Nauru - agreements
Nauru's Government has signed two agreements with Australia for over $US3 million in financial support.
A statement from the Nauru government Friday, June 9 said Finance Minister Martin Hunt signed the agreement with Australian High Commissioner Helen Cheney in Yaren.
It said the funding from Canberra will go towards the education sector and improving Covid response capabilities.
Hunt said it will help establish a quality learning environment for Naruan students.
Pacific/US - geopolitics
A United States government official says Washington needs to be judged by its actions as it recommits to greater involvement in the Pacific.
Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of Global Public Affairs Bill Russo is one of several State Department officials visiting Pacific nations on a familiarisation tour.
While there has been a lot of criticism about the US initiating a cold war style militarisation to combat the influence of China, Russo said hopefully the Pacific has seen its commitment in recent weeks particularly seeking $US7.2 billion from Congress in aid for the region.
"Particularly for their Compacts of Free Association, whether it is the two embassies that we have already opened or the two new embassies that we are still looking to open in the very near term, whether it's been climate investment, including through the resilience facility," he said.
"I hope what the region sees now, and what the region continues to see is a sustained effort over years to come, will be our actions that demonstrate that we are here."
Russo said the US is not seeking to contain China, and there is a place for China in the region.
Pacific - cruise ships
A cruising company has been taken to court after a voyage sailed towards a cyclone warning in the Pacific six years ago.
A statement from Carter Capner Law said most passengers were confined to their cabin for the majority of the cruise while the ship navigated the cyclone and heavy seas.
The director of the law firm said the P&O Pacific Aria set off for New Caledonia and Vanuatu without giving passengers the option to cancel, despite a cyclone warning being issued for Vanuatu and a forecast for a category 3 cyclone heading in the direction of Noumea.
The claim seeks to recover damages from P&O for disappointment, frustration, discomfort and distress, and a refund of the cruise fare paid by each passenger.
According to the NZ Herald, both Carnival Australia and its subsidiary P&O have reportedly declined to comment while the matter was before the courts.
French Polynesia - bilateral
French Polynesia and New Zealand have agreed on working together more closely in the primary sector.
A government statement to that effect was issued in Papeete following a visit by the New Caledonia-based New Zealand consul for French Polynesia, Felicity Roxburgh, who met the new primary sector minister Taivini Teai.
It said proposed projects are numerous and prioritisation work will be done jointly in the coming months as the new French Polynesian government wants to improve food security.
The two sides discussed opportunities for exchanging expertise in aquaculture as well as the importance of biosecurity.
Teai said French Polynesia wants to help cherry tomato growers to export produce to New Zealand, particularly in July and August when production is high, yet it is winter in New Zealand.
The discussions also raised the idea of experts from New Zealand being sent to help breed cows and other animals.
Samoa - training
The US Training Ship Golden Bear has donated navigation and communication equipment to the National University of Samoa's School of Maritime.
This is part of the ongoing cooperation between the United States and Samoa in maritime security and education.
The equipment includes life rafts, fire hose, life jackets, laptops, and immersion suits.
School of Maritime students expressed their gratitude in song and dance, along with Samoan handicraft as gifts to Captain Bannister and the crew and cadets of TS Golden Bear.
Students of the School of Maritime were also invited to tour the TS Golden Bear on Monday and given a preview of the stimulator system used by TSGB cadets for navigational and communication trainings.
Samoa - beetle
Steps are being taken to control the invasive Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle in Samoa.
It impacts over two-thousand small coconut farmers.
More than $US997,000 from USAID's Pacific American Fund is to be injected into Women in Business Development Inc to tackle the issue.
Deputy Mission Director Betty Chung said by using a natural approach, Women in Business Development Inc is ensuring that farmers will still be able to trade in fair-trade markets as well as organic, local, and international markets.
American Samoa - hospital
The planned second hospital in American Samoa will focus on five major areas which currently require off-island care.
Representatives of the contracted builders, AHL, have recently met with Governor Lemanu Mauga.
AHL project director Linda Lileikis is quoted in the statement saying their assessments regarding off-island referrals from American Samoa are primarily cardiology, orthopedic, ophthalmology, neurology and oncology.
Lileikis said they do not want to duplicate any services LBJ Hospital is providing.
No firm time-line has been given on when construction will begin and when it will be completed.
Papua New Guinea - police
The PNG Police Commissioner warns the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary lacks accountability and governance.
According to the Post-Courier, David Manning said there was a gap and it needed to be filled during the launch of a workshop for Governance and Accountability.
He reminded divisional commanders, directors, provincial police commanders, legal experts and stakeholders that more needed to be done to fulfil the expectation of government and the people in the country.
Samoa - sentenced
The driver of a speeding vehicle which ran off the road in front of StarKist Samoa in December 2021, killing four cannery employees, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.
On Friday, the defendant, Chanel Lafua apologised to the families of the four men whose lives were abruptly ended in the tragic accident just after midnight on December 17.
Inside the courtroom were wives and children of the deceased: Faasaulala Ahoni, Ierome Vili, Alatina Faleasi and Taumaoe Olive.
Vili said it's been three years since the tragedy, and this was the first time she's heard the defendant.
She said she wanted justice for the death of her husband and also speaks for the families of the other men killed because of Lafua's recklessness. She asked that he be sentenced to life imprisonment.
In delivering sentence, Acting Associate Justice Elvis Patea said Lafua's actions were reckless and careless resulting in the four deaths.
But he said while the families of the four victims are seeking a sentence of life imprisonment, the defendant was not charged with murder, but rather homicide by vehicle.
He then sentenced Lafua to five years for the death of each of the four men killed, a total of 20 years, to be served consecutively.
Fiji - FijiFirst
The Fijian Elections Office lifted the suspension of the main opposition FijiFirst Party which is also the largest single political party in the country's parliament.
FijiFirst - led by the former Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama - was suspended last month for 30 days for failing to provide its audited accounts.
The suspension als meant the twenty-four FijiFirst MPs were not allowed to take part in the proceedings of Parliament or any committee of Parliament, their pay was also suspended.
In a short statement on Friday, the elections body confirmed FijiFirst can function as a political party "with immediate effect" having now complied with the requirements of the country's Political Parties Act.
FijiFirst - led by the former Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama - was suspended last month for 30 days. Photo: RNZI / Sally Round