Page 10 - IB Nov 2017

Women Three out of five women Abuse 64pc of women in relation-
Politics
abused by partners in Vanuatu: P13 ships sexually assaulted: P13
Tonga 86 in hot race for seats

Favourites: Mr Pohiva still has some Sovaleni
support within the constituency, how-
ever reduced it maybe. That will be Favourites: With six
within the senior citizens capable candidates, the
community of Kolomotu’a battle here will be an in-
especially. teresting one as well.
His performance in the However, former Dep- Halapua
By Iliesa Tora past three years has re- uty Prime Minister and
portedly resulted in some current MP Siaosi Sovaleni still stands
TONGA goes to the poll on November negative views from his out as the favourite to win again. He is
16 to elect their 17 People’s Representa- constituents. Pohiva also top contender for Prime Minister.
tives in the Legislative Assembly. But he has the uncanny Many feel that Mr Sovaleni had done
That is 12 months earlier than ability to pull through, just like at the enough as a Cabinet Minister to help
planned, after His Majesty King Tupou 2014 elections. move Tonga forward in many areas and
VI dissolved parliament in September The strong challenge will come from his ability to mix it with the grassroots
and ordered fresh elections. Mosese Manuefetoa, who was lined up and the top echelons of society works
When the Supervisor of Elections to take over from Mr Pohiva; former well for him.
closed the registration of candidates in Ministry of Internal Affairs Chief Execu- He is down to earth and has been in-
late September, a total of 86 people had tive Officer Ana Bing Fonua; community volved with community projects involv-
confirmed their interests to run from the worker Drew Havea and former Secre- ing women, youths and the men folks of
17 different constituencies. tariat of the Pacific Regional Environ- Tongatapu 3. His strongest challenges
That is 20 less than the 106 that stood ment Programme (SPREP) senior staff will be businessman Tevita Palu and
in the 2014 elections. Dr Netatua Taufatofua. academic Dr Sitiveni Halapua.
Fifteen candidates are women, fighting Church support will be important, with Dr Halapua had missed out on the
to win seats in parliament. the three main church groupings – Free 2014 elections but has decided to come
More than 57,000 people have regis- Wesleyan Church of Tonga, Catholic back again this time around. Radio jour-
tered and interestingly the field of can- and Latter Day Saints – being the major nalist Katalina Tohi is the Democrats’
didates include some new high-profiled groupings within the constituency. choice for the seat and she will have to
locals who had served either in the civil The winner will come from the five fight for women’s votes against unionist
service, regional organisations or the candidates named here, with a very close Mele ‘Amanaki.
private sector. margin expected.
That makes the battle for the parlia- Tongatapu 4
mentary seats more exciting. Tongatapu 2 Poli Tuaileva, Mateni Tapueluelu, ‘Isileli
The ‘Akilisi Pohiva led Democratic 1. Fisi’ipeau Faiva, Ema R.F. Stephen- Pulu, Litia Simpson, Tevita Motulalo, Seketi
Party of the Friendly Islands have named son, Semisi Sika, Sione Fonua, Soane Fifita Fuko
17 candidates to contest the election.
They had also named caretaker Prime Favourites: Current Favourites: Mateni Tapueluelu still
Minister Pohova as their choice for Prime Tourism Minister Semisi stands out as the favourite in the con-
Minister. Sika is still favourite to stituency. He is the current Minister of
That is despite the fact that Mr Pohiva win the seat. Police and Fire and a son-in-law of PM
has been downgraded as Prime Minister Hon Sika, who also Pohiva.
to a caretaker position by His Majesty – serves as Minister of In- His strongest challenger will be former
in what many took as an indirect show frastructure, has been an Sika MP ‘Isileli Pulu.
of no confidence in his leadership by the active community worker
monarchy. and is heavily involved with women and Tongatapu 5
PM Pohiva will have a tougher fight on youth group work within the constitu- ‘Ana Koloto, Losaline Ma’asi, Viliami Man-
his hand this time around, with a total ency. gisi, ‘Aisake Eke, Fe’ofa’aki Latu
of 11 candidates fighting for his seat. Mr Sika is a devout Mormon and has Favourites: Former Finance Minister
Here are the confirmed candidates for a big influence within the community of Dr ‘Aisake Eke is the clear favourite from
the 17 constituencies and the favourites Havelu, Fanga and Tofoa. the constituency.
in each constituency: His closest competition may come from He has done almost nothing wrong
Tongatapu 1 woman candidate Ema Stephenson. during his tenure in Par-
1. Sione Tukia, Mosese Manuofetoa, But at the moment Mr Sika does not liament over the last two
Eliesa Fifita, Dr. Netatua Taufatofua, Sione look like to be in any trouble at all. sessions (2010-2014 and
Tupouniua, ‘Ana Bing Fonua, Akilisi Pohiva, 2014-2017).
Barry Taukolo, Siale Puloka, Dr. Ofo Niumei- Tongatapu 3 A top favourite too for
tolu, Siotame Drew Havea Tonga Soane, Katalina Tohi, Tevita Palu, PM, Hon Eke has been
Sitiveni Halapua, Mele ‘Amanaki, Siaosi seen as a victim of PM Eke

10 Islands Business,, November 2017