The tragedy of the MV Princess Ashika sinking is that the causes of the disaster were all easily preventable and the 74 deaths were completely senseless, an inquiry into the sinking of the Tongan ferry on August 5 last year, has concluded.
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Thursday 1 April 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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Thursday 1 April 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Final Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika, 31 March 2010. Downloadable files.
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Wednesday 31 March 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The final report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Sinking of the MV Princess Ashika on August 5 was this morning presented to HM King George Tupou V at Consular House, and later at mid-day to the Chairman of the Whole House Committee of the Tongan Legislative Assembly, Noble Lasike.
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Tuesday 30 March 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The much-anticipated Final Report into the Sinking of the MV Princess Ashika will be presented to HM King George Tupou V on Wednesday, March 31 in Nuku'alofa.
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Monday 15 March 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The legal counsel to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the MV Princess Ashika made their final oral submissions on Friday evening, March 12 at the Fa'onelua Convention Centre.
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Wednesday 3 March 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
In recent weeks some correspondence passing between the former Attorney General and Minister of Justice and the Prime Minister has been published in the media here in Tonga. Some of the material published alleges that the Chief Justice either put "pressure" on someone to sign his contract or that he and the former Minister "colluded" to subvert the Constitution. These are serious allegations leveled at the Judiciary.
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Monday 1 March 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The former Minister of Transport, Paul Karalus, told the Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the Princess Ashika on Saturday, February 27, that he was deeply saddened and embarrassed with the discovery that his report to the King, Prime Minister and the Cabinet that the MV Ashika was in good condition was based on incorrect information.
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Friday 26 February 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Company Secretary of the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia Ltd Lord Dalgety is under fire at the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the MV Ashika on February 25, after evidence revealed a "scandalous contract" of employment and possible use of public funds to finance personal and first class travels in his other role as Chairman of the Electricity Commission.
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Thursday 25 February 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Shipping Corporation Company Secretary Lord Dalgety who has been missing in action at the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the Ashika since January 22 is expected to continue his evidence this week after it was confirmed by a doctor that his medical condition was that of dehydration.
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Thursday 25 February 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
In another interesting turn of evidence provided by the former Minister of Transport Paul Karalus on February 25, he accepted a submission that he misled Cabinet in a memorandum regarding due diligence on the Ashika.
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Wednesday 24 February 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The former Minister of Transport Paul Karalus (61) told the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the MV Ashika today that during his time as Minister his understanding was that the power to detain an unseaworthy ship from sea was of the Director of Marine, and he, on the other hand, would just support it.
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Wednesday 24 February 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's Prime Minister Dr Feleti Sevele was censured this morning for making an "inappropriate" personal remark to counsel assisting, in a closing statement he gave to the Ashika Inquiry, following an intense session of questioning that continued to midnight last night.
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Wednesday 24 February 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
John Jonesse was arrested and charged with criminal forgery last week, and is not permitted to leave Tonga before a court appearance scheduled on March 17.
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Tuesday 23 February 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
In talks with SCP Managing Director John Jonesse leading up to the possible purchase of the Ashika ferry, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Public Enterprise 'Inoke Vala, took what Jonesse advised him at face value.
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Tuesday 23 February 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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.
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Monday 22 February 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A suggestion that the Ashika ferry tragedy had resulted from systematic failure of the Tonga government, was rejected by Tonga's Prime Minister, who stressed that the laws, regulations, policies and procedures are in place; but he accepted that it was the failure of individuals who failed to comply with their responsibilities under the laws of the country.
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Friday 19 February 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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.
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Friday 19 February 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
At the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the Princess Ashika today, the Minister of Finance and Public Enterprise, Hon 'Afu'alo Matoto, said he could have done better to ensure that proper due diligence was conducted prior to the purchase of the vessel instead of being too trusting and accepting information given to him.
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Friday 19 February 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
At the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the sinking of the Ashika evidence has established that Ministry of Finance's high-ranking officials ranging from the Minster of Finance to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Finance had proceeded to allow payments for the Princess Ashika, under a wrong assumption that due diligence was conducted.
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Friday 19 February 2010
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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.
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