Page 32 - IB June 2019

People

The late Dr Jiko Luveni Photo: Fiji government David Vaefe SPTO Photo: SPTO
Movers and shakers rently the mission director for USAID/Indonesia. She previ-
ously served as the Senior Deputy Assistant to the Adminis-
trator for the Human Capital and Talent Management Office
SOLOMON Islands’ new Prime Minister has appointed Al- (HCTM). She has served as USAID missions in Kazakhstan,
bert Kabui as his Special Secretary. Kabui was the former Iraq, Peru, Bolivia, Israel and Russia.
Legal Advisor to the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
Sub-Committees from 2017 to 2018. Since 2007 he has held A former West Papuan independence campaigner who later
various government positions, including Senior Legal Officer supported the Indonesian government, Franzalbert Joku has
for the Public Solicitors Office, Committee Secretary for the died in Jayapura. Joku died aged 66 after illness linked with
National Parliament of Solomon Islands, Constitutional and heart disease and kidney failure. A former spokesman for the
Parliamentary Law and Practice Legal Specialist for the Na- Papua Presidium Council which galvanised momentum in the
tional Parliament, and West Papuan independence struggle at the turn of the century,
he later supported the Special Autonomy Status which Indo-
Tongan-born Alilia Tupou is the inaugural recipient of the nesia granted Papua in 2001 in response to the demands for
Teresia Teaiwa Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship in Pa- independence. He was a frequent representative of Indonesia’s
cific Studies. The scholarship is offered to students at New government on West Papua matters at regional fora such as
Zealand’s Victoria University of Wellington in memory of the the Melanesian Spearhead Group and the Pacific Forum.
renowned former Pacific Studies director, Teresia Teaiwa, who
died in 2017. Tupou is studying towards a Bachelor of Arts The chair of Samoa Airways, Fe’esago George Fepulea’i has
majoring in Pacific Studies. resigned. He has been replaced, in an interim capacity, by Tuia
Paepae Letoa. The 82-year-old Fepulea’i said the time was
Arif Ali is the new chairman of the Fiji Roads Authority right for him to step down as government deliberates over
Board. Ali is the Governor of Fiji’s Reserve Bank, which he the future of the airline, which was relaunched in 2017 after
first joined in 1992. He is also a member of the Council of the its original incarnation as Polynesian Airlines.
Fiji Institute of Bankers, the National Anti-Money Laundering
Council, the Government Tender Board, the Fiji Cane Growers New Zealand master canoe builder, Sir Hekenukumai ‘Hec’
Fund, the Accident Compensation Commission Fiji and a board Busby, has died at the age of 86. Busby was recognised as a
member of the Fiji Sugar Corporation. leading figure in the revival of traditional Polynesian naviga-
tion, wayfinding and ocean voyaging techniques. He sailed
Justice Vui Clarence Nelson is Samoa’s new Acting Chief around New Zealand and other Pacific islands, and was the
Justice. Vui’s tenure became effective from 24 April, 2019, first New Zealand Māori to be appointed a Polynesian master
following the retirement of Chief Justice Patu Falefatu Maka navigator.
Sapolu’s after nearly 27 years on the bench.
Jacqui Evans, director of the Marae Moana Coordination Office
Erin Elizabeth McKee has been nominated as the new United in Cook Islands, is the latest Pacific recipient of the Goldman
States Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands Environmental Prize. Sometimes called the Green Nobel Prize,
and Vanuatu, replacing Catherine Ebert-Gray. McKee is cur- the Goldman is awarded to people who make a sustained and

32 Islands Business, June 2019