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A collection of news-briefs from The Tonga Chronicle, 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 Tonga Media pages
Stranded Helicopters repossessed
The two helicopters previously gathering rust at Fua'amotu International Airport have been airlifted out of the country against the wishes of the owner Dr. Wong. In a dispute with threats against the repossers and against the Department of Civil Aviation, the Helicopters were airfreighted out of the country. A representative from the Palace Office has blamed the Department of Civil Aviation for the false removal of the helicopters which Dr. Wong has insinuated will be pursued through legal channels.
Electric Powerboard to Outsource Power Production
In an interesting move, the Electric Powerboard has signed a memorandum of agreement with a newly formed company Shore Line for the purchase of electricity production onto the Power Boards' grid. Shore Line is to install its own generators from which the Electric Power Board will purchase 'electricity' for distribution through the Power Boards' power lines. Soane Kautai has stated that the agreement between the two bodies have been made and shared operations should begin early 1998.
According to Soane Kautai, the Electric Power Board's existing generator in Popua will be stopped and possibly sold once the Shore Line operations are online. The expectations are that the private organisation can acquire the diesel for operations cheaper than currently available to the government. The cheaper operational costs are expected to be reflected in cheaper prices to consumers.
Shore Line is a Tonga company who is supposed to be lead by the Crown Prince, who is also the Chairman of the Electric Power Board.
Convicted Killer sentenced to life imprisonment
Tulavoni Fungavaka of Ngele'ia, convicted of the murder of Anthony Strand Holani in January (ref: Jan 16, Mar 6) , has been sentenced by the High Court Judge to life imprisonment. Naeata Tapu of Haveluloto, also charged with the offence, was released as not having a case to answer.
Although the accussed continued to plead innocence the Court sided with the evidence presented by the government.
Students reprimanded and ordered to community service
Seven students from 'Atele college were reprimanded by Police Magistrate Samiu Palu to 90 hours community service after evidence and complaints regarding the stoning of a bus transporting Lavengamalie College students on the night of July 4th. The incident was found to be pre-meditated, and although intentioned for Tupou College students was sufficiently against the law to draw the reprimand from the magistrate.
Success at the Mini Games
Siulolo Liku has added to her athletic success with three gold medals and a silver medal at the South Pacific Mini Games held in Pago Pago, American Samoa. Siulolo won the gold medals in the 100m, puna sitepu, long jump and a silver medal in the 100m hurdles. Siulolo trains out of Australia. Other Tongan athletes with medal successes include 'Aisea Tukutau (gold in the pole vault), Koli Makahili (gold in the power lifting 110 kg class). Tonga came away with 5 gold medals, 8 silver and 10 bronze.
The Games medal tally were lead by Naulu 33/15/14 and second were Fiji with 32/31/28.
Graduation Excitement
A joint graduation ceremony of the Fokololo e Hau Technical College, Teacher's Training College, and Community Development and Training Centre awarded three Ship Master certification, 64 diplomas and 65 certificates of attainment on August 22nd at the Memorial Hall.
Liahona High School Celebrates 50 years
Liahona ex-students, friends and college celebrated this month 50 years of partnership with Tonga with ex-students travelling long distances to be in Tonga for the event. During the festivities commemorating the struggles and successes of the school, ex-students from all over the world gathered to share their personal triumphs, encouraging the young and making a statement of success that coincided well with Time Magazine's articles on the Latter Day Saints business success.
The above photograph shows ex-students at Honolulu International Airport repacking their wares to maximise effective use of luggage allowance. As is common with many Tonga events, much of the wares available and used during the festivities are provided through the generosity of expatriates gifting their services, and goods to Tonga.
Taimi 'o Tonga published a separate special magazine to coincide with the festivities which included stalls for other institutions to present at Liahona College.
Agricultural Show
The annual agricultural show was completed this Saturday with the holding of the Tongatapu Agricultural show at 'Atele College.
The most telling/reflective photo of the atmosphere generated in Tonga by the agriculture show is this photograph of a roadside display travelling to the show proper. Townspeople who did not formally present at the show, nonetheless enjoyed festivities with adhoc displays of their own lining the major roads towards the show.
Agricultural authorities at the show were pleased with the results of the years crops which can easily be noticed when taking a look at some of the harvest on display at the show, let alone the displays on the roadside mentioned earlier.
But of course, in a small population (relatively speaking), the agricultural show is an opportunity for everyone to display what they have achieved or wish to achieve. The ladies groups from town districts were represented with the fruits of their labours, just as the men were there to show the fruits of the land at their hands.
Not at all a part of their professional jobs, the women from the
Prime Ministers Office had a stall showing their colourful,
off-duty, handi work of Kiekies and necklaces made from a range
of materials. Meanwhile ladies from Masilamea and a number of
other towns showed their handi work with colourful tapa and mats
necessary for other functions, needs of the household.
Tragic road accident claims four
The fatal accident at around 2 am Tuesday morning raises the number of road fatalities in Tonga to 15 this year. Tonga's highest road fatality for a calendar year has been 17 in 1995 when at the same time, August, deaths had only been 8.
The fatal accident occurred on Taufa'ahau Road towards the Sports Centre in 'Atele immediately claiming three lives, and a fourth later at Vaiola Hospital as a result of injuries from the collision. Police reports indicate a passenger car with two passengers travelling from the east met with a Taxi van travelling from the west carrying six passengers. The two drivers and a passenger in the motorcar died immediately from the impact, while the second motorcar passenger died at the hospital.
Six people are currently hospitalised with one person in a critical situation. Palenapa Mafi of Pea was the driver of the Taxi, Sitapa Langi of Holonga was the driver of the motorcar, Laima Misinale (female) passenger in the motorcar were the fatalities at the site of the accident. Motuliki Kailahi of Holonga and former national tennis representative died later at Vaiola Hospital.
Police have again warned the general public that these dreadful accidents, deaths on Tonga roads, are being caused primarily by speeding, driver while intoxicated or under the influence of substances, driving without a drivers license and a lack of care while driving.
Big Insurance Payout
Russell McManus of MMI Insurance handed over a cheque for TOP$384,272 to the Minister for Law and the Attorney General who is chair of TASA, the insurance claim against damages to the Teufaiva Grand Stand damaged during Cyclone Hina. Reports indicate the Tonga Amateur Sports Association (TASA), who manage the grounds, has not yet determined a course of action with regards to the grand stand.
Separately funded plans are in progress for extending the facilities offered at the sports ground, but it has not yet been finalised whether the insurance payout will go towards 'fixing' the grandstand damage or the construction of a new facility.
A3M TV7 to expand
Oceania Broadcasting Network's principal financier and owner Mr. Christopher Racine visited Tonga recently and hopes to expand the local operations of its A3M TV7 television broadcast station. Propositions which Mr. Racine emphasises is at no cost to the government or people of Tonga, include immediate plans to double the height of the existing antennae to increase broadcast clearance/clarity. Mr. Racine has arrived with new digital video cameras and new editing facilities to improve local production capabilities while progressing towards the local operations of a mobile broadcast van for live broadcasts.
Mr. Racine hopes to license a second broadcast band from the government for the exclusive broadcast of news programming, such as CNN and BBC. This will require additional equipment to be brought and installed such as additional satellite recievers and transmitters. The second channel is to be augmented with increased broadcast times for both channels and the hope for broadcasts in the Ha'apai Group and Vava'u Group.
A3M TV7 is managed locally by Mr. Ray Wick, who has been the Managing Director since the inception of the broadcast station in 1991.
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