970227

A collection of news-briefs from The Tonga Chronicle, Lao & Hia, Taimi 'o Tonga, Ko e Kele'a, Radio Tonga. For more details of these stories, feel invited to buy a paper from one of the locations mentioned in our media pages http://www.tongatapu.net.to/tonga/news/media/default.htm

Vaiola Hospital, Tongatapu, is continuing operations with serious understaffing problems where only 12 doctors are available for patient care with some doctors averaging 16 hour days. Staff are concerned with the probable increased diagnosis errors from prolonged stress as well as critical lack of a doctor for surgical operations. Dr. 'Aisake Takau, the only resident surgeon is currently overseas pursuing further training while the only other two Tongan surgical doctors (Dr. Viliami Tangi and Dr. Kueili Tonga) no longer work with the Government Public Health Sector, and have moved overseas.

In January, hospital Doctors requested an increase of doctors for the hospital of at least 11 more doctors as well as technical officers. Director of Health, Dtr. Laumeesi Malolo, regrets the staff shortage and notes that a shortage in funds, especially foreign aid, restricts the acquisition of further staff and especially surgeory doctors.

Cabinet is reviewing a request to allocate an additional 5% to the Public Health budget which if approved should be supplied in May or June.

The Free Wesleyan Church which operates the largest secondary school system is haemorrhaging from lack of teaching staff at major colleges. Staff shortage includes lack of qualified teaching staff for matriculating students as well as first year students in many of the subjects including English, Geography, Accounting.

'Okusi Mahina, PhD (ANU Australia) is on leave from the University of Auckland and while in Tonga is researching towards a history project to detail a history of politics in the Kingdom of Tonga. Dr. Mahina discussed his project intentions with Taimi 'o Tonga writer Filokalafi 'Akau'ola.

The research work is being funded by the University of Auckland, an acknowledgement that much has been written on Tonga's general history with little focussed work on issues such as religion, economics, society, and politics. The research work will focus on political change, changes in authority, since King Tupou I took over Tonga and ascended to the throne.

Looking fresh and with little effects of the long trip, lost at sea for 18 days, the six men aboard the fishing craft Hakautapu III were brought back to Nuku'alofa on Feb. 21 on tow by the Captain Van owned by the lost captains son. The lost vessel carried the captain Tu'akalau Fukofuka, 61, Nimenima Tu'ipulotu, 27, Hakau Fukofuka , 17 all from Ha'avakatolo; Mosese Latu, 17, Nafetakai Siola'a, 16, and Viliami Fifita, 16, all of Fo'ui.

The Voea Savea on a routine search for Foreign vessels illegally fishing in Tongan waters. It was by accident that the stranded fishing boat was discovered off 'Ata island to the South West of Tongatapu.

The Hakautapu III left Tongatapu Feb. 4 to fish near Tu'atonga, some seven miles from Fua'amotu, when after a week at sea, their battery ran out and the boat simply floated almost all the way to 'Ata Island. The survivers fished their food and collected rain water for drinking according to the captain a fisherman of 40 years experience.

The lawyers are sharpening their pencils as representatives from Tonga and Indonesia continue heated discussions over the orbital slot known as 134 east, linking the Pacific with Asia. Tonga claims registration rights to the slot, while Pasifik Satelit (Nusantara) of Indonesia, Indonesia's commercial venture dealing with satellites, claims the slot was registered by Indonesia in 1993 and the APSTAR 1A satellite launched under the Tonga registration has not been properly coordinated with world authorities.

Tonga denies this claim and insists that Tonga had registered the orbital position with ITU and had properly entered C-band frequencies for the spot with the ITU's master international frequency register.

Mr. Adi Adiwoso, President of Pasifik Satellit (Nusantara), admits Indonesia's responsibility for the satellite jamming. In a Sydney conference review issues, Indonesian delegates boasted of the jamming, adding that it would continue jamming from March 1 unless Tonga made room in the slot for a new Indonesian satellite to be purchased from California which will be launched into this slot.

The dispute had its beginning in Geneva from Oct. 28, 1993, after delegates from Tonga and Indonesia had met for two days to discuss a range of telecommunications issues relating to satellite management. At the end they signed a summary accord, agreeing to strengthen friendly relations and co-operation and acknowledging a willingness to foster economic development between Indonesia and Tonga.

The parties also signed an agreement allowing an Indonesian satellite to use Tonga's orbital position at 134 east. Tonga says this was for a limited time only, with the Indonesia arm undartaking to have itts customers relocate, using other bands not later than six months form the time of the agreement. Tonga further says that the agreement was purely by grace and favour and had no contractual basis either concerning the time limit or the period after the time had expired.

But Indonesia claims the agreement is binding for an indefinite period. Tonga's reply, in effect, is that having been allowed to park for a short time in its slot, Indonesia now wants to occupy it full time.

A legal expert called in on the dispute had this to say: "This should be a lesson to all concerned that others do not take advantage of loosely worded documents. The type of documents I refer to are no more than consensual statements couched in the often loose language of diplomatic dialogue free of the undisciplined dictates that invariably accompany contractual statements, which of their essence are to be seen as binding and regulating business relations between parties."

Tonga Desert has been organised in Nuku'alofa as a non-profit branch of the US based Deseret International Foundation, to assist Tonga's Health Care System deliver up-to-date treatments and to share medical skills and techniques.

Support focussed on community needs and in response to requests by local health professionals is to be provided through Tonga Deseret by volunteer health care professionals who will contribute their time and serve at their own expense.

• Sea Star's MV Lofa made a rare catch of a 174kg bluefin (about as tall as a man).
• Minister for Tourism will attend Fiji conference organised by the Tourism Council of the South Pacific.
• Polynesian Airlines launches its Polypac package offering stopover accommodations, transportation throughout its Pacific route.
• King and Queen, and church leaders, to attend Tahiti's celebrations marking the 200^th anniversary of the introduction of Christianity into French Polynesia.
• Junior Achievement Tonga have launched programmes to show primary and secondary students how free enterprise works via students forming companies, buying stock, marketing products, selling the products, and at the end of the programme liquidate the firm.

• Mr. Simi Tekiteki has been appointed Supervisor of Elections
• Mr. Motuliki Kailahi (local tennis ace) is training in Fiji and will participate in tournaments in Australia in April.

Lecturer II/Lecturer I in early childhood education, USP Fiji, F$23,930-F$34,002 pa
Accountants x 2, Ministry of Finance, $6,348 - $9,570 pa
Deputy Labour Officer, MLCI, $15,000 pa
Deputy Secretary (Vava'u Branch), MLCI, $15,000 pa
Principal Auditor, Audit Department, $11,120 - $13,262 pa
Senior Computer Programmer, Ministry of Finance, $9,212 - $11,324
Teacher, OTA Centre, TBD
Office Administrator, Tonga Chamber of Commerce and Industry, TBD

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