People Briefs
People Briefs
August 2005
American
Samoa Governor Togiola Tulafono in mid-June appointed new members of the government’s
Board of Tradesmen Examiners for two year terms: chairman Lauvao Stephen Haleck,
Pu’u Iakopo, Mikaele Tauasosi, Jamil Shalhout and Toasefulu Laulu. Papua
New Guinea’s Post-Courier editor Oseah Philemon was awarded an OBE for services
to the media as part of the Queen Elizabeth’s Birthday Honors for PNG. During
his 14-years at the Post-Courier he has been known as a crusading editor who shrugged
off threats to his life to publish stories on gun violence, political and corporate
corruption and HIV/AIDS in the country, reported Pacific Media Watch.
Joseph Laloyer, the former marketing manager of Air Vanuatu has returned to work
as the airline’s project manager, overseeing the merger of Air Vanuatu and
its domestic counterpart, Vanair. Laloyer was terminated along with CEO Jean-Paul
Virelala during a shake up at the airline. Manuel Carlot Korman, the son of the
Minister responsible for the airline, Maxim Carlot Korman was appointed as Laloyer’s
replacement in the marketing role. Virelala was replaced by pilot Terry Kerr as
CEO. The speaker of the Fiji House of Representatives, Ratu
Epeli Nailatikau, is the United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS special representative
for the Pacific. UNAIDS says that “Ratu Epeli’s dedication to advocating
the potential impact that HIV could have on small island states made him the right
choice for the UNAIDS special representative position.” Former
Saipan Garment Manufacturers Association (SGMA) executive director Richard Pierce
has been appointed as Special Assistant for Trade Relations and Economic Affairs
under the Governor’s office. Pierce resigned from SGMA in late May after
seven years. The garment industry, the Northern Marianas’ biggest, is downsizing
as sales continues to decline in recent months due to the World Trade Agreement
that went into effect in January. That agreement allows garment manufacturers
to ship products into the U.S. quota-free. To date, three garment factories on
Saipan have closed leaving hundreds jobless. Other factories have begun downsizing
due to low volume of sales. Elgin Elwais, a diminutive wrestler
from Palau who wrested in the under-121 pound division, picked up gold medals
in both Greco-Roman and Freestyle events in the Oceania Wrestling Championships
in Pohnpei in mid-June. He also received the Tom Schoen Award for the athlete
displaying the best qualities of a wrestler. The award was given in memory of
Schoen who trained and coached Federated States of Micronesia wrestlers last year
but after returning to Hawaii, died of cancer. The Senior Greco-Roman award went
to Patrick Mike of Kosrae with Jeff Cobb of Guam grabbing the Senior Freestyle
plaque. The Sportsmanship Award went to Team Guam. Suva-based
Marist Ghislain de Rasilly has been appointed as the new Bishop for the territory
of Wallis. The 62-year-old de Rasilly, who was until now the Provincial Vicar
of the Marist Fathers in Suva, Fiji, replaces Bishop Loselio Fuahea, who is retiring
after more than 30 years at the helm of Wallis and Futuna’s Roman Catholic
diocese. Well over 100 participants attended the
first Bounty-Pitcairn Conference in Florida in June. The gathering of Bounty enthusiasts,
native and expatriate Pitcairners, and many who have visited the island or collect
its stamps, heard a number of papers over the three-day conference. Probably the
most electrifying presentation was given by islander Betty Christian. In addition
to covering the role of the women in the community, she alluded to many of the
island’s problems, including the recent trials. Guam
Animals In Need (GAIN) recently dedicated a 1,300 square foot building for the
adoption of cats at the Yigo shelter. The Karon V. Johnson Cat Facility was made
possible by the hard work and donations of hundreds of volunteers. The concrete
building shelters cats and kittens available for adoption, and serves as a central
workstation for GAIN’s employees and volunteers. Col.
Leo A. Falcam, Jr. took command of the Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa
in June, the first Micronesian to head a U.S. military installation. Falcam, son
of former Federated States of Micronesia President Leo Falcam, has been in the
U.S. Marines since 1981. He is from Pohnpei. A trained pilot, he’s flown
for the Marines for nearly 24 years, including a tour of combat during the first
Gulf War in 1990-1991. Falcam said that as a young man, he had always dreamed
of flying a plane, which is one of the reasons that he joined the Marines after
graduating from college. Falcam’s father, who was president of Micronesia
from 1999 to 2003, flew to Okinawa to attend the ceremony.
Taulapapa Willie Sword is the new president of the
Rotary Club-Pago Pago while member Joe Weilenman has been honored with the Rotarian
Award for the role he played during the Tsunami Relief Drive held early this year,
where $150,000 was collected from the community and the local government. The
money benefits the victims of the Southeast Asian tsunami last year. Leusoga
William Emmsley, chief executive officer of the Honolulu-based Samoan Service
Providers Association (SSPA), has been appointed by Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann,
to serve a two year term as board member to the Mayor’s Oahu Workforce Investment
Board (OWIB). Former Commonwealth Utilities Corp. (CUC) water
division laboratory manager Pedro Q. Babauta was convicted of two counts of tampering
with water quality samples of the agency’s water supply by a Federal grand
jury on June 15. Babauta, the husband of current CUC Executive Director Lorraine
Babauta, was acquitted on two other counts of submitting false documents. He is
facing a maximum of 10 years in jail or a fine of up to $250,000. Veteran staff with the Territorial Audit Office, Francis Sefo has been
appointed by Governor Togiola Tulafono to serve as acting Territorial Auditor
until a permanent appointment is made and approved by the Legislature. Vicente
C. Camacho, who was Froilan C. Tenorio’s running mate as lieutenant governor
for this November’s general election, passed away June 15, a month after
suffering massive stroke. Camacho, 50, was the board chairman of the Retirement
Fund. At the time of his death, Camacho was a businessman who owned Summer Holiday
Hotel in Garapan. Former Governor Tenorio, a Democrat, has since picked Antonio
A. Santos as his running mate. Santos has been an educator for over 40 years including
a teacher, principal, and an instructor and dean at the Northern Marianas College
Land Grant Program. Joseph Yandall is the new chairman of
the American Samoa Power Authority (ASPA) board of directors. Yandall replaces
former chairman Toetagata Albert Mailo, who is now the Administrative Law Judge.
The governor has also appointed local attorney Fepulea’i Afa Ripley as a
member of the ASPA board. In Memoriam Fiji Information Minister Dr. Ahmed Ali died suddenly in Australia in June at the age of 67.
Fred Castro, administrator of the Guam Environmental Protection Agency, died June
21 at age 55. Appointed GEPA administrator when Governor Felix Camacho took office
in January 2003, Castro played a lead role in high-profile projects that included
the closure of the Ordot Dump and the Guam Waterworks Authority’s compliance
with a court order under the federal Clean Water Act. Castro held the same position
from 1988 to 1994 during the administration of former Governor Joseph Ada. He
also was a former chairman of the Republican Party of Guam. |
