Oscar Temaru held for six hours, Browne angry at deputy PM reinstatement, anti-vax protest in Port Vila and Drua aim to finish with a flourish
Pro-independence leader in Tahiti questioned over funding
French Polynesia's pro-independence leader and mayor of Faaa, Oscar Temaru, has been held for questioning over the funding of his defence in a 2019 trial.
Tahiti-infos reports that he and deputy mayor Robert Maker were questioned for six hours.
Oscar Temaru, mayor of Faaa since 1983 Photo: supplied FB
This comes amid an investigation into alleged abuse of public funds because the Faaa Council had paid for Temaru's defence.
He had been convicted of exerting undue influence and was given a suspended prison sentence as well as a $US50,000 fine.
The conviction will be appealed and is due to be heard in court in August.
As part of the probe into the defence spending in 2020, the prosecution ordered the seizure of Temaru's savings of $US100,000.
The investigation is now under the control of a special trans-regional juridiction in Paris specialised in financial fraud, since the start of 2022 due to the complexity of the case.
Cooks' opposition leader slams PM for re-instatement of deputy
The leader of the Cook Islands opposition Democratic Party, Tina Browne, is criticising Prime Minister Mark Brown over his re-instatement of his deputy.
Robert Tapaitau is awaiting trial on a series of charges, including theft as a servant and conspiracy to defraud, and had been suspended.
He will not go to trial until next year and Brown wanted him to return to work.
The Prime Minister last week announced he had Crown Law advice that lifting the suspension was the right thing to do, but he later retracted that.
Tina Browne accuses him of deflecting blame and misleading voters over the matter.
And she said the suspension should not have been lifted.
"He was suspended because he was charged.The charges are still pending - that's number one. Number two these are serious charges. One is conspiracy to defraud. And then there are two theft charges of public monies. And so one must ask themselves what has changed for the prime minister to re-instate. Nothing has changed."
Browne, who is also a lawyer, asks what message this decision by the prime minister sends to prisoners awaiting a hearing?
Anti-vax protest in Port Vila
A peaceful picket has taken place outside the Vanuatu parliament today.
The protestors were raising concerns about the government's refusal to allow them to march in Port Vila earlier this month to raise concerns about mandatory rules on covid-19 vaccinations.
In today's picket banners are being displayed ask the World Health Organization and the Vanuatu government not to vaccinate young people because they are the future of the country.
Fifty-two candidates for six French National Assembly seats
The window for French legislative elections candidate applications has closed.
French Polynesia will run its voting period from June 4-18 whereas New Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna will run from June 12-19.
In New Caledonia, 17 candidates have been validated by the French High Commission for two seats at the French National Assembly.
In French Polynesia, 27 candidates are fighting for the three seats.
And in Wallis and Futuna, eight candidates are contesting the one available seat.
Overall, the French Overseas territories have 319 candidates running for 27 seats at the national assembly.
Explaining why Bougainville needs a constitution
The Bougainville Constitutional Planning Commission is to raise awareness of its role throughout the autonomous Papua New Guinea region.
Bougainville expects to have attained its independence by 2027 at the latest and work on developing a constitution was initiated earlier this year.
The newly set up commission wants Bougainvilleans to know about its role, to know why a constitution is necessary and the responsibility the citizens have to conntribute to it.
To that end from next month it will start consulting and gauging the views of the people.
A first draft of the constitution is expected later this year, a second draft in 2023 and the final document in 2024.
Stars lining up to play for Tonga's 'Ikale Tahi
Israel Folau, Charles Piutau and Malakai Fekitoa will make their return to international rugby this year, to play for Tonga.
The former All Black and Wallaby representatives were named in a team announcement by the Tonga Rugby Union today.
It is a historic moment for Pacific rugby, with eligibility rules now allowing Pacific Islanders players to play for their home countries.
'Ikale Tahi head coach Toutai Kefu said the selection will make a huge difference to the quality of Tongan rugby.
"It's definitely going to make a difference and no disrespect to the players who have worn the jersey before, but the calibre of players coming through now is at a very high level so we are all looking forward to what they can do on the field and we have high expectations," hes said
Byrne wants Drua to bounce back in final game
The head coach of the Fijian Drua, Mick Byrne, wants an improved performance from his players when the side clashes with the Chiefs on Saturday in Lautoka.
Byrne said the Crusaders beat them on work effort and pace last week in their one-sided Super Rugby Pacific clash.
He said they'll try to play the Chiefs with their own game.
"The match on Saturday is our last game of the year against one of the best teams in the competition and the boys are excited to battle the Chiefs at home.
"We feel we can really go upward and move on to the next level."
Drua backline utility Jona Mataiciwa says they're excited to play in Fiji for only the second time.
He said as it's the last game of the season the team will give its all.
Meanwhile, Fiji Bati head coach Jo Rabele has announced a 50-member extended squad of experienced and young players for the 2022 Rugby League World to be held in England in October.
Dickson given boot by Hunters
The PNG Hunters rugby league team has released forward Casey Dickson on disciplinary grounds midway through the Queensland Hostplus Cup season.
Coach Matthew Church told The National that the former Lae Tigers premiership winner had not lived up to the club's standards.
"The Hunters have an agreed-upon set of values and standards across the whole organisation that are an expectation of anyone representing our club," Church said.
Dickson has immediately joined Mendi Muruks in the Digicel Cup after his return to Papua New Guinea from the Gold Coast.
The Hunters released two other players in pre-season due to discipline.