People
p. 34 · Read in the full issue
• Mr. Tangata Nekeare, Super intendent of Police in the Cook Islands, went to New York last October for a course on narcotics with the New York police—and met Dr. Tom Davis, world-renowned re search physician who has returned to the Cook Islands and founded a new political party, the Democratic Party.
The meeting looks like changing Mr.
Nekeare’s whole life. He resigned as Superintendent of Police in January and has joined the Democratic Party, which is opposed to the ruling Cook Islands Party of Premier Albert Henry. His resignation caused quite a stir in the Cooks where he has a reputation for square-dealing, some of which should rub off on to the new party.
Mr. Henry was annoyed. That was apparent in the Legislative Assembly.
Generously, he described Mr. Nekeare as a capable Chief of Police—better than an expatriate—but complained that the government had wasted a great deal of money on his training.
Clearly, the Premier was regretting the fact that he had lost a good officer and gained a political op ponent. Maybe his training won’t be wasted. If Dr. Tom Davis’ party wins the elections. Mr. Nekeare
would make a knowledgeable Minister of Police. • Staff changes for Fiji’s overseas diplomatic missions, announced in January, include a new posting for Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, formerly Second Secretary in the Fiji High Commission in Canberra, Popular Ratu Epeli, who is a son of Ratu Sir Edward Cakobau, has been appointed Second Secretary in Fiji Mission in the United Nations.
Mr. Malakai Gucake, Assistant Secretary (Protocol) in the Depart ment of Foreign Affairs, will replace him in Canberra. Mr, V. D, Prasad.
Controller of Organisation and Establishments, has been appointed Counsellor at the Fiji Mission at the UN. Mr. Esira Rabuno, Assistant Secretary in the Cabinet Office, is being posted to London as Second Secretary in the Fiji High Commis sion. He replaces Mrs. Akanisi Dreunamisimisi, who was due to return to Fiji with her husband in February. • Dr. George A. F. Knight, the first principal of the Pacific Theo logical College, Suva, has retired. His successor is the Rev. Alan Quigley, a Presbyterian minister from Timaru, NZ. Mr. Quigley was guest professor at the college for nine months in 1967. Dr. Knight, the author of a number of books on Biblical theology, although he has retired, has accepted an invitation to be guest professor at the University College of St.
Andrews, Sydney, for the next two years. • Mr. Richard Boyer, a member of the Australian Tariff Board, has been appointed chairman of the Papua New Guinea Tariff Advisory Committee. He succeeds Sir Leslie Melville, who has retired. Mr.
Boyer is a son of the late Sir Charles Boyer, a former chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Commission.
He is a graduate of Sydney and Oxford Universities. He joined the Tariff Board in 1959. He presided over the board inquiry into an ap plication for protection for the PNG pyrethrum industry. • Mr. John Greenlees, well known in Rabaul business circles, returned to Australia with his family in January after nearly five years in Papua New Guinea. During this time, he was stationed in Rabaul and re presented territory cigarette manu facturer, W.D. & H.O. Wills (PNG) Limited in New Britain, New Ireland, Bougainville and adjacent islands. He has been appointed area super intendent, Adelaide (South Australia) sales division with W.D, & H.O. Wills (Australia) Ltd.
Mr. Nekeare.