Pacific Magazine > Magazine > January 1, 2002
People Briefs
People Briefs
By Aldwin R. Fajardo, Fili Sagapolutele, Rebecca Stanfel, Pacific I
College graduate Manamea M. Apelu was crowned the new Miss South Pacific 2001-2002 in her home country of Apia, Samoa on October 25, her 26th birthday. More than 500 people gathered in Samoa’s capital to witness the crowning of Apelu, who is also the reigning Miss Samoa. She plans to use her position to promote environmental issues. Apelu is the daughter of Silimaiao Tuvalu and Galeoiola Tuiletufuga of Samoa. Others recognized in the contest: 1st runner up, Miss Hawaiian Islands Jamie Unciano; 2nd runner up: Miss American Samoa Vitalia S.A. Kline; 3rd runner up: Miss Tonga Christie M. Nau; 4th runner up: Miss Pohnpei Serlinda Soukon.
Samoan fishermen Lapahele Sopi, 36, and Telea Pa’a, 27 were rescued in Papua New Guinea in November after being adrift at sea for 132 days. Two other fishermen with them — Tofi Lauvi, 42, and To’o Ioani, 59 — died during the 4,000-mile voyage that began on June 28. Sopi said the four had been out fishing and had caught too many fish in their 25-foot aluminum boat that had two 50-hp engines. As their boat took in water, they threw out some of the fish and also jettisoned the two motors to stop it from sinking. They began drifting and were finally spotted by the MV Hiwi operating in Milne Bay waters, which went for medical help, while Lai Luwaina of nearby Bu’ubou village, paddled out in his canoe and took the two fishermen into his home for two days until they were able to be transported to hospital.- ADVERTISEMENT -
Saipan Tribune Publisher John S. Del Rosario Jr. has relinquished his post as head of this news organization. Del Rosario leaves a familiar corner of the Tribune, saying, “it’s time to move on” into projects he has postponed for several years. DelRosario has a combined tenure as a columnist with both local papers of more than 30 years.
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| Survivor Lapahele Sopi being assisted at the Alotau General Hospital by Judah Dickson, left, and rescuer Lai Luwaina. |
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Oceania National Olympic Committee representative Brian Minikin visited Palau in late October to instruct local sports bodies on organizational and fundraising aspects of sports administration as part of
Palau’s participation in the International Olympic Committee’s Solidarity Program.
American Samoa native Liuato Tuitele is believed to be the first Samoan ever to be promoted to the U.S. Army’s Chief Warrant Officer Five, according to Congressman Faleomavaega Eni. “This is a distinction of which Samoans are to be very proud,” he said. CW5 Tuitele is stationed at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii where he is the Senior Special Agent for the Hawaii field office of the Army’s Criminal Investigation Division. He has jurisdiction over all felony criminal investigations in which there is an Army interest in Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands, and American Samoa. He joined the Army in 1973.
American Samoa’s 100 most distinguished women will be featured in a pictorial and story publication, which is now been compiled by Rep. Mary L. Taufete’e, the only female in the territory’s House of Representatives. The book, to be edited by journalist and culture consultant Aeoainuu Aleki, will pay tribute to the territory’s influential women who have contributed economically, culturally, socially or politically to the development of American Samoa.
Nauru’s President Rene Harris and Cuba’s Foreign Minister Filipe Perez Roque agreed during a United Nations meeting in New York in November to establish diplomatic relations. Talks have also been ongoing since April about a technical and economic cooperation agreement, which would involve Cuba sending health experts
to Nauru.
Dr. Tetaua Taitai, 53, a graduate of the Fiji School of Medicine and an honorary professor of community health at the University of Hawaii at Manoa has been named Kiribati’s first high commissioner to Fiji. Taitai previously was permanent secretary in both the ministries of health and family planning, and education, science and technology. In 1997 he became Secretary to Cabinet.
In Memoriam
West Papuan pro-independence leader Theys Hiyo Eluay, 63, was found dead in his car on November 11, sparking anger and accusations that the Indonesian military was behind his death. Eluay had been reported kidnapped by a group of people on his way to his hometown in the Indonesian-ruled province. The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) has accused the government of being behind the slaying, saying that his murder is part of a plan to repress rising calls for independence in the island of New Guinea province. The organization said that Eluay was on a list of people the Indonesian government labeled a threat. Eluay was chairman of the pro-independence Papuan Presidium Council. Thousands
turned out to pay their last respects at his funeral.
Photo: Peter Niesel, Papua New Guinea Post-Courier
