Monalisa Hotel Samoa Photo: Facebook / Monalisa Hotel
Samoa - hotel
The Moanalisa Hotel near Samoa's international airport has changed ownership and will be renamed Trinity Hotel after operating as a family business for 15 years.
Samoan Independent Seventh Day Adventist Church are the new owners.
It is not known what they paid for the hotel but an RNZ Pacific correspondent said it was not close to the asking price of 14 million tālā.
The hotel was owned and managed by the wife and daughters of former politician Tialavea Tionisio Hunt.
Attempts to seek comments from the new owners as well as the Hunt family have been unsuccessful.
Northern Marianas - Covid-19
The Northern Marianas has dissolved its Covid-19 Task Force this month.
Created in 2020 as a means to combat the pandemic during its peak, the task force ceased to exist after the new administration of Governor Arnold Palacios decided not to renew the emergency declaration related to Covid-19.
The Covid-19 Alternative Care Site has closed and all Covid-19 safety protocols in the Marianas have been rescinded.
Public Health Emergency Preparedness director and the ask force chair Warren Villagomez said after discussing the need for a task force with the Governor and the Department of Homeland Security, it was determined that the Marianas should transition toward normalcy.
Northern Marianas - last bookstore
The Northern Marianas is saying goodbye to its only bookstore after Bestseller Saipan announced that it would close on April 17, ending nearly three decades of business.
Vice president for operations May Camacho said a combination of factors led to the decision to shutter the business but the main culprit was the Covid-19 pandemic.
"We have weathered many ups and downs over the last 29 years serving the Saipan community but the last three years have been especially challenging and, unfortunately, we have decided that it is best for us to close," she said.
Local historian Don Farrel said the closure will affect local authors like him, but will also impact the entire island community.
"Bestseller has served as virtually the sole-source for Saipan's readers, especially school teachers and serious students. Bestseller has been carrying my books, as well as those of other local authors, since I can remember," he said.
"The loss of Bestseller means that we might not be able to sell enough books to pay for the creation of new books. That hurts."
Samoa - children
The Samoa Ombudsman has held community consultations as it prepares its report on safeguarding the rights of children in Samoa.
In a statement, the Office of the Ombudsman says views from these consultations will be in addition to feedback from the business community, civil society, government, children and other individuals.
Some of the key issues raised by the community included lack of parent-child communication in the family; the high cost of living impacting on parents' ability to provide for their children; and lack of attention given to children with disabilities.
Submissions from the public will close on April 14.
Pacific/US - fisheries
The US Navy and US Coast Guard have begun their joint patrol in the Western Pacific to tackle illegal fishing and transnational crimes.
Pacific Island Times reported the operation is being carried out under the Oceania Maritime Security Initiative.
Commander Richard Skinnell said the initiative, which began March 20, aimed to ensure the upholding of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission Convention.
It also allowed the US Navy and Coast Guard to operate from the navy ships and work jointly with other branches of the military as well as allies and partners in the region.
Chief of enforcement for US Coast Guard District Fourteen commander Jeff Bryant said collaborating with partners throughout Oceania is essential in ensuring a free and open Blue Pacific.
Solomon Islands - drugs
Solomon Islands Police have been holding awareness sessions in schools on the street drug 'copen'.
Honiara City operations manager inspector Tex Tafoa said copen is a concern for the police due to its harmful effects on children.
Police said it is clear from the school visits that students are well aware of the drug.
Sergeant Tristan Collett of the Health, Wellbeing, Gender, Youth and Community Engagement team said the fact that copen is relatively cheap and accessible to youth is concerning.
In November, ABC Pacific said copen was reportedly being manufactured locally in Solomon Islands using tobacco and household substances.
Vanuatu - health
The Pasifika Medical Association will be deploying a Medical Assistance Team Vanuatu to provide primary care and mental health support.
The 28-day mission is supported by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Association CEO Debbie Sorensen said the delegation will be made up of primary care and mental health specialists experienced in emergency response.
The team will travel to Vanuatu on Wednesday.