TUVALU-NEWS.TV

The new Ambassador of the Republic of China on Taiwan to Tuvalu His Excellency Dr. Daniel T.C Liao, is in the country replacing the former Ambassador Dr. Feng Tai who left Tuvalu in September this year.

Prime Minister of Tuvalu Hon Apisai Ielemia and his delegation has returned to the country yesterday after attending the Pacific Leaders’ Forum meeting held in Nadi, Fiji last week.

The Lima Malosi Association that is made up of young men and women of Vaitupu island Community on the capital celebrated the association’s 21st Anniversary on Wednesday the 25th of this month.

The Ministry of Education has now implemented its new disciplinary policy for Motufoua High School.

Women of Funafuti organized a special feast on Thursday morning in honor of the Island Pastor who went to Funafala islet on Wednesday morning.

The Leaders at the 37th Pacific Leaders’ Forum continued with the Forum formal session at 9 o’clock on Wednesday morning.

Work on the new Power house is reported to be progressing well.

In an interview with the General Manager of the Tuvalu Electricity Corporation - Mr Mafalu Lotolua, he stated that the work is now in its final phase.

The dismissal of the Head of the Kaupule together with his deputy, and the resignation of 4 of his Kaupule members on the island of Niutao led to a bye-election that was carried out on Thursday last week.

It’s that time of the year again when students in every school get themselves ready for final examinations of the year. It is when hard work throughout the year is put to the test and for those sitting external exams, these examinations will determine whether they will return next year or whether they get scholarship awards for next year.

The involvement of men in family planning is the main purpose for the Tuvalu Family Health Association TuFHA coordinator’s trip to the central islands this week.

Phase three of the Pacific Islands Project PIP which is also known as the Provision of a range of Tertiary and Health Services to Pacific Island Countries, has just being carried out in Tuvalu in the last week.

34 years ago, on the morning of October 21, 1972 the island of Funafuti was wiped clean except a few concrete houses by Hurricane Bebe that occurred the night before. Very strong winds of 180knots per hour swept through the island pulling off corrugated iron sheets of roofs of many of the houses. Trees were uprooted and practically very dangerous for the islanders, their children and the elderly alike.

They also lost almost everything in their own homes and throughout the night, the able remained standing for hours to hold up tarpaulins to keep elderly and young children of the families dry. There were three deaths after the Hurricane had passed including a baby and two men.

Several families were hunched up together in the few make shift shelters people managed to make as the night rolled through. The Funafuti store had all packaged goods ruined and islanders started taking foodstuff they could carry for their families. This kept them for the following days/weeks as food crops were ruined in the hurricane.

On the same morning 34 years later Funafuti islanders woke up to celebrating festivities in commemorating that dreadful day many years ago. They were happy and looked forward to feasting and dancing with fellow islanders throughout the day.

Traditional dancing were practiced in two separate teams a few weeks back and after a big lunch they set about showing what they worked hard for in the last weeks. The fatele was wonderful to hear and the dancers were so graceful.

On Sunday a special service was conducted at Fetu Ao Lima chapel and survivors of the hurricane were given a chance to reflect back on what happened 34 years ago and tell of their experiences.

Next year when they celebrate 35 years of surviving the Hurricane Bebe, the islanders will surely put up better and more exciting celebrations to mark the day.

Today the island is gathered again at the Tausoa Lima Falekaupule to farewell their island pastor Reverend Fuiono Pita and his family who will leave the island pastor’s premises on the 25th of this month.

More feasting will be had this afternoon and the two teams will also present an alofa (traditional way of giving gifts) each to the pastor and family. Tonight there will also be traditional dancing at the Tausoa Lima Falekaupule.

Tuvalu’s people’s lawyer Stephen Barlow has left the country for good on yesterday’s flight.

Staff of the law offices held a farewell party for Mr. Barlow last Friday night at Mr. Barlow’s residence where each staff took along a plate of food for the party.

Reports say Acting Attorney General Ese Apinelu relayed the government’s words of thanks to Mr Barlow for his service to the government and the people of Tuvalu whilst in office as People’s Lawyer.

Tuvalu news learnt that a request was put to Mr. Barlow through a speech if he can make arrangements for his replacement to come to Tuvalu as soon as possible as his service is greatly needed.

Reports also said that Mr. Barlow said in his speech he is going to miss Tuvalu very much. He said that although Tuvalu is small and there isn’t that much work, he learnt a lot in the period that he was here for.

Mr. Barlow arrived in the country towards the end of 2004 so his 2 year contract will end at the end of this year.

Tuvaluans needing a lawyer from overseas in future may no longer need to pay for such legal fees.

In the last high court session of Tuvalu held from the 9th ? 13th October, the government hired a lawyer from an overseas law firm to represent three members of the government who had election petitions filed against them in the High Court of Tuvalu.

Kafoa Muaror from Muaror & Co. law firm in Fiji represented Honorable Apisai Ielemia for one case and Sir Toomu Sione with Hon Tavau Teii in another case, and he told Tuvalu news that it was “a privilege and honour for him to represent the government of Tuvalu and he will continue to offer the professional services of his firm whenever this is sought by the Government of the day”

Tuvalu news also found out that the government, under the Attorney General’s office yearly budget, paid for Mr Muaror’s allowance of $F6500 for the 4 days that he was here for, plus his return airfare from Fiji. His accommodation was free of charge at the Filamona Lodge, but he paid for his meals out of his own pocket.

According to the Acting Attorney General Ese Apinelu, this is not the first time for such a thing to happen, and the request was made by the concerned ministers because the free legal service that they are entitled to at the People’s Lawyer Office is already being used by the plaintiffs and the Attorney General’s office is also already short staffed.

This understanding, Ms Apinelu said will apply to any Tuvaluan who may need legal representation in the High Court in Tuvalu but where the existing legal circumstances of the legal profession in the country would warrant the engagement of the services of a foreign based lawyer.

The Non-Governmental Organisation Tuvalu Overview has been very generous to fund a new website for Tuvalu Media Corporation namely Tuvalu-news.tv.

Chairman of Tuvalu Overview Shuuichi Endou negotiated and designed the website upon a request from Tuvalu Media for a site on the Internet for Tuvaluans in and outside Tuvalu to access and read about current affairs in the country.

In June this year the website was launched but due to the Corporation’s financial crisis, it has not been up to date with news.

To solve the financial problem Tuvalu Overview once again has helped by buying a month’s internet fee at the Hapai Internet café for Tuvalu Media to ensure consistent news updates for the website.

General Manager of the Tuvalu Media Melali Taape would like to thank Tuvalu Overview for its invaluable assistance to the Corporation especially at its time of need.

The website will be updating readers with current news in the government and the country as a whole.

Two Tuvaluan students studying at the University of the South Pacific in Suva, Fiji were unfortunate to have their quarters caught in fire in a fire accident last Sunday night.

Tuvalu news gathered that the fire burned down the entire five flats in which the students lived.

Tuvalu Embassy in Suva only learned of the incident on Monday morning and they found out that the students and their families then stayed with their neighbours in the Samabula area until the morning.

Tuvalu news found out that the Embassy was still trying to establish details of the accident from the two students and also see what their needs are in regards to their well being and their studies. Tuvalu High Commissioner to Fiji Seve Paeniu in response to the Secretary to Government’s queries had said that the students would now need a more permanent accommodation and clothes.

Paeniu had also said that he is now in the process of ascertaining all information on the incident and report to the government at the earliest.

Tuvalu’s delegation to the 37th Forum Meeting to be held in Nadi, Fiji is leaving this week.

The delegation will include Prime Minister Apisai Ielemia, his spouse Sikinala Ielemia, Secretary to Government Panapasi Nelesone, and Assistant Secretary of Foreign Affairs Paani Laupepa.

The meeting will include a retreat on Monday October 23 for Leaders only where they will discuss issues that are to be raised in the Meeting. Tuvalu news received information that the whole Forum proceedings will take the whole week from Monday to Saturday next week.

Secretary to Government Panapasi Nelesone told Tuvalu news a lot of issues, confirmed by officials in their pre-Forum meeting recently, and where Mr Nelesone attended, will be raised by Tuvalu’s Prime Minister during the meeting.

In the high court of Tuvalu last week, Gordon Ward, Chief Justice listened to more than 10 cases brought before him which involved the Prime Minister a Cabinet member and a backbencher.

Matanle Iosefa, a candidate from Vaitupu constituency in the last general election August 2006, made an election petition against Apisai Ielemia, now Prime Minister for corrupt and illegal practices in the period leading up to the election.

The petition was originally brought on two grounds;

1. That the respondent engaged in corrupt or illegal practices and his election is therefore invalid pursuant to section41(1) of the Elevtoral Provisions (Parliament) Act; and?2. In the alternative, that the respondant engaged in corrupt or illegal practices such that it may be responably supposed to have affected the result and his election is therefore void pursuant to section 41(2) of the Electoral Provision (Parliament) Act.

He sought an order that Ielemia’s election be declared invalid and a bye-election declared for his seat.

Chief Justice dismissed the petition on Friday 13th October on the basis that “the evidence falls far short of satisfying the burden placed on the petitioner to prove on a balance of probabilities any corrupt practice by the respondent” (Ielemia).

Yesterday morning CJ also declared the verdict for the case of two current members to Parliament from Niutao.

He also dismissed the petition filed by one of the candidates of Niutao in the August 2006 general election. In his judgment CJ stated that on the evidence adduced before him, “although he was satisfied that the 2 MPs had “planned” the meeting at the Niutao Falekaupule only a week prior to the General Election, it was nevertheless an election where the acts of campaign of this nature were expected and common…it was there not defamatory and it did not prevent a free and fair election”.

Other cases included one against the Kaupule of Niutao and Vaguna Satupa for wrongful dismissal and assault. CJ in his decision held in favour of the plaintiff (Seta Manase) and he has also ordered lawyers from both sides to file submissions on what would be the appropriate sum for cases of this nature.

The rest of the cases were lands appeal court and there was also one that CJ ordered the Tuvalu National Provident Fund to release funds to pay out the maintenance fee for the plaintiff in this particular case.

Chief Justice Gordon Ward will leave the country this week.

copyright Iakopo Moloti

The Governer General of Tuvalu H E Rev. Filoimea Telito paid his official visit to all islands of Tuvalu last month.??In this state visit he started off at Nukulaelae during the opening of the Ekalesia Kelisiano Tuvalu’s annual general meeting.

From there he went to the northern islands starting at Nanumea then Nanumaga and Niutao. Afterward he traveled on to the central islands Nui Vaitupu and Nukufetau. At Vaitupu visited Motufoua Secondary school.

Niulakita was his last stop before visiting Funafuti In most of the islands he and his wife were carried by islanders in canoes from the shore to the islands’ Falekaupule.

They, together with their delegation were also taken on guided tours around all famous spots on all the islands.?On Funafuti he visited the two primary schools, Fetuvalu High School, USP extention centre, hospital, town council and the Funafuti community at Tausoalima Falekaupule (meeting hall).

During this visit also, he presented medals for Tuvaluans from her majesty Queen Elizabeth? ??On tuesday night October 10th, 2006, there was a dhinner hosted by HE and Madame Pepapeti Telito to mark the end of his state visit and also to acknowledge the assistance of his delegation in the entirly of the visit.

The aircraft Convair was unable to fulfil its scheduled flight to Funafuti yesterday due to mechanical problems.

Reports from the travel office say that the aircraft will not be coming today either but will do as soon as problems are fixed.

Tuvalu news gathered that more than twenty passengers were booked to fly out on this flight

In one of the cases heard last week in the High Court was an election petition brought up by one of the Vaitupu candidates ? Mr Mantanle Iosefa against Apisai Ielemia.

The petition sought an order that the election of the respondent Apisai Ielemia as a member of Parliament for Vaitupu be declared invalid and a bye-election declared for the seat.

In his judgement the Chief Justice dismissed the petition and in accordance with the requirements of section 58 (3) of the Electoral Provisions (Parliament Act), certified to the Speaker that the respondent ? Apisai Ielemia was validly elected as a member of Parliament for Vaitupu and his election is confirmed.

Three cases were raised during the first day of the High Court Session on Monday 9th October 2006.

They include two lands appeal cases and a civil claim brought by the Tuvalu National Provident Fund.

According to reports from the office of the People’s lawyer ? the first lands appeal panel case which is against the decision made by the Senior Magistrate’s Court.

The Chief Justice reserved his decision in this case for tomorrow - Friday 13th October 2006 at 9 oclock.

The second lands appeal case, which parties have elected to try and settle the matter outside of court, and should attempts to settle fail within 2 months time, the case will be preceded, to court in the next High Court Session early next year.

The third case on Monday afternoon which was a claim brought by TNPF against a private company for unpaid contributions which have accumulated over the years.

Report states that the High Court has ordered that TNPF be ready to file an updated statement of claim within 3 months and for the case to be ready for hearing at the next session.

The court session continues on Tuesday morning with two cases.

The second day of the high court session commenced at 9 oclock in the morning of Tuesday this week with two cases.

The first case in the morning was a civil claim against the Kaupule of Niutao for wrongful dismissal from office and assault.

The case proceeded to trial in the absence of one of the parties from the other side, and the Chief Justice has also reserved his decision in this case for Monday 16th October 2006 at 9 in the morning.

The second case of the day which is an election petition brought by one of Vaitupu candidates against the Prime Minister.

The Chief Justice also reserved his decision for tomorrow Friday 13th October 2006 at 3 in the afternoon.

The court session continues on Wednesday and today, whereas to commence at 9 oclock tomorrow morning for decisions of all cases that were reserved for tomorrow.

A ten member Eco-Tourism Team from Japan are presently in the country for a couple of days ? to study the culture, and also the issue of sea level rises.

The team is led by the Chairman of the Tuvalu Overview Organisation in Japan ? Mr Shuichi Endou.

Mr Shuichi told Tuvalu news, this is a new team to visit Tuvalu, and the 7th time of such Eco-Tourism group to visit Tuvalu.

This afternoon the team held a short workshop at the handicraft in learning how to make local handicraft.

The team arrived on Monday this week and will depart the country on tomorrow ? Thursday 12th October 2006.