First Vanuatu court verdict on election petitions; tragic death of Samoan palolo hunters; and Porgera mine deal
Election petition dismissed in Vanuatu
Vanuatu's Chief Justice has dismissed an election petition filed by Howard Aru, Vanua'aku Pati's candidate in the Ambae Constituency.
Photo: RNZ Pacific/Hilaire Bule
Aru had contested the snap election on October 13 and filed a petition after John Still Tari Qetu, now Vanuatu's Minister of Justice, was declared the winner.
The official declaration of the results of the election showed that Qetu was successfully elected with 521 votes and Aru 501.
Aru disputed this, claiming the unofficial results showed that he had obtained 503 votes and Qetu only 498.
On November 2, the Supreme Court ordered for a recounting of votes on Ambae, including void votes.
The findings indicated Qetu had 520 votes while Aru had 500 votes with 25 void votes.
This is the first court verdict following the election petitions filed after the election.
Worm-hunters die in Samoa
In Samoa, two men have been found dead after going out hunting for palolo, a worm that's considered a delicacy.
The first body was uncovered on Monday and the second on Tuesday morning.
The discovery of the bodies was confirmed to Samoa News by director of Search and Rescue, Faamasino Upuese Galoia.
"The men fell overboard at the head of the airport. The first body was found the same night, and the second body was found (Tuesday) morning around 11am. I cannot give out any further details as we have yet to receive a full report from the Marine Patrol that conducted the search, which started Monday when we first received the call.
Marine Patrol officers who conducted the search told Samoa News the men were not wearing lifejackets.
"I cannot comment on that, but what I can say is that, it is a major issue, when people go out at sea, they need to wear life jackets, but it's somewhat difficult to enforce that," said Faamasino.
Deal gives government majority share at PNG's Porgera mine
Barrick Gold has reached a deal that gives the Papua New Guinea government a majority share in the Porgera gold mine as part of plans to restart operations.
PNG Prime Minister James Marape said the deal will set a benchmark for further resources projects in the region.
Porgera has been shut for a year after a dispute over the terms of benefit-sharing between the operator, landowners and the government.
But the new framework pact paves the way to resume operations.
Barrick Gold chief executive Mark Bristow said the company will partner with all key stakeholders to make Porgera a world-class, long-life gold mine.
Reuters reports the deal places Porgera ownership in a new joint venture that is 51 percent owned by PNG stakeholders and the rest by Barrick Niugini Ltd, which is owned in partnership with Zijin Mining from China.
USP has new Deputy Vice-Chancellor
The University of the South Pacific Council has appointed a Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice President.
Professor Janusz Jankowski has been announced to fill the roles.
The professor was the Chair of the Board and an honorary clinical professor at the University College of Osteopathy in London, from 2019 to 2022.
He has served as the Justice of the Peace (Magistrate) since 2019 and will continue until 2024.
Samoan men arrested after raid
Two young men were arrested last week for possession of marijuana and firearms after a raid in Samoa.
The Samoa Observer reports the Deputy Police Commissioner, Papali'i Monalisa Tiai-Keti, telling a media conference they arrested a 16-year-old and a 22-year-old who are first-time offenders.
He confirmed police seized a total of 353 marijuana trees, 91 branches of marijuana and 31,406 seeds as well as guns from a plantation in Afulilo.
The pair will appear in court soon to answer to charges of possession of narcotics and dangerous weapons.
Fishing vessel leaking gasoline
The fishing vessel The Tuarere which is beached on the French Polynesian atoll of Tikehau, has been leaking gasoline since last week.
The leaking gasoline has spread across hundreds of square metres near the waters of the reef.
The pollution was observed by police helicopter as well as by the inhabitants of the atoll.
The shipowner has been given a formal notice to take off the ship off the atoll.
Older coins will soon be no more in French territories
France is stopping usage of old coins of the French Pacific Franc (CFP) from December 1.
For 15 months, new and old monetary coins have been circulating at the same time throughout the French Pacific.
The old coins will be reused for their metal.
Since the start of the 15-month campaign to collect old coins, 40 million of them have been gathered.
The French Pacific Franc is used in New Caledonia, Wallis & Futuna and French Polynesia.