PUBLIC NOTICE FOR THE ISLANDS OF VAVA'U/FAKATOKANGA KIHE VAHE VAVA'U

PUBLIC NOTICE FOR THE ISLANDS OF VAVA'U/FAKATOKANGA KIHE VAHE VAVA'U

ENGLISH VERSION
TONGAN VERSION

ENGLISH VERSION

BREACH OF RULES AND UNIDENTIFIED FALSE MAYDAY CALL ON MARINE VHF CHANNEL 16 IN THE ISLAND OF VAVA'U

Date: 10^th October 2023

To the residents, visitors, and maritime community of the Island of Vava'u,

We hereby inform you of a serious breach of Tonga's Radiocommunication Spectrum Rules 2019 that has occurred on the marine VHF channel 16 and 26 in Vavaú Island. An unidentified individual made false distress calls on multiple occasions and recently on the 9^th October 2023 at 1.15pm, commonly known as a "Mayday" call, which has caused discrepancies to the safety of life at sea in the waters surrounding the Island of Vava'u.

The false Mayday call transmitted on channel 16 is a violation of Tonga's Radiocommunication Spectrum Rules 2019 and its regulations. This breach not only poses a threat to the safety and security of maritime activities but also potentially infringes upon legal provisions governing emergency maritime communications.

The incident is currently under investigation by the relevant authorities, who are working diligently to identify and apprehend the individual responsible for this breach. The consequences for such actions can be severe, including criminal charges and penalties.

We urge all members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities or information related to this incident to the appropriate authorities. If you have any knowledge or witnessed any unusual radio transmissions on channel 16 during the specified date and time, please come forward with your information to assist in the investigation.

It is essential for everyone in the maritime community to understand the gravity of this situation. False distress calls not only waste valuable resources but also divert emergency responders from genuine emergencies where lives may be at stake. Such actions undermine the safety and effectiveness of our maritime communication systems.

We would like to emphasize that making false distress calls is a serious offense that carries significant legal consequences. It is crucial for all users of marine VHF radios to adhere strictly to Tonga's radio spectrum rules and regulations. Unauthorized transmissions, including false distress calls, are strictly prohibited, and will be dealt with accordingly.

We appreciate your cooperation and understanding in this matter. By working together, we can ensure the safety and security of our maritime community and protect the integrity of our emergency communication systems.

For further information or to report any relevant information, please contact:

Mr. Alifeleti Tuihalamaka

Director for Communications

Department of Communications

Ministry of MEIDECC.

Office: 20130

Mobile: 7749845

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Mr. Sione Pulotu Ákauóla

Chief Executive Officer

Ministry of MEIDECC

TONGAN VERSION

MAUMAUÍ E LAO FETUÚTAKI LETIO KIHE NGAAHI VAKA FOLAU TAHI ÍHE SENOLO 16 Í VAVAÚ

Áho: 10 'Okatopa, 2023

Ki he kakai ó e Fonua, kau folau éveéva, moe kau folau tahi ó Vavaú,

Óku fanongonongo atu heni ke meaí éhe kakai e Fonua áe maumauí ó e lao fetu’utaki fakaletio kihe fefolauáki vaka tahi á ia kuo toutou hoko he potutahi mo loto Fonua í Vavaú.

Kuo lipooti mai á e maumaulao ni, koha tokotaha óku teéki ke fakpapauí pe kohai, óku ne toutou fakahoko ha ui tokoni loi pe False MAYDAY Distress Calls íhe senolo 16 í Vavaú. Koe fakamuimuitaha koe áho Monite 9^th ó Okatopa ni, fakafuofua kihe taimi 1.15pm. Koe ui eni ne íkai koha kole tokoni moóni ka koe vaínga he letio folau tahi, ka óku ne fkhoko ha maumau lahi kihe laumalie óe feinga ke malu e moúi ó e kau tangata pe fefine í he taimi óku nau folau ai í tahi, kae tautautefito kihe potutahi ó Vavaú.

Óku lolotonga fakahoko atu áe ngaue e Potungaue Fetuútaki, MEIDECC, moe ngaahi Sino fekauáki kihe folautahi ke íloí mo fakapapauí áe tokotaha óku ne fakahoko e ngaue maumaulao ni. Koe maumaulao ni óku íai hono ngaahi tautea mo e moúa fkatatau kihe tuútuúni áe lao Fetuutaki óe 2015.

Óku óatu ai áe kole kihe kakai e Fonua, kenau tokanga mo kataki lipooti mai ha ngaahi fakamatala kaunga kihe maumaulao ni fakaofiofi kihe áho moe taimi óku fkha atu í ólunga – (áho Monite 9^th ó Okatopa ni, fakafuofua kihe taimi 1.15pm).

Óku fuú mahuínga áupito kihe kakai óe Fonua kenau mahinoí e mafatukituki óe kaveinga ni. Koe ui tokoni íkai moóni koeni óku ne íkai tokoni kihe úhinga moe makatuúnga ó e meángaue ni. É malava ke hoko ai ha feinga tokoni ke fkhaofi ha moúi kae hili ange óku íkai ke moóni ka kuo fai e ngaue lahi moe fakamole kiai.

Óku mau kole fakamaatoato atu kihe kakai óe Fonua, koe ui tokoni íkai moóni koeni koe maumaulao mafatukituki ia pea óku íai hono ngaahi tautea moe moúa óku mafatukituki moia. PEA ÓKU ÍKAI NGOFUA ÍHE LAO.

Óku kole atu ai hoó mou tokoni ketau ngaue fakataha, ke fkpapauí óku malu e moúi e kakai í he énau folau í tahi pea ketau maluí muá á e malu moe mahuínga ó étau meángaue fetuútaki fakatokanga mo fakahaofi moúi ki tahi.

Kataki ka óku íai haó fakamatala fekauáki moe fakatokanga ni, kataki fetuútaki mai kia:

Mr. Alifeleti Tuihalamaka

Talekita ó e Fetuútaki.

Potungaue MEIDECC.

Office: 20130

Mobile: 7749845

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Fakaápaápa atu

Mr. Sione Pulotu Ákauóla

Pule Lahi (CEO)

Potungaue MEIDECC