PM Archives

Twenty years ago, Pacific Magazine devoted a special section to the recently concluded South Pacific Games, which had been played in Apia, Samoa. We had a special section this year too on the games just concluded in Suva, Fiji. It ran in our August issue. New Caledonia and Fiji dominated the medal tallies in 2003, but 20 years ago New Caledonia, Samoa and Tahiti were the dominant medal winners. Apia didn't even have a stadium in 1979, when it was chosen to be the next SPG venue and the coverage in the magazine emphasized how Samoa had successfully "pulled off" the SPG hosting. In our own time, Apia will again be the site of the next SPG in 2005.

Apia is also in the news as the newly chosen site of the regional headquarters for the United Nations Development Program. There is a long interview with former American Samoa Congressman Fofo Sunia, brother of the recently deceased Tauese Sunia. Fofo is retired and still living on Tutuila, where he has been writing books on traditional Samoan culture. The issue also has a one-page feature on Fr. Walter Lini, the charismatic Anglican priest who became a political superstar in Vanuatu, leading the Vanuaaku Party and becoming Prime Minister. Other features two decades ago included an analysis of the political status of the various American-affiliated Micronesian entities, emphasizing the unclear future of Palau, which had failed to ratify is Compact. In 1983, there seemed no resolution in sight.

In other news, the recently deceased (in 2003) nuclear physicist Edward Teller is quoted 20 years ago as saying, "The inhabitants of Bikini Island can safely return to their island now." The South Pacific Commission, these days, the South Pacific Community, held its 23rd meeting on Saipan and adjusted it rules to give each member an equally weighted vote. SPIA, the ill-fated regional airline, is announcing a new service between Palau and Honolulu, while Air Pacific, Fiji's national carrier is just announcing increased cargo service between Nadi and Honolulu.