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Vote for PM & noble bills' debates reveal dictatorial attitudes

By
Kalino Latu
-

Two bills setting up real democracy for Tonga were submitted to Parliament in July proposing to allow people to elect the Prime Minister and the Nobles but fell at the first hurdle.

A Private Bill proposing for the people to elect the Prime Minister, by MP ‘Aisake Eke, Tongatapu 5 was defeated in Parliament Thursday 24 at its first reading, 15 votes to 6.

A Private Bill provided for voters to elect nobles’ nine seats in parliament, by MP Mo’ale Finau in the name of Ha’apai 12 has been returned for further review.

Both bills were supported by the people of various constituencies according to a report submitted to the Tongan Parliament.

PM to be elected by the people

The deputy Prime Minister Hon. Samiu Vaipulu claimed the bill was deliberately proposed because some of the Opposition Party craved power to lead the nation.

Hon. Siosifa Tu’utafaiva, the Minister of Police,  who had crossed the floor from the Democratic Party to the government plainly revealed his objection to the bill saying he was suspicious about the ethics involved. 

The Speaker of the Full House Committee summed up the debates against the bill by nobles and ministers of government into a question he put forward to MP Eke.

Speaker MP Sunia Fili asked Eke in Tongan: “Please Honourable Member of Parliament, the point is, those who debated against the bill questioned whether there was any ‘evil spirit’ that helped guide you while you initiated the bill?”

There were also claims from the government that they wanted to see the bill has the supports of the people of various constituencies.

Responses from opposition

MP Eke in his reply pointed out the spirit that helped guide him while he was drafting the bill emanated from the fact the government in the last three years came through various adversities.

He figuratively compared the government to a ship that travelled on the sea. Throughout its times in power the ship leaked, he said. There were times the ship apparently had rammed into reefs, and thankfully the ship steered towards other reefs but managed to escape, he added. 

MP Eke then indirectly reminded the House the bill if passed would safeguard future governments and prime ministers, from misusing their position and power.

MP ‘Isileli Pulu responded to the accusation by the government that the bill did not have the support of the constituents.

Pulu told the House the people of various constituencies including MP Eke's expressed their approval of the bill for voters to elect the Prime Minister when parliamentarians met them during the 2013 Parliamentary Visit.

He reminded the House the meetings were recorded and it would be read to the Parliament.

MP Eke also submitted a proposal that a care taker government should be put in place to rule the country during next year's election and until a new government is formed but was also rejected by the House.

He said, however it has been proved there were major problems arisen during the transitional period before the power was handed over to the current government and they were included in the NDC report submitted to the Parliament this year. Eke said those problems he referred to involved government positions and huge amount of public funds.

Dictatorship

While the bill for the people to elect the nobles was debated in Parliament the government repeatedly pushed for the Speaker to put it into vote. The Minister for Finance, Hon Lisiate ‘Akolo asked the House to vote on two bills including MP Finau’s private bill and then would proceed with other matters.

But MP Finau immediately told the House that for obvious reasons, he feared to put his bill to a vote because it would definitely result in a defeat.

He said the nobles insisted that his bill would cause chaos in society but he instead believed the opposite. This was a law that would bring people and nobles together, MP Finau added.

Leader of the Opposition ‘Akilisi Pohiva joined in, and told the Speaker if they did then vote on the bill the government would definitely win and that would be the end of this important private bill.

He told the Speaker the push from government and nobility to vote on the bill reflected a dictatorial attitude in the House.

Democracy

Pohiva’s claim that the government and nobility were dictatorial when they pushed for the bill to be voted knowing fairly well they would win, was quickly responded to by Minister for Finance Hon Lisiate ‘Akolo.

Hon ‘Akolo told the Speaker for Pohiva that what he claimed as dictatorship, was the result of democracy Tonga endeavoured to get and now has.

But Pohiva responded, that the current political system Tonga has is not a democracy because the people do not elect all the Member of Parliament. Hon. Akolo gave in and told the Speaker that was another issue to be discussed later.

Pohiva said if the House would vote on the bill proposed for the people to elect the nobles then they would be killing a baby that about to be born.

He poetically reminded the House in Tongan that, “this bill had been impregnated by the constituents of Ha’apai 12. They gave it to their MP to bring it along and show it to you (the Speaker and members of parliament), today we are going to abort it!”

MP Finau finally accepted a suggestion by the Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Vaipulu to return his private bill for further review and return it to the House for discussion at a later date.

Folaha villagers promote close relationship in Auckland

By
Kaniva Staff
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This weekend, the Lufe’s kāinga from the Loutokaiano present sport, entertainment and religious activities to mark what they call, Folaha Day. This is to get the Folaha community in Aotearoa to value their identity as people who grew up in that village in Tonga.

“It is to appreciate that we belong to Folaha, our village of origin, and for the last three years here in Aotearoa, the Folaha Development Society appears to have achieved many of its goals to get our children to know each other,” said Dr Opeti Taliai, the chairperson of the FDS.

The Folaha Weekend is part of a program organised by the FDS to promote friendship and unity amongst villagers.

Throughout various sporting events held from 10am till 3pm on Saturday at the Walter Massey Park, excited youths couldn’t stop flocking together in the field, playing volley ball and rugby union.  

Elders have been taken on a tour around Auckland mainly at One Tree Hill, Mission Bay and the Auckland Memorial Museum, Soana Muimuiheata, the secretary told Kaniva News.

The programme continued today with a pohiva, a singing night where the villagers are divided into various groups, and each has to perform religious songs.

Strong Tongan rugby league team to contest RLW Champs

By
Kaniva Staff
-

The Mate Ma’a Tonga Rugby League team will field a strong starting line-up against Scotland in their opening Rugby League World Cup Tuesday 29 at Derwent Park, Workington.

 Tonga's first taste of international Rugby League was in the 1988 Pacific Cup and in 1992 when they actually made the final of the same competition.

In 1995 Tonga took part in the Rugby League World Cup for the first time. Tonga also participated in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup, where they performed poorly in pool games against France and Papua New Guinea and again missed out on a quarter final place.

At the 2008 World Cup, Tonga were favourites to reach the semi-final and started well enough by beating Ireland in their first pool game. The second match, against Samoa, was one of the matches of the tournament, but that was no consolation to the Tongans whose defeat ultimately proved costly.

With a strong squad in this yearʻs world cup, "Tonga will push for a quarter-finals finish. Led by Brent Kite, Tonga have some solid forwards, such as Sika Manu, Willie Manu, Fuifui Moimoi and Ben Murdoch-Masila, and are blessed with some speed out wide. Konrad Hurrell, Glen Fisiiahi , Mahe Fonua, Daniel Tupou, Jorge Taufua and Sosaia Feki complete an attacking back line. Panthers signing Kite will lay the foundation up front.

Such was Taufua's form this season, he could have easily been playing for Australia at this year's tournament. He was also mentioned as a possible NSW Origin winger. The Manly player has developed into one of the best dummy-half runners in the game and is a handful for defenders on kick returns".

Team Line-up (likely)
1. Glen Fisiiahi
2. Daniel Tupou
3. Konrad Hurrell
4. Sosaia Feki
5. Jorge Tafua
6. Samsoni Langi
7. Daniel Foster
8. Brent Kite (c)
9. Nafe Seluini
10. Fuifui Moimoi
11. Willie Manu
12. Jason Taumalolo
13. Sika Manu

14. Ukuma Taai
15. Siosa Vave
16. Peni Terepo
17. Patrick Politini

Concerns mount over SUTT name patent

By
Kalino Latu
-

A group of Tongan Free Wesleyan Church members in New Zealand have obtained the official right to be the only persons to make, use or sell the name SUTT.

SUTT is an acronym for the Siasi Uēsiliana Tauʻatāina ʻo Tonga, the Tongan translation for the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga.   

The group, which are church members at the Free Wesleyan Church of Tuingapapai, in Mangere, Auckland included Sione Fono Latu, ‘Isileli Tonga and Siulolo Malamala, Kakalu 'o Tonga Newspaper reported.  

Lawyer Nalesoni Tupou who appeared for the group wrote on Facebook and confirmed to some concerned members the name SUTT has already been registered by a group of people.

“If one wants the name, he or she will have to ask the owner of the name to use the name. The name is the property of the people who have registered this name and nobody else,” Lawyer Tupou wrote.

The group endeavoured to reserve the name as it was left unpatented, meaning the church’s headquarter in Tonga has not attempted so far to claim patent for the name SUTT themselves.

The biggest Methodist denomination in Tonga is now registered in New Zealand as a trust board under the name Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga.

The Free Wesleyan Church’s pastor at Tuingapapai, Rev Lōpini Filise reportedly said they have talked to the group members about what they did regarding the name.

Rev Filise implied the SUTT Church is not interested in the matter.

“The name does not matter. It is the prayer that matter….the church’s name has already been registered but this group of people only wanted to reserve the right to it,” Rev Filise told the paper.

But the big question put forward by many was why the group spent money to acquire the patent for the name and not pushing for the SUTT church to do it as it is the owner of that property?

Would they be demanding money from the SUTT church in the future before giving the name back, a concerned member on Facebook asked.  

The move was strongly condemned by the Free Wesleyan Church lawyer in New Zealand, Mataitini Fotu.

Fotu expressed his fears that the people who have claimed the name, SUTT, would in the future tell the church to stop using it.

He reminded that the name was originally and traditionally known to belong to the SUTT church in Tonga and it should remain so.

 Fotu reportedly described the situation as “It would just like the proverb – dog in the manger”, meaning a person who stops other people from enjoying what he or she cannot use or does not want.  

History

Lawyer Tupou in his attempt to clarify the issue to a number of concerned members of the Siasi Uesiliana Tauʻatāina ʻo Tonga on Facebook wrote: (some punctuation marks edited by Kaniva News).

“Perhaps if I can be permitted to elaborate further this very interesting subject and the name known as Siasi Uesiliana Tau'ataina o Tonga also known as SUTT from hereon. In the mid 1970's here in Auckland and in the Tongan Community there was a trainee Church Minister of the SUTT from Tonga who was studying in the College for the Ministry.

"His name is Rev. Taniela Moala. Also here in Auckland during that era was another fascinating character Rev Sisosia Tuipulotu, who later helped to form the and be a Minister for the newly formed Uniting Church Of Tonga in NZ. Rev Taniela Moala was then appointed as the Faifekau for the Tongans who attended the Methodist church here in Auckland.

"Later the Setuata Lahi of the Tongans within the NZ Methodist his name was Kautau Lavulo. Mr Kautau Lavulo resign from his position as the Setuata Lahi and became the President of the breakaway group now known to be known as the Uniting Church of Tonga in NZ. However, there was another interesting character from Teekiu here in Auckland. His name was Mr Mateitalo Amato also known as Sefita Uia.

"He was the Setuata for the Otahuhu district in South Auckland. For many years Mateitalo Amato always put forward the idea that as he was baptised by his parents in Tonga to be a member of the SUTT he claims he is still a baptised member of the SUTT and not the NZ Methodist Church. But there was no SUTT here in NZ. Mateitalo raised that issue at the Quarterly Meeting in September 1982.

"There were strong words expressed by a lot of people at this meeting including people such as Mr Liuaki Saulala when he was still a member of this Congregation spoke emotionally about this subject. One community leader said that nobody and that means nobody will be able to register the name SUTT here in NZ and for matter here in NZ or the world.

"I can remember that vividly because that was when I was still a Law student in 1982 at Auckland University. I had learned that one can register such name and formulate a constitution into that named organisation. Welll..we'll..That is what happened I personally registered the name SUTT with the Registrar of incorporated Society part of the Justice Ministry here in Auckland.

"After obtaining the registered name I later gave it to Mateitalo Amato to formulate a Constitution with the help of his lawyer Mr Clive Edwards. That was how the name has travelled throughout the years until I recently earlier this year found out that the current church organisation situated at Tuingapapai was using the name known as Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga.

This means that the group purported to use the name SUTT was not in fact using the name SUTT? They were using the FWCT. They have discard the name SUTT into the rubbish bin. So that is what happened. I grab the name SUTT and assist other people who were very keen to keep the name. And they have registered the name to be their own property. That is intellectual property !!!Enough for now. Vahevahe atu ena pea liliu Kia nautolu ke tokonii…Maloo.."

Tafolosa Bloomfield jailed on embezzlement charges

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Tafolosa Kaitapu Bloomfield stole $204,033 from the Forum Travel Ltd, a travel agency that had to be sold because of the financial hit.

Bloomfield, a senior travel consultant was arrested and charged in May 2010, after the Forum Travel management discovered irregularities and deficiencies in her daily balance.

The former Miss Heilala was sentenced to three-years and four-months imprisonment.

In handing down his verdict, Judge Charles Cato said:

“It saddens me to think that a mother of four children and a wife of a person holding a responsible position in Tonga with all the advantages that this should bring should engage in conduct of this kind

“It is very surprising to me that she seems to have dismissed from her mind the adverse consequences to her family when her fraud would be detected.”

“This case is by far the worst of its kind I have encountered here. The fraud was systematic, frequent and carried on over a lengthy period of a mature person who could only be regarded as a trusted and senior consultant.”

“Without trust businesses cannot efficiently function and flourish and without viable businesses there will be limited employment and commercial opportunity in Tonga. Embezzlement damages the integrity of business.

Judge Cato however gave Bloomfield credit for lack of previous convictions also the fact that she was remorseful.

As a result she was given eight months reduction and imposed on her four years and four months imprisonment for embezzlement.

He also suspended the sentence of imprisonment for a maximum term of 12 months

‘Akilisi Pohiva announced "Defender of Democracy Award 2013"

By
Kalino Latu
-

‘Akilisi Pohiva, 73, one of the Pacific's most revered politicians, received the Defender of  Democracy Award for 2013 by the Parliamentarians for Global Action PGA, it was announced today.

As Tonga’s Opposition Party leader, a letter from PGA was read in the Tongan Parliament this morning pronouncing his award to be received at a ceremony in December 9-10 in Bogota, Colombia.

The announcement of the award bound members of the House together after passing a decision to fund a parliamentary delegation to accompany Pohiva when he will attend the award ceremony.

Pōhiva, who fought for years since 1980s to bring democracy to Tonga, had been referred to by a Tongan respected scholar, Professor ‘Okusitino Mahina in his book, 16/11 Tonga he Fepaki – Tonga in Crisis,  as the Maui Kisikisi of Tonga – the Maui believed to have brought the fire from Pulotu – the underworld to Maama – the World. It is a Tongan mythological and poetic name that selectively ascribed to a real heroic figure.  

Tonga dramatically reformed its political system in 2010 with some who deemed it as a full democratic change hailed the late King George Tupou V a hero for introducing democracy to his feudal kingdom. 

That reformed political  system,  is not a democratic form of government according to Pohiva, claiming that  the power to rule the country and run the government still stays in the hands of only nine nobles in Parliament elected by the 33 nobles of Tonga and not the majority of the taxpayers.

These nine noble seats in the Tongan Legisilative Assembly are strongly backed by five people’s elected candidates who crossed the floor to side with the nobility, after they were promised ministerial positions in government, making the nobles the majority and the powerful party in the House.

 “Since 1996, PGA has held the Defender of Democracy Awards in conjunction with its Annual Parliamentary Forum. The Defender of Democracy Award is presented to individuals who, through their own commitment and active engagement, have made significant progress in strengthening democracy and democratic practices.”

Former recipients of the Defender of Democracy Award include, Rt. Hon. Helen Clark (New Zealand), Prime Minister (2004),

 Rt. Hon. Don McKinnon , Former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth (2008).

Dr. Nafis Sadik (Pakistan), physician and then Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General and Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (2006). Most recently, she spoke out forcefully against the attack on Malala Yousafzai, the young Pakistani girl who was shot because she championed education for girls.

Mrs. Mary Robinson (Ireland), President of Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative (2005). Former President of Ireland and United Nations High Commissioner of Human Rights. Sra. Estela Barnes de Carlotto (Argentina), Las Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo (2000), whose daughter was kidnapped and murdered by the military in Argentina.

The Hon. Bella S. Abzug (1998), awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Eye problems in Tonga: warning sign of other issues

By
Kaniva Staff
-

An Auckland ophthalmologist warns the eye conditions of many older Tongans are placing a burden on the local youth, as they care for their relatives who are unable to work.

Dr Brent Gaskin, of Auckland Eye, says young Tongans are under pressure as they support family members whose impaired vision or blindness limits their ability to live independently.

“This can place a great demand on young people both economically and emotionally, as they spend time looking after older relatives who can’t see. The eye problems of the older generation can have a significant impact on the whole family’s quality of life,” he says.

Dr Gaskin is part of one of several eye specialist groups who visit the island nation annually. His group performs up to 100 eye surgeries, and conducts up to 800 eye checks in Tonga each year.

He says impaired vision among the local people in Tonga can be particularly detrimental to society given their lifestyles.
“Manual work is extremely common in island countries like Tonga, so locals’ vision is fundamentally important to ensure their financial stability.

Also, with many working outdoors, the glare of the sun in Tonga’s warm climate can cause big issues for those with cataracts,” he says.

Dr Gaskin says a significant number of the country’s small population suffer from eye problems that cannot be treated by local health professionals due to a lack of adequate training.

“Hopefully with time, local eye care professionals will up skill and take on the delivery of more of the surgical treatment needed. In the mean time, like many nations in the pacific, Tonga relies on help from trained specialists from overseas,” he says.

“Many patients in Tonga will have visual impairment far beyond what we typically see at home in New Zealand, and some will have waited months for treatment, as prioritisation means only the severely impaired are treated. This would be rare in most developed countries, due to modern demands like driving, and also the relative ease of access to top quality eye care.”

Dr Gaskin says while older Kiwis often develop eye conditions such as cataracts beyond the retirement age, Tongans tend to develop such eye problems earlier.

“I would think 90% of those we operate on when we visit Tonga are over the age of 45, with children and young adults making up only 10% of those we see. In New Zealand, problems like cataracts tend to occur over the age of 60, however Tongan patients experience such conditions when they are often much younger,” he says.

Dr Gaskin says during his trips to Tonga he and his team-of-four may perform up to 100 cataract surgeries and 100 laser procedures.

He says the prevalence of diabetes in the island nation is a significant issue underlying the incidence of eye problems suffered locally.

Dr Gaskin will make his fifth trip to Tonga through the international charity VOSO (Volunteer Ophthalmic Services Overseas) this month.

He says the annual trip is an important contribution to global eye health.

“It is a rewarding experience to be spread your skills around, and it makes sense to begin by helping those closest to home,” he says.

“There are hundreds of Tongans who need our assistance in our own backyard each year, and it is a pleasure to be able to use my knowledge and expertise to improve their quality of life.”

Tongan’s Poor Eye Sight Economic Burden for Next Generation – NZ Expert by

Vahefonua Tonga says ‘no to gay wedding ceremony’

By
Kalino Latu
-

The Tongan Methodist churches’ executive body, known as Vahefonua Tonga in New Zealand, took a firm stand against gay marriage saying that its church buildings will not host gay wedding ceremonies and its presbyters will not solemnise them either.

This was declared by the Synod Superintendent of the Vahefonua Tonga O Aotearoa National Synod Rev Setaita Kinahoi Veikune in a letter sent to the Methodist general secretary Rev David Bush

It says, “While English-speaking parishes are deciding at the local level Vahefonua Tonga decided at the synod level that no presbyters stationed to Vahefonua Tonga will officiate at same-sex marriages and those marriages will not be hosted in any Vahefonua Tonga parish’.

There are 37 Tongan Methodist churches in New Zealand that come under the control of the Vahefonua Tonga. Among those churches, some Tongan congregation shares the use of a Methodist property with an English speaking congregation.

Rev Veikune told the general secretary if gay couples want their wedding performed in those churches, Vahefonua Tonga would like it to “be discussed with the parish council”.

Rev Veikune’s letter sided with the Methodist’s President against those gay couples who think they should be given the freedom to do their wedding in any Methodist Churches in New Zealand.

President Rev Rex Nathan, and vice president, Jan Tasker wrote that, “Methodist presbyters are permitted to officiate at same-sex marriages but are not required to do so, in line with the legislation. Local congregations can also make their own decisions on the use of their premises.”

The Marriage Amendment Act legalizing same-sex marriage in New Zealand took effect on April 19.

Since then the Methodist congregations and presbyters throughout the country have been grappling to find answers to divergent views over same-sex marriage, according to the Methodist’s Touchstone newspaper.

“Earlier this year, the congregations discussed two questions”, it says. “First, would they allow their church buildings to be used for a same-sex marriage? Second, would they be able to station a gay presbyter?”

The responses from the English congregations expressed different views ranges from in favour of and in opposition to hosting and to solemnising same-sex marriage.

“St Lukes Northcote voted strongly against hosting same-sex marriages and narrowly against stationing a gay presbyter.

The Takapuna congregation voted narrowly in favour of hosting same-sex marriages, and 60 percent were in favour of stationing a gay presbyter”.

In October last year, about 300 people from the Tongan community across Auckland marched in protest against the bill to legalise same-sex marriage.

The march was staged at the Lotofale’ia Methodist Church of Mangere.

Tokaikolo church continues its dismissal campaign

By
Kalino Latu
-

In what has become the latest in a slew of recent church disputes, the Tokaikolo Church has written to Dr Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa telling him that he has been excommunicated by the church, according to a decision made in a meeting on September 26.

The letter of dismissal was signed by Rev Po’uli Vaki of the Tokaikolo Christian Church International Headquarter, based in Lavengamalie.

A removal order was also sent by the Tokaikolo to the parish pastor of the Kolomotu’a’s Mo’ui Fo’ou ‘Ia Kalaisi’s church residence, Rev Kava Faʻoliu demanding he moves out of the pastoral house by October 10.  

Dr Tu’i’onetoa is Tonga’s Auditor General and he was one of the founding members of the Tokaikolo church since its inception in 1980  by the Founder  Rev Pastor Senituli Koloi.

As an insider, Dr Tu’i’onetoa once described the situation in the Tokaikolo Church as ‘absolute chaos’. He also described the Leader Rev Liufau Saulala as a ‘prevaricator’ and a ‘fabricator’.  

The Mo’ui Fo’ou ‘Ia Kalaisi Church community of Kolomotu’a was one of the congregations that broke away from the Tokaikolo Church in July this year following a political conflict within the church and legal action filed in Auckland.  

That disturbance caused more than 80 percent of its members to defect and they established the Mo’ui Fo’ou ‘Ia Kalaisi Church.

In an email to Kaniva News, Dr Tu’i’onetoa regarded his expel by the Tokaikolo as a ‘laughing stock’ and ‘meaningless’.

He said the letter should have stated clearly what church’s policy or constitution he breached, if there were any.

The letter should also have given him a chance to respond to his dismissal, he added.

Dr Tu’i’onetoa was overseas at the time and he said the matter should have gone through ‘due process of law’ including allowing him to attend the meeting and make response to the charges.

He said he would talk to his lawyer regarding his dismissal.

The removal order sent to the Kolomotu’a pastor to leave the house implied the residence legally belongs to the Tokaikolo.

But Dr Tu’i’onetoa has a different story.

He said, since the establishment of the church in Kolomotu’a the residential property, the church building  and the land belonged to the church members of Kolomotuʻa and not the Tokaikolo church.

Dr Tuʻiʻonetoa said since the church members are mainly elderly he did not want to burden them with loans and donation to build the church .

Instead he and another church member, Hepeti Takeifanga, both working at the government decided to lodge a personal loan through the Westpac Bank of Tonga to build the Kolomotu’a Tokaikolo Church.

They asked the Tokaikolo Church head office to act as guarantor of the loan, but it was declined.

 “I still have with me a letter in 2008 from the Tokaikolo’s secretary at the time,  Rev Manatu Tu’iono informing me the Tokaikolo had declined our request to become a guarantor of a personal loan under my name and that of Hepeti Takeifanga,” Dr Tu’i’onetoa said in his email, in Tongan.

The letter from Tu’iono further stated that the Tokaikolo is not bound to get involved in parishes’ local matters. 

Tu’iono also emphasised his letter was in accordance with a decision made by him and President Liufau Saulala.

Dr Tu’ionetoa, however managed to have the loan approved by the bank and the Kolomotu’a church was built.

With regard to the removal order sent to Rev Faʻoliu, Dr Tuʻiʻonetoa said he advised him to disregard the order and never leave the residence.

The Tokaikolo Church released an announcement early this year saying the church would not ever talk to media answering any request for information. With that Kaniva News could not be able to obtain comments from them.

Tongan king arrives to warm welcome in Thailand

By
Kaniva Pacific
-

The king of Tonga, King Tupou VI along with the Queen Nanasipau’u smiled happily as they were greeted and  welcomed on arrival by His Excellency Air Chief Marshal Chalit Pukbhasuk, Privy Councillor (Representative of His Majesty The King of Thailand); His Excellency Mr. Pradit Sintavanarong, Minister of Public Health (Representative of the Prime Minister) and the Director-General of the Department of Information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A statement from the Palace Office in Nuku’alofa says, “On Monday 14th October, Their Majesties were hosted to a Luncheon by The Minister for Foreign Affairs, H E Dr Surapong Tovichakchaikul at the Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel. Other guests included the Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, the Director General of the Department of America and South Pacific Affairs and the Director General of the Department of International Development Cooperation Agency TICA. Exchanges during the Luncheon focused on fostering the close bilateral ties between Tonga and Thailand and on issues of import for future cooperation.

“An audience was granted on Tuesday 15th October for Dr Vili Fuavao Deputy Director from the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, to provide an overview of agricultural issues of relevance to Tonga including the FAO ongoing and recent assistance and, the establishment of the FAO office in Nukualofa.

“On Wednesday 16th October, Their Majesties were accompanied by Mr George Chen the Honorary Consul to Hong Kong, to meet with Mr Chanin Donavanik, the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the Dusit International Group of Bangkok. Mr Donavanik and his wife Khun Vipada hosted a Dinner for Their Majesties at one of the Dusit Thani Hotels in Bangkok, Yesterday, October 20th, Their Majesties visited Chiang Mai Province in northern Thailand where the Governor of the Province and the Chief Judge of the Region welcomed Their Majesties on arrival. The visit is an opportunity for Their Majesties to visit the House of Celadon of ceramics ware and the OTOP Tourism Village of local Thai products.
Their Majesties will return to Nukualofa at the end of the visit to the Chiang Mai Province.

Malia Sosefo (Tae) Guttenbeil of Vava’u was also introduced to Their Majesties during her visit to Bangkok to participate at the FAO World Food Day awards for Model farmers for outstanding achievements. Tae Guttenbeil is one of the four honourees to be recognised at a ceremony held at the FAO Regional office on 16th October. Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand presented the FAO awards to the four model farmers from Bhutan, the Philippines, Thailand and Tonga. The awards honoured their outstanding achievements in agriculture and food production"
 

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