American Samoa - shortage
American Samoa's lieutenant governor Talauega Eleasalo Ale is calling for local law graduates living overseas to return and resolve the government's lawyer shortage.
There's concern at a mounting backlog of criminal cases because the Office of the Public Defender is short of lawyers.
Chief Justice Michael Kruse has raised the matter, telling cabinet about the attorney deficiency and saying it is the responsibility of all of the executive to solve it.
Talauega said working as a state lawyer in American Samoa now pays well.
"This is a call to the people of American Samoa if you have a law graduate living in California or Hawaii, I think the pay for lawyers here is north of $US65,000, plus a stipend and maybe even a car. So it's really good," he said.
High Court in Fagatogo, American Samoa. Photo: noaa
Niue - nurses
Niue's minister of health Sonya Talagi has told parliament that the government is bringing in several nurses from Samoa to plug shortages in the Health Department.
Niue Broadcasting reports MP O'Love Jacobsen had queried the minister about the staffing problems.
The minister said there is a shortage of staff at the Aged Care Facility, though the hospital is helping out there at the moment.
American Samoa - births
New data shows a continued slowing of the birth rate in American Samoa in the last ten years.
The American Samoa 2021 Statistical Yearbook says births have dropped from around 1300 ten years ago to only 706 in 2021.
No explanation was available from health or government officials behind the continued decline in birth rates.
According to the yearbook summary report, communicable diseases have dropped from about 5,100 in 2019, to 3,900 in 2020, despite the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
Papua New Guinea - surrender
Twenty-nine men surrendered to police in Papua New Guinea in relation to an armed robbery and two murders.
Central Provincial Police Commander Laimo Asi said the situation along the Aroma Coast has been tense since Sunday when the crimes took place.
According to police reports, five armed men from Maopa were in the process of robbing a Chinese Shop at Egala`auna village when two of the robbers were killed, while three escaped.
The commander said the 27 murder suspects are from Egala`auna who allegedly went in a group and fought with the five armed robbers.
Two of the three robbers who escaped surrendered to the police.
Maopa villagers, after learning of the two criminals' deaths, ransacked the store, wounded people inside and burnt the store down.
Solomon Islands - embargo
The Solomon Islands government is placing a two-month embargo on diplomatic visits to the country, starting from September 15th.
In an official signed letter leaked online, dated September 5, the permanent secretary of the national planning ministry informs development partners and ministries that this time period coincides with the finalising of the Annual National Budget 2024.
Susan Sulu describes this as a "crucial time" and requests development partners avoid scheduling country visits unless they are directly related to budget preparation.
She said the embargo notice is consistent with mission guidelines outlined in one of the government's aid management policy documents.
Sulu said exceptions will be granted in the event of natural disasters and emergencies or on a case-by-case basis for missions related to "programmes and projects".
Samoa - criticise
Samoa's Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa has criticised the global financial system.
Talamua Online reports she spoke as the Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States, at the current UN meeting on International Financial Reform.
Fiame said Samoa is one of the most vulnerable countries, but not the poorest.
She said this important distinction has condemned Samoa to a vicious cycle of growing debt, crushed by an uncaring, unseeing, and unfair global financial system.
She called for the UN to adopt a multi-dimensional vulnerability index.
Samoa - reshuffle
Samoa's ruling FAST Party has reshuffled its portfolios and added two more Cabinet ministers.
Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa said the additional two ministers will make a total of 15 in Cabinet, which is allowed under the Constitution.
The Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture will be split to create a new Ministry of Sports and Recreation, under new Minister Laumatiamanu Ringo Purcell.
The former CEO of Samoa Shipping Services will be responsible for the Labour Mobility Unit of the Ministry of Commerce Industry and Labour, which oversees the seasonal worker schemes.
The Prime Minister takes over as the new Minister of Tourism.
The transition was to begin this week with the ministers officially assuming their new roles from October 1.
Tonga/US - volunteers
The US Peace Corp has begun its redeployment of volunteers to Tonga since ceasing operations in 2020 due to Covid.
Nine teachers gave their oaths in a swearing in ceremony on Thursday in Nuku'alofa.
US Ambassador to Tonga Marie Damour said the US Peace Corp program mainly targeted education, but there are plans to expand into natural disaster response and environmental conversation.
"I'm very proud to announce that peace core Tonga will launch work into a new area that is dear to all of us which is the environment. That includes climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction and environmental conservation, helping Tonga to address the existential threat of our generation," Damour said.
Over 1700 volunteers have served in Tonga since 1967.