Page 19 - IB JAN 2017

Movers & Shakers

Where is he? States for some of the world’s leading aca- While not official, his replacement is
PAPUA New Guinea regional governor, demics to carry out research or teaching likely to be Jesuit priest, Father Dr Arthur
Gary Juffa, continues to expose corrup- in US universities. Leger, currently head of the East Asian
tion at all levels of society, even within Professor Ratuva is currently Director Pastoral Institute in the Philippines.
his own province. of the Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Leger has a doctorate in leadership
In the most recent case, Juffa took Studies and Professor in the Department studies. His thesis was on the pastoral
local media and international donors to of Anthropology and Sociology at the role of church leader in the Pacific.
the site of an incomplete Drug Storage University of Canterbury. Originally from Fiji, Leger has a long
Facility which was to have been the key He will carry out research on “Horizon- career as an educator and has special
distribution point for medical supplies. tal inequality and affirmative action—a interests in culture, cultural differences
The $AUD250,000 contract to build comparative study of Pacific Island minor- and the way these affect spirituality and
the facility was given under questionable ities in New Zealand and United States” religious practices. His appointment is
circumstances to a nurse with no experi- and will work in partnership with some expected to complement the vision of
ence in construction. of the world’s leading experts in the field. Archbishop of Suva, Dr Peter Loy Chong,
And a year after complaints were The award followed a rigorous and whose vision is for his archdiocese to be
lodged with the health ministry, no action highly competitive process of research a church in the world, spreading Christian
has been taken to remedy the situation. assessment, review and interview and teaching and ideals in a practical manner.
Juffa has now taken legal action in an is in recognition of Professor Ratuva’s
attempt to force authorities to ensure the international research expertise as an Spreading wings
facility is completed and those respon- interdisciplinary social scientist. DIRECT flights from Fiji to Adelaide will
sible for the debacle are taken to task. Part of his international recognition was begin in June with Fiji Airways operating
his recent appointment as twice-weekly services to the South Aus-
Samoan boxer Chair of the International Political tralian destination.
JOSEPH Park- Science Association (IPSA) research The airline will operate its Boeing 737-
er became the committee on Democratization and the 800 aircraft on the route which will link
Pacific’s first Military and member of the IPSA Research up to its flights to Los Angeles and San
world box- Commission. Francisco out of the Nadi International
ing champion Airport.
after beat- Shipping merger Adelaide Airport managing director
ing Mexico’s MAERSK Line will buy the German con- Mark Young said he believed the route
Andy Ruiz in tainer shipping line Hamburg Süd. would be well supported.
Auckland, New Zealand for the vacant This after an agreement between the “Fiji has always been a hugely popular
WBO title. Oetker Group destination with South Australian travel-
Now honoured as a matai, the New and Ham- lers, and Fiji Airways’ new link will make
Zealand-born Luoesoliai Laauliaalema- b u r g S ü d it even more attractive,” Young said.
lietoa Joseph Parker has been feted in his with both “South Australia’s strong Fijian com-
motherland of Samoa by local dignitaries. lines operat- munity will also benefit from a direct link
He is also the first New Zealand born ing in and with Nadi bringing them closer to their
world champion. through the family and friends.”
Fijian Alipate Kororovou held the Pacific. The service will also provide a one-
Commonwealth Middleweight title in the “(This) is a new milestone in Maersk stop service for travellers to Fiji Airways’
1970s but no Pacific islander has ever Line’s history. I am very pleased that we Pacific destinations including Tonga, Sa-
been world champion untiol now. have reached an agreement with the Oet- moa, Kiribati, Vanuatu and the Solomon
Samoan Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Lupe- ker Group to acquire Hamburg Süd,” said Islands. While Fiji Airways is majority
soliai Neioti Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi, Søren Skou, CEO of Maersk Line. government owned, Qantas holds 46 per
was instrumental in ensuring his coun- Maersk is represented in Fiji and the cent of the airline, while Air New Zealand
try paid $USD100,000 for promotional South Pacific by Shipping Services Fiji has about two per cent.
rights during the fight. The money went Limited. The acquisition is subject to final The governments of Kiribati, Tonga,
towards promoting Samoa as a tourist agreement and regulatory approvals. Samoa and Nauru also each have a small
destination as it ramps up hotel construc- Hamburg Süd is the world’s seventh stake in the airline formerly known as
tion and airport refurbishment projects. largest container shipping line and a Air Pacific.
leader in the North – South trades.
Scholar’s award? In 2015, Hamburg Süd had a turnover
NEW Zealand-based Fijian of $USD6726 million of which $USD6261 New direction
political sociologist, Professor million was from its container line activi- FIJIAN Opposition parliamentarian, Dr
Steve Ratuva, has won a pres- ties. Biman Prasad, continues to shake the
tigious Fulbright Senior Scholar establishment, this time calling for bet-
Fellowship to carry out research Religious studies ter governance, genuine parliamentary
as visiting professor at Duke Uni- THE Pacific Regional Seminary in Suva democracy and full restoration of funda-
versity in North Carolina, Georgetown will have a new Rector (principal) later mental human rights and freedoms.
University in Washington DC and Uni- this year after the retirement of long- Prasad said these were prerequisites
versity of California in Los Angeles. serving Marist Priest, Father Michael for the social, political and economic
The award is the most prestigious O’Connor. advancement.
academic fellowship offered by the United
Islands Business, January 2017 19