Pacific news in breif for 17 April
· RNZSamoa
The Supreme Court of Samoa has convicted a church minister of raping a teenage parishioner.
Samoa Global News reports that a panel of assessors found the minister guilty of sex offences following a week-long trial.
The panel found the 67-year-old guilty of one charge of rape, three charges of unlawful sexual connection and one charge of committing an indecent act.
Samoa
Samoa's Prime Minister La'aulialemalietoa Polataivao Schmidt was to be medivacced to New Zealand last night for overdue medical checks.
The Samoa Observer reports Laa'uli saying that he will be flown on a private plane for assessments at Middlemore Hospital in South Auckland.
The prime minister flew to Auckland on the same aircraft last September for what the High Commission in Wellington said was archilles tendon surgery.
La'auli sadid he will stay in touch with the people of Samoa during his one-week stay in Auckland.
Nauru
Minister Lionel Aingimea has been appointed vice president of Nauru.
The passing of the Constitution (Amendment) Bill on Thursday, creating the office of the vice president.
President David Adeang said with the passage of the Act, they have taken a significant step forward in strengthening the nation's governance and modernising its constitutional framework.
The vice president will support the president in carrying out the duties of office and step in when required in the absence of the president.
Vanuatu
Census figures show that sex and drug related offences continue to dominate crime patterns in Vanuatu.
The Daily Post reports the director of correctional services saying that the country has struggled to reduce crimes in these categories.
Speaking on the trend, Johnny Marango said that since 2011, more than half of Vanuatu's offenders have committed sexual or drug-related crimes.
Marango said tackling crime requires addressing its root causes, especially among youth.
Fiji
Fiji police plan to more tightly monitor holding cells after a man was allegedly raped in police custody.
The Fiji Sun reported that a 42-year-old man has been charged with the rape of a 25-year-old man.
Divisional police commander Luke Cerenasiga saidthe incident should not have happened under current protocols around accountability and human rights.
Fiji
Fiji's Health Minister says there is no dedicated paramedic workforce in the health ministry to respond to emergencies outside hospital settings.
fijivillage.com reported that Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu made the comment amid growing public concern over emergency response times.
A popular social media writer had alleged that delays led to a man dying from a heart attack during a party at the Grand Pacific Hotel.
The writer claims party-goers did CPR for 30 minutes after being told no ambulances were available, but firefighters finally responded to the call.
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea's prime minister has announced a PK$1 billion fuel stabilisation package (about US$228 million).
James Marape said as a responsible government, they cannot allow external shocks to be passed directly on to their people.
Marape said money will be used to subsidise fuel imports and maintain domestic prices close to March 2026 levels.
Meanwhile, The National reported former Prime Minister Peter O'Neill saying the relief package came too late and the details are "dangerously vague".
New Zealand/Pacific
New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) says the country has made emergency funding available to support Pacific nations affected by Cyclone Maila.
It said this was in response to requests from Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea authorities.
MFAT says a New Zealand Defence Force plane was deployed over affected parts of Solomon Islands last week to help assess damage.
It also said Aotearoa stands ready to consider any further requests for assistance.
MFAT said New Zealand did not receive any requests for help from Pacific Islands countries following Tropical Cyclone Vaianu, and officials are also monitoring typhoon Sinlaku.
Australia meanwhile has pledged $2.5 million to support PNG.
Pacific
Pacific leaders are calling for urgent and "real" climate finance ahead of major talks on phasing out fossil fuels.
PMN reports Ministers from Pacific Small Island Developing States met in Port Vila this week for their Dialogue on Global Just Transition.
The First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels will be held in Santa Marta, Colombia, later this month.
The group behind it says it's the crucial first step toward formal Fossil Fuel Treaty negotiations.
Tuvalu's Minister for Climate Change, Dr Maina Talia, MAY-NAH TAH-LEE-AH says they are not asking for handouts, but for help to save their Blue Pacific continent, which will save the future of humanity.
Vanuatu's Climate Change Minister Ralph Regenvanu told the conference the fuel crisis has caused a moment of realisation, that they have to scale up and fast-track as much as possible on their National Energy Road Map.