Tonga

'Ahongalu Fushimalohi was appointed chair of the Tonga Broadcasting Commission last month after the former chair, Tapu Panuve was forced to resign, and shortly afterwards Ms Fifita was sacked.

RNZI reports the moves came after the prime minister 'Akilsi Pohiva had expressed concern at what he saw as a lack of support from the TBC, calling them an 'enemy of government'.

Regional media groups were outraged believing the Mr Pohiva was infringing on media independence.

Tonga Police are still searching for Amoni Fifita, who is in his 20s.

Police have said Fifita is considered dangerous and members of the public have been warned not to approach him.

Kaniva News reports this was the second time he has escaped from Police custody.

On January 31 Fifita and another inmate escaped the Central Police Custody and robbed a shop owner at gun-point.

They were arrested two days later after the other inmate was located at Hofoa while Fifita was found at Ha’ateiho.

Earlier this week Opposition MPs warned that efforts to remove Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva would be ramped up.

His Majesty King Tupou VI officially opens the parliamentary session with his address from the throne. The king publicly comments on the workings of parliament and the government.

RNZI reports his speech will be followed by a House reply which will be formulated by committee before being delivered in the coming days. Once that reply is given, the House can then sit.

Rev Dr. Tevita Koloaʻia Havea and Lord Tangi of Vaonukonuka were commissioned into the Council last week.

Rev Dr. Havea told Kaniva News their roles are to advise the king.

“Our supports are needed”, Dr Havea said in Tongan.

The new appointees have joined seven members of the Judicial Appointments and Discipline Panel which were led by Lord Chancellor Harry Waalkens Esquire QC.

Lord Tangi, a surgeon specialist and was appointed Health Minister in 1999 ran as candidate for Parliament in the 2010 election but he was unsuccessful.

Kaniva News reports that ‘Aisake Eke, who was sacked as Minister of Finance in March after abstaining in a vote of no-confidence in Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pōhiva, told a meeting of the Tonga Sports Association and National Olympic Committee (TASANOC) the funds were all specifically aimed to support preparations for the Games in two years’ time.

As part of its meeting, the Executive Board was addressed by Lord Vaea, acting President of TASANOC, and Lord Sevele, the Chairman of the Tonga 2019 Pacific Games Organising Committee.

The Executive Board resolved to make one last attempt to keep the 2019 Pacific Games in Tonga. In 2012, the PGC membership voted emphatically for Tonga to host these Games and the Executive Board remains confident that Tonga can successfully deliver the event should the Government resume its support.  

“We must all respect the Sea and its many moods. Exercising common sense and doing basic stuff like checking the weather forecast, carrying beacons, flares, auxiliary engine, and having the means to talk to the shore are basic safety practices,” Caldwell said in a statement.

“Feeding your family by catching fish is important but more important is coming back from the sea to feed them again.”

Caldwell made the comments as authorities rescued six fishermen who were missing at sea for three days.

Kaniva News understands the meeting was attended by members of the Tonga Aotearoa Amateur Sports Association (TAASA).

TAASA describes itself on Facebook and how it operates as “an administrative sports organisation in junction with TASANOC Tonga”.

It held a meeting earlier on in Otahuhu in which members passed a decision to launch a petition against the governmentʻs stance on the Games.

Lord Sevele wanted to solicit the representatives’ views on what they could do to bring back the Games to Tonga.

A statement from the office described the decision as “very difficult.”

“Tonga will be no lesser as a nation for not hosting.

“We need to understand that a mirror was held to the sporting face of our nation and it was not a good reflection and has not been for a very long time.

“The lesson here is to own that fact and those of us who have held the wheel will need to be honest with ourselves.”

The Prime Minister’s office reiterated that the decision to withdraw was based on World Bank report which said Tonga could not afford to hold the Games.

The offence was committed in November last year.

While sentencing Lave, Justice Charles Cato adopted a starting point of 11-years imprisonment required to reflect Parliament's concern to protect young girls under the age of 12 from predatory behaviour of this kind.

Justice Cato said the paramount sentencing consideration is plainly the protection of children.

"It is the courts duty to protect children from this kind of conduct."