Thursday 26 May 2011
This mission marked the very first official visit of the Administrator to Arutua and reflects the desire to bring State services closer to the local population.
The DRCL took the opportunity to test a mobile kit enabling the issuance of biometric passports.
Thanks to this tool, fifteen residents were able to complete their applications on site, thus avoiding long and costly trips to Papeete.
Arutua also made history by hosting, for the first time in the Tuamotu, the Journée Défense et Citoyenneté (JDC, formerly JAPD) in a participatory and modern format designed to better engage young people in civic life.
The GSMA presented its training programs to the local youth.
The meeting revealed a genuine interest, although somewhat tempered by persistent lack of awareness regarding the administrative procedures necessary for registration.
In total, nearly forty young people were able to complete their JDC directly on their atoll, thus avoiding a trip to Tahiti — a step forward in territorial inclusion.
The delegation also visited municipal infrastructure, ongoing construction projects, and several pearl farms.
These exchanges with pearl farmers highlighted the sector’s difficulties while underlining its central role in the local economy.
To face the pearl industry crisis, the atolls are betting on diversification.
In Arutua, a coconut grove regeneration nursery is under development, while in Kaukura, an organic vanilla plantation illustrates ongoing efforts to innovate in agriculture.
Thursday 12 May 2011
From May 15 to June 5, the prestigious Place Vendôme will host a gigantic necklace made up of giant pearls, each three meters in diameter, displaying a photograph by Thierry Bouët.
This spectacular staging pays tribute to half a century of history, dating back to the first experimental grafts carried out in Hikueru in 1961 by Jean-Marie Domard.
Ingrid Izquierdo, Director of the Maison de la Perle, emphasizes the importance of reviving the heritage of the Tahitian cultured pearl and repositioning it as a luxury product on the global market.
As the global showcase of fine jewelry, Place Vendôme offers an ideal setting to attract an international clientele.
Major houses such as Cartier and Mauboussin will actively participate by featuring the black pearl prominently in their window displays throughout the exhibition.
The works of Thierry Bouët may later travel the world, with exhibition projects planned in Japan, Italy, Monaco, and the United States — a clear strategy of cultural and commercial outreach spearheaded by the Maison de la Perle.
The official opening, scheduled for May 18 at 6:30 p.m., will take place in the presence of French Minister of Culture Frédéric Mitterrand.
This sends a strong message for a 22-million-XPF operation, seen by its promoters as a major communication lever for the future of the industry.
However, this high-profile initiative orchestrated by the Maison de la Perle, a public institution launched in 2009, is not without controversy.
Several pearl farmers continue to criticize its cost and question its real usefulness, despite the media impact it aims to achieve.
Thursday 5 May 2011
At the domestic terminal, passengers arriving from the islands were intercepted with 43,372 pearls, representing a total weight of 81.843 kg.
These shipments lacked proof of origin, as required by regulations.
After regularization, settlement fines were imposed on the senders and recipients involved.
At the international terminal, a female passenger bound for Los Angeles was stopped in the boarding area while carrying 29 loose pearls of high value in her hand luggage.
Due to the absence of a customs declaration and failure to present the official document issued by the Pearl Farming Service — required for all exports — the pearls were confiscated.
The traveler will be required to pay a customs settlement and a penalty.
These actions by customs reflect the increased vigilance of Polynesian authorities in regulating the pearl trade.
They actively contribute to defending the “Tahitian Pearl” label and combating illegal distribution channels, ensuring the traceability and value of this strategic export product.
