transitions

Appointed: New director of programs for the South Pacific Commission, Jon Jonassen.

Jonassen, the Cook Islands foreign secretary, was the unanimous choice of the South Pacific Conference. He will be released for three years by the Cook Islands foreign affairs de partment in order to take up the post.

Foreign affairs minister Mr Norman George said it was a proud moment for the Cook Islands and for himself as Jonassen’s minister.

Jonassen replaces fellow Cook Islander Tamarii Pierre.

Appointed: Commercial-ex ecutive adviser to the Kiribati Public Utilities Board, Mr K. M.

Blanch.

Aged 40, Blanch has 24 years of experience in the Aus tralian public service and was most recently chief executive of a large New South Wales local government authority.

His appointment is aimed at improving the authority’s accounting and management functions.

The board’s general manager Mr Nataara T Biribo, said he was pleased with the appoint ment and that Blanch’s experi ence would be of great benefit to the board. The appointment is funded by ADAB.

Chosen: For overseas training, PIACC computer operator, Mrs Karen Oakley.

Mrs Oakley, who joined PIACC last October soon after the secretariat was established

in Suva, attended a two week course in Bangkok which focus sed on computerised trade in formation systems and data base management for cham bers of commerce.

PIACC chief executive, Mr Ray Dunstan said the course was especially relevant as the association had recently taken delivery of $12,000 worth of computer equipment for the Pacific Islands Trade Informa tion Service.

The computer was donated by the US Agency for In ternational Development.

Appointed: Chief marketing executive of Aussat Pty Ltd, Mr Colin Campbell, He will be responsible for the company’s marketing strategy and sales operations, Elected: New Solomon Islands prime minister, Ezekiel Ale bua, 40, of Haimatua Village, Avu Avu in Guadalcanal Pro vince.

A former deputy prime minis ter and MP for East Guadalca

nal, he is also a member of the United Party.

He was elected at the third secret ballot of MPs following the resignation of Sir Peter Kenilorea (December PIM page 6), finally defeating his nearest rival Mr Dennis Lulei the independent MP for West Isabel, by 19 votes to 17.

Sir Peter remains in the cabi net as deputy prime minister and minister for natural re sources.

Cleared: Of major offences in the Pelair report (May PIM page 12), former PNG prime minister Mr Michael Somare and for mer industry minister Mr Karl Stack.

However, the report commis sioned by prime minister Mr Paias Wingti, found that So mare had acted unwisely in going to Port Moresby airport while customs officers were searching an aircraft for drugs.

Moved: From PNG’s finance ministry to the trade and in dustry portfolio, Sir Julius Chan.

Chan had offered to step down in order to prepare for this year’s general election.

The new finance minister is former trade and industry minister Mr Galeva Kwarara.

In other changes, former de fence force commander and forests minister Mr Ted Diro is foreign affairs minister, replac ing Mr Legu Vagi who moved to transport.

Previously dismissed lands minister Mr Paul Torato has

returned to cabinet as minister for forests and former transport minister Mr Neville Bourne has been given the new Depart ment of Fisheries and Marine Resources.

Guy Duwabane, was brought into the cabinet as agriculture minister and Mr Tom Muliap was re-instated as conservation minister after being cleared of a traffic charge.

Purchased: Prasad’s Hatchery Ltd of Nausori, Fiji by Crest Chicken Ltd for over Fsl mil lion.

Crest Group chairman Mr Joe Campbell said the acquisi tion was “a natural extension” to Crests’s activities.

He said Prasad Hatchery was the biggest in Fiji, producing over two million chickens a year.

Crest Chickens is part of the Crest Group which is jointly owned by Campbell Holdings Ltd and the Wattie Group of New Zealand.

First: Papua New Guinean to be admitted as a solicitor in New South Wales, Mrs Eliza beth Onapa Tamutal Hess.

Mrs Hess was born at Lake Murray in Western Province and was educated at Dam amd Mendi High Schools.

She graduated from Port Moresby Teachers College and spent two years studying law at the University of Papua new Guinea before going on to the University of New South Wales where she obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree.

Mr K.M. Blanch