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U.S. Air Force Captain Chris Gullo inspects a C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, preparing for a mission to deliver supplies to the Pacific last year.
photo: Richard P. Ebensberg/U.S. Air Force
Guam – Safety
A Pacific security group has expressed concern about a decade-old proposal to test a missile defense system on Guam.
The U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has given the people of Guam 30 days to submit feedback on the plan.
Missile defense flight tests, or target tracking exercises, will be conducted twice a year for a decade from Andersen Air Force Base or a U.S. Navy ship in the Western Pacific.
Robert Underwood, chairman of the Pacific Central Islands Security Commission, accused the MDA of being more concerned with war than the housing security of local residents.
He said more missiles would not protect Guam from other missile attacks.
We have contacted the MDA for comment.
Vanuatu – Crime
A senior border control officer in Vanuatu has been jailed for obtaining money by deception.
The court heard that between January 17, 2017 and December 31, 2021, Esrome Loughmani obtained funds from 55 Chinese nationals through two other persons to assist in processing residence visa applications.
Supreme Court Justice Oliver Abraham Saksak said the officer’s actions were carried out with a degree of deliberateness and planning.
this Vanuatu Daily Post Obtaining money by deception is said to carry a maximum sentence of 12 years in prison.
Northern Mariana Islands – Casinos
A controversial Saipan casino wants its suspended casino license reinstated before it can pay back a portion of the $62 million it owes in casino license fees.
On top of that, its owner Imperial Pacific Corp. owes the federal Casino Commission $14.5 million in fees.
Previously, Imperial Pacific was allowed to temporarily draw $400,000 from its recently obtained $7 million loan.
The $400,000 will be used for restructuring, half of which will be paid to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Department of Public Lands to lease the land for the resort and casino.
Imperial Pacific director Howyo Chi now hopes to negotiate the reinstatement of its casino licence after cash flow problems were resolved following a $7 million loan from Hong Kong.
Chi said restructuring would be difficult without a license to attract investors.
Solomon Islands/Australia – Visit
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong travelled to Honiara to meet with Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele to discuss national unity and transformation.
Minister Wong congratulated the Prime Minister on his appointment and listened to the new government’s priorities.
They discussed how Australia can help the Solomon Islands achieve its economic, social and security goals more quickly.
“Solomon Islands is an important partner of Australia,” Mr Wong said.
“Our two countries are close neighbors with a shared destiny and a shared future.”
Fiji – Apology
Fijian Prime Minister Sitiweni Rabuka has apologized to the public over the pay hikes for MPs, the Speaker and the President.
this Fiji Times Sitiweni Rabuka reported that the Coalition Government “failed to do its due diligence” when it fixed parliamentary salaries on May 24.
He assured the nation that they would work together to address the concerns raised by the people but also confirmed that there was no way to overturn the decision.
He said the treasurer would have to find the money to meet the wage increase requirements.
SIDS – Visa
A proposal for visa-free travel between 39 Small Island Developing States (SIDS) has been unveiled.
The plan was announced by Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne following the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States. Vanuatu Daily Post report.
He said the meeting would not just produce a document and then be shelved.
Small Island Developing States are a group of small island countries in the Pacific, Caribbean, Africa and Indian Oceans that face similar sustainable development challenges.
New Zealand/Tonga – Health
Tongans in Auckland are uniting to find solutions to the plight of the growing number of people living with dementia (Māngalo) in the community.
Kanivatonga It is reported that about 500 people in New Zealand’s Pacific Islander community, including Tongans, suffer from Māngalo disease.
At the four-hour workshop in Watahuhu, there were calls for Tongan to be used when advising and educating people about the disease, and for it to start at home.
They also stressed the need for a separate, dedicated service funded by the Government to provide Māngalo services to the Tonga community.
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