2 Feb 2023

Pacific news in brief for February 1

8:11 am on 2 February 2023

Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea police have been negotiating a peace agreement between two warring tribes in the Jiwaka province.

Police said the fight, which began over a stolen pig, has resulted in five deaths.

Jiwaka Provincial Police Commander Chief Inspector Albert Korin said the fight started on January 4.

He said the Waka tribe accused the Wika tribe of stealing the animal and a fight broke out in which a man from the Waka tribe was killed.

The chief inspector said the Wika tribe refused to surrender the murder suspect, so the tribesman of the deceased attacked and killed four men from the Wika tribe.

Korin said police intervened and arranged a peace mediation team.

While the Waka tribe agreed to peace, the Wika tribe leadership wanted more time to consult its tribesmen.

The inspector said he is confident that a date will be set anytime this week for the peace agreement to be signed between both tribes.

New Caledonia

An investigation has been opened in New Caledonia after children playing on a beach on the island of Mare discovered part of a human jaw.

The Nouvelles Caledoniennes reports the remains will be sent to the Criminal Research Institute of the French police in Paris for analysis, which is expected to take several months.

It said this will help establish the possible cause of death.

It will also allow to determine if the fragments belong to anyone listed as missing.

Nauru

Nauru has observed its 55th anniversary of Independence.

Loop Nauru reports President Russ Joseph Kun saying in his address they are also commemorating the 77th Anniversary of their peoples' return from Chuuk.

He said even as Nauru celebrates, their hearts lament in remembrance of their ancestors, uprooted from two of their homes to live in a country not their own.

He added their stories passed down through generations, forever embedded in Nauru's history, are a part of their essence as a nation.

The President declared yesterday and today public holidays in celebration of Independence Day and the Day following Independence Day.

French Polynesia

The AS Young Tahitians sports association has celebrated its 100th anniversary.

The French Polynesian organisation was set up to support football in the territory but later opened to other disciplines such as basketball, tennis, boxing, and athletics.

More than 1000 people came last Sunday to celebrate the milestone.

It has been active since January 29, 1923.

Hawaii

The World Surf League Championship Tour could start any day now on Hawaii's North Shore as organisers wait for the right conditions to run the first heat.

The world's best men and women surfers will compete in the Billabong Pro Pipeline event.

MAUI, UNITED STATES - DECEMBER 2: Three-time WSL Champion Carissa Moore of Hawaii placed second in the Heat 2 of the Semifinals of the 2019 Lululemon Maui Pro at Honolua Bay on December 2, 2019 in Maui, United States.  (Photo by Ed Sloane/WSL via Getty Images)

Carissa Moore Photo: 2019 World Surf League

It will be only the second time a full-length women's Championship Tour event will be held at Pipeline, which is regarded as one of the most dangerous waves on the planet.

Hawaiian surfers Moana Jones Wong and Carissa Moore are both favourites for the women's competition.

The greatest surfer of all time and North Shore resident, Kelly Slater, will look to follow his victory with another win.

Fiji

Fiji referee Kavitesh Behari has received his FIFA badge enabling him to officiate at international level matches and FIFA tournaments.

Behari received the badge during the recent Oceania Under-17s championship in Suva, where he was one of the referees.

New Zealand's Calvin Berg also received the same honour.

Behari is the fourth member of his family to reach this milestone, with his father and two brothers also being top-grade whistlers.