The name of the New Zealand Police Inspector who was honoured with a Defence Service medal last year has been recommended and if His Majesty King Tupou VI approves he would become Tonga’s new Police commissioner.
Steve Caldwell was recommended for the top job following an interview in Nukuʻalofa couple of weeks ago to choose a replacement for Grant Charles O’Fee when he finishes early as Tonga’s Police Commissioner.
Tonga’s Police Minister Hon. Siosifa Tūʻutafaiva told Kaniva News this morning “The panel recommended Steven. But his name is being taken to the king for approval.”
Hon. Tūʻutafaiva was responding to a request to confirm information that Steve Caldwell from New Zealand Police got the job
The minister said the interviewees included Deputy Commissioner ‘Unga Fa’aoa and Lau’aitu Tupouniua from the Tongan Police.
Caldwell has served the New Zealand Police for 36 years and he is currently the superintendent of New Zealand police in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea.
He was among the 22 Police Officers who were honoured in 2013 by the New Zealand Police with Defense Service medals in recognision of his long-service and good conduct.
When we contacted O’Fee for comment he said: “No we cannot confirm who the new Commissioner will be”.
In July 5, 2012 a statement from the government of Tonga read: “Tonga has now inaugurated Mr. Grant Charles O’Fee, from Wellington New Zealand as the new Police Commissioner on a three year term contract”.
The three-year term finishes in July next year, eight months from now, but Hon. Tūʻutafaiva said O’Fee leaves the job early and the handover will be in next week December 5, 2014.
Kuo fakahoko atu ki Heʻene ʻAfió Tupou VI ʻa e hingoa ʻo e tangata polisi ʻinisipekita Nuʻu Sila ne foaki hono mētali fakalāngilangi he taʻu kuo ʻosí pea kapau ʻe finangalo ki ai ʻa e Tuʻí ʻe hoko ai ia ko e Polisi Komisiona foʻou hoko ʻa Tongá.
Naʻe filiʻi e hingoa ʻo Steve Caldwell ki he lakanga māʻolungá ni hili ia ha ʻinitaviu ʻi Nukuʻalofa ʻi he ngaahi uike kuo hili atú ke fili ha fetongi ʻo Grant OʻFee hili ia ʻene mālōlō tōmuʻa ʻi hono taimi ʻosí mei heʻene hoko ko e Polisi Komisiona ʻa Tongá.
Ko e taimi ko ē ne mau fetuʻutaki ai kia OʻFee ke ne fakapapauʻi mai pe ʻoku moʻoni e fakamatala ko ʻení pea ʻi heʻene talí ne ne pehē ʻikai ʻe ʻikai lava ke mau fakapapauʻi atu ko hai ʻa e Komisiona polisi foʻoú.
Ka neongo iá naʻe fakahā ʻe he Minisitā Polisi ʻa Tongá, ʻOnapolo Siosifa Tūʻutafaiva ki he Ongoongo ʻa e Kanivá he pongipongí ni ne fili ʻe he pēnoló ʻa Steven pea ʻoku ʻave hono hingoá ki he Tuʻí ke ne fakafinangaloa.
Pehē foki ʻe Tūʻutafaivaá ko e ʻinitaviú ne kau ai e ongo Tokoni Komisiona Polisi ʻe toko ua Tonga ko ʻUnga Faʻaoa mo Lauʻaitu Tupouniua.
Ka ʻoku kei ʻave ʻa hono hingoa ki he Tuʻí ke ne fakafinangaloa, ko e tānaki mai ia ʻa Tūʻutafaiva ki he fehuʻi ne ʻoangé.
Ko e taʻu ʻeni ʻe 36 ʻa e ngāue fakapolisi ʻa Caldwell pea ʻokú ne lolotonga hoko ko e supaʻiniteniteni ʻi he kau Polisi ʻa Nuʻu Sila ʻoku fakahoko fatongia ʻi Poukenivilá ʻi Papua Niu Kiní.
Naʻe kau ia ʻi he kau ʻōfisa polisi ʻe toko 22 ʻa Nuʻu Silá ni ne foaki honau mētali fakalāngilangi ʻi he taʻu kuo ʻosí tuʻunga heʻenau ngāue līʻoa mo fai lelei ʻi he Polisí.
ʻI Siulai ʻaho 5, 2012 ne tuku mai ai ʻe he Puleʻanga Tongá haʻanau fakamatala ne pehé ni e anga hono laú: Kuo fakanofo ʻe Tonga he taimí ni ʻa Grant Charles OʻFee mei Uelingatoni Nuʻu Silá ke hoko ko e Komisiona Polisi foʻou ia ʻa Tonga ʻi ha konituleki taʻu ʻe tolu.
ʻE toki ʻosi ʻa e konituleki taʻu tolu koi á ki Siulai ʻo e taʻu kahaʻú ʻa ia ko e māhina ia ʻe valu mei heni ka ne pehē ʻe Tūʻutafaivá ʻe tōmuʻa pe ʻene mālōloó pea ʻe fai ʻa e fetongí ʻi he uike kahaʻú ʻaho 5 ʻo Tīsemá.