Samoa's Electoral Commissioner resigns
Samoa's Electoral Commissioner, Faimalomatumua Matthew Lemisio has been appointed deputy president of the Lands and Titles Court.
A lawyer and former journalist, Faimalomatumua was one of four lawyers who submitted an expression of interests for the position.
The role of deputy president of the Lands and Titles Court was created as part of the new amendments to the Lands and Titles Act recently approved by the previous government.
Faimalomatumua was first appointed as the Electoral Commissioner in 2016 and then reappointed in 2019.
Under his tenure as Electoral Commissioner, there have been a number of amendments to the Electoral Act, including the mandatory requirement under the law for Samoan citizens to register and vote.
During his term with the Electoral Commission the quota for women members of parliament was increased from five to six.
Vanuatu kava farmers can export to Australia
Vanuatu kava farmers and exporters are delighted that the Australian Government has given them the special right to export their kava and
kava products to Australia.
Kava farmers in Vanuatu Photo: Hilaire Bule
The Daily Post Newspaper said the special programme allows for Vanuatu kava to be exported to Australia for the next two years.
One stop for all Pacific data and statistics
Pacific data and statistics in Aotearoa can now be accessed and found in one place.
Pacific Data Fale o Aotearoa is a free tool to help Pacific people access data and develop data skills to support their work.
It includes important data on demographics, religion, health, education.
People can download the data and use it directly for research, reports and funding applications.
The chief executive of Figure NZ, Ngapera Riley, said it's the first of its kind.
She hopes it will help Pacific providers access important information.
Vanuatu National Provident Fund to open an office in Penama Province.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Vanuatu National Provident Fund, Parmod Achary has confirmed plans to open an office for the fund at Saratamata on Ambae Island in Penama Province.
The Daily Post Newspaper said the CEO's decision has been made after the Penama Provincial Government gave an assurance there is a plot of land to build the new Vanuatu National Provident Fund branch Office.
The announcement has been welcome by professional Ambaeans in both the public and private sectors in Luganville and Port Vila.
Tuna canning industry big earner for American Samoa in 2020
Activity related to the tuna canning industry "was a significant source of growth in the American Samoa economy" last year.
The US Bureau of Economic Analysis has released statistics on the territory's Gross Domestic Product for 2020 which shows an increase of 4 percent in 2020 after decreasing 0.6 percent in 2019.
The federal government agency said the increase in real GDP for 2020 reflects widespread growth among exports, private inventory investment, and government spending.
The Bureau said exports of goods increased 15.5 percent last year reflecting an increase in exports of canned tuna and related products.
Government spending also increased by 10.1 percent that was supported by federal grants including Coronavirus Relief Fund payments.
