Vanuatu has sworn in its 13th parliament. Ishmael Kalsakau is the country’s newly elected Prime Minister with Sato Kilman appointed as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Lands. Other cabinet ministers include: John Salong as Finance Minister; Ralph Regenvanu as Minister of Climate Change; Jotham Napat as Minister of Foreign Affairs; John Still Tari Qetu as Minister of Justice; Christophe Emelee as Minister of Internal Affairs; Nakou Natuman as Minister of Agriculture; Rick Tchmako Mahe as Minister of Health; Bruno Leingkone as Minister of Education; Marcellino Telukluk as Minister of Infrastructure; Matai Seremaiah as Minister of Tourism and Trade, and Tomker Netvunei as Minister of Youth and Sports.
Nellie James is the new Chair of New Porgera Ltd. She has over 10 years of mining law experience and will lead the Board of the company as it restarts mining at the Porgera gold mine.
Pacific Islands Tax Administration Association (PITAA) has elected George Mow as its new Head. Mow was the former manager for International Relations at Fiji Revenue Customs Services.
Three new Tongatapu People’s Representatives have been elected to the Legislative Assembly. They are Mateni Tapueluelu, Dulcie Elaine Tei and Paula Piveni Piukala.
Rex Horoi has been appointed as Monash University’s inaugural Climate Change Envoy. The newly created role is believed to be a first by an Australian university. Horoi is a human rights advocate and former Solomon Islands Ambassador.
In Samoa, seven government ministry heads have been sworn in. They are Dr. Mema Motusaga for the Ministry of Women Community and Social Development; Dominic Schwalger Fuimaono for Samoa Water Authority; Fui Tupai Mau Simanu for Ministry of Works Transport and Infrastructure; Leota Aliielua Salani for Samoa Bureau of Statistics; Pativaine Reita Petaia-Tevita for Samoa Tourism Authority; Saoleititi Maeva Betham-Vaai for Ministry of Finance, and Tanuvasa Petone Mauga as Samoa Fire and Emergency Services Authority Commissioner.
Bank South Pacific has hired Mark T. Robinson as its new CEO. Robinson is a senior financial services executive with more than 30 years of experience. He succeeds Robin Fleming who departs BSP at the end of this year after serving 42 years with the Bank.
Micronesian scientist Dr. Nicole Yamase joins the Blue Prosperity Micronesia Team as a Science Advisor. Yamase is the first Pacific Islander to visit Challenger Deep, the deepest known part of the Mariana Trench.
Kiribati’s new acting Chief Justice is Tetiro Semilota Moaniba, replacing New Zealand judge Bill Hastings. She is the first i-Kiribati citizen and the first woman to hold the position.
Ambassador Dr. Sabri Kiҫmari of the Republic of Kosovo has presented his credentials to Marshallese President David Kabua.
Managing director and financial controller of Cope Construction Limited, Suman Sekran has been selected Businesswoman of the Year at the Fiji Women in Business Awards 2022.
Senior New Zealand judge, Justice Sir William Young, has been sworn-in into Samoa’s Court of Appeal. He replaces Justice Robert Lloyd Fisher.
The Solomon Islands Government has selected Dr. Claudia Seutter von Lötzen as the nation’s Honorary Consul to Germany. Dr Seutter von Lötzen is a German national and a practising lawyer, with 20 years of experience in senior corporate management.
Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr has sworn-in two new members of the nation’s Judiciary, Associate Justice Fred Mitchel Isaacs and Senior Judge G. Midth Bells.
Shangri-La Yanuca Island (Fiji) has hired Patrick Duff as its Resident Manager. Duff was previously the Resident Manager for Iniala Beach House Phuket in Thailand.
Nasfund PNG has made two new appointments to its board of directors: Anthony Yauieb is now Deputy Chairman, while Christopher Elphick joins the board as an independent director. Also, Nasfund’s Contributors Savings and Loan Society has hired a new CEO, Keith Raimo, and manager, Noel Keyala.
Papua New Guinean lawyer Hubert Namani is the newly elected Chairman of Papua New Guinea’s Aviation Safety Authority, succeeding Rob Collins who held the role since 2016.
Andrew L. Orsini of Saipan has been re-elected into CNMI’s Board of Education while Tinian BOE member Antonio Borja joins the board unopposed. Both Orsini and Borja will serve a term of four years.
Senior Tongan lawyer Sione Finau Sisifa has been re-appointed as Solicitor General for four years, serving at the Attorney General’s office in Nuku’alofa, Tonga.
Fiji’s new High Commissioner to Australia is David Kolitagane. He recently served as the Permanent Secretary for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management.
Nambawan Supa‘s newest Independent Trustee Director is Philip Samar who has over 20 years’ experience in the private and public sectors.
James Faleofa has been awarded the Royal New Zealand Navy’s “Sailor of the Year 2022”. He is of Tongan descent and a leading youth development specialist stationed at the tri-service Youth Development Unit (North) at Whenuapai.
The Saipan Chamber of Commerce has elected its 2023-2024 board of directors. They include Angil Design Inc. founder Ron Smith, Paradise Dental Spa co-owner Donna Krum, Bank of Saipan President John Arroyo, and incumbents Chamber Treasurer and Sergeant-at-Arms Janice Tenorio and two-term Chamber President Joseph “Joe” Guerrero.
Three new board members for Samoa’s Public Service commission are Nonu Lemauga Saleimoa Vaai as Chairman, Gatoloai Tilianamua Afamasaga and Fonoti Perelini.
In PNG, police commissioner David Manning has announced a major reshuffle in the constabulary involving 52 senior officers. They include: Silva Sika as National Capital District metropolitan superintendent, Joseph Tondop as Hela provincial police commander (PPC); Joseph Puri as Southern Highlands PPC; Clement Dalla as acting commander for Southern; Christopher Tamari as East Sepik PPC; Albert Beli as New Ireland PPC; Sylvia Reu as Minister for Internal Security’s liaison officer; Maipe Mazuc as Rural Commander Southern Highlands; Epenes Nili as Chimbu PPC and Robin Bore as North Fly PPC. Additionally, Jacob Ivaroa is the new director of the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption unit and Pare Kuiap is the new director of Prosecutions.
Fiji’s New Commissioner Western, Apolosi Lewaqai has taken office, succeeding Mesake Ledua, who has retired.
Rhea Moss-Christian is the newly appointed Honorary Consul of the Republic of the Marshall Islands to the Federated States of Micronesia.
Steamships PNG has promoted Seini Fisi’ihoi to the role of General Manager Human Resource. She joined the company in 2017 as Learning and Development Manager.
David Bell is the new Director of Dining and Entertainment for InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa. He joined IHG in 2018 as Executive Chef.
Kiribati has appointed four new Secretaries. They are: Kaaro Neeti as Secretary for Justice, Tiene Tooki as Secretary for Internal Affairs, Ruui Tabutoaa as Secretary for the Office of Te Beretitenti, and Uering Iteraera as Secretary for Health and Medical Services.
Ragigia Dawai is the new Director General of the Fiji Red Cross Society. Her professional background is in marketing and communications in tourism, banking and telecommunications.
Tongan teacher and artist Mia Kami has been awarded the SDG Vanguard Award from the United Nations foundation. The award recognises “leaders whose work and impact reflects the urgency of the SDG agenda and the imperative to leave no one behind.”
Vanuatu’s Football Federation has re-hired Moses Stevens, a well-known journalist and former municipal councillor. He held the same role in 2002 to 2005.
In Memory
West Papua mourns the loss of Filep Karma who was part of the territory’s United Liberation Movement. ULMWP President Benny Wenda recalls Karma as “being present at every single protest, reassuring and inspiring West Papuans who marched or prayed with him.”
Papua New Guinea senior politician and pioneer businessman Ken Fairweather, 77, has died. Fairweather was first elected to the 8th National Parliament for the Sumkar Open Electorate in Madang Province in the 2007 General Elections as an Independent candidate.
The publisher of Samoa News, Vera Milovale Annesley, 94, passed away on November 5. She became the paper’s publisher more than two decades ago, after acquiring the newspaper from former owner, Lewis Wolman.
Tonga’s fisheries minister Semisi Fakahau has been laid to rest. Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency Director General, Dr Manu Tupou-Roosen said: “Honourable Semisi Fakahau will be remembered as a great Pacific Statesman who dedicated his distinguished career to the management and development of our fisheries for our people.”
Samoan actor Fa’afiaula Sagote died after a short illness. Sagote is remembered for his acting in The Orator, the first ever Samoan feature film filmed entirely in the Samoan language.
Former PNG judge, lawyer, human rights and environmental champion Brian Brunton has passed away. “There was never a conference in Alotau or on land or forests when [the] late Brian Brunton would not be there and bring his incisive perspective on the law and people’s rights to the fore,” wrote the Institute of National Affairs in his memory.
