Attempted murder charges dropped after witnesses fail to show, Palika joins New Caledonia talks boycott, and Norfolk Islanders stand firm against increases
Police probe after serious charges dismissed
Samoa Police have launched an investigation after 10 witnesses failed to turn up for an attempted murder case on the day of the trial.
Samoan media reports the former rugby league international Tagaloa Maugaloto Palu had attempted murder charges against him dismissed due to the lack of witnesses.
Police Commissioner Auapa'au Logoitino Filipo said if the investigations find there were no valid reasons for why the witnesses did not turn up in court, they should be charged.
The report said Tagaloa attacked two brothers with a machete at a fish market in 2019 before surrendering himself to Police.
The media report said the incident was recorded and streamed live on social media by one of the witnesses who did not turn up to court.
The Commissioner said the credibility of the Police is questioned by the public when these matters happen.
"Personally, the emphasis should be placed upon upgrading and developing police core functions because this is where they fail. We need to look at methods of developing their skills to avoid such matters from happening again," said Auapa'au.
Second New Caledonia party joins boycott of French talks
New Caledonia's pro-independence Palika party has joined the Caledonian Union in rejecting talks in Paris announced by France's interior ministry.
Charles Washetine, spokesperson and elected representative of the Palika Kanak Liberation Party, poses in his office in Noumea. Photo: Theo Rouby / AFP
The ministry called a meeting of the signatories to the 1998 Noumea Accord in September as France plans to draw up a new statute for New Caledonia after last December's boycotted referendum saw a majority of voters opt to remain French.
Palika spokesperson Charles Washetine said the French state has abandoned any notion of impartiality and wants to impose such talks amid pressure from the political right.
The head of the Caledonian Union Daniel Goa said his side won't go to Paris, describing the proposed talks as a sham and adding that if any talks were to go ahead, they would have to be held in New Caledonia and about ways to give the territory its sovereignty.
He also said any talks would be bilateral ones between his side and Paris, meaning that they would not involve New Caledonia's anti-independence parties.
The interior minister Gerald Darmanin had earlier announced a visit to Noumea before the end of next week, but the trip has reportedly been cancelled.
His ministry said he would visit New Caledonia after the Paris talks planned for September.
The anti-independence camp welcomed Darmanin's proposed talks to conclude the process set out in the Noumea Accord.
New Caledonia has been on the UN decolonisation list since 1986 and despite the referendum outcome, the Kanaks' right to self-determination remains an inalienable international right.
Norfolk Islanders refuse to pay increases
Norfolk Islanders have voted not to pay what they see as exorbitant increases in land rates and waste management charges.
The Canberra Today website reports a majority of islanders said they wouldn't pay the charges until their democratic rights are restored.
The island's autonomous parliament was done away with by the Australian government six years ago, and the regional council set up to replace it was itself replaced in 2020.
There have been no local elections in six years, the island has no representation at state level and is represented in the federal parliament through the Canberra seat of Bean.
The website reports landowner Terence Grube saying the Norfolk Island landowners will be steadfast until there is a Norfolk Island elected governing body committed to the island.
Late last month the new minister for territories Kristy McBain announced that because of earlier opposition to the proposed increases, Canberra would introduce the higher levies, incremently, over the next four years.
Party in hospital claims being looked at
Reports of a drunken staff party at Solomon Islands National Referral Hospital are being investigated by the hospital management.
The allegations include people making loud noises and drinking alcohol inside the senior nurse's office at the Emergency Department.
National Referral Hospital chief executive Dr George Malefoasi said the news is very disturbing.
The Emergency Department has been asked to submit an explanation in response to the media reports.
He said if the investigations find the allegations to be truthful, disciplinary action will be taken.
American Samoans reminded of covid threat
In American Samoa, a new public service announcement from the Department of Health is reminding residents that covid-19 is still spreading in the territory.
Testing at LBJ Hospital and community health centres shows covid-19 case numbers have been rising in the past two weeks with both BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron variants spreading in the community.
Health officials said these latest variants spread much faster than previous variants and can possibly reinfect those who have had covid-19 or are fully vaccinated.
Samoan official cleared of using insulting, threatening language
Samoa's deputy Ombudsman has been cleared by the District Court of charges of using insulting and threatening words.
The Samoa Observer reports Associate District Court Judge Masinalupe Tusipa Masinalupe said the prosecution could not substantiate its submissions to the standards required by the court.
A former Associate Minister Maualaivao Pat Ah Him had lodged a complaint with police in November 2020 claiming Maualaivao Seiuli Pepe had used insulting and threatening words against him during a village matai council meeting for their village of Malie.
Maualaivao Pat was later banished by the village council, but that did not stop the complainant from contesting last April's general election.
Police laid charges against Maualaivao Pepe in October 2021.
Nine matai were called as police witnesses and said they were all present during the council meeting in question.
The court however said the testimonies were common events during village councils, especially when there is not agreement.
Engineers upgrade Niue school
New Zealand Army Engineers are undertaking work on Niue as part of Exercise Tropic Twilight.
Exercise Tropic Twilight usually occurs annually in the Pacific, but had been postponed for the past two years due to the pandemic.
A 30-person team from 2nd Engineer Regiment is upgrading Niue High School's ablution blocks and replacing electrical points, lights and the switchboard in the school science lab.
There are also New Zealand Navy dive unit personnel there, carrying out hydrographic surveys of the wharf and channel.