Miss Pacific Islands Judge Leiataualesa Jerry Brunt finally heading home

Staff Reporters/

Apia, Samoa – 12 February 2025 – Samoan lawyer and Head Judge of last Saturdays’ Miss Pacific Islands in Honiara, is finally heading back home after he was prohibited to leave when he attempted to board his flight on Tuesday morning.

Leiataualesa Jerry Brunt had been the target of vicious social media attacks that accused him of rigging the final results of the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant that had Miss Samoa crowned on the night.

He and the Judge from Vanuatu, Jane Glen Canas, were both unable to board their flights at the Honiara airport as they attempted to leave following the pageant.

Yesterday, the Samoa Government enquired the Attorney General of Solomon Islands for information on the travel prohibition order signed by the Solomon Islands Minister of Home Affairs against Leiataualesa Jerry Brunt.

Today, Leiataualesa Jerry Brunt, told local media that he has finally been given clearance to leave Honiara.

He said he had not been charged with any criminal offenses and there was no legal basis for Solomon Islands officials to have issued a travel prohibition order against him.

He was stopped at the airport on Tuesday morning and Leiataualesa was hoping to fly out on the 2pm flight on Tuesday afternoon.

However, he said they were offered no updates on their situation on Tuesday and Wednesday morning.

Miss Samoa, Litara Ieremia-Allan was crowned Miss Pacific Islands 2025 in Honiara last Saturday night.

The prohibition order emanated from the pageant conspiracy pushed by the Tongan pageant judge – Maata Moungaloa Tupou who launched a complaint after the winner was announced, insisting Miss Tonga had won.

The Miss Pacific Islands Organising Committee did not quickly help address the issue and dissipate the social media frenzy as they have yet to issue a press statement to clarify and address the issue.

However, Leiataulesa told local media that he will then address the conspiracy, the rules, the judging process, the judges selection and he will be seeking apologies from those who have sought to ruin his reputation by hurling public abuse towards himself and his family.

A pageant Scrutineer Pamela Naesol, CEO of the Institute of the Solomon Islands Accountant (ISIA) has helped dissipate the conspiracy accusations when she confirmed on Monday that the pageant results followed established protocols.

Naesol told the In-depth Solomon that she was approached by a female Tongan judge demanding to know why Samoa won instead of Tonga claiming three judges voted for Tonga and two for Samoa.

Naesol advised the Tongan lady to take up her issue with the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant (MPIP) committee.

She said someone filmed the exchange between her and the Tongan judge and she believes that video is being misinterpreted on social media and is the root of the allegations against the head judge.