Man dies in police cell, Vanuatu’s new child advocate and pioneering academic dies
Man dies in police cell, Vanuatu’s new child advocate and pioneering academic dies
Tongan man dies in custody
Tonga Police have reported that a 22-year-old man died in custody on Saturday.
Police said the man was arrested while intoxicated and the first indication was that he had taken his own life.
Commissioner Shane McLennan says it is the second death in police custody in a month and he has now ordered a new crackdown.
These include the closure of the Mua police cell until further notice, a commitment to a priority investigation, an inspection of the condition of all cells, a review of police custody policies, and in-service training on custody management and human rights.
Vanuatu sets up hotline for vulnerable children
Vanuatu now has a hotline to support children facing abuse.
Photo: lifeline
The Child Helpline and Referral Pathway was launched as part of National Children’s Day, which took place on Sunday.
Justice Minister Esmon Saimon said that children are growing up in a well-connected online world and many are victims of cyberbullying.
He said children are sometimes abused in their own homes and communities by people who should protect them.
Saimon said these challenges are real and need urgent attention.
Honors for a distinguished Pacific academic and writer
Marjorie Tuainekore Crocombe, one of the Pacific’s most respected authors and scholars, has died at the age of 92.
Ms Crocombe, who was a Lecturer at the University of the South Pacific Cook Islands and Senior Lecturer at the University of Auckland’s Center for Pacific Studies, collaborated with her husband, the late Ron Crocombe, on several books and articles.
Her son, hotelier Tata Crocombe, posted online that his mother helped and touched so many people during her lifetime.
He says Ms Crocombe was a pioneer — the first Cook Islands woman to be sent to the Wanganui Collegiate as a fellow, the Cook Islands first graduate of a New Zealand teachers’ college, the first Cook Islands recipient of an honorary doctorate from the University of the South Pacific and so on.
Debi Futter-Puati, USP Cook Islands campus director, said Crocombe was a highly influential Vaine Toa who influenced generations of scholars and academics.
“She was a teacher, writer, academic director and friend. She has been an ally for all things scientific in the Cook Islands and throughout the Pacific region for that matter,” said Dr. Forage Puati.
High school students in Nauru return to class
Nauru’s Ministry of Education and Training has announced that 11th and 12th grade school children will return to school on Monday.
A government spokesman said both teachers and students would have to mask themselves throughout the school day.
Everyone in Nauru is required to social distance and get tested for RAT.
Unvaccinated students are not allowed to go back to school.
As of Thursday, July 21, there were 196 active cases; 4,399 people have recovered from an infection.
The police want to make Tonga safer
The Tonga Police have set three goals for the next four years – Safe Homes, Safe Streets and Safe Communities.
In a statement, police said most unnatural deaths in Tonga occur on the roads, with six deaths last year and four this year.
To make roads safer, police will address high-risk driving behaviors, including speeding, alcohol or drug-related driving impairments, failure to wear seatbelts, and distracted driving such as driving. B. Using phones while driving.
Police said more than a third of traffic violations are due to such behavior.
They aim to ensure that drivers respect other drivers and road users, do not drive drunk and do not overtake at intersections and on the wrong side of the road.
75 new Covid cases in Samoa
The Samoa Ministry of Health has reported 75 new positive cases, bringing the total number of community and border Covid-19 cases to 15,318 since the pandemic arrived in the country.
However, the ministry does not state the number of active cases.
The ministry’s report says two patients are currently isolated at Moto’otua National Hospital, but none are in intensive care.
The ministry has recorded 29 Covid-related deaths, including a one-year-old girl who was recorded as the latest Covid-related death in Samoa.
The little girl had no health problems and was not eligible for a Covid-19 vaccination and died of severe pneumonia on June 20.
A new Covid case in Niue
There is an active case of Covid-19 at the border in Niue.
Since March, 29 cases have been registered at the border.
There are no patients with Covid in the island’s hospital.
The government of Niue said there is currently no community transmission of the virus.
PNG and Tonga battle it out in a six-goal thriller in the Soccer Cup
In soccer, the semi-finals of the Oceania Women’s Nations Cup have been decided.
On Saturday, a hat-trick from Jayda Stewart helped Samoa defeat New Caledonia 4-2 in the quarter-finals in Suva.
On the same day, Papua New Guinea defeated Tonga on penalties after the teams finished 3-5 after a riveting 120 minutes of play.
PNG fought back two goals down to force extra time.
Yesterday, hosts Fiji secured their place in the last four after beating a tenacious Cook Islands side in both halves thanks to goals from captain Sofi Diyalovai and vice-captain Luisa Tamanitoakula.
And in the last game, Solomon Islands defeated Tahiti with a lone goal from Mary Maefiti.
In this weekend’s semi-finals, Samoa meets PNG and Fiji meets Solomon Islands.
Comments are closed.