Wesleyan Church Tonga - CathNews New Zealand

Student violence in Tonga - closing boarding schools an option

admin — Mon, 29 Jul 2013 19:30:32 +0000

The escalation in student violence is a major crisis for the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga, its General Secretary Rev Dr Tevita Havea says, and he is suggesting that closing the rival boarding schools of ‘Atele and Toloa for ten years might be a way forward for the schools and the country.

He was commenting on last week's student attack on a house at Tofoa that has left a 22 year old man in a coma and a 15 year old with serious injuries, and 147 students, ex-students and a teacher charged with offences.

"We consider it as a major crisis for the church and also the schools and for the country," he said. "We have now activated various school activities to see what can be done … to deal with violence in the schools".

Police Commissioner Grant O'Fee said the attack was a riot and he compared the students' behaviour to serious gangs in New Zealand.

"Very severe criminal damage. Everything in the house smashed, every single thing that could be smashed was smashed," he said.

Fr. ‘Aisake Vaisima, the president of the Tonga Secondary School Principals' Association says the TSSPA has decided that finals for the secondary schools' rugby tournament 2013 will continue with only "parents and guardians of students in the teams" allowed to attend. He said this decision, "was confirmed by the Ministry of Education and the Directors of Schools Systems".

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Student violence in Tonga - closing boarding schools an option

8 Pastors in Tonga accused of misappropriating money

admin — Mon, 27 May 2013 19:30:55 +0000

The Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga has alleged that 8 of its pastors have been misappropriating money.

As a result of an investigation by the church's general auditor it is alleged that approximately $342,000 in church funds have been misappropriated.

One pastor from Eu'a, one from Vava'u and the others from Nuku'alofa remain with their parishes but on suspended duties. None of the ministers has accepted the allegations.

The Church's Director, Reverend Dr Mohenoa Puloka, told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat program that as a result, none of its ministers will now be allowed to be involved in dealing with church money, but he agrees the damage has already been done.

"It will cause a lot of people to question the fitness and reliability of the clergy," he said.

"It is bad publicity for the church."

Puloka says despite "firm evidence" of their actions, the ministers involved say the discrepancy resulted from a computing error.

He says with at least one case dating back to 2005, it is so disappointing.

"Part of my reason for doing this now, is that part of it is that it's my moral responsibility. Also to acknowledge the fact that we have to respect the people. It's their money that were entrusted to these clergy and they were not doing a good job on that so we have to do that. Over all our years this is a big shakeup in the church."

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8 Pastors in Tonga accused of misappropriating money