970501

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

Ha'apai's Development Committee have projects under way which includes raod-building, construction of wharves and jetties, upgrading of Pilolevu Airport, and plans for a new produce market. The Pilolevu Airport upgrade project is scheduled to begin in August together with the planned new produce market together at a cost of T$2.2 Million.

The first of the nine outer-island jetties is under construction at Matuku while others will be built at Ha'ano, 'O'ua, Mango, 'Uiha, Mo'unga'one, Lofanga, and Fonoifua to improve transportation. The jetties are being financed by an AusAID grant of T$360,000. Ha'afeva will receive a wharf at a cost of T$700,000 through a government loan from the Asian Development bank.

T$600,000 from AusAid will go towards; (a) reconstruction of the road from the Foa causeway to Faleloa nearing completion, (b) upgrading work of the road from the causeway to Niu'ui Hospital also nearing completion, and (c) Taufa'ahau Wharf to be tar-sealed.

187 water-storage tanks to supplement community supplies has been provided for Holopeka and Koulo, Ha'afeva, and Tungua. A further 100 tanks to be built in Pangai.

New Zealand's customs officers are investigating the potential lucrative black-market in Cigarettes due to New Zealand's high import taxes, and illegal smuggling potentially from Tonga. On March 28, a Tongan passenger was apprehended at Auckland airport smuggling undeclared cigarettes with a value of NZ$10,000. Customs officials believe these cigarettes were targetted for the Auckland Flea Markets.

Officials are concerned that much of the illicit trade in tobaccoes is coming from the Pacific Islands where travellers purchase more than their legal 'duty-free' limits and pass through customs without declaring the true content of their luggage. Tonga's cheaper duty-free prices are incentives for arbitrage as travellers pay T$11 for a carton of Winfield cigarettes at Tongatapu and fork out NZD$21 for the same duty-free carton in New Zealand. Walking into a NZ shop, travellers can exchange the T$11 carton for up to NZD$50, a tidy profit for both the traveler and the shopkeeper.

Concerns are raised by local importers that large quantities of duty-free tobacco is being sold to retailers.

Mr. 'Esau Namoa of Fo'ui/Kolomotu'a donated a return ticket for Ms Lu'isa Taumoepeau, 15, of Fanga to receive medical treatment in Sydney Australia for systematic lupus erythematosis, an ailment that causes anemia, affects the kidneys, and causes renal failure and hypertension. The daughter of Mr. 'Afu and Mrs. Sela Taumoepeau of Fanga will be treated at Prince of Wales Hospital, where received chemotherapy last year.

Ms. Gisela Tolli of Germany was faced with an unfortunate travel mishap where NZ customs offered her the destruction of her pet cat (so she can enter NZ) or be returned to Tonga. Ms. Tolli apparently requested customs clearance (notification) from the Tonga Customs department for her trip to Singapore. Unfortunately, it seems she neglected to make adequate emphasis or notice that she intended to stop-over in NZ for a day.

The Customs department contacted Singapore and provided Ms. Tolli with the required clearance papers, tests for clearance of her cat in Singapore. When she arrived in NZ without clearance papers for her cat into New Zealand, the customs department gave her the choice of destroying her cat or returning to Tonga to which she selected to return to Tonga.

The unfortunate traveler continued her travels later in the week.

The 28^th National Conference of the Bahai's of Tonga, held at the International Dateline Hotel, concluded Monday with the election of a National governing body. Chair: Ms. Meleseini 'Ahosivi, vice-president; Ms Kata Pulusi, secretary; Kalo Fakatou.

• Mr. 'Aisake Tukuafu of Nomuka, Ha'apai was flown by an emergency flight of the Pacific Island Seaplanes suffering appendicitis requiring an immediate operation. The emergency flight cost the family T$850.
• The US 8^th Engineering Battalion of the Light Infantry Division will construct a US$25,000 building (three-classroom) for the Tefisi Primary School. This will replace the wooden structure currently used by 123 pupils and six teachers.
• Saia Tu'itupou of Kolonga installed as Momotu and Fatani Takitaki of Kala'au was installed as Ma'afu Kala'au in a special meeting of the Ha'a Havea clan at Haveluloto on April 26.
• The Pongipongi to honour deceased Hon. Fielakepa blocked traffic for hours as friends and family came to pay their respect. The collected foodstuffs were distributed to nobles, guests, the Vaiola hospital and OTA centre.
• Mosimosi Koula Club won the men's accompanied choir competition during the 'Apifo'ou College 111^th anniversary competition on April 25. Hihifo ex-students won the men's accappella. Winning choirs won T$300 and second place received T$200 donated by the Ex-students committee as part of the fundraising event.
• National Ruggers scheduled to train in New Zealand from May 5^th in preparation for their tour of Namibia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. Tonga based players will meet up with NZ and Japan based players while in New Zealand.

• Regional Coordination Adviser, South Pacific Secretariat, FJ$60,150 pa
• Resources Adviser, South Pacific Secretariat, FJ$60,150 pa
• Computer Operator Gr II, Ministry of Works, T$4,505-5,793 pa
• Computer Operator Gr III, Ministry of Works, T$3,654-4,984 pa
• Grounds Manager, New Zealand High Commission.

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