People Briefs

Lost at sea: Taate Toakai and Botara Betaia survived 35 days in an open boat. [Photo: Suzanne Chutaro]

Popular Fijian language radio announcer Sitiveni Raturala was sacked on March 10 by the government-owned Fiji Broadcasting Corporation Limited after an interview with army chief Commodore Frank Bainimarama. Raturala was host of a popular lunchtime talkback show on Bula FM and had interviewed the commander and army spokesman Captain Neumi Leweni on March 9. FBCL said he breached editorial policy because he did allow callers despite it being a talkback show. -- RM

Australia's opposition spokesman for Pacific affairs Bob Sercombe will retire from politics at the next election. He withdrew from an internal Labor Party ballot when it became evident he would have to make way for union leader Bill Shorten, who unlike Sercombe, has opposed labor mobility schemes with the Pacific. -- SM

Former educator Dr. Trudie Iuli-Sala has been appointed as the new president of American Samoa's anti-corruption group, Common Cause American Samoa. She replaces Taimane Johnson, who remains a member of the organization. According to the new president, Common Cause will be a voice for those who are afraid to speak out for various reasons. -- FS

Ernest Mark Williams is the new Commissioner of Public Safety in the Northern Marianas. Williams, 44, replaced acting commissioner John Wabol who has been named deputy commissioner. A retired U.S. Army captain, Williams spent 20 years in law enforcement in the military serving stints in Iraq, Afghanistan and the U.S. Wabol spent his entire career at the Division of Fire, under the Department of Public Safety. -- FSR

William "Willy" Kostka, executive director of the non-profit Conservation Society of Pohnpei (CSP), was recently awarded a Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation. One of five recipients of the fellowship, Kostka will spend three years establishing and supporting protected areas networks throughout the Federated States of Micronesia. The fellowship, worth $150,000, is administered by the U.S.-based Pew Institute for Ocean Science. -- JC

The Papua New Guinea Ombudsman Commission has concluded three senior government ministers breached the Leadership Code and has referred them to the public prosecutor for possible prosecution. Son of Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare and National Planning Minister Arthur Somare, Health Minister Melchior Pep and Deputy Prime Minister Sir Moi Avei were referred to the public prosecutor in February and March for alleged misapplication of electoral funds, misappropriation and failure to declare receiving double housing allowances. The public prosecutor is currently reviewing the evidence. -- AR

John Taroanui Doom of French Polynesia has been elected as one of eight regional presidents for the World Council of Churches Central Committee. The regional presidents promote ecumenism and interpret the work of the WCC, especially in their respective regions. Doom is currently national coordinator of the Association of the Former Nuclear Site Workers of Moruroa (Moruroa e Tatou). -- SM

Controversial American televangelist Benny Hinn staged a three-day "miracle crusade" in Suva from January 21-23. Organizers estimated that a total of 30,000 attended on the three days. Claims of miracles healings were tempered by photographic evidence from a Baptist church group that a man who claimed to be healed really did not need crutches in the first place. But organizers brushed it aside and Hinn promised to return in June. -- RM

The National Court has cleared former Papua New Guinea state solicitor Isikel Mesulam of charges that he possessed a pornographic videotape of sex orgies in Port Moresby hotels. The high court ruled that the wording of the charge was technically erroneous and struck out the district court's ruling that Mesulam "knowingly and without lawful justification had in his possession an obscene videotape between February 2002 and 2004." Mesulam is considering suing the government for malicious prosecution. -- AR

Former East Kwaio MP Alfred Sasako of the Solomon Islands, who has held various ministerial portfolios in the former Kemakeza government, is the first leader to be fined by the Leadership Code Commission for breaches of the code. It was Sasako's own 1997-2000 government that put in place the Leadership Code Act to ensure that leaders who misbehaved face a penalty. The Commission imposed a fine of SBD$2,000. The Commission found Sasako had demeaned his ministerial office when he conducted an affair with a married woman, when he himself was married to another woman. The incident occurred before Sasako took up his controversial job at the ACP Secretariat in Brussels in early 2005. Sasako says he was not dealt with fairly and the fine and action was politically motivated, especially when it came near election time. As many as eight more former MPs and ministers left their wives for other women when they held office. The LCC says it is coming down on them as well. -- AO

There's a new activist group in Palau and they want to be heard and recognized. The group is aptly named Voices. The founders are Ann Klass, Imelda Nakamura and Marvin Ngirturang. "We want to establish a medium for people to put out their voices without prejudice or ridicule," Klass says. So far the group's focus has centered on political activities including a petition for the recall of outspoken Senator Alfonso Diaz, who also operates a radio station and hosts a popular talk show. -- BP

Guam businessman Joey Crisostomo, the president/owner of CarsPlus auto dealership, was appointed to the board of directors of the Bank of Guam. He fills the vacancy that was created by the death of the late bank president and CEO Tony Leon Guerrero. Crisostomo has served on the boards of the Guam Chamber of Commerce and the Guam Economic Development Authority. Crisostomo was also honored by the Guam office of the U.S. Small Business Administration as the Small Businessperson of the Year for 2006. -- FW

The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) in Pohnpei introduced three new staff to its secretariat in March. Andrew Richards, from Papua New Guinea now serves as compliance manager to the commission. Most recently, Richards spent 13 years with the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) as its monitoring, compliance and surveillance manager. Dr. Sung Kwon Soh joins the commission as its science manager. Soh, who is from South Korea, comes from the Office of International Cooperation, Ministry of Maritime Affairs in Seoul. He was previously chairman of the commission's scientific committee. Ken Smithson, originally from the United Kingdom, assumes the post of finance and administration officer. Smithson has worked with the FFA and also served as executive officer/ budget and internal oversight officer with the International Seabed Authority in Jamaica. -- JC

High-profile lawyer Graham Leung has been elected into the Council of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, a first for a person from Fiji. Leung is the president of the Fiji Law Society, chairman of the Electoral Commission, and the judge advocate of a court martial panel hearing mutiny charges against soldiers. Leung is a partner at Howards law firm in Suva. -- RM

The former commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, retired Navy Adm. Thomas Fargo, has joined the board of directors of TeleGuam Holdings, doing business as GTA, Guam's telephone company, which was privatized in January 2005. "With his extensive background in the military and in international affairs, Adm. Fargo will be able to provide clear perspectives on what the military's long-term strategic play for Guam and the Pacific region might be," said Letitia Law-Byerly, GTA corporate communications manager. -- FW

A Fiji-based journalist has been named "Islands Journalist of the Year" at the 2006 Developing Asia Journalism Awards, organized jointly by the Asian Development Bank Institute and ADB. Samisoni Pareti, formerly a staff writer at Islands Business in Suva, now works for Radio Australia and was honored for his writing on remittances, among other issues. More than 250 journalists submitted entries. -- GJ

The new British High Commissioner to Fiji, Roger Sykes, 57, presented his credentials to the Vice President of Fiji, Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi, on March 16 at Government House in Suva. Sykes replaced Charles Mochan. His most recent posting was as deputy head of mission in Karachi from 2002-2005. -- RM

Jerry Tan, president of Tan Holdings, and Emma S. Villagomez, head of the Galleria at Duty-Free Shoppers, were appointed by Governor Benigno R. Fitial as board members of the Marianas Visitors Authority. Tan will represent the business community while Villagomez represents women, part of the requirements under the law for MVA's board of directors. -- FSR

Former Fijian media and sports personality Mere Lomaloma Elliot has been appointed the new CEO for the 2007 World Netball Championships. She left her job as project manager of New Zealand's popular Pasifika Festival to take on her new role in April. The appointment is seen a major boost for next year's showpiece event with preparations over the past year marred by internal fighting among organizers in Fiji. Elliot will be based at the WNC 2007 head office in Laucala, near Suva. -- PR

The Marshall Islands Nitijela (Parliament) confirmed long-time assistant secretary of Foreign Affairs Raynard Gideon as one of the three Public Service Commission commissioners, who oversee all government hiring. Cent Langidrik, a commissioner since 2000, was elevated to chairman to replace retiring Kinja Andrike. The third commissioner is Lomes McKay. -- GJ

Fashion designer Ellena Tavioni is the Cook Islands Business and Professional Woman of the Year 2005. Tavioni owns TAV's boutique, known for its trendy Pacific designs. Last year's highlight for TAV's fashion house was its inclusion into the Air New Zealand Fashion Week in Auckland attended by prominent fashion houses and reputable fashion magazines from Europe and America. -- UKM

President of the Student Government Association at the University of Guam, Sahara Defensor, is the recipient of a $30,000 scholarship from the Truman Scholarship Foundation. Each year the Truman scholarship is awarded to about 80 college juniors from across the United States who demonstrate exceptional leadership potential and are planning a career in public service. Defensor is the sixth Truman scholar from UOG in the past seven years. -- FW

Samoa's new Consul General to American Samoa is Mataafa Tomasi Esera. He has held previous positions with the Prime Minister's office, including Assistant CEO, Immigration Services. -- SM

The Cook Islands Office of the Prime Minister has a new chief of staff. Nandi Glassie takes over from Denise Rairi, who was removed from office after police began investigations against her over fraud-related allegations. The investigation was carried out after the Audit Office reported that Rairi breached the Crimes Act when she worked as project manager for building a state-owned hospital in an outer island. -- UKM

Archbishop Charles Balvo, Vatican Ambassador to NZ/Pacific. [Photo: Giff Johnson]

Archbishop Charles Balvo, the Vatican's ambassador to New Zealand and many islands in the region, made his first visit to the north Pacific in January and February, stopping in the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia and Palau to present his diplomatic credentials and also visiting Guam. In the credentials ceremony with Marshall Islands President Kessai Note, Balvo confirmed that changes are in the pipeline for the Catholic Church in the Marshalls. Although the Jesuits have run the church in the Marshalls since the 1920s, they are facing a shortage of priests. In response, the Catholic Sacred Heart order--which first set foot in the Marshalls in the late 1890s--is being reestablished to take over supervision of the Marshall Islands churches. The desire of Rome, he said, "is that the Jesuits remain and work with the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart." A final decision about a "change of command" is expected in 2007. -- GJ

Saipan Chamber of Commerce President Charles V. Cepeda, Commissioner of Education Rita H. Inos and former teacher Linsa F. Lizama are the new board of regent members of the Northern Marianas College. Cepeda replaced Jay H. Jones of Triple J Motors who declined his nomination due to a "conflict of interest" as his wife works at NMC. -- FSR

Tuvalu's new High Commissioner to Fiji is Steve Paeniu. Paeniu has previously served with Tuvalu's finance ministry and the Asian Development Bank. -- SM

Cook Islands Prime Minister Jim Marurai. [Photo: Samantha Magick]

Former Cook Islands prime minister Dr. Robert Woonton has been sacked as the country's High Commissioner to New Zealand. Prime Minister Jim Marurai said his predecessor was sacked for interfering in political circles and for allegedly plotting a coup to topple Marurai from government. -- UKM

John S. Del Rosario is the acting secretary of the newly established Department of Public Lands, formerly the Marianas Public Lands Authority. Del Rosario is the governor's senior policy advisor. No decision has been made yet on whether Del Rosario will be nominated as full-time secretary. Del Rosario is the brother of Pacific Magazine Saipan correspondent Frank Rosario. -- FSR

The Federated States of Micronesia's National Police Maritime Wing Unit, overseen by the country's Department of Justice, recently introduced two new Royal Australian Navy advisers to its ranks. Lt. Cmdr. Mark Sorby now serves as maritime surveillance adviser to the FSM. Chief Petty Officer Chris "Johnny" O'Keefe joins as technical adviser. Australia provides three advisers to the FSM for two-to-three year stints through its Defense Department's Pacific patrol boat project. -- JC

Filisouaiga Pili Ta'afua, 34, has been appointed executive director of the multi-million dollar American Samoa Government Employees Retirement Fund Office, the first Samoan to serve in the position. Ta'afua has worked in the Retirement Office since 1998 and has been deputy director under four different off-island bosses. -- FS

The new director of Australia's Centre for Democratic Institutions is Dr. Benjamin Reilly. The Australian-funded CDI provides "training, technical assistance and peer support for parliamentarians and emerging leaders in our region." Reilly is currently an associate professor in politics at the Asia Pacific School of Economics and Government at the Australian National University. -- SM

Judge Anand Satyanand is New Zealand's new Governor General. Satyanand is the son of Fiji Indian parents, and was born and raised in Auckland. He is a former Ombudsman and succeeds Dame Silvia Cartwright. -- PR

Contributors: Suzanne Chutaro, Ricardo Morris, Samantha Magick, Fili Sagapolutele, Frank S. Rosario, Jessica Chapman, Alex Rheeney, Alison Ofotalau, Blaire Phillips, Frank Whitman, Giff Johnson, Peter Rees and Ulamila Kurai-Marrie.