970206
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970206 |
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A collection of newsbriefs from The Tonga Chronicle, Lao & Hia, and Taimi 'o Tonga.
Murder Case Goes To Trial
The trial for the murder of Fijian expatrite Anna Henrietta has gone to court with Laki Niu representing the accused Petelo Puli'uvea aged 24 of Lapaha.
'Anna Henrietta died on April 27, 1996 from gun wounds sustained at her residence at Longolongo. According to witnesses 'Anna died during a drinking party where the deceased and others were involved at the Lipoi Tupou rental accommodations in Longolongo.
Sala Muasobu from Fiji, relative of the deceased, described that Anna and Petelo began dating around July 1995 when often she would notice marks on Anna's face from beatings she received from the accused. According to Sala, up to the final month of Anna's life she was still wearing wounds and when she continued to press with Anna to leave Petelo, Anna's response was the day she "leaves him is the day he kills her."
Puluno Moala of Lapaha who was at the party, and later left but returned to pick up friends witnessed hearing the gunshots presumed to have cost Anna's life (but did not see the actual shooting.) Approaching the house, Puluno recalls hearing three gunshots and then seeing the accused chase with a pistol Sela Naitoko Hefa. Entering the house, the deceased was seen laying at the doorway between the lounge and kitchen with blood on her arm.
Taniela Mikaele who was also at the party was dead drunk during these events but when he later awoke to find the deceased on the floor, the accused had placed his pistol to his own head and was stating that he was going to "join" the deceased.
Colonel Fetu'utolu Tupou, who negotiated the release of the handgun from the accused, stated that the pistol used by the accused was an automatic pistol with a magazine capacity of 17 x 9mm bullets. The pistol was taken without authority from the military base. The accussed before surrendering the weapon had removed the magazine and cleared the gun, except for a single bullet.
Fifteen witnesses are expected to be called by the plaintiff with the defence not yet stating how many witnesses it will call. Seven jurors were selected for the case with Supreme Court Judge Nigel Hampton presiding.
Tonga Telecom Signs Telecommunications Review agreement
The consulting firm Cutler and Co. of Melbourne have been appointed as consultants to review the rationalisation of Tonga's Telecommunications as reported earlier in this brief. Released statements from TTC indicate the proposed review for rationalisation are guided with the following objectives:
The review is being funded under a grant from the International Bank of Reconstruction and Development an auxiliary of the World Bank.
The first phase will involve the consulting firm developing a report on financial and procedural options as well as legislative requirements for coprotisation and establishment of a regulatory agency. The second phase (for which a consulting agreement has not been appointed, negotiated) involves the preparation of legislation and the development/implementation of plans.
Contempt of Court - Speaker of the House, Taimi 'o Tonga assistant editor.
Justice William Lewis in the Supreme Court at Nuku'alofa found Speaker of the House, Fusitu'a, and Taimi 'o Tonga assistant Editor, Filokalafi 'Akauola, guilty of contempt of court for the statements and publication of an interview in Taimi 'o Tonga's Nov. 27, 1996 edition. Fusitu'a was fined T$1,000 for the substance of his statements printed by the paper, and 'Akauola whose byline marked the article was fined T$500 and ordered to publish an apology and retraction "no shorter or less extensive than the article published by Taimi 'o Tonga on Nov. 27."
Justice Lewis found it clear that "'Akauola was intent on obtaining some answers from Fusitu'a about the possibilities open to the Law Committee of the Legislative Assembly of which Fusita'u was a member. It was also clear Fusitu'a was actively and freely giving answers which he expected would be published in Taimi 'o Tonga and therefore the wider Tongan community about the real possibility that the Chief Justice stood in jeopardy of impeachment/dismissal/prosecution should an appeal by the Government of the Kingdom of Tonga succeed."
By so doing, Justice Lewis ruled, Fusitu'a had threatened the Chief Justice with prosecution, brought the judicial system into contempt, interfered with the proper exercise of the office of Chief Justice, given impression that the Chief Justice was not independent, and suggested that the Supreme Court of Tonga was subject to manipulation by the Legislative Assembly.
Justice Lewis cited the description of contempt of court by Lord President Clyde in 1923: "The offece consists in interfering with the administration of the law … It is not the dignity of the court which is offended---a petty and misleading view of the issues involved---it is the fundamental supremacy of the law which is challenged."
Tonga Development Bank Loan Officer goes to gaol.
Former TDB Loan officer Victor Finau, 29 of Lapaha has been found guilty of misappropriating $32,000 between 1992-1994. Justice William Lewis sentenced the defendant on 84 breaches of the Criminal Offences Act. Victor will serve two years for each offence, to be served concurrently.
Victor concocted the fraud by creating fictitous loan applications and diverting proceeds of some customer loans for his own use.
'Eua/Niua Development Committee
Government has approved the establishment of a Development Committee for 'Eua and a separate committee fo the Niuas to oversee the implementation of development programs. Formally requested in parliament by Tu'ipulotu Lauaki in 1995 for the 'Eua, government has decided two separate committees should be established with responsibilities for:-
The Development Committee for 'Eua:
The Development Committee for Niua
Millenium Project
Air New Zealand, the Tourism Council of the South Pacific and Events Gisborne have proposed a Millenium Project to involve concerts, sports events, and cultural festivals across the Pacific Islands during each of the next three years in a major bid to increase number of vistors with the climax peaking New Year's Eve, 1999.
According to Mr. Francis Mortimer, market-development manager with Air New Zealand and member of the Millenium Consortium, the long-term objective of the project is to reposition the region through the next century as the world's most sought-after destination for leisure, lifestyle, and cultural activities.
News Bytes
Rev. Setoki Fa, Minister of the Church of Tonga in Vava'u was laid to rest on Jan. 28 following his death on Jan. 26.
'Olo'ua island wharf construction under way with $265,080 funding from the European Union through the Vava'u Development committee.
People on the Move
Lupeha'amoa 'Ilaiu of Kolofo'ou has been appointed to Assistant Secretary at the Prime Ministers Officef
Taniela Fusimalohi has been appointed to Senior Assistant Secretary at the Establishment Division of the Prime Ministers Office
Viliami Tiseli has been appointed to Assistant Director at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestries
Dr. Soane 'Ali of Kolofo'ou has been appointed Chief Doctor at Vaiola Hospital
Dr. Leiukamea Saafi has been appointed Medical Officer at the Ministry of Health and is serving at Prince Wellington Ngu Hospital in Neiafu Vava'u.
Sione Folau Lokotui, 43 of Ha'afeva has been appointed to the post of Magistrate.
Mrs Temaleti Manakovi Aleamotu'a Pahulu, 33 of Kolomotu'a has been appointed Registrar of the Supreme Court (the first female appointment.)
Epikopo Sonae Lilo Foliaki of the Catholic Diocese has been reappointed as chair of the National Council of Churches.
Dr. S. Langi Kavaliku (Deputy. PM) will be attending a conference on Pacific Islands Centre for High Technology Research to be held in Honolulu Hawai'I between May 8 - 9.
Heilala Festial '97 - June 21 through July 5
The Tonga Visitor's B and Tonga Tourist Association has announced the schedule for the Heilala Festival '97 for those of you who may be interested in being on the Islands at the time. Other festivals and celebrations for the first half of the 1997 calendar year include:
Super League's 9's competition
Tonga's amateur (as in unpaid) players defeated Papua New Guinea's national nine's team to win the complementary League IX's bowl in Townsville, Australia on Feb. 2nd. New Zealand defeated Western Samoa 16-0 to win the Trophy while Fiji downed South Africa 22-6 for the plate.
Tonga's own surfing team
Five local surfers will participate on the Rib Curl Tavarua Oceanic Surfing Cup Competition in Fiji from Feb 8-15. The team participating in both junior and open grades includes Finau Fonua, Chas Egan, Martin Flemming, Michael Burling, and Viliami Falekaono. The team of avid surfers will be managed by Steve Burling and Shane Egan.
Tonga Water Board publishes new water rates
Nuku'alofa: 0.00112 per litre, minimum charge $5.10 (<4,546L)
Neiafu: 0.00111 per litre, minimum charge $5.05 (<4,546L)
Pangai-Hihifo: 0.00109 per litre, minimum charge $4,95 (4,546L)
Logo Design Competition
Tonga Trade, the new Trade organisation announced by the government, is offering a T$500 prize for a logo design for Tonga Trade. Entries are to be submitted by 4:30 pm. Fri 14 March. For those interested, contact Tonga Trade on ph; (676) 23 688 or fax: (676) 23 887 (ed. no last time I checked they still haven't figured out the internet.)
Vacancies
Assistant - Western Union, T$6,240-7,820 pa
Assistant Secretary - Ministry of Justice, T$6,348-9,570 pa
Short Term Export Market Analysts - Tonga Trade, negotiable
Full-Time Computer Operator - Tonga Trade, T$3,654-4,414 pa
Statistician, Statistics, T$6,348-9,570 pa
Catering Manager, USP - Fiji, F$23,930-40,645 pa
Lecturer I/Senior Lecturer in Education, USP - Fiji, F$30,144-34,002 pa
Librarian, USP - Fiji, F$30,144-34,002 pa
Executive Officer, USP - 'Atele, Tonga, T$5,274-7064 pa
Laboratory Assistant, USP - 'Atele, Tonga, T$2,480-2,904 pa
Students Co-ordinator, USP - Vava'u and USP - Ha'apai, T$4,034-4,604
[ref: http://www.tongatapu.net.to]
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