Author: TMC Palau
Gilbert + Tobin and Ashurst Perkins Coie have guided parties on Solar Pacific Pristine Power’s augmentation and financing of the Palau solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) project for an undisclosed amount. Solar Pacific, headquartered in Manila, is a subsidiary of Philippines renewable energy company Alternergy. Ashurst Perkins Coie said the augmented facility was among the largest solar-plus-BESS projects in Palau, and was being financed by the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP) through Export Finance Australia (EFA) and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Gilbert + Tobin advised the AIFFP, with Sydney-based partner Jamie…
Manoa Kamikamica, one of Fiji’s two former deputy prime ministers in the coalition government, has been formally acquitted of all criminal charges by a Suva court on Monday.Kamikamica was facing charges of perjury and giving false information to a public servant under oath to a Commission of Inquiry.The charges were brought against him by the Fiji’s anti-corruption agency.Local media report the Suva Magistrates Court ruled he has no case to answer.In his ruling, Resident Magistrate Charles Ratakele said there was insufficient evidence to require Kamikamica to enter a defence.”Kamikamica had been charged with one count of perjury, alleging that he…
The Ratu Simione Matanitobua College under-19 side has shifted its focus to this weekend’s Vodafone Deans national quarterfinals. Last week the side beat Dreketi Central College 12-5 in the Southern Zone eliminations. One of their stars, Waisea Ravitau, who hails from Nabukavesi village in Namosi says the backing of the vanua, families, friends and fans really made a difference for them. Ravitau says they hope they’ll get the same support this weekend.Article continues after advertisement He says this is an important week for them as there were a lot of mistakes committed against Dreketi. He also says communication was one…
[Source: Reuters] At least five people were killed and 41 were still missing on Sunday after a ferry caught fire off Indonesia’s Madura island, the country’s search and rescue agency said in a statement. The ferry was carrying 271 passengers and crew members, 225 of whom have been rescued, agency data showed on Sunday afternoon. A search and rescue operation was still ongoing, it added. The ferry was heading from Surabaya in East Java province to Makassar city in South Sulawesi.Article continues after advertisement It was unclear how the ferry caught fire, but the incident occurred on Sunday morning, the…
Anne Kamikamica outside court today. [PICTURE:APENISA WAQAIRADOVU] The wife of former Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica says the past several months have been emotionally draining for their family, as they stood by him throughout his court case. Ann Kamikamica says frequent court appearances, public scrutiny and questions over her husband’s integrity took a heavy toll on the family. She says despite the challenges, they never doubted his innocence and are grateful the case has finally come to an end. “I’m grateful that it’s come to an end, it’s not easy going to court so often… when you know your man…
Fuel prices have plateaued throughout the Pacific, though supply chain “uncertainty” keeps costs high regionwide.Samoa, Tonga and Fiji have each decreased their fuel price caps for August, though each of them remains higher than before April when the global fuel crisis began.Fiji has seen a reduction of 36 to 38 NZ cents per litre for diesel, and 28 to 30 cents per litre for petrol. In urban Viti Levu, the diesel price decreased by 13.7 percent.In Samoa, diesel is down by 13.2 percent to $2.49 tala per litre, and in Tonga, it has fallen to $2.87 per litre.Samoa’s Minister of…
[Photo: JOSEFA SIGAVOLAVOLA] A year after being charged by the Fiji Independent Commission against Corruption with a count of perjury and an alternative count of false information to a public servant, former Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica is now free of the allegations labelled against him. Kamikamica was charged in July last year and he stepped down from his ministerial post. Following a hearing on this matter last month, defence counsel Wylie Clarke had filed a no case to answer application in the Suva Magistrates Court. In that application, Clarke had stated that FICAC was not able to prove their…
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has confirmed that former Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica will be reinstated to his portfolio. Kamikamica stepped down from his position after he was charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption with one count of perjury and one count of giving false information to a public servant. Rabuka confirmed the reinstatement to FBC News after Kamikamica was acqquitted by the Suva Magistrates Court of all charges this afternoon. Magistrate Charles Ratakele while aqquitting Manoa Kamikamica stated that the no case to answer application filed on behalf of the accused has been upheld.Article continues after advertisement…
A 29-year-old man previously taken into custody following the death of a 12-year-old boy in Wailoku, Tamavua has been released, with police confirming no charges have been laid at this stage. Police have now confirmed that a 17-year-old is being questioned in relation to the investigation into the child’s death. FBC News understands the teenager is assisting police with their inquiries as investigators continue to establish the circumstances surrounding the death. The 12-year-old boy was reported missing by his mother after he was last seen playing at a neighbour’s home on Wednesday evening.Article continues after advertisement His body was discovered…
A new rugby union has been launched in Samoa, despite efforts by the sport’s global governing body to mediate a resolution to the current impasse between the Samoan government and Lakapi Samoa.Media reports out of Apia says the new Samoa Rugby Football Union (SRFU), a rival organisation to Lakapi Samoa, was launched at the Sheraton Samoa Aggie Grey’s Hotel on Friday evening.At the same time, there are reports that Lakapi Samoa chairman Afioga Namulauulu Papali’i Leota Sami Leota and his board members have stepped aside pending a review.The new body was launched just two days after the Samoan government anounced…