be announced.

Both Nailini and Panuve born in Tonga and residing in Auckland, New Zealand are Tonga’s biggest boxing prospects, showing massive amount of potential.

Nailini has an incredible amateur career, winning three New Zealand National Championships in 2012, 2014 and 2015 and also reaching the semifinals in 2013.

Nailini debut as a pro in April this year on the Kali Reis vs Maricela Cornejo WBC World title undercard in Auckland, New Zealand. Helu defeated Hamilton, New Zealand resident Kirsty Lupeamanu for the inaugural Royal Rampage World female heavyweight title.

Nailini Helu is looking to fight for the New Zealand title next and then a regional title bout in hope to fight for a world title within the next two years.

Man found dead with gundshot wound at Haʻakame

By
Kalino Latu
-

A 21-year-old man was found dead of a gunshot wound on Saturday morning at Haʻakame, Tongan Police said.

They responded to a call regarding a man who was found dead in a plantation.

Upon arrival at the scene, they found the body of a man who apparently died of gunshot wound to his body.

The victim, who was initially found by a family member, was lying on the ground under a tree with a .22 rifle on his lap.

Given the circumstances surrounding his death, Police suspected it was suicidal.

Daughter of former police minister dies after falling from moving vehicle

By
Kalino Latu
-

A daughter of a former Tongan Police minister died after she fell from a moving vehicle Friday 17 in Kolomotu’a.

26-year-old Monalisa Tūʻutafaiva ‘Iongi was in a vehicle driven by her husband, 27, on the night of the incident at Hihifo rd  near Telekava cemetery.

She was the daughter of Sifa Tūʻutafaiva, Tonga’s former Police Minister who is now working as a lawyer.

The husband was released on bail on Saturday 18 after he was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol.

Police investigation continues.

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