WORDS FROM THE WEBMASTER & THE THSESWS NEWSLETTER EDITOR:

Welcome to the THSESWS monthly newsletter for the month of March 2001. As you all know, the association between the THSESWS and InsideTheWeb.com has finally come to an end on March, 9. As a result, we had to shift our forum somewhere else. Some of our ex-students have helped out financially and the THSESWS would like to thank you for your support.

It is our pleasure to introduce Mr Quach who is married to one of our ex-students. Mr Quach has kindly given us the domain name "www.tongahighschool.com". The THSESWS wanted its own domain name for a long time but money was always an issue.

The THSESWS has also asked you all to pay a subscription fee of $2.50 per month to help with the operational costs of the site. At first, the THSESWS hesitated to charge its visitors but the overwhelming support for "pay for service" has prompted the THSESWS to go ahead with this idea.

We would like to make our forum a one in which visitors will come in and discuss issues, share ideas and create a positive learning environment for everyone.

The long awaited copy of the first edition of the "Tefua 'A Vaka Lautala" is now online, thanks to Tevita Disney Tapa of the Sydney Chapter. The link for this newsletter is published below under the section "News from THSESA".

Faka'apa'apa atu
Loseli M Hafoka & 'Amelia Piutau

NEWS FROM THE AUCKLAND CHAPTER:

The NZ THS ex-students Association Executive committee had their first meeting for the year 2001 on Monday 12 February at the Pacific Health Department Conference room at 7pm.

It was confirmed that the NZ chapter will be having their THS Anniversary service on Saturday 2nd June 2001 at 10am in Auckland. Please diary that now. The venue and exact details for the days programme is still being put together by the committee and ex-students will be informed as soon as that is ready.

If any year does so wish to take part in the fakavaha'a lesoni, please feel free to let one of the committee know, you are more than welcome even if its only to sing our beloved "morning-la'isima-assembly-in-the-scorching-sun anthem"... "fiki ta'efua" (hehe). That reminds me of the so many pongia lois during assembly back then... anything to get out of the sun!!,... and to have the cute female prefects fussing over you in the cool shade and privacy of the prefects room!!...aahhhhhh that was the life, fainting and going to heaven... or at least fainting & going to the prefects room - hehe :-) If that sounds like you... then, you sure did deserve your pass with flying colors in the sivi hu 'ae lautohi pule'anga to THS!! The THS mind at work - hehe. Those were the days. If fiki ta'efua does not sound familiar, then perhaps you are indeed much older than me - hehe.

The Association thanks ex-students and others whom are still sending forth their donations with regards to our fund raising efforts last November. We thank the Ex-students of Penrose SDA (Lopasi, Inoke etc. sorry I don't have all your names) whom have forward a donation, thank you so much.

To the NZ THS ex-students of the year 1985-1990 - please contact Lavoni Matoto ASAP (Phone: (09)580-0664). You have a BBQ coming up soon, plus other fatongias that other members of your year would love to have a warm fuzzy heart to heart (or head on shoulder) chat about (eg. fakavaha'a lesoni on the school day service Sat June 2nd; and preparations for the combined THS anniversary in NZ / Auckland in the year 2002.

The NZ association has a monthly newsletter that will be coming out soon. If you do have anything to share with other ex-students, notices, photos etc. please forward them to one of the committee members to be included. We are at PO Box is 109093, New Market, Auckland, NZ. Or you can catch me on 025-2870937 - 24 hours a day at your service like a Shell petrol station :-) ... was going to say "gas" station... but changed my mind na'a mou lau mai ai kia au.

It is perhaps important to start thinking of the combined anniversary weekend for (USA, NZ, Australia, Tonga etc.) THS to be held in Auckland NZ in the year 2002 (Likely in June aipe). To all THS ex-students where ever you are... this will be best THS Anniversary Commemoration ever to date!!.... the committee here is working on putting together a spectacular programme for you all to enjoy. Whether mountain climbing, horse back riding, or just respectably catching up with your class mates is your passion... you won't be disappointed!!! :-) So please start thinking about this special event now, diary it in, Australia was excellent last time... but we have confidence we can better that experience for you :-)

Faka'apa'apa atu
Etuate Saafi (Secretary)

NEWS FROM THE MELBOURNE CHAPTER:

Our chapter is proud to announce that Siosifa 'Alani Pomana of Vaini has successfully graduated from Monash University with a double degree(Bachelor of Arts & Bachelor of Science). Siosifa's achievement has been warmly welcomed by his parents(Malakai and Sela Pomana) and sisters (Seini & 'Atu). Siosifa is keen to keep on studying and he is continuing on with post graduate studies in Communication and Media.

Congratulations Siosifa and may God help you with your further studies.

Faka'apa'apa atu
Melbourne Chapter

NEWS FROM THSESA

Tefua 'A Vaka Lautala

The most awaited copy of the first edition of the newsletter written by the THSESA is now online. The THSESWS must thank Tevita Disney Tapa of the Sydney Chapter for preparing an electronic format for us to use. CLICK HERE to read the first edition.

NEWS FROM TONGA

Courtesy of Tonga Government Press Release

The following news excerpts were forwarded by Nakamura Ko (the true identity of this person is not known to the THSESWS but we must thank him/her dearly for his/her services)

TONGA TO HOST THE COUNCIL OF PACIFIC TOURISM MINISTER'S MEETING, 16TH MARCH 2001

Tonga will host this year's annual Meeting of the Council of Tourism Ministers Meeting on the 16th March 2001.

Organised by the South Pacific Tourism Organization (SPTO), the regional tourism organisation; Tonga was requested to host the meeting in the last SPTO convention. Thirteen (13) members Island States including Tonga is said to participate. As required by the SPTO Constitution, Meeting of Council of Tourism Ministers is held every 12 months. The last meeting was held in March in Western Samoa.

The meeting will consider matters of significant importance to tourism both for individual member countries and within the region. These include:

1. Progress reports on Tourism from member countries
2. Annual Reports and Business Plans 200- 2005
3. Working budget of SPTO
4. Amendments to Constitution
5. Finances

Prior to the Council of Minister's Meeting is a SPTO annual Board Meeting on the 14th and 15th of March 20001, which will discuss matters of common concern to all 13 member countries. These include the finances of Organisation, plans and strategies of member countries for developing and promoting tourism in the South Pacific, progress on the implementation of policies and strategies and review of work programs.

The Tonga Visitors Bureau will be responsible for organising these meetings locally. A working Committee has been created to work out details and providing the logistic support required for the smooth running of the meeting and comfortable stay of participants. This Committee consists of 5 members, including the Acting Director of Tourism as Chairman, Representative from the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Defense, Representatives of the Chief Secretary and Secretary to Cabinet from the Prime Minister's Office, Representative of the Secretary of Civil Aviation and Representative from the Police Commander.

The Venue has been set for Queen Salote Memorial Hall. Local preparation has also been made for provision of liaison officers to accompany Ministers of Tourism, provision of transportation, hosting functions also other related activities.

Tonga ceases this opportunity for other SPTO members to experience firsthand tourism in the kingdom also reinforce better dialogue between Tonga and her neibouring countries on common issues related to tourism development.

BEACH MINING TO BE RESTRICTED AND CLOSELY MONITORED

Last week His Majesty's Government approved the Restriction and Close Monitoring of Beach Mining in Tongatapu, and Outer Islands of the Kingdom, by the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Natural resources.

With Tongatapu's only source of Sand, for all purpose construction and major Civil Engineering activities, being from deteriorated beaches, increasingly quarry-dust is being used as an alternative to mining beach sand for making concrete.

Furthermore sand extraction from beaches are to be thoroughly revised and investigated, thus being regulated on a certain basis.

A recent pressure on sand mining has been the current work undergone to improve the town water supply in the Nuku'alofa area, where much sand has been extracted from beaches in the southeastern part of Tongatapu. These beaches have been decimated.

Government approved this decision as an attempt to relieve the pressures on beach sand mining.

NATIONAL MASS DRUG ADMINISTRATION (MDA) FOR FILARIASIS ELIMINATION PROGRAMME

Government last week noted the National MDA for Filariasis Programme, with its objective to halt the spread of infection and alleviate suffering associated with Filariasis.

In its endeavour to combat and eliminate diseases world wide, the Word Health Organisation in 1999 made a commitment to the eradication of Filiriasis globally by 2020, and in the Western Pacific region by 2010.

With the Ministry of Health in its final planning stages for the MDA Programme throughout the Kingdom, Sunday the 25th March 2001, has been chosen as the set date for the campaign, where the entire country is apt to participate.

Posters and Health education material are being mass-produced for distribution.

WORK IN PROGRESS FOR BUILDING OF PRIVATE HOSPITAL IN TONGA

Work is currently undergone at the Government Ministry of Health to establish Private Hospital. As part of the Ministry long term goal, establishment of Private Hospital was recommended giving the needs:

1. Delivery of the health (mainly clinical) services is very much pretend from a private hospital by a sufficient portion of our population.
2. Having a co-location private hospital shall be very beneficial to the better quality of the services within the existing base hospital.
3. It is projected that the delivery of impatient and outpatient health services at the base hospital would be better off without a user-pay format
4. Dishing out of free medication is not an efficient and effective foundation for improvements in the delivery of health services.

Assisting the Ministry is Professor Gaetano Frajese and others from Rome Italy, who visited Tonga last November seeking for the possibility of establishing private hospital in Tonga. Whilst in Tonga, Professor Gaetano takes into consideration relevant feasibility studies done by the Ministry in line with the private hospital objectives. Gaetano is working closely with the Religious Orders of the Vatican State.

HON. MINISTER OF FINANCE SIGNS LETTER OF EXCHANGE UNDER GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA'S ECONOMIC & TECHNICAL COOPERATION PROGRAMME

The Minister of Finance, Hon. Siosiua 'Utoikamanu, has signed a Letter of Exchange, with the 7-member Chinese delegation, led by Assistant Minister for Foreign Trade & Economic Cooperation Mr. He Xiaowei, on behalf of His Majesty’s Government.

The Letter of Exchange, in which the Government of the Peoples Republic of China granted His Majesty's Government 2 million Chinese Renminbi yuan (approximately TOP$400,000), comes under the Economic & Technical Cooperation Programme, where further possible avenues of trade and economic cooperation may be discussed.

The Minister of Finance signed the Agreement last week on the 23rd February 2001, where he emphasised that the grant be used for provision of general goods or implementations to be decided, through consultation, between the two Governments.

The Agreement between the Governments of the Peoples Republic of China and the Kingdom of Tonga was therefore confirmed.

The Chinese delegation remained in the Kingdom of Tonga from the 22nd-24th February 2001.

PACIFIC AREA REGIONAL TRADE AGREEMENT (PARTA) WORKING PARTY MEETING, NADI, FIJI

Official Representatives from the Government of the Kingdom of Tonga attended the Pacific Area Regional Trade Agreement (PARTA) Working Party Meeting, held last week on the 26th-27th February 2001.

Deputy Secretary for Industries, Mr. Maliepo Toma, as well as Acting Deputy Secretary for Finance and Acting Senior Trade Officer, participated in the Working Party Meeting to harmonize positions with regard to the concept of the Umbrella Agreement.

The Umbrella Agreement basic concept was believed to contain the Head Agreement who lay out necessary arrangement for a free trade area among the Forum Island Countries (FIC), Australia and New Zealand. Furthermore the meeting included discussions on Customs and Fiscal Issues.

The Meeting this year, hence the second round of negotiations for the Working Party, took place in Nadi, Fiji.

13TH ANNUAL CONSULTATION AND NEGOTIATION MEETINGS OF THE PACIFIC ISLAND PARTIES WITH THE USA, 20TH-29TH MARCH 2001 (2) SPECIAL SESSION OF FORUM FISHERIES COMMITTEE (FFC 46), 19TH MARCH 2001 APIA, SAMOA

His Majesty's Government has approved the attendance of the Secretary and Deputy Secretary for Fisheries at the 13th Consultation Meetings with the USA as well as the Special FFC 46 Meeting, to be held in Apia, Samoa from the 19th-29th March, 2001.

With previous experience in representing the Kingdom of Tonga at various conferences such as this, the Secretary and Deputy Secretary will proceed in normal discussion of the current US Tuna Treaty which will expire in the year 2003.

This is the 1st Negotiation between the Parties, to the Treaty on Fisheries, between a Government of certain Pacific Island States and the Government of the United States of America.

The Special FFC 46 meeting that proceeds, will then consider the FFA member countries bids, of which Tonga is a part of, to host the new Tuna Commission.

UPPER AIRSPACE MANAGEMENT MEETING, AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

Tonga Government Representative, Ministry of Civil Aviation Senior Airport Supervisor, Mr. Viliami Ma'ake, attended the Upper Airspace Management Meeting, held in Auckland, New Zealand, from the 20th-21st February 2001.

This Meeting was based on the proposal submitted by Tonga and Samoa, to the International Civil Aviation Organization, regarding the realignment of the Nadi Flight Information (FIR) boundaries so that they come under the Auckland FIR.

Mr. Ma'ake represented the Kingdom of Tonga in providing active participation, thus ensuring good representation of our interests.

MEETING IN SUVA, FIJI (FEBRUARY 23RD-25TH 2001) FOR OFFICIAL FROM TONGA AND SOPAC TO DISCUSS RESULT OF ASSESSMENT CARRIED OUT BY DAVID TAPPIN FOR TONGA'S CONTINENTAL SHELF

Ministry of Lands, Survey and Natural Resources; Acting Principal Geologist, Mr. Kelepi Mafi, was nominated to represent the Kingdom of Tonga in a Meeting, held in Suva, Fiji, to discuss results of the Assessment carried out by Dr. David Tappin of the British Geological Survey, for Tonga's Continental Shelf.

The Meeting took place from the 23rd-25th February 2001, where Dr. Tappin presented his findings in relation to geological data.

This enabled the Tongan Government to advise New Zealand on requirements regarding additional survey work as part of the New Zealand Continental Shelf Project. The participation of Acting Principal Geologist was thus deemed necessary.

The data was therefore ready for consideration and discussion at the meeting between the Consultant and Officials from SOPAC and Tonga, and completed at the SOPAC Secretariat in Suva, Fiji.

NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT FUND AIR TRANSPORT COURSE

Two senior officers from the Ministry of Civil Aviation; Mr. Sitafooti 'Aho, Assistant Director of Civil Aviation and Sione Faletau, Principal Civil Aviation Officer, attended the 2nd Massey Air Transport Course in New Zealand as from 12th- 16th of February 2001.

"This course provides an exposure for all participants from several pacific Island countries broad exposure to the Air Transport System as a whole and is directly modeled of the Oxford Air Transport Course", said Mr. Mapa Faletau, the new appointed Director of the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

The participation of the said candidates had been made possible by the assistance from the New Zealand Government through the New Zealand High Commission in Tonga.

CYCLONE PAULA SWEEPS AWAY RESORTS IN TONGATAPU,'EUA

Issued on the 8th March, 2001

More than T$500,000 damage to Nafanua Wharf and Hideaway Resort in 'Eua: Good Samaritan Inn and Beach Resort: Princess Resort in Fo'ui, both in Tongatapu; in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Paula last weekend.

A report from Vava'u stated that about 50% of the Vava'u kava plant were ruined by tropical cyclone. Almost all damages were caused by the strong current rather than winds and strong rains.

According to Mr. Semisi Tu'iniua, the Tonga Chronicle correspondent in 'Eua, total damages to property buildings at Nafanua Harbour and foreshore on the island are estimated at hundreds of thousands of pa'anga. The cyclone ripped off roof of the Nafanua passenger shed and damaged a near-by water tank. Large rocks used to ward off strong waves along the harbour were also washed ashore with some completely covering the berthing place. Most of the foreshore rocks foundation surrounding the old berthing places were uprooted and swept ashore.

Inter-island ferry boats between Tongatapu and 'Eua unable to berth at the wharf forcing the boats to anchor in the open sea and used small boats to ferry passengers and cargoes ashore on Tuesday. According to Sione Siakumi, 75, who reside near the wharf the damage was the worst ever he had seen.

Similar works received by Good Samaritan, which caused floors to be uprooted and swept away the kitchen, dining,lounge, and entertainment areas, an office and the bar. Three of 12 guest units were also swept away. According to 'Etueni Mo'ungaloa, the manager of Good Samaritan Inn, this the worst hurricane effect the resort experienced in 20 years and total cost amount to T$300,000.

At Fo'ui resort, a new building at the beach was totally damaged including the bar and dancing area. Other areas in Tongatapu escaped such destruction with only a few trees blown down. Five Fishing boats were damaged at Ha'afeva, Ha'apai from the raging sea.

Until next time, take care!

WEBMASTER 

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Copyright ©: 2001   Loseli Ma'ukie Hafoka.