Guam

A medical team aboard the USS Dewey examined the helicopter crew and reported no apparent injuries.

Leading Guam 32-20 in the third quarter, the PNG women battled valiantly but could not hold onto the lead as Guam came from behind to steal the win in a very close game.

After being roasted 59-20 yesterday in the opener against New Caledonia, the girls regrouped to put on a good game against Guam, despite the loss.

Svetlana Arthur once again stood up for Team PNG, this time recording a massive double-double of 13-points and 15-rebounds.

PNG is really going traditional and is among a handful of Pacific nations whose traditional culture is pure and traditional.

As far as PNG’s performances at the festival venues is concerned the PNG’s participants, about 56 delegates arrived last Wednesday in Guam.

The trip to Guam via Hong Kong, Manila then to Guam was long and tiring but PNG delegates endured it because they were determined to let the whole Pacific region know that PNG has something unique to give to the rest of the Pacific.

The region’s premiere cultural event, first held in 1972, has a long and distinguished history that the Pacific Community (SPC), as custodian, is proud to be closely associated with. 

“During Festpac we will realise that despite our differences, we are one people of the Pacific. This united spirit of the Pacific will make it clear to the rest of the world who we are,” Guam’s First Lady and Honorary Chair of the Festival Organising Committee, Christine Calvo, said during the seven-hour ceremony in the capital, Hagatna, on Sunday.

More than 3,000 cultural practitioners from 25 countries have come to Guam over the past week to showcase their individual cultures during this year’s FestPac.

The opening ceremony began with the presentation of the Guam flag, via a parachute-descent to the cheers of a spirited audience. That was followed by the Presentation of Colors and the Bendision Chamoru led by Chamorro dance group Pa’a Taotao Tano.

In a statement they said all the crew made their way safely out of the plane, which crashed at 8.30 am Wednesday (Guam time) at Andersen Air Force Base in the village of Yigo.

The B-52H Stratofortress had been taking part in a routine training mission when the incident occurred.

The base says the crash is under investigation.

The report by a US congressional commission said China had an array of weaponry able to reach the US territory.

The report by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission said China perceives Guam as a linchpin of US military strategy in the region.

It said China had developed weapons in recent years which have increased the risks for US forces and assets in the territory.

The Festival of the Pacific Arts for the 12^th time is being organised and preparations are going on with the Government and the people of Guam anticipating a good turnout. 

The festival has been held every four years since 1972. It brings together artists and cultural practitioners from around the Pacific region for two weeks for the festivity.

It is recognized as a major regional cultural event, and is the largest gathering in which Pacific peoples unite to enhance their respect and appreciation of one another.

The artists selected by Creative New Zealand represent a wide range of artforms such as clay artistry, waka navigation, kapa haka, contemporary music, moving imagery, spoken poetry and theatre.

The festival - which happens every four years - brings together more than 2000 artists from 27 Pacific countries.

A musician and producer, Matthew Faiumu Salapu, also known as Anonymouz, makes soundscapes - music that incorporates sound from the environment to tell a story.

The tropical disturbance is centered to the east of Guam and Rota and is now the subject of a tropical cyclone formation alert by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. 

The system is expected to move toward the northwest over the next few days. As this disturbance moves through the Marianas, periods of heavy showers, occasional thunderstorms and wind gusts of 25 to 35 mph are possible. 

Tropical storm conditions are not expected at this time, but this could change if the system slows down.