Results for Tonga ferry sinking

At the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the MV Ashika the issue of due diligence was again highlighted in the evidence of the Chief Secretary and Secretary to Cabinet Busby Kautoke who adhered that Cabinet had no reason to believe that the vessel was unseaworthy. But he accepted that they took for granted that all Government processes of due diligence extending to that of the Procurement Committee would be followed.

The Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the Ashika was told today, that because of the urgency in the purchasing of a ferry, the initial FJ$90,000 dollars (an equivalent of TOP$88,250) was paid from a government fund specifically out of the Ministry of Finance vote; while the remaining FJ$510,000 was paid from a separate Government Fund that held, in part, payments from the People's Republic of China in a Special Account at the National Reserve Bank.

The Prime Minister Hon Dr Feleti Sevele is expected to give his evidence at the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the Princess Ashika on Monday, February 22.

The MV Princess Ashika costing FJ$600,000 was bought with funds given by the People's Republic of China to Government of Tonga, the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Ashika sinking was told on February 17.

The Shipping Corporation of Polynesia Managing Director John Jonesse was persistently questioned at the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the Ashika today where he denied submissions that he was dishonest and untruthful in his dealings with the Ashika vessel, which included his report that it was well maintained - when it was not.

The sincerity of Lord Dalgety's two weeks sick leave from the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Ashika sinking was questioned on February 10.

A Provisional Survey Certificate for the Princess Ashika prepared on July 3, 2009 was backdated to the day before, July 2, as directed by the Acting Director of Marine Viliami Tu'ipulotu to a Computer Operator at the Marine Division of the Ministry of Transport, the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Ashika was told on February 8.

Kalesita Taumoepeau, an Assistant Secretary at the Ministry of Transport who was a personal assistant to former Transport Minister Paul Karalus, asserted him as being very diligent, honest and hardworking in relation to his work.

Both Tonga's former Minister of Transport Paul Karalus and the Prime Minister Hon. Dr Feleti Sevele and other high ranking government officials are set to give evidence this month at the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the Ashika.