people

Henry Faati Naisali, deputy prime minister of Tuvalu, has been named as the new execu tive director of the South Pacific Forum’s South Pacific Bureau for Economic Co-operation (SPEC), succeeding Mahe Tupouniua, who was the first director and later, after being finance minister of Tonga, be gan a second term. The Papua New Guinea Government nominated Renagi Lohia, who has just vacated his post as PNG Ambassador to the United States and the United Nations, for the SPEC post.

Mr Naisali was bom on Nukulaelae, Tuvalu, on De cember 8, 1928. He attended the Elisefou School in Tuvalu, the Ratu Kadavulevu and Queen Victoria Schools in Fiji, and St. Andrews College, Christchurch, New Zealand.

From 1954-56 he studied at Canterbury University College.

He joined the Gilbert and Ellice Islands civil service in 1952, and was appointed finan cial secretary of Tuvalu in 1976.

In 1977 he was elected mem ber of parliament for Nuku laelae. On his re-election in 1981 he was appointed minis ter of finance and deputy prime minister, posts he has held until now.

Siosi Taiamoni ’Aho has been appointed Tonga’s new high commissioner to the United Kingdom, the only overseas diplomatic post maintained by the kingdom. He succeeds Sonatane Tu’a Taumoepeau, who has been in London for the past three years. The Tonga high commissioner is also his country’s ambassador to West Germany, Denmark, Italy, the Soviet Union, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Mr ’Aho had been Tonga’s secretary for fore ign affairs since 1983.

Mr B. Absolum, former deputy high commissioner for New Zealand in Australia, has ar rived in Apia, to take up his post as NZ High Commissioner to Western Samoa, succeeding Michael Mansfield, whose term of two-and-a-half years

was completed in Western Samoa at the end of January.

Michael Howell, the new Brit ish high commissioner in Papua New Guinea, has taken up his post, succeeding Mr A. Collins.

Mr Howell’s last posting was as consul-general in Frankfurt, West Germany.

Fiji’s High Commissioner to Australia, Dr James Maraj, is to become the country’s permanent secretary for foreign affairs. Dr Maraj, a former chan cellor of the University of the South Pacific, succeeds Narsi Raniga, who will move to the post of permanent secretary of the Fiji Public Service Commis sion. The two are expected to take up their appointments in May.

The incumbent permanent secretary of the PSC, Epeli Kacimaiwai, was expected to succeed Dr Maraj in the appointment to Canberra.

Harry Coleman, 73, a veteran of 34 years residence on Niue, finally called it a day in Decem ber and flew home to retire ment in his native New Zea land.

According to a report in Tohi Tola Nuie , Mr Coleman arrived in Niue in August 1959 to take up a position as senior clerk with the Public Works Depart ment.

One thing led to another and a few years later he was asked by the government to supervise establishment of a Community Development Office, which en tailed the setting-up of a regular newspape,r Tohi Tala Niue, and organising a broadcasting station.

Although due for retirement in 1969, he took up a Niuean Government offer to establish a radio repair business radio receivers were only then com ing into general use on the island. He also operated a transport service for a while, and chaired meetings of the Niue Tourist Board.

In a tribute to Mr Coleman on the eve of his departure, the

editor of Tohi Tala Niue ex pressed the hope that his paper would “maintain the aspira tions” of its “pioneer and in spiration”, Harry Coleman.

Fiji’s Minister of State for Co operatives, Livai Nasilivata, has resigned, effective January 2.

The Minister for Primary In dustries, Charles Walker, has taken over the co-operatives portfolio.

Mr Nasilivata told The Fiji Times he had decided to de vote more time to his people and family.

“Ten years as a government minister is long enough,” he said shortly before leaving Nausori Airport to be near his wife. Adi Kelera, who was in Sydney for medical treatment.

“I have had consultations with the prime minister on the matter and he has accepted my request.

“I think it’s time to give a younger person the chance to serve as minister.”

He said he would continue as a government backbencher and also intended to contest the general election in 1987.

Mr Nasilivata said he wanted to concentrate on working in his constituency, particularly on the promotion of developments in Naitasiri Province.

He is chairman of Naitasiri Provincial Council.

The Prime Minister Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, said he had accepted the resignation with regret.

Mr Nasilivata was one of two recipients of the OBE in the Fiji list in the Queen’s New Year’s Honors.

Fiji’s resort and cruise group, Islands in the Sun, recently named Joe Tony Katafono as their new training officer. Be fore his appointment, Mr Kata fono was employed by Tanoa Hotel in Nadi for 10 years, in various departments.

An ex-civil servant, Mr Kata fono’s new responsibilities in clude co-ordinating training programs for the staff in liaison

with the group’s training con sultant, Sani Matalomani, and the Fiji National Training Council.

Originally from Rotuma, Mr Katafono, 39, lives in Nadi with his wife Selina and their four children.

The South Pacific Commission has announced the appoint ment of three new program officers. They are: John Tangi, youth development officer; Dr Peter Pirie, demographer; and Brian Doyle, statistician.

Mr Tangi is a Cook Islander who was born in Niue, Dr Pirie a New Zealander, and Mr Doyle an Australian.

The following persons were re cently appointed directors of the Bank of Nauru; Bernard Dowiyogo MP, (chairman), Ludwig Scotty MP, Creswick Agogenang, (Mrs) Sunshine Stephen, and Hamray Temaki.

Nagendra Goswami, accompanied by his family, has arrived on Nauru to assume charge as the bank’s branch manager. Mr Goswami has been an officer with the Bank of India for 28 years.

Tony Katafono