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Pago Pago, American Samoa— A 93-year-old Italian navy vessel nicknamed “the most beautiful ship in the world” was spotted sailing in waters near Maui on Monday afternoon.
The name of the ship was “Amerigo Vespucci”.
The Amerigo Vespucci is scheduled to arrive at the Port of Honolulu on Thursday as part of a round-the-world voyage that will call at 36 ports in 32 different countries.
It was named after an explorer who realized in the 16th century that Brazil was part of another continent, which a cartographer then named America in his honor.
The ship is over 300 feet long, has three masts and is over 140 feet tall.
Thursday through Sunday, residents have the opportunity to board and tour the ship for free before it departs for Tokyo.
(Hawaii News Now)
The gunman was captured by police
The man who shot and killed an on-duty police officer and another man in two separate incidents in Samoa this week has been captured by police on Tuesday afternoon.
The suspect has been identified as Pokati Tuu, a 58-year-old man from Fasitoo-uta. He had previous convictions for drug possession in the 1990s and theft in 2023.
Police Commissioner Auapao Logotino Filippo confirmed that police captured the suspect on Tuesday afternoon (Samoa time) but did not provide specific details about the operation.
More than 20 police vehicles and about 50 officers are hunting for the double murder suspect who has been at large since Sunday in Fasitu Uta.
The dead were Detective Sergeant Peniamina Perite and another Nofoalii man.
Police Commissioner Oapaao expressed his condolences to the family of the deceased and paid tribute to Detective Perritt for his invaluable contribution.
(Samoa Observer)
Building partnerships in Samoa
The crew of HMAS Joles reached out to the people of Samoa during their visit to the country through community events aimed at strengthening partnerships.
At Tuana’i Seventh-day Adventist Church, half an hour’s drive west of Samoa’s capital, Apia, staff helped villagers build greenhouses to grow vegetables.
The greenhouse will protect crops from pests such as chickens and insects, allowing villagers to enjoy more fresh produce.
Church member Jasmine Joerimann said the greenhouse would be a huge boost to the local community.
“Local people already know how to work the land; this will give them an additional tool for their existing work,” Ms Joliman said.
“The greenhouses allow these families to have access to nutritious food, or they can sell the vegetables for additional income.”
In the small town of Valele east of Apia, another team from Cholais rolled up their sleeves to renovate the local community center.
They patched damaged ceilings, repaired broken window screens, cleaned up children’s playgrounds and built flower beds for local families.
Navy Chaplain Simone Finau said it was very meaningful to help restore the hall which is an important community place.
“It was a place where people came together for meals, school, sports, choir and other meetings,” said Rev. Finau.
“The crew felt the generosity and hospitality of the Samoan community in Walele and they provided us with lunch.”
(Samoa Observer)
More fair and sustainable fisheries
Pacific island nations are taking steps to combat labor abuses while promoting sustainable development and working to ensure safer and fairer fisheries.
The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) recently hosted a workshop in Fiji, bringing together government officials and industry leaders to address key labour issues in the fishing industry.
New Zealand has pledged nearly $50 million over the next four years to support sustainable development of Pacific fisheries, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Minister for Oceans and Fisheries Shane Jones have announced.
The Fiji Forum stressed the urgent need to address labour abuses in the fisheries sector, such as long working hours, low wages and dangerous working conditions.
The Forum Fisheries Commission (FFC), the governing body of the Forum Fisheries Authority, has made improving working standards in Pacific fisheries a priority.
Football Federation Australia director general Dr Manu Tupou-Rosen stressed the importance of “collective action”.
“As custodians of the vast Pacific Ocean, our resources may be different, but our collective actions can and will have a significant impact on improving working conditions across the fishing sector.
“This priority has been highlighted by the FFC at a meeting of officials earlier this year and will form part of the agenda for the FFC Ministerial Meeting later this month.”
NZFTA has been working with international organisations such as the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to combat labour rights violations.
(Pacific Radio New Zealand)
Diplomatic stalemate
Earlier this year, Tonga’s King Tupou VI expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s appointment of a foreign minister.
As a result, the then minister, Fekita ‘Utoikamanu, resigned in April but a successor has yet to be appointed.
Meanwhile, the ministry is currently without a chief executive, with the appointment of Paula Ma’u suspended while outgoing chief executive Viliami Malolo is seeking a judicial ruling on his removal.
RNZ Pacific’s Tonga correspondent Kalafi Moala said this had created a political deadlock and the issue was clearly not being resolved.
“Firstly, there is a court case where the royally appointed foreign minister is suing the government and suing the Public Service Commission as well as the government secretary to try to get rid of him, I don’t know what.”
Moala said no one knew who was in charge of foreign affairs.
This is crucial because the Pacific Islands Forum leaders’ meeting will be held in Tonga next month, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs usually plays a key role.
“The Prime Minister’s Office will actually be making some very critical decisions on foreign affairs following the Pacific Islands Forum,” Moala said.
He said the king believed that “traditionally and even constitutionally he was the only one who had the power to sign a treaty.
“In other words, if Tonga signs a treaty with any foreign country, it must be ratified and signed by the Royal Family, not only is this in the constitution, but it is also the practice in Tonga.”
Moala said he had received advice that unless the issue was brought to Parliament and a solution was proposed by members of the nobility, it would not be resolved.
“But it’s very complex and I can’t say it’s going to be an easy path, but it needs to be addressed sooner or later.”
(Pacific Radio New Zealand)
A man fell into the water on the ferry
A Cook Islands police spokesman says police are unable to release details about an incident in which a 22-year-old Fijian man fell overboard on an inter-island ferry.
The man was a crew member of the Lady Moana cruise ship and was travelling from Mangaia to Rarotonga.
The police patrol boat spent nine hours on the water on Monday and returned to the area again today to continue the search.
Trevor Pitt said there was little hope of finding him alive as the search entered its second day.
“As we are already in the second day of the search, the hope of finding him is slim, but there is a good chance we will find him.”
He said police could not release any information about the incident itself.
“However, police investigators are continuing to investigate the individual’s actions, whereabouts and the circumstances surrounding the incident.”
(Pacific Radio New Zealand)
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