Ex-top official jailed; toilet roll restrictions in Vanautu women's prison; and new hospital promise for Guam
Former Samoa official jailed on drugs charges
Samoa's former Assistant Electoral Commissioner, Afualo Daryl Mapu, has been sentenced to jail on drugs charges.
Afualo, 39, was found guilty of charges of possession of narcotics, utensils, unlawful weapons, unregistered firearms, unlawful ammunition, and ammunition without permit.
He was sentenced in the Supreme Court to a total of 18 months in prison, and the Court has ordered his various sentencings to be served concurrently with time already spent in custody to be deducted.
Supreme Court Justice Tafaoimalo Leilani Tuala-Warren said the quantity of methamphetamine found on the accused was not insignificant.
She also said the increasing prevalence of this drug in Samoa and the impact on society cannot be understated.
His co-defendant Marie Fanueli had all charges against her dismissed when the Court found her not guilty last month.
One roll of toilet paper per fortnight
Photo: Public domain
In Vanuatu, there are concerns over Port Vila Women's Prison issuing one roll of toilet paper every two weeks.
Te Te'a Silae Welu N'matu Correctional Service, reportedly only provides one roll of toilet paper that is expected to last two weeks and one box of sanitary pads once a month.
The Daily Post reports the Vanuatu National Council of Women has called it irresponsible and called out the Department of Corrections.
Guam governor-elect promises new hospital
The likely re-elected governor of Guam - based on unofficial election results - has promised the territory a new hospital within the next four years.
The Pacific Daily Times reports Lou Leon Guerrero made the guarantee during a victory speech on Wednesday.
Guam Memorial Hospital needs to be replaced soon, according to an assessment by the US Army Corps of Engineers, and Leon Guerrero plans to build it and other government health facilities on 102 acres of US Navy land at Eagles Field.
Some of the land's ancestral owners have objected to the proposed lease, and have argued the administration should try harder to get the land returned to its original owners.
Greenpeace seeking Pacific voices
Greenpeace New Zealand is asking people of the Pacific to share their views on deep-sea mining in a new online survey translated into nine Pacific languages.
Greenpeace Aotearoa seabed mining campaigner James Hita said the movement to halt deep sea mining is strong and growing.
Countries that currently support a moratorium, or pause on deep sea mining, include Palau, Samoa, Fiji and The Federated States of Micronesia.
New Zealand and Germany have also recently backed a pause on the industry, while French President Emmanuel Macron announced at COP27 this week that he supports an outright ban.
Hita said that for decades indigenous peoples have been excluded from decision-making processes which impact the Pacific way of life.
Community covid case detected in Nauru
A new local case of Covid-19 has been found in Nauru.
Acting president Martin Hunt said this was the first locally acquired case since the June/July outbreak.
Hunt said the person was infected locally, and it is likely they caught Covid from someone who arrived in Nauru last Sunday or Monday and tested negative on arrival but probably does not yet know that they are infected.
Repeat testing is being done for all travellers who arrived from Brisbane on November 6 and from Nadi on November 7.
Labour mobility meeting winds up in Apia
The sixth Pacific Annual Labour Mobility Meeting has concluded in Apia, Samoa.
It was attended by over 150 delegates from government, private sector, NGOs and international agencies across the Pacific region, to discuss labour mobility priorities in the region.
The meeting forms part of the regional PACERPLUS agreement between Pacific Island countries and Australia and New Zealand.
CEO of Samoa's Ministry of Commerce Pulotu Lyndon Chu Ling, told delegates at the meeting that solutions were needed to address affordable accommodation and better pay rates for Pacific Island Seasonal workers.