People Briefs
People Briefs
Newly-appointed U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Greta N. Morris was in Honolulu on her way to her new post in Majuro. Morris is new in two ways. She is the new U.S. ambassador to the RMI, and she is also new to the rank of ambassador. Interviewed in Honolulu, Morris says her confirmation by the U.S. Senate went very routinely. After the Senate approved her appointment, she says she was sent to "Ambassador School," a two-week orientation program the State Department runs for all new ambassadors. "I've also been doing a lot of reading on the Marshalls," she says, "especially on Kwajalein." - ADVERTISEMENT - After she presented her credentials to Pres. Kessai Note in Majuro, Morris mentioned that she would like to see the Peace Corps program return to the Marshall Islands. But her honeymoon was brief. Shortly after her arrival she had to handle demonstrations outside the U.S. Embassy, one by the Kwajalein landowners who feel they've been treated unfairly in the Compact II negotiations and a second on Sept. 2, when about 50 survivors of U.S. nuclear testing protested the loss of their medical benefits under the new Compact proposals. Morris was most recently the Counselor for Public Affairs in Jakarta where she was known as one of the most fluent Bahasa speakers at Embassy Jakarta. During her tenure in Jakarta, Ms. Morris also served as Charge d'affaires. She was the architect and implementer of the public diplomacy program in East Timor, including the Congressionally mandated East Timor Scholarship Program. Prior to her posting in Jakarta, Morris served as Deputy Director of the Office of Public Diplomacy in the Bureau for East Asian and Pacific Affairs. -SW
Dr. Johnny Hadley of Pohnpei was elected president of Pacific Basin Medical Association during its annual meeting in Majuro in late August. He is joined by Marshall Islands Dr. Sheldon Riklon who is vice president, and Kosrae-based doctors Livingson Taulung and Vita Skilling, the secretary and treasurer, respectively. PBMA represents medical officials from the U.S.-affiliated islands in the region. -GJ
The national women's group Women United Together Marshall Islands in collaboration with Honolulu-based Pacific Resources for Education and Learning has launched an innovative "Parents as Teachers" program in the Marshall Islands. Supervised by former Health and Foreign Affairs permanent secretary Marie Maddison and staffed by Annie deBrum, Elbia Rusin and Wanda Graham, the program will work with 10 young mothers and their children to hone parenting skills and recognize different stages in child development during the children's first three years. "Sometimes the mother's problem is simply not knowing where to go to find help," Rusin says. Because of the young age of so many mothers, Rusin adds: "It's like a child having a child. We have to teach the child how to be a parent." -GJ
Long time Ailinglaplap Senator Ruben Zackhras was named the vice speaker of the Nitijela (parliament) in the Marshall Islands in August. He takes over from Majuro Senator Jurelang Zedkaia who resigned at the opening of the August session, the last meeting of the Nitijela before November's national election. -GJ
Fiji-born New Zealand-based rugby sensation Rupeni Caucaunibuka kept his promise to his childhood sweetheart returning to marry her in their village on the second largest island in the Fiji group, Vanua Levu last month. The 23-year-olds will settle in New Zealand. Sokoveti Tinai and Caucaunibuka exchanged vows before fellow-villagers and friends including the latter's manager. The well-kept secret had rugby bosses frantically looking for him, posting messages in the national broadcasting station's community messages after a United Kingdom advertising deal was confirmed. The sponsorship deal will reportedly feature Caucaunibuka in posters during the World Cup in Australia. -FijiVillage.com
At the end of August, the man who hacked to death former Fiji Red Cross director John Scott and his partner Gregory Schrivener in 2001 as they slept was acquitted by the High Court on grounds of insanity. Apete Kaisau apparently suffers from schizophrenia. He claimed a spirit in the form of a lion that was going for its prey had moved him to kill the two. Justice Nazhat Shameem said Kaisau's action might have been triggered by his homophobia and the political upheaval of 2000. Scott was the only person allowed to see the hostages during their 56 days of confinement by coup leader George Sleight. Kaisau is now in a psychiatric hospital. The court proceedings however ended on a more positive note when families of Kaisau and the victims, who had sat through the trial stone faced, hugged each other with tears flowing freely. -FijiVillage.com
Jesse Bogdonoff, once "official court jester" to HM King Taufaahau Tupou IV of Tonga has been charged with fraud relating to the squandering of US$26 million obtained from the government of Tonga. Bogdonoff, who also sells pain-easing "health magnets," is accused by the Tongan Government's legal representatives of diverting part of the money to his own commercial enterprises and squandering a great amount of it on bad investments. The jester, from Sonoma County in California, claimed also to be an investment adviser and persuaded Tonga's King to put royal money into a number of U.S. companies of doubtful standing. -ND
The former permanent secretary of the agriculture ministry has been found guilty of 48 charges by the Public Service Commission. Peniasi Kunatuba is being held responsible for the misuse of FJD$16million under the then interim government of Laisenia Qarase under his affirmative action program in 2001. Thousands of Fijians took advantage of the program that saw mass purchases of farming and fisheries project implements with government purchasing orders at a hardware store. Kunatuba will appeal the decision. -FijiVillage.com
It's her impression that HIV prevention is not yet being well taught in Samoa, in the community, which shows that much more work still needs to be done. Her conclusion followed visits to schools and community organizations. She emphasized targeting all levels of the community, from young people still in schools, school curricula, church leaders, politicians, and using the media in public awareness. "At the same time especially with young people, there is a potential there to finally manage to create a generation who would become responsible over their sexuality, who would play it safe, and therefore protect themselves from consequences that would be so damaging to a life." Bopp-Dupont, who is HIV positive herself, has been working for the Pacific AIDS Foundation for five years. One of the reasons for her visit to Samoa in August was to attempt to set up support groups by people infected with HIV/AIDS in the Pacific. -SW and PINA Nius
The first annual gathering of associated police officers on Kosrae took place with the leaders of the three branches of government, the media, and a sprinkling of families and citizens in attendance. The Police Association of Kosrae, just a year old, and according to Gov. Rensley Sigrah, "gaining in confidence," gave out several awards, including one for the top cop of the year, which went to Sergeant William Tara. Jefferson Timothy, former Chief of Police and a career Navy man, commented on the reasons for the police to form an association for themselves. The association gives the police bargaining power and a united voice in regard to safety issues, he said, and added that PAK will also allow for greater access and collaboration for the public and police services. -OW
President of the Samoa Methodist Church, Rev. Siatua Leuluaialii told ministers to work for God first, not for wealth, during the tenure at their new church postings. At the farewell feast and presentation of gifts in August, Rev. Siatua preached that wealth was a gift from God which was not to be made into a god. Eleven ministers have been assigned to postings, the majority to parishes locally and overseas with the rest electing to work at the church's book shop in Savaii and doing other office work. -FS
A fugitive on the run from Hawaii law enforcers for six years was arrested in American Samoa on Aug. 22 and taken to Honolulu a week later where he may face additional charges. The U.S. Marshals' Service said Luavasa Amani Tufono was on its list of the 10 most wanted for the U.S. District of Hawaii. Tufono was convicted in the fall of 1995 at the Federal Court in Honolulu for bank robbery and was sentenced to 31 months in jail and three years of supervised release. However, an arrest warrant was issued on Sept. 5, 1997 by U.S. District Judge Helen Gillmor against Tufono for violating the terms and conditions of his supervised release. The U.S. Marshals Service said that in March of this year, they received information that Tufono may be in American Samoa. -FS
Peter Goodenough, a naturalized citizen of Papua New Guinea, was awarded 21.9 million kina in damages by PNG's Supreme Court after suing the State, following the loss of his Bougainville-based civil engineering business and assets. Goodenough ran his firm at Arawa, employing about 100 Papua New Guineans and dealing in road construction, pre-fabricated house building and trucking. Following the troubles on Bougainville in 1989 his business declined drastically. In 1992 PNG Defense Force troops seized his property and equipment, an action Goodenough claimed was unauthorized and unlawful. -ND
In Memoriam Sir Leonard Usher died in September in Fiji at 96. He arrived from New Zealand as a teacher at age 23, living in Fiji since 1930. He became a Fiji media magnate and humanitarian. Sir Len, as he was fondly known, was a former Fiji Times editor and publisher. He headed the Government information bureau, held company directorships, bank manager and school principle positions. He was one of the founders of the Pacific Islands News Association. He was also a four-time mayor of Suva and an author of many books on both Fiji and the region. His coffin was wrapped in tapa and a Fiji flag. Said the Great Council of Chiefs chairman, Ratu Epeli Ganilau: "If Ratu Sukuna is credited with establishing the structure of the Fijian administration then Sir Leonard Usher should be credited with preparing the human resources to operate it." -PINA Nius
Pres. George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush visited Hilario Bermanis II and other wounded soldiers at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in conjunction with the Sept. 11th anniversary ceremonies that were held throughout the U.S.
Bush expressed his gratitude and thanks for the service and sacrifice that Bermanis has given for this country and the fine example of courage he portrays of all the other Micronesian citizens who serve in the U.S. Armed Forces and who are willing to fight for freedom In addition to the words of encouragement he had to offer, the President presented Bermanis with a presidential coin. Bermanis, in return, gave the President and First Lady, lapel pins with the flags of the United States and the Federated States of Micronesia and brochures of the Federated States of Micronesia, with an invitation to one day visit him on his home island of Pohnpei. His father, Hilario Bermanis, Sr. expressed his appreciation to the President for the good care that they have received from the Walter Reed doctors and personnel. President Bush said he was proud and honored that Specialist Bermanis would be receiving U.S. citizenship in a special ceremony at Walter Reed Hospital on Sept. 17, 2003. The ceremony was organized by the Secretary of Veteran's Affairs, Anthony Principi and his staff. -SW
Contributors: Scott Whitney, Giff Johnson, Norman Douglas, Olivier Wortel and Fili Sagapolutele. |
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