Samoan officers back home at last; MP 'under investigation'; migration bill concerns; and vehicle charges introduced.
Police reunited with family after two years
Fifteen members of the Samoan Police Force have finally been reunited with their families after serving an extended term with the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces in South Sudan since early 2019.
The Samoa Observer reports the officers were initially to serve a 12-month mission but the global lockdown from the covid-19 pandemic delayed their return.
Police Commissioner Fuiavailili Egon Keil and senior officers held a welcome function for the officers this week.
Deputy Police Commissioner, Papalii Monalisa Tiai-Keti, says the officers arrived three weeks ago and were quarantined for two weeks before being released last Friday.
Samoa Police Commissioner Fuiavailili Egon Keil Photo: Samoa Govt
Papalii added that the police officers showed courage being away from their families for so long amidst a global pandemic.
Niue seeks vaccination as soon as possible
Niue says it hopes to start its Covid-19 vaccination programme in June.
New Zealand foreign minister Nanaia Mahuta yesterday announced a rollout in the Cook Islands will start next week, followed by Niue and Tokelau.
Premier Dalton Tagelagi said Niue's health infrastructure were ready to roll out the Pfizer BioNtech vaccine to the island's 1600 people.
Tagelagi said once the population was vaccinated then Niue would be ready for a travel bubble with Aotearoa.
"As far as I'm concerned, the sooner we get vaccinated the quicker we get back on our feet and less dependent on the outside support and try to
help ourselves."
Tagelagi said a public awareness campaign will begin this week.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has previously said New Zealand was ready to open to Niue when it was ready.
New Australia laws could allow for lifetime detention of refugees, advocates warn
The Human Rights law Centre in Australia says the government has rushed through new laws that will allow for the lifetime detention of refugees.
The Migration Amendment (Clarifying International Obligations for Removal) Bill 2021 targets refugees in immigration detention who cannot return to their home countries because of a risk of persecution or serious harm.
The Centre's legal director, David Burke, said the legislation exposed the government's willingness to leave growing numbers of refugees languishing in detention without any plan.
He said the government should not have the power to lock people up for potentially the rest of their lives without any safeguards.
MP 'under investigation' over road death
A member of the Samoan parliament is reportedly one of several people under investigation over the death of a young man from a hit and run two weekends ago.
TV1 Samoa reports Police Commissioner Fuiavailili Egon Keil has confirmed the unnamed MP is being investigated as his office continues to look into the death of 19 year old Tu'u'au Maletino.
He asked that the driver of the vehicle contact the Police to help the investigation.
Concerns in Australia over new migration bill
The Human Rights law Centre in Australia says the government has rushed through new laws that will allow for the lifetime detention of refugees.
The Migration Amendment (Clarifying International Obligations for Removal) Bill 2021 targets refugees in immigration detention who cannot return to their home countries because of a risk of persecution or serious harm.
The Centre's legal director, David Burke, says the legislation exposes the government's willingness to leave growing numbers of refugees languishing in detention without any plan.
He says the government should not have the power to lock people up for potentially the rest of their lives without any safeguards.
Vehicle import changes introduced
Charges on imports of older private vehicles into Tonga are now in effect.
A fee of 445 US dollars is being charged if a vehicle is 15 or more years old.
The Ministry of Revenue and Customs says this is mostly directed at vehicles that are typically used for transport.