5 Nov 2003

French Polynesian government re-shuffled

6:04 am on 5 November 2003

The president of the French Polynesian government, Gaston Flosse, has reshuffled his administration in a move which has seen three new ministers.

Teva Rohfritsch, who was a director at the Socredo bank, has become the new tourism minister, replacing Brigitte Vanizette.

The fisheries minister, Nina Vernaudon, has been replaced by Patricia Grand and the family minister, Pia Fa'a'tomo, has been replaced by Emma Algan.

Mr Flosse says the re-shuffle is based on his intuition that before a new autonomy statute comes into force, his 16-member government team needs to be renewed.