Page 34 - IB AUG 2019

People

Dr Netatua Pelesikoti Benny Wenda Seniloli Tabuatausole Danny Rae Costello
Movers and Shakers oversaw last year’s independence referendum. In French Poly-
nesia, Dominique Sorain will take up his post in August. Sorain
is the outgoing prefect of the French Indian Ocean department
of Mayotte.
Leo A. Falcam Jr. has been named as the Federated States of
Micronesia’s Chief Negotiator for the upcoming Compact nego- Kiribati President Taneti Maamau has presented the country’s
tiations. Falcam is Chief of Staff to President David W. Panuelo second highest medal, the ‘Kiribati National Order’, to American
and has now served in that capacity for three consecutive FSM billionaire businessman and philanthropist, Ted Waitt at a special
Presidents. ceremony held at Parliament House in Ambo. Waitt was recog-
nised for his contribution to the Phoenix Island Protection Area.
Fiji’s Ambassador to the United States, Solo Mara is the incom-
ing Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Development Forum. Several Fijians and friends of Fiji have been honoured during
Fiji’s PM has said Mara will be charged with turning PIDF into a the Investiture Ceremony for the 2017/2018 Honours Roll. They
more efficient, intellectual and ambitious organisation. include New Zealander Murray Stuart McCully, who has been
made a Companion of the Order of Fiji. Tourism figure Tony
Gilbert Tyuienon of the pro-independence Caledonian Union is Whitton is now an Officer of the Order of Fiji, while Narendra
New Caledonia’s Vice President. He was elected with the support Prasad was awarded a Member of the Order of Fiji.
of the ministers of the anti-independence Future with Confidence
whose candidate for presidency Thierry Santa was elected last A former Director of the Pacific Regional Environment Pro-
month. Tyuienon is a former Mayor of Canala. gramme’s Climate Change Resilience programme, Dr Netatua
Pelesikoti has been presented with a lifetime award by the Pacific
ANZ’s Country Head in Kiribati is Australian Greg Edwards. Meteorological Council. Other inaugural winners of the lifetime
Edwards has worked in banking for 29 years and has held awards were late Fijians Ravind Kumar and Rajendra Prasad,
senior roles in Melbourne and PNG with Westpac and National Niue’s Sionetasi Pulehetoa, Edward Young of USA, Akapo
Australia Bank. Masi of American Samoa, Ram Krishna and Neil Plummer of
Australia, Chanel Iroi of Solomon Islands, Kosi Latu of SPREP
There has been a shakeup in the PNG police force, with Francis and Mary Power of the World Meteorological Organisation.
Tokura being appointed to the position of acting police commis-
sioner for three months after the appointment of Gari Baki was PNG lawyer Waive Kendio has been appointed as a Director
revoked because he had reached retirement age. Baki is chal- of MiBank, a microbank providing financial services to “citizens
lenging the decision. at the bottom of the economic pyramid.” Kendno is a Senior
Associate with Dentons law firm, and brings a broad range of
French Ambassador to Fiji, Sujiro Seam will begin his new role finance, corporate and commercial law experience to the role.
as Head of the European Union Delegation to the Pacific Region
in September. Seam was appointed Ambassador of France to Fiji, French Polynesia’s biggest church has chosen Francois Pihaa-
in residence in Suva in September 2017. A career diplomat, he tae as its new president for a four-year term. He replaces Taar-
has been based in Paris, US and Brussels. He will continue to oanui Maraea, who after 16 years at the helm of the Protestant
be based in Suva. Maohi church is going into teaching. Reverend Pihaatae is for-
merly the general secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches.
Vanuatu’s Ambassador Oto Tevi is the new Director General to
the Climate Change Ministry. Tevi has led Vanuatu in international Fiji’s Public Service Commission has announced the appoint-
climate change negotiations. He is formerly Vanuatu’s Permanent ment of several new Permanent Secretaries: David Kolitagane
Representative to the UN. to the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development, Deborah
Weiss as Permanent Secretary, Communication and Information
The French government has appointed new High Commis- Technology, and former British American Tobacco CEO Ritesh
sioners for both New Caledonia and French Polynesia. In New Dass as PS Agriculture.
Caledonia, Laurent Prevost will succeed Thierry Lataste who

34 Islands Business, August 2019