The criminal conviction and imprisonment of ‘Etuate and Akosita Lavulavu has open so many doors of significant revelation to human nature, at least to Tongan human nature. Here is the biggest corruption case in Tonga’s recent history, yet Prime Minister Rev. Dr. Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa leads the rally defending the criminal couple, even questioning the decision of the Court. Instead of coming out in support of the Supreme Court’s decision in convicting the couple, he went public ignoring the Courts decision and issued statements to the effect that “we have to wait until the end of the appeal process.” He was…
Author: Kalafi Moala
In a stinging letter from Prime Minister Rev. Dr. Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa threatening to terminate the appointment of TPL Board Director John Paul Chapman, he accused him “for incompetence, neglect of duty, misconduct, or failing to assist the public enterprise to act in accordance with the principal objective.” “To date, you have missed four TPL Board meetings and that you have indicated your willingness to voluntarily resign provided that you be paid the full director fee to the end of your appointment,” the Prime Minister, who is also the Minister of Public Enterprises, wrote. He gave Chapman 14 days upon receipt…
The Chairman of the PAK party, and Prime Minister of Tonga, Rev. Dr. Pohiva Tu’ionetoa has something in common with China’s legendary Chairman Mao Zedong. Both men have been rooted in a similar vision, that of the ideologies and structure of China’s Communist Party. Chairman Tu’i’onetoa revealed in a speech at the 100th anniversary of China’s Communist Party in Nuku’alofa that leaders of PAK got their inspiration in forming their party from the Chinese Communists. He said that he himself got his inspiration for PAK from the Chinese Communist Party, and PAK “learns a lot from the Communist Party’s oriented…
The four leaders whose dirty laundry are being washed in public are reacting every which way, not only to try and justify or cover up their evil deeds, but are choosing to strike out at every possible target of grievance. The huge tarnishing from the ‘Etuate and Akosita Lavulavu fraud case has not only brought Prime Minister Rev. Dr. Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa into full battle array against his (and Lavulavu’s) critics, but also has spoken out in defense of one of his cronies, Dr. ‘Aisake Eke, who was a high profile witness for the Lavulavus. Dr. ‘Aisake Eke has chosen to…
Tonga’s Prime Minister Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa in a public statement suggested he is unhappy with the guilty verdict pronouncement by the Supreme Court on his close friends ‘Etuate and Akosita Lavulavu, for three counts of fraud. In a speech given in Tongan, he announced there will be an appeal, and said that any judgments made on his friends are simply judgments made by imperfect humans. He urged the public not to judge until the judiciary process of appeal is completed. The Prime Minister, Rev. Dr. Tu’i’onetoa, who is also a Minister of Religion went on to quote scripture and stated emphatically…
In the morning of Friday 9th of July, Chief Justice Whitten denied the application for bail by Cabinet Minister Akosita Lavulavu and her husband ‘Etuate, a former Minister. The criminally convicted couple were led from the Supreme Court in Nuku’alofa, to pick up their prison belongings at the Nuku’alofa jail, and by afternoon were driven to Hu’atolitoli Prison where they will spend the next five years for Akosita, and six years for ‘Etuate. Both were sentenced on July 2nd to six years imprisonment with Akosita getting the last 12 months suspended. On June 4th the Lavulavu’s were convicted of three…
Saimone K. Vuki It is with a heavy heart that I write this article. In fact, I am lodging a formal complaint as a Tongan citizen with great concern about the issue of uncensored online adult contents that our young children have access to so readily on a daily basis. I urge the Minister responsible for Communication and his Communication Commission to have an urgent and serious look at this serious matter. Modern technology via mobile and computer devices are the tools of communication of this generation. It becomes our “daily newspaper” as well as our “real-time radio and TV…
Maliu Mafi As Tonga’s private sector struggles to cope with COVID-19’s first 12 months, the importance for the private sector to have a united voice is imperative. Since Government holds the purse for our economic recovery, only a united private sector will be able to facilitate a faster and more efficient recovery by providing Government with factual recommendations that are grounded in their experience before and during COVID-19. The only private sector organization that has the facility to provide this for the private sector is the Tonga Chamber of Commerce & Industry Incorporated or TCCI. TCCI has been in existence…
‘Ofa Guttenbeil Likiliki. So the question on everyone’s mind is whether we are making the right decision to open up our border and receive repatriation flights….. My issue (and I guess MY ANSWER) is based on recent events that show our level of ‘security’ and following the ‘rule of law’) 1. One day, under Police custody, a man asked to go to a funeral (his father went to the station and also asked the Police officer in charge at the station if he could take his son with him to the funeral and he would return him immediately) the Police…
Stephen Dimmock and William C. Gerken One bad apple, the saying goes, can ruin the bunch. So, too, with employees. Our research on the contagiousness of employee fraud tells us that even your most honest employees become more likely to commit misconduct if they work alongside a dishonest individual. And while it would be nice to think that the honest employees would prompt the dishonest employees to better choices, that’s rarely the case. Among co-workers, it appears easier to learn bad behavior than good. For managers, it is important to realize that the costs of a problematic employee go beyond…