Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Police said Tuesday human remains were found inside a large crocodile suspected of killing a tourist in Australia’s second fatal attack in about a month.

The latest victim was 40-year-old doctor Dave Hogbin who fell from a steep bank Saturday into the Annan River south of Cooktown in Queensland state, his family said in a statement. The general practice doctor from Newcastle in New South Wales had been traveling on a camping vacation through Queensland with his wife Jane Hogbin and their three sons aged 2, 5 and 7 years. Cooktown is more than 2,500 kilometers (1,500 miles) from Newcastle by road.

Wildlife rangers on Monday euthanized a 4.9-meter (16-foot) crocodile in a creek 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) from where Dave Hogbin disappeared. The crocodile had scars on its snout like those witnesses described seeing on a reptile in the vicinity of the disappearance, officials said.

The human remains found inside the crocodile during an examination in Cooktown were believed to be Hogbin, a police statement said. Further testing would be conducted to positively identify the remains.

The family statement corrected police reports that Dave Hogbin had been fishing at the time he fell. He had been walking along a riverbank path five meters (16 feet) above the river when part of the bank gave way, according to his family.

“It caused Dave to fall down into the river below, and despite being tall, strong and fit, the conditions of the terrain meant Dave was unable to get himself out of the water,” the statement said. His wife heard the splash when he fell and went to his aid, but “due to the steepness and slipperiness of the bank, she was able to grab his arm, but soon began slipping into the river herself.”

“Dave’s final, decisive act was to let go of Jane’s arm when he realized she was falling in, despite knowing she was his only lifeline. Within moments, he was taken,” the statement added.

Jane Hogbin said her husband’s decision to release her saved her life.

(Associated Press)

SAMOA GUN SURRENDER PROGRAM

Samoa Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mata'afa has launched as a two-month gun amnesty to ensure "the safety and security of all world leaders" ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in October.

Samoa police have told RNZ Pacific that a high-level police meeting has been held to discuss preparations for CHOGM.

The gun amnesty — the third since 2015 — commenced on August, and aims to reduce illegal firearms and ammunitions in the community.

The initiative will end on September 30.

Gun amnesties over the past seven years have resulted in 596 firearms and 725 pieces of ammunition being surrendered.

"The intention is for individuals in possession of unlawful firearms and ammunitions to surrender them without prosecution during the amnesty period," Fiamē said on Monday to launch Gun Amnesty 2024.

"As Samoa sets to hold the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in October 2024, as the incoming Chair, the safety and security of all world leaders attending CHOGM is critical."

Residents are being offered food vouchers worth $100 tala if they co-operate during the amnesty.

Between 2015 and 2016, the police received 317 firearms and 321 pieces of ammunition.

In 2018, 81 firearms were handed in.

And between 2020 and 2021, 198 firearms and 494 ammunitions were surrendered.

Statistics show the police reported 16 incidents involving firearms between 1 January last year and June 30th this year.

These included the fatal shooting of a senior police officer and in another incident a 12-year-old boy.

"[The gun amnesty] demonstrates the importance of ensuring that our community, our country and our people live in a safe and secure environment," Fiamē said.

Police Commissioner, Auapa'au Logoitino Filipo told Samoa Observer in June that almost 200 officers from Tonga, Fiji, New Zealand and Australia will support Samoa at CHOGM.

"We are confident in our preparations to ensure a safe and successful CHOGM," Auapa'au was quoted as saying.

Samoa is the first Pacific member country to host the biennial meeting.

(RNZ Pacific)

GUAM AIRPORT WORKER SCREENING

In its continued effort to improve safety and security at Guam’s only commercial airport, the A.B. Won Pat International Airport Authority announced that it is the first in the region to receive approval of the Transportation Security Administration Aviation Workers Screening program.

GIAA was also recognized to be in the top 4% of all Category 1 airports and the top 9% of all airports nationwide when assessed for full implementation of the AWS Program, which is designed to deter insider threats at airports across the country. 

In addition, the GIAA also was recognized as the first airport in the region to receive approval of its Federal Aviation Administration-required Safety Management System Implementation Plan, which when fully implemented, will help airports further foster a positive safety culture through improved detection and correction of safety concerns.

“When the GIAA says safety and security are top priorities when operating Guam’s only commercial airport, this recognition of leading the region in the implementation of the AWS Program and approval of the SMS Implementation Plan show the Airport’s commitment to these values,” said GIAA Executive Manager John Quinata. 

“We are extremely proud of our Airport Police and our Airport Operations Divisions for their commitment to safety and security of our airport environment,” he added.

The Guam Airport was also the first airport to fully implement the AWS program within TSA’s Pacific Area of Responsibility, which includes Hawaii, American Samoa, CNMI and Guam. 

The new mandate required Airport Police to implement a screening process at aviation worker entry points at the terminal. 

Aviation workers include personnel from airlines, tenants, and others that may need access to restricted areas.

The FAA-required and approved SMS Implementation Plan is the first step in complying with the FAA’s ongoing transition to a more streamlined and performance-based regulatory framework. 

The timeline for full implementation will be no later than 36 months and the GIAA is committed to continuing its track as a leader in the region.

(RNZ Pacific)

GUAM DEFENDS MISSILE TESTING

Guam's Governor views missile testing and housing nuclear weapons on the United States territory as a way of deterring aggression to maintain peace in the region.

This comes as Pacific Island leaders plan to declare the Pacific a ‘zone of peace’.

Governor Lou Leon Guerrero said the US territory had no choice but to defend itself amid ongoing nuclear threats to the Asia-Pacific region.

This follows a string of North Korean missile tests which could, in theory, strike Guam - the island which the US considers a key strategic military base to help it stop any potential attacks.

Military presence and activity have been ramping up on the island.

The latest expansion by the US involves a proposal for long range missile tests to launch in two months' time - the beginning of testing twice a year over the next decade.

Asked whether Guam's Pacific neighbors should be concerned about the proposed missile testing and militarization, Governor Guerrero said the territory was an "attraction to conflicts" and the presence of the military was necessary to maintain peace.

She said the presence of US armed forces was necessary to prevent China from invading Guam - a sentiment echoed by Washington to underscoring America's positioning in the Pacific which aims to address what it views as Beijing's growing influence across the region.

"If [the US] just get up and leave we will be worse off in terms of peace. I don't want our people to be under Chinese rule. That's a very real threat here."

Last year, China hacked critical infrastructure in Guam when communications systems where down during Typhoon Mawar, which devastated the island in May 2023.

According to the Air Force, the damage sustained at Guam, specifically Andersen Air Base and Joint Region Marianas, from the typhoon was extensive.

(RNZ Pacific)