Pacific Magazine > Magazine > June 1, 2003
Briefs
People
Educator Bruce Best was honored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Weather Service for outstanding achievements as manager for the western Pacific portion of the Pan Pacific Education and Communications Experiment by Satellite system. Best, a University of Guam research associate, received the Citizen of the Year Award at the annual Honolulu/Pacific Federal Executive Board luncheon in Honolulu. “Bruce has done an extraordinary job running the PEACESAT program in the western Pacific,” says Jeff LaDouce, director of the NWS Pacific region.
—GJ
Kalafi Moala, publisher of the newspaper Times of Tonga, which has faced a series of bans in Tonga, has instigated court proceedings to have the most recent ban overturned. The first bans, in February, declared the Auckland-published paper an illegal import and later an illegal document in Tonga. Although the bans were ruled illegal by Tonga’s Supreme Court, the kingdom’s Privy Council later announced a new ban on the paper.
—ND- ADVERTISEMENT -
—MR
Tim Fenlon, an FBI-trained superintendent, and Ian Andrew, a coordinator of program development, recently completed the first phase of a year-long project coordinated between the Kosrae State’s Attorney General’s Office and the Australian Expert Services Overseas Program to improve the skills of the four detectives and small group of police officers on the island. Also provided are 10 computers, two hand-held radar guns to limit speeding motorists, and two breathalizers, which measure the blood-alcohol level of an intoxicated driver.
—OW
American Samoa’s new Lt. Governor, Toese F. Sunia, was sworn in during a ceremony in mid-April. He is the younger brother of late Governor Tauese Sunia, who died in late March. The new Lt. Governor had been the territory’s treasurer.
—FS
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognized Tom Kane, Robert Esher and Phillip Malloy of the U.S. Army on Kwajalein Atoll who in the past year have helped reduce by over 70 percent the amount of waste going to the local landfill through aggressive recycling and reuse. Kwajalein is now the only island in the Pacific whose landfill is shrinking, the EPA says.
—GJ
The Australian government awarded Professor Brij Lal the Centenary medal for his outstanding service to the Australian society through distinguished contribution to the humanities and the Pacific islands history. The medal was awarded by Governor-General the Right Reverend Dr. Peter Hollingworth. Lal, one of the three architects of Fiji’s 1997 Constitution is also an elected Fellow of the Australian Humanities Academy.
—MR
Gillian Mellsop is the new United Nations Children’s Fund Representative for the Pacific. She will be based in Suva, replacing Nancy Terreri, who completed her term in March. Mellsop will represent UNICEF in 14 Pacific island countries. Before joining UNICEF Pacific, Mellsop worked for the Australian aid agency, AusAID and managed development assistance programs in Papua New Guinea and several Asian nations.
—ND
Robert Fitts has been nominated as the new U.S. Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu by President George Bush. Fitts is a political adviser to the U.S. Southern Command at MacDill Air Force Base and has seen service as deputy chief of mission at the U.S. embassy in Manila. His nomination requires senate approval.
—ND
Fiji has undoubtedly made its mark as a rugby playing nation. Lote Tuqiri has begun making waves in the 15’s code after an illustrious rugby league career. Marika Vunibaka has enjoyed similar fame, if not a degree more. The wingers have now agreed to be role models for troubled Fijians in Australia, a community project initiated after shocking statistics were released on the high number of Fijians in Australian jails.
—MR
Marianas Variety reporter Haidee Eugenio was honored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently for her years of producing consistent, extensive, fearless and unbiased news coverage focusing on pressing environmental issues in the Northern Marianas.
—GJ
Guam Pacific Daily News President and Publisher Lee P. Webber and three executives have each won a President’s Ring—Gannett’s top corporate honor—for exemplary work in 2002. Gannett, PDN’s parent company, awards a President’s Ring annually to each of Gannett’s top executives. Webber was awarded his fifth ring. The three other PDN executives, all first-time ring winners: Rindraty Celes Limtiaco, managing editor, newsroom; Cecilia Solidum, director, information technology; and Pete Ladera, controller.
—GJ
Matson Navigation Co. announced that Alfred F. Leon Guerrero has been appointed its new operations manager in Guam. Previously, Leon Guerrero was an account manager with WorldCom Inc. and a manager with Pactours Inc.
—FW
Karri Trahin Perez was appointed vice president/human resources manager of Bank of Guam. Previously, she was senior director, human resources with the Sheraton Resort Japan.
—FW
Moe Faauo Titimaea has been appointed by cabinet to head Samoa Water Authority effective May 1. He replaces Latu Kupa, who decided not to reapply for the post. Meantime, Muaausa Joseph Walker is the new general manager for the Electric Power Company.
—FS
Senator Ricardo Atalig of Rota was found guilty in U.S. federal court of 26 counts of wire fraud. The charges were the result of allegations that he hired the daughter of Senator Jose Dela Cruz of Tinian for a job which had no duties and for which she did not have to show up.
—FW
The Aloha Council Boy Scouts of America in Hawaii has designated a full-time senior scout executive for American Samoa in efforts to elevate the local scouting program. He is John A. Mills. Also, Governor Togiola Tulafono was selected as district chair and president for the new board of directors.
—FS
In Memoriam
Long-time Marshall Islands resident Noel Bigler was killed in late April in a motorcycle crash.
—GJ
Bart Manuai, PNG coordinator of security for Oil Search Ltd, was shot to death in daylight in the Port Moresby suburb of Boroko in mid-April. The killing was one of three to occur in Port Moresby within 48 hours.
—ND
Station manager in Samoa for the Pago Pago-based Samoa Air, Billy Meredity, died in Apia on April 18.
—FS
—Contributors: Giff Johnson, Norman Douglas, Matelita Ragogo, Olivier Wortel, Fili Sagapolutele, Frank Whitman
