transitions

invited: To dinner with the Queen. Western Samoan light heavyweight boxer Don Ulberg was among 50 guests invited by Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh to a special dinner to mark the clos ing of the Commonwealth Games.

Ulberg and the other guests met the royal family at the function which took place in the garden of the historic Holyrood House in Edinburgh, the games venue.

He was also selected as one of the guests to attend a lunch hosted by the Prince of Wales.

“We talked with Princess Diana all throughout the lunch,” he said.

Resigned: Professor of Biology at the University of Papua New Guinea, Dr Dick Morton following an alleged asault on his girlfriend at a party.

Prof Morton was quoted by the campus newspaper Uni Tavur as writing that a student asked his girlfriend for a cigarette and then snatched the packet saying he would keep them all.

When she protested, “he rip ped the rings from her nose and ears and the tee-shirt and bra from her breasts.

“I realise that this assault is very minor compared to abduc tion and rape or even the black eyes and swollen lips that we often see on girl students.

“But I am human and with this has gone all interest that I had in the development of this university.” He said he would stay on to give the university time to find a replacement.

Acting vice-chancellor, Mr Nick Human accepted that Prof Morton’s resignation will be effective from November 30.

Mr Human wrote to Prof Morton: “I understand how you feel about this incident because even I, as a full-blooded Papua New Guinean, have failed to understand why many of my countrymen behave in that manner without any provoca tion.

“Even fairly high levels of education have done nothing to erase that streak of violence

that seems to run through most Papua New Guinean males.

“A lot of well-meaning people are going to be chased out of this country and others are not going to come here only because of the actions of a small percentage of the popula tion.”

Prof Morton had been in PNG for five and a half years.

Appointed: New provincial sec retary for Malaita, Solomon Is lands, Mr Emilio Bulu.

He replaces former secretary, Mr Tim Leni who had been suspended and returned to his former position as administrator in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Provincial Government.

Seconded: From the University of PNG’s Language and Litera ture Department to the Prime Minister’s Department, Dr Micael Olsson.

Known to students as “the man in black” because of his frequent all black attire, Dr Olsson is due to return to the department at the beginning of next year.

Dismissed: Air Pacific com pany secretary, Mr Rajendra Singh.

The airline’s chief executive, Mr John Schaap, said he had been summarily dismissed following an internal investiga tion. He refused to say why Mr Singh was dismissed or why an inquiry was found necessary.

Mr Singh had worked for the airline for 15 years, being appointed company secretary in July last year.

Resigned: Female warden at the University of PNG, Ms Dorothy Tekwie.

Ms Tekwie, a former female student vice-president, said she was leaving to pursue a career in politics.

“I feel cramped here. I’m leaving for higher ambitions and I think it’s time for a change,” she said.

Ms Tekwie was to return to her native West Sepik province as a Pangu Pati organiser.

Appointed: Chairman of Fiji’s Constituency Boundaries Com mission, retired Supreme Court judge, Sir Ronald Kermode.

His appointment was announced by the governor

general, Ratu Sir Penaia Gani lau who also announced the appointment of new commis sion members Mr Jonetani Bai and Mr Ram Vilash.

Sir Ronald’s appointment was made on the advice of the prime minister, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara and opposi tion leader Mr Harish Shar ma.

Left: Archivist at the New Guinea Collection at UPNG, Mr Andrew Griffin.

Mr Griffin was also a co editor of the Papua New Guinea Dictionary of Con temporary Biography (May PIM, p 24) which work will be continued by chief editor Mr Jim Griffin.

Andrew Griffin’s position has been localised by Mr Sam Raima.

Transferred: Labasa magistrate Mr Howard Morrison after a nine month term in Fiji’s north ern division.

Mr Morrison has moved to Suva and is replaced by Mr Timothy Broad of Bay of Is lands, New Zealand.

Declared: First “Mrs Samoa”

Mrs Lia Meredith at a pageant organised by the St Marys Old Girls Association at Apia’s Tusi tala Hotel.

Returned: To Norfolk Island as new manager of the Hillcrest Hotel, Mr Stephen Christian after an absence of some 12 years.

Mr Christian had worked for Ansett in Sydney before operat ing a snack bar and delicatessen in Brisbane. With him on the island is his wife of four months, Debbie.

Appointed: To the governor of American Samoa’s staff, High Chief Faiivae A. Galea’i.

Faiivae, a former senator, is the governor’s special assistant on cultural, legislative and political affairs.

Dropped: From the board of the Fiji National Provident Fund, secretary of the Trades Union Congress, Mr Mahen dra Chaudhry.

He has been replaced as an employees’ representative by the president of the Public Employees’ Union, Mr Joveci Gavoka.

Colonial Mutual Life Assur ance general manager, Mr Tomasi Vuetilovoni replaces British Petroleum chief execu tive, Mr Paul Manueli as one of the employer representatives.

Admitted: To the Fiji Bar, former magistrate Dr John Lewis Cameron.

Dr Cameron, a barrister from Christchurch, New Zealand, joined the Fiji magistracy in May 1984.

He was admitted to the bar by chief justice, Sir Timoci Tuivaga.

Resigned: USP registrar, Dr Isireli Lasaqa. The former cabinet secretary resigned for health reasons.