Ashika sea worthiness to be investigated, says PM [1]
Tuesday, August 11, 2009 - 17:00. Updated on Thursday, August 6, 2015 - 12:20.
The sea worthiness of the MV Princess Ashika, will be investigated by a Commission of Inquiry, Tonga's Prime Minister Hon. Dr Feleti Sevele said yesterday evening, July 10.
But he stressed that, "definitely there was a certificate of seaworthiness for the Princess Ashika" and that he had sighted it himself.
At a media conference the question was raised by journalists that the Ministry of Transport, the shipping company, the captain and "many people knew that the ferry was not seaworthy, and there were claims that there was a cover up about its sea worthiness at higher level."
"I had sighted the certificate," the Prime Minister insisted.
When it was put to the Prime Minister that "the captain did not think that the ferry was sea worthy," the Prime Minister replied defensively.
"If the Captain believed that the ship was not seaworthy, then he as the captain should not have allowed the ship to sail," said Dr Sevele.
"If I was a captain worth my salt, and if I knew that the vessel was not seaworthy, I would not sail it.
"The Ministry of Marine is responsible for the issuing of the certificate of sea worthiness and I have sighted such a certificate," emphasised the Dr Sevele.
Commission of inquiry
Earlier in the evening, the Prime Minister appeared on Television Tonga and announced that a bill would be presented to parliament on the afternoon of August 11 to amend the Maritime Act, making it possible for the establishment of an independent Commission of Inquiry into the Princess Ashika disaster.
However, the Prime Minister said in his television statement that there will be only one independent Commission of Inquiry, and that will be formed following the amendment of the Maritime Act. He said that the three-member commission could be established soon to start the investigation on all matters relating to the sinking of the Princess Ashika.
He also announced that the Privy Council had approved the establishment of a fund with the initial contribution of $500,000 to help the families of the victims, and already a contribution of $51,500 to the fund had been made by the Tonga China Friendship Society.
Investigator
On Saturday August 8 the Minister of Transport, Hon. Paul Karalus had announced that under the Maritime Act 1988, Clause 202, a Commission of Inquiry could be established and that an expert, Michael Eno, was arriving from New Zealand that evening to investigate the disaster.
"He will examine papers on the ship, cargo, how it was loaded, crew and passengers. He will also look at survey papers on the sea worthiness of the ferry."
"The ferry has only been in Tonga for a few weeks, so he will look at the history of the ferry, look at a report of a survey on the ship in dry dock, and the report of two New Zealand engineers who check the ferry in June before it came to Tonga.
"We want to find out the real truth about the boat and what happened to it. We should know the truth so that it will not happen again. It will take weeks for these investigations," he said.
In addition to this individual investigator, Paul said there was also assistance available from the Transport Investigation Commission of New Zealand, and personnel from this commission would arrive in Tonga on Tuesday, August 11.
People's Reps
Meanwhile, in a press conference on Monday morning, August 10, four People's Representatives, 'Akilisi Pohiva, 'Uliti Uata, 'Etuate Lavulavu and the 'Eua Representative Sunia Fili, announced their commitment to call for the Minister of Transport Hon. Paul Karalus and the CEO of the Ministry Transport 'Eleni Mone to step down, because of the many lives that were lost.
'Akilisi said the representatives were told by the Speaker to cancel their national Parliamentary tour and report back to Parliament. They came ready to lodge a motion to impeach the Minister of Transport. But when they arrived yesterday August 10 they were told that the House was not sitting, and they should come back on Tuesday.
Matangi Tonga contacted the Speaker Hon. Tu'ilakepa on Monday and he said he had already informed 'Akilisi on Sunday evening that there would be no session on Monday because there would be Cabinet and Privy Council meetings. He was surprised that the PRs said they were supposed to be at the House on Monday morning.