Linguist, entrepreneur, doctors, architect, teacher, scout, logistician or biologist… The President of the Country raised eight people to the rank of Knight of the Order of Tahiti Nui on the occasion of the Independence Day. Several of them have distinguished themselves during the Covid crisis.
- Félix Atem, docker turned academic
Dock worker, salesman, high school supervisor, teacher… And academic. At 75, Félix Atem is an example of social ascent. The native of Papeete, who went through many “odd jobs” which allowed him to advance in his studies, was a long time professor of English at the Taaone college, before turning to university. Pedagogical manager in English, he taught for nearly 25 years at the UPF as a lecturer, until his retirement in 2014. A career that will earn him the award of academic palms. A time assistant to the town hall of Pirae, Félix Atem also distinguished himself recently, with his family, by the gift to the country of a plot of 3400 square meters to build a power station on the island of Maiao. “For your brilliant career as a teacher-researcher, during which you have contributed to the success of many Polynesian students, and for your role as a tireless educator, a fervent defender of Polynesian identity, always at the service of others, I I therefore have the honor to elevate you, dear Félix, to the rank of Knight of the Order of Tahiti Nui” declared Édouard Fritch.
- Paul Yeou Chichong, the art of entrepreneurship
The first Polynesian received at HEC, Paul Yeou, known as Chichong, has had a long career as an entrepreneur in fields as varied as insurance, automobiles and real estate. “You have been able to build a real economic empire that everyone knows today”, points out the President of the Country. Already decorated with the National Order of Merit, the son of a Chinese immigrant, now 88, has also done a lot of work on the voluntary side. Member of the Lions Club of Papeete, and of the association Koo Men Tongami, benefactor of the Gauguin Museum, Paul Chichong had also devoted 100 million francs to associations dealing with the handicapped. The now-retired entrepreneur is also passionate about master paintings: he has assembled a collection of 350 canvases that are frequently exhibited or loaned to international museums.
- Noelline Ching Soy marries Parker, a life for youth
Native of Papeete and student at the Lycée Gauguin, Noelline Ching Soy, wife Parker, has made a career in national education. First at the Verotia and Puurai nursery schools, then at the Henri Hiro de Faa’a college, after obtaining a license in English and a Capes. She did not leave teaching until 2009, after 27 years of service, but continued her associative activities – in scouting, but also within the victim assistance association and the Polynesian Youth Union, which she chaired for several years – and as a nun, within the Mormon Church. After several projects in favor of children, particularly within the Relief Society, she “takes up the challenge of organizing the first 4 youth conferences registered under the label “Youth be strong” in the church and which will bring together for 6 days no less than 400 young people aged 14 to 18”. Today in charge of mission and responsible for international relations in the Asia-Pacific within the scouts and guides of Polynesia, she is also vice-president of the Scout Council of the Pacific Islands. Finally, Noelline Ching Soy has been involved in the political world: chief of staff at the Ministry of Youth and Sports from 2001 to 2004, she participated in the preparation of the Pacific Games in Fiji and later in the organization of the Beach soccer World Cup then va’a world championships in Tahiti. She also helped organize Ukulele world record attempt events in 2015 and 2018.
- Anita Passenheim Teissier, the eye on viruses
Born and trained in biology in the East of France, Anita Passenheim Teissier arrived in Polynesia in 1984 as a technician in the analysis laboratory of Paofai. Elle will integrate since 1986 the blood transfusion center of Polynesia, where she will officiate for 12 years. It is then at the Institute Malarded that she will put her skills to good use, for laboratory diagnoses, tuberculosis monitoring, but also the monitoring of HIV patients, or “to carry out a first study on HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) and the implementation of various technical protocols, in particular the molecular diagnosis of influenza H1N1 in 2009″. Within the follow-up group Organic quality of the’ILMshe contributes to work on viruses transmitted by mosquitoes (dengue, Zika, It’s rolling)filariasis, or leptospirosis and participates in crisis management Zika and Covid. Expert in Molecular Biology, Anita Teissier “has been carrying out genetic sequencing for several years and participates in phylogenetic analyzes of arboviruses”, and is involved in training in landand in the Pacific. “Throughout your career, you have demonstrated an exceptional commitment and ability to adapt, to whichadd scientific curiosity and an inexhaustible capacity for learning” greets the head of government..
- Dr Erwan Oehler, “pilier” du CHPF
Born in Brittany, Erwan Oehler is a doctor particularly involved in the life and operation of the CHPF and “in social activities” in Polynesia. Registered to be a reservist in the Army health service, medical support for the Polynesian First Aid Federation, medical adviser on the ciguatera-online site, he is also co-investigator of two studies on gout in French Polynesia, author of numerous publications doctors and trainer in various Polynesian establishments. Above all, Dr Oehler “particularly distinguished himself during the management of the CoVID-19 epidemic within the CHPF” notes the President of the Country. “You have deployed an exemplary force of commitment, shown your remarkable professionalism, in particular in the mobilization of your peers to ensure the continuous and most qualitative care of patients with Covid-19, contributed to the sectorization plan of the establishment and medical care procedures, demonstrated humanity and closeness to patients, and demonstrated constancy in effort and admirable resilience in your services for the benefit of the patient, your teams and your establishment you serve,” he explains. You are one of the pillars on which the CHPF has relied throughout the management of the health crisis.
- James Tuhoe, the logistics to counter the Covid
Born in 1972 in Papeete, this printing professional who became an agent in the Equipment and General Services Department also distinguished himself during the Covid crisis. Temporarily assigned to the Department of Health, he volunteered to strengthen the logistics unit and participates in the organization of territorial continuity flights and that of ground transport for people placed in quarantine in dedicated centres. James Tuhoe has also been in charge of the Covid platform logistics team since July 2020 and has been involved in organizing logistics for the vaccination campaign. “You therefore, from the start of the crisis, volunteered with the PC-CRISE, and subsequently at the health platform, to serve the health cause of the population, notes Édouard Fritch. In view of your remarkable commitment and involvement in the field of health, and in the service of Polynesia, I have the honor to elevate you, my dear James, to the rank of Knight of the Order of Tahiti Nui”.
- Jean-Pierre Carlotti, community architect
Arrived in Papeete on December 12, 1980 as a Volunteer Architect for Technical Assistance (VAT), Jean-Pierre Carlotti worked for many years as a 1st category Architect in the building district of the Department of Equipment. In 1998, he joined the Territorial Public Service. He was then appointed Head of the building district in July 2009 and acted as interim Equipment Director on several occasions during Ronald Cheneson and Jean-Paul Le Caill’s vacation periods. He is thus retiring in April 2019 after having benefited from 3 years of extension of activity beyond the age limit. “In view of his remarkable commitment and involvement in the field of architecture and building, and in the service of Polynesia, I have the honor of raising my dear Jean-Pierre to the rank of Knight of the Order of Tahiti Nui” declares the president of the country.
- Dr Laure Baudouin, conductor of the rea
Born in Germany and graduated in medicine in Bordeaux, Laure Baudoin arrived in Polynesia in 2007 first as an anesthetist resuscitator at the Center Hospitalier de Polynésie Française (CHPF), then Head of the Brulés Medical Unit and Head of the Anesthesia Medical Unit. Having become head of the CHPF anesthesia and resuscitation department, she has also been Vice-President of the CHPF Establishment Medical Commission since 2020, and a teacher from 2010 to 2016 at the School of Midwives of French Polynesia. “You also participate in numerous works and publications, a medical thesis, memoirs and DU in medicine, in particular on the dangers of underwater fauna and flora in French Polynesia, specifies Édouard Fritch, who underlines, here again , its involvement during the Covid crisis. “Responsible for the only Adult Resuscitation Service in French Polynesia, you have deployed tireless action on a daily basis and in anticipation strategies, making it possible to provide care almost three times higher than normal activity. Despite their complexity and the intensity of the crisis, you have maintained an optimum quality of care and worked to ensure that patients always benefit from the most advanced care and increase their chances of recovery, he said. Your work has been praised by the armed forces health service, with which expert collaboration has been maintained to anticipate, as necessary for the peak of the crisis, the installation of mobile resuscitation equipment. In addition, the integration of medical reservists, in support of your teams, was all the more facilitated as you relied on your own experience within the national medical reserve”.