Page 43 - IB March 2021

People People

cricket team. Cutler is expected to arrive in (JICA) has a new Resident Representative in Fiji,
Port Vila before the middle of the year. Mayumi Amaike, replacing Yukari Ono. JICA
funds infrastructure projects, Disaster Recovery
Cook Islands Speaker of the Parliament, Niki
Rattle has resigned from the position, saying, and Rehabilitation, and runs a long-standing
volunteer program in Fiji.
“I believe that in a healthy democracy, office
holders will be refreshed from time to time.” Sean Flakelar is the new general manager
of Kokomo private island resort in Fiji. He was
Letuimanu’asina Dr. Emma Kruse Vaai has
been appointed as the new National University previously with AMAN Resorts where he served
as country manager for Indonesia and most
of Samoa (NUS) Pro Chancellor, taking over recently, Sri Lanka. He will travel to Fiji in time
from Aeau Chris Hazelman who has chaired to work with the Kokomo team to prepare the
the NUS Council for 6 years. Letuimanu’asina island for re-opening next month (April).
has worked at NUS as a lecturer, Professor of
English and Applied Linguistics and as Deputy Cook Islands Tourism Corporation has Aliioaiga Feturi Elisaia
Vice Chancellor from 2005-2016. She was most appointed Christian Mani as interim Director
recently the CEO for Samoa Qualifications of Destination Development, replacing Metua
Authority. Vaiimene. Mani is the Cook Islands Tourism
General Manager for North America, but has
The Marshall Islands Basketball Federation returned to be based in the Cook Islands during
(MIBF) has a few new board members: Senior border shutdowns.
Vice President Christopher Makiphie, Treasurer
Molly Murphy, with Member at Large Faiga Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero has recommended
Tagoleilagi, and Member at Large Daniel Johnny Cepeda Gogo, a Superior Court judge
Jieta. Candice Guavis has been re-elected as in Santa Clara, California, to the role of U.S.
President. attorney for Guam and the Commonwealth
of the Northern Mariana Islands. Gogo has
Solomon Islands academic Dr Joseph D.
Foukona has joined the Center for Pacific Islands served the Guam and Santa Clara communities
for 23 years wrote the Governor in her
Studies. Dr Foukona is an assistant professor in recommendation. On Guam, he worked as
the Department of History at the University of an associate at the Calvo and Clark law firm, Niki Rattle
Hawai‘i at Mānoa.
and was an assistant attorney general prior to
Cook Islands new Public Service Commissioner moving to California.
is Carl Hunter. Most recently a senior manager The Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) has
with local construction company, Rarotonga announced the appointment of Bhan Pratap
Welding and Steel Construction, Hunter also Singh as its new CEO. He replaces Graham
has 25 years’ experience with the Ministry of Clark, who has returned to South Africa after
Foreign Affairs.
four years in the role. Singh was most recently
A critical member of PNG’s COVID response CEO of the Pacific Fishing Company (PAFCO) and
team, Deputy Controller Dr Paison Dakulala has previously spent 18 years at FSC, including
has died. “Dr Dakulala was a selfless man and two years as deputy CEO and general manager
despite his medical condition he stood with me operations.
and provided the support and advice as we took Australian Margaret White has been
on a global pandemic that has affected millions appointed as an additional Commissioner to the Leutuimanu ‘asina Dr Emma
of people around the world. He has contributed Royal Commission of Inquiry into the UBS loan. Kruse Vaai
to our best efforts against COVID-19. I have Commissioner White was a Judge and a Judge
never met a more dedicated officer such as Dr of Appeal of the Supreme Court of Queensland;
Dakulala,” said Controller David Manning in his and replaces John Gilmore QC, who passed
tribute.
away recently. Three overseas counsel assisting
Fiji’s sporting fraternity in Fiji is mourning the Commission have also been appointed;
the loss of former national tennis champion Dr James Renwick, Dr Dominic Katter and
Hamidan Bibi. Bibi represented Fiji at regional Levente Jurth.
and international events, including the Pacific Former Solomon Islands Ambassador to the
Games. She was also the former chairperson of European Union Joseph Ma’ahanua has been
FASANOC’s Women in Sports Commission and appointed as the new high commissioner to Fiji.
was a significant contributor to the development Ma’ahanua is currently the trade advisor in the
of sports in Fiji.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and replaces William
The Japan International Cooperation Agency Soaki. Carl Hunter

Islands Business, March 2021 43