January 2008
SOLS: RAMSI says report fails to understand mission mandate
Updated 31/01/2008 16:02:25
The Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands says a new report by an Australian think-tank fails to understand the mission's mandate. The report by the Centre for Independent Studies assesses RAMSI's performance. Its author, Gaurav Sodhi says RAMSI now needs to focus its attention on other issues than law and order. But the acting Special Coordinator of RAMSI, Jonathan Austin says RAMSI has no authority to address issues like land and education.
PACIFIC: ADB to put more emphasis on climate change
Updated 31/01/2008 16:03:36
The Asian Development Bank's mid-term review of its Pacific Strategy has given top priority to responding to what it describes as 'the dramatic challenges presented by climate change'. Also on the ADB's new list of priorities are good governance and the fast-tracking of of road and bridge projects. It also wants deeper engagement with civil society and private sector organisations. Jemima Garrett asked the Director-General of the Bank's Pacific Department, Phillip Erquiaga, how will the Pacific stategy change to respond to the challenges created by climate change.
NAURU: Govt wants deal over closure of Aust asylum camp
Updated 31/01/2008 16:08:50
The President of Nauru wants Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to agree to a new aid deal for his country within a month. This is to soften the economic impact of the closure of Australia's asylum seekers processing camp on the island.
Sean Dorney reports from the State House processing centre which the media was banned from entering for almost six years.
VANUATU & NEW CAL: Pre-alert for tropical cyclone Gene
Updated 31/01/2008 16:12:05
Vanuatu and New Caledonia are on pre-alert as the destructive winds of Tropical Cyclone Gene move southwest across the South Pacific. It is expected to hit the southern islands of Vanuatu later this afternoon or this evening. In Fiji, Gene has left behind damaged sugar cane crops, a government trying to assess the damage bill, and a meterology service defending its system of warnings.
PNG: Deadline for interconnection of phone services
Updated 31/01/2008 18:38:15
In Papua New Guinea, the government owned telecommunications provider Telikom P-N-G and the Irish mobile phone company Digicel have begun testing the interconnection of their services. The government set the deadline for this week for the two companies to switch over their networks to work together.
FRENCH POLYNESIA: Political turmoil as government resigns
Updated 31/01/2008 18:41:17
French Polynesian politics are again in turmoil. The pro-independence government of Oscar Temaru has resigned just days after the first round of voting in the general election. The major parties are now involved in close lobbying in the leadup to the second round next month. The party of former president Gaston Flosse suffered a major set back in the first round last weekend. His party, Tahoeraa Hiuraatira used to be the country's main pro-autonomy party. The biggest share of votes was won by Gaston Tong Sang and his new pro-autonomy party, To Tatou Ai'a.
NAURU: Taiwan Vice-President honoured
Updated 31/01/2008 18:43:11
The Vice President of Taiwan, Annette Lu was the guest of honour at the ceremony in Nauru to mark the island nations 40th Independence Anniversary. Madam Lu is visiting the four Pacific Island nations that have diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
KIRIBATI: Declares world class envionmental reserve
Updated 30/01/2008 16:37:14
Kiribati's Environment Minister Tetabo Nekara has made the formal declaration necessary to create the Phoenix Islands Environmental Protected area. Plans for the massive reserve were announced by the Kiribati government at last year's Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity in Brazil. Mr Nekara says the Phoenix Islands Protected Area will be one of the world's biggest.
AUSTRALIA: No Pacific Islands guest workers scheme
Updated 30/01/2008 16:37:14
Australia has again ruled out introducing a Pacific Island guest workers scheme. This follows yet another call for Pacific islanders to be allowed to take up seasonal jobs in Australia. The Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, Doctor Derik Sikua raised the issue last week while visiting Australia but the call has been dismissed - for the time being. However, the World Bank predicts that it's just a matter of time before the Australian Government will be forced to consider a regional employment scheme.
MARSHALLS: President reinforces ties with Taiwan
Updated 30/01/2008 16:39:08
The new President of the Marshall Islands, Litokwa Tomeing, has reinforced the nations political ties with Taiwan after talks with Taiwan's Vice-President, Annette Lu. The meeting came at the beginning of Ms Lu's tour of four Pacific allies, three of which have had recent changes of government. Taiwan recently came to the aid of Air Marshall Islands with one million Australian dollars to get two planes back in the air. The airline had been grounded for four months. Prior to being elected, President Tomeing was seen to support a return to a one-China policy. Steve Hassett asked the Editor of the Marshalls Islands Journal, Gif Johnson why President Tomeing initially considered favouring mainland China.
FIJI: Rain hampering cyclone relief efforts
Updated 30/01/2008 16:41:19
Rain is continuing to hamper relief efforts in Fiji in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Gene. Restoring water supplies is still the main concern for authorities. The Fiji Electric Authority says it is working hard to restore full power but its work is difficult because of strong winds. In the past two days, nearly 300 people have sheltered in 40 evacuation centres, many others are still waiting for waters to recede to start mopping up. As Bo Hill reports, Tropical Cyclone Gene has added yet another worry to Fiji's suffering farmers.
TONGA: Civil servants code of conduct labelled 'draconian'
Updated 30/01/2008 16:42:42
The group which represents public service unions internationally is supporting Tonga's public service association general secretary in her fight with the government over her sacking. Tonga's P-S-A is suing the government and prime minister over what they say was the unfair dismissal of Mele Amanaki from her civil service job in 2006. Ms Amanaki claims her sacking was politically motivated. But the Tonga Public Service commission insists she was sacked for breaking the civil service code of conduct. It says government workers must be loyal to the government and aren't allowed to make political statements. The Oceania sub-regional Secretary of Public Service International, Mike Ingpen, told Bruce Hill that such rules are too draconian.
AUSTRALIA: Proposal to save PNG endangered forests
Updated 30/01/2008 16:45:26
An Australian scientist is proposing a scheme where endangered tropical forests in Papua New Guinea might be up for sale to conservationists. Professor Tim Flannery wants to establish an internet scheme where buyers would pay PNG villagers to protect vulnerable forests from logging. So far he's discussed his proposal with the PNG Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare and local villagers, as well as Australia's new climate change advisor Professor Ross Garnaut.
PNG: Row brewing over Bougainville mining rights
Updated 30/01/2008 18:32:36
Papua New Guinea's government says it wants a fair share of the ownership of minerals on PNG's autonomous region of Bougainville. Thousands of lives were lost in a civil war led by secessionist rebels over mining and environmental pollution by the once giant Bougainville Copper mine.
FIJI: Condoms and kava blamed for drop in birth rate
Updated 29/01/2008 11:48:55
Condoms and kava are being blamed for a decline in Fiji's population growth, prompting calls for an urgent revision of the country's family planning policies. One provincial council is even considering restricting the use of condoms in a bid to boost the population.
SOLS: PM calls for expanded RAMSI role
Updated 29/01/2008 11:50:34
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Doctor Derek Sikua wants the four-year-old Regional Assistance Mission, RAMSI, to expand its role to have greater involvement in rural development. About 80 percent of Solomon Islanders live in the rural areas - but have largely been starved of development since independence almost 30 years ago.
PNG: Kokoda's famous 'golden staircase' rediscovered
Updated 29/01/2008 15:46:35
The famous 'golden staircase' used by Australian soldiers during World War Two to reach the Imita Ridge on the Kokoda track in Papua New Guinea, has been rediscovered. New South Wales Liberal politician and Kokoda enthusiast, Charlie Lynn, says terrain along the current day Kokoda track did not match descriptions Australian soldiers or diggers gave of the golden staircase. Late last year he got together with a group of men from landowning groups around Imita to solve the mystery.
FRENCH POLYNESIA: Gaston Flosse biggest loser
Updated 29/01/2008 15:52:05
In French Polynesia, Gaston Tong Sang and his five-month old To Tatou Ai'a party have won the biggest share of votes in the first round of the country's general election. Mr Tong Sang was ousted as President last year after the pro-independence party led by Oscar Temaru, and pro-France party, Tahoeraa Huiraatira lead by elder statesman Gaston Flosse, formed a defacto alliance. In a surprising comeback, Mr Tong Sang's party has won more than 36 -percent of the vote in the first round, more than three per cent ahead of Mr Temaru's Union for Democracy. The publisher of Tahiti Pacifique magazine, Alex du Prel, says Mr Tong Sang can expect even greater support in the second round on February the 10th. He says the biggest loser appears to be Gaston Flosse - with just under 22 per cent of first round votes, it appears years of infighting and corruption allegations have taken their toll.
SOLOMON IS: Parliament clerk goes into politics.
Updated 29/01/2008 15:57:38
One of Solomon Islands' most senior female public servants, the Clerk to Parliament has resigned to contest a by-election. Taeasi Sanga is to contest the East Malaita parliamentary seat left vacant following the death of her husband, Joses Sanga last year. She says making a decision to leave her secure public service job to go into politics was not easy.
SOLOMON IS: Call for collective leadership by PM
Updated 29/01/2008 16:00:12
The Solomon Islands chapter of Transparency International wants to the country's new prime minister to adopt a collective style of leadership, and to listen to what the people want. The Executive Officer of Transparency Solomon Islands, Joses Tuhanuku says at the same time Prime Minister Derek Sikua should be firm and in control. Mr Tuhanuku described the leadership style of the former Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare as dictatorial. He says Prime Minister Sikua's recent fence-mending trip to PNG, Australia and New Zealand was a good initiative to start with.
FIJI: Officials assessing damage from cyclone Gene
Updated 29/01/2008 16:57:34
After a rough night in Fiji, Tropical Cyclone Gene, and its 140 kilometre an hour wind gusts, have moved on. While strong wind warnings remain, the Disaster Management Office says the worst is over and it can now begin assessing the damage. The biggest concern for the Office is restoring water and electricity. After the clean-up, will come another assessment - why Tropical Cyclone Gene took authorities by surprise. Pajiliai Dobui, from the Disaster Management Office in Suva, says the cyclone didn't behave like others.
PNG: Renewed calls for full competition in telecommunications
Updated 28/01/2008 16:05:36
In Papua New Guinea, there are more calls for the government to abandon its plan to give the government owned phone company, Telikom, a monoploy over telecommunications hardware. The plan would involve the nationalisation of tens of millions of dollars worth of equipment installed by the Irish mobile phone company Digicel. It would also include equipment installed by private internet providers. The renewed calls for an end to the plan come after the Minister for Communications, Patrick Tammur, failed to turn up to a major seminar on the issue last week. The governments plan would see Telikom win sole rights to provide networks while other companies would be restricted to on-selling internet and phone services. Business is angry that the government has failed to consult those involved. The President of the PNG Business Council, Henry Kila says business organisations are united in their oppostion to the government's plan.
FIJI: Full alert as Tropical Cyclone Gene builds
Updated 28/01/2008 16:05:36
Fiji is bracing for wild weather over the next 24 hours as Tropical Cyclone Gene brings gale force winds, flooding and squally seas. The storm has already claimed two lives - police say two workers died in Lautoka city after being electrocuted by fallen power lines. Schools and businesses have been advised to close and several towns and city suburbs are without power. Tropical Cyclone Gene will hit Viti Levu and nearby islands hardest, but the Meterological Service has also issued strong wind warnings for the rest of the country. The tropical cyclone forecaster at the Fiji Meteorological Service Alipate Waqaicelua says residents should already be on full alert.
PNG: Public servants told to stop being lazy
Updated 28/01/2008 16:09:17
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare has called on top public servants to be punctual and work like servants for the country's six million people. They've been accused of turning up late for work and taking long lunch breaks.
TONGA: PM challenges email writer to come forward
Updated 28/01/2008 16:11:49
Tonga's prime minister has challenged the author of anonymous e-mails alleging corruption by himself and his ministers to reveal his or her identity.The emails have been circulating in Tonga and overseas for the past month. Prime ministerial spokesman Lopeti Senituli has said the author should step forward if he or she wants ther complaints taken seriously. The auditor-general has begun an inquiry into allegations against the minister of tourism, prompting calls from several MPs from Tonga's pro-democracy movement for him to step down. But prime minister Fred Sevele has told Bruce Hill that the call is hypocritical, and that proper proceedures must be followed.
FIJI: Travel blacklist not expected to affect NZ trade expo
Updated 28/01/2008 16:13:27
Organisers of a Pacific Trade Expo in New Zealand say they don't anticipate any problems with a large Fiji delegation attending. The New Zealand Pacific Business Council says Fiji's presence at the expo in Auckland this march is vital to developing trade in the Pacific. Diplomatic tension between the two countries in the wake of the recent military coup has seen New Zealand impose a travel blacklist members of the interim government and their families. But New Zealand Pacific Business Council chairman, Gilbert Ullrich, says he's been assured that won't affect Fiji's presence at the trade expo.
PACIFIC: Taiwan Vice-President on Pacific tour
Updated 28/01/2008 16:15:09
Taiwan's Vice President, Annette Lu, will start a tour of the Pacific this week. She will visit four of the six Pacific nations that recognise Taiwan, three of which have had recent changes in their leaders. Ms Lu will start her visit in the Marshall Islands on Wednesday and then travel to Nauru, the Solomon Islands and Palau. Adam Connors spoke to Taiwan's representative in the Solomons, George Chan, about the Vice President's plans, and concerns that a possible change of government may bring.
FIJI: Methodists blame coup for social stress
Updated 28/01/2008 16:16:46
Fiji's influential Methodist Church says a series of traumatic incidents involving women and babies is an indication of the social stresses brought about by the recent coup. A woman has been charged with drowning her two daughters, a pregnant woman attempted suicide after an argument with her husband; and two newborn babies were discovered in a blocked sewerage tank in Lautoka. The Fiji Womens Crisis Center has called for a major change in the way men in Fiji treat women. It has suggested that families are under added stress because of the loss of jobs and income. Reverend Tuikilakila Waqairatu, deputy general secretary of the Methodist Church of Fiji, says that Fiji is under enormous stress because of the political and economic instability caused by the military backed interim government.
NEW CAL: Bus strike into third month
Updated 28/01/2008 16:22:37
In New Caledonia, bus services are being disrupted by a strike in the capital Noumea that is now in its third month. Drivers at the main bus company Carsud began industrial action in November last year. Tensions escalated on the 17th of this month, when 300 members of the Union of Kanak and Exploited Workers clashed with 200 policemen after several roundabouts were blocked.
BOUGAINVILLE: Setback to plans to relocate govt to Arawa
Updated 25/01/2008 14:48:07
Moves to re-locate the Bougainville autonomous government headquarters back to Arawa on the mainland have been dealt a serious blow. This follows the burning down of the administration building at Arawa and a threat by police to pull out of town because of increasing lawlessness. Police Minister Ezekiel Masat says the incidents are a setback to plans to relocate the overall development of Bougainville from Arawa. But Mr Masat says the government has made a political decision to maintain a police presence at Arawa, the former capital of the PNG province in Central Bougainville.
FIJI: Methodists blame coup for social stress
Updated 25/01/2008 14:49:57
Fiji's influential Methodist Church says a series of traumatic incidents involving women and babies is a reflection of the social stress brought about by the recent coup. A woman has been charged with drowning her two daughters, a pregnant woman attempted suicide after an argument with her husband; and two newborn babies were discovered in a blocked sewerage tank in Lautoka. The Fiji Womens Crisis Center has called for a major change in the way men in Fiji treat women. It has suggested that families are under added stress because of the loss of jobs and income. Reverend Tuikilakila Waqairatu, deputy general secretary of the Methodist Church of Fiji, has Bruce Hill that Fiji is under enormous stress because of the political and economic instability caused by the military backed interim government.
SOLOMON IS; Govt defuses potential ethnic conlict
Updated 25/01/2008 14:53:12
The Solomon Islands government has defused a potential conflict between two ethnic groups of people in Honiara. Cabinet decided to to pay nine-thousand US dollars to a group of people from Malaita Province who were angry over an offensive note left near the Magistrates court. They were threatening violence if the national government did not pay them compensation. Deputy Police Commissioner, Peter Marshall says that the police with the assistance of police from the Regional Assistance dealt with the situation.
FIJI: Massive facelift for Port of Suva
Updated 25/01/2008 14:51:33
Fiji's main port in Suva is to get a major overhaul. The current container facility at King's wharf will be moved to newly reclaimed land at Walu Bay and expanded significantly. Once that is complete, the old wharf will be extended and upgraded into a state-of the-art cruise liner facility with a shopping complex. It will be along similar lines to Sydney's Darling Harbour. During construction the project is expected to create around 15-hundred jobs and result in an investment of 520 million Fiji dollars or just over 380 million Australian dollars.
SAMOA: Seasonal workers in NZ warned against misbehaviour
Updated 25/01/2008 16:14:15
Samoans who are in New Zealand as part of a seasonal work scheme have been warned that if they step out of line, they're going home. It comes from the Chief Executive Officer of Samoa's Ministry of the Prime Minister, Poloma Komiti. The warning was prompted after three seasonal workers were sent home last week for drunken behaviour. Samoan workers had been warned they could be sent home, in the wake of a similar incident last year. The seasonal work scheme involves people from several South Pacific nations being able to work temporarily in New Zealand, mainly picking fruit. Mr Komiti says the Samoan government has taken such a hard line because bad behaviour by a few workers could spoil the scheme for everyone else.
FIJI: Big new investment to end imports of PVC pipes
Updated 24/01/2008 14:17:37
A new investment by one of Fiji's big hardware companies aims to replace almost all imports of PVC pipes from Australia and New Zealand. Vinod Patel has set up a joint venture with the Australian Pacific Industrial Corporation to expand production at the Tubemakers factory in Fiji's second city, Lautoka. The new factory will make PVC pipes of up to 400 milimetres. They will meet Australian and New Zealand standards for the first time.
PACIFIC: Child mortality rates halve
Updated 24/01/2008 14:24:57
A new UNICEF report looking at the mortality rates of children under five across the world has revealed some important developments across the Pacific. Mortality rates in the region have almost halved to 27 deaths per one thousand live births. UNICEF says the result is partly because of the improved economic outlook for most Pacific countries along with better inter-country collaboration. UNICEF works closely with the World Health Organisation, the governments of Australia, New Zealand and Japan and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community in a number of inter-country health schemes such as immunisations. However UNICEF's deputy regional director for East Asia and the Pacific, Richard Bridle told Sonja Heydeman, there are some key challenges facing the region.
SOLS: Attempted theft of Japanese WW2 monument
Updated 24/01/2008 15:43:27
In Solomon Islands, the National Museum and local police are monitoring the contents of Malaysian scrap metal barges following the attempted theft of a Japanese World War Two Monument. The bronze statue was found 200 metres from its base on Mount Austin and police believe the thieves were intending to sell it for scrap metal.
PACIFIC: Italy to give $US12m for health & climate change
Updated 24/01/2008 15:43:27
The Italian government is offering Pacific nations direct development funding for the first time. The new funding of 12-million dollars US over three years is separate from the money it gives to the region through the European Union. It will be used to tackle health and climate change issues. The Italian government has also pledged to host meetings at the Pacific Islands Forum summit later this year to deepen relations.
PNG: Warning over suspenion of speaker
Updated 24/01/2008 16:12:09
A top Papua New Guinea constitutional lawyer has warned PNG's government it maybe in breach of the law in suspending the speaker of Parliament, Jeffery Nape over allegations of misusing public funds.
SOLOMON ISLANDS: Report says RAMSI should focus on economy
Updated 24/01/2008 16:12:09
A report by an Australian think-tank says the regional assistance mission to Solomon Islands RAMSI has done a good job reimposing law and order on the country, but now needs to focus its attentions on other issues. The Center for Independent Studies will release the report, "Five Out Of Ten", next week. The report's author, Gaurav Sodhi, says RAMSI ought to put more effort into governance and the economy, as well as maintaining its very good track record on maintaining peace and security.
FIJI: Tragedies highlight plight of women
Updated 23/01/2008 16:56:20
A series of incidents involving women in Fiji this week has prompted a call for a change in the way society views and treats women. One woman is being held for murder after allegedly throwing her two daughters into the Rewa River, where they drowned; a pregnant woman has been admitted to hospital after drinking kerosene following an argument with her husband; and two male foetuses have been discovered in a sewerage tank in Lautoka. Police say they believe the foetuses were flushed down a toilet. Fiji Womens Crisis Centre coordinator, Shamima Ali, says it's especially shocking that so many tragedies should happen at once.
SOLOMON IS: Ousted PM says new Aust govt is better
Updated 23/01/2008 16:56:20
The former Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare says it appears the new Australian government is much better at dealing with Pacific issues than the previous government. But Mr Sogavare who's now Leader of Opposition, has warned his successor, Derek Sikua not to surrender Solomon Islands' sovereignty just to please Australia.
AUST: Major changes in relations with Pacific
Updated 23/01/2008 16:57:45
The election of the Rudd Government promises major changes in Australia's relations with its Pacific neighbours. The relationship has often been turbulent - complicated by diplomatic disputes and cultural differences. Duncan Kerr is Australia's newly-appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs. Steve Holland asked him about the Australian Government's new Pacific outlook.
PNG: Stock market defies world slump
Updated 23/01/2008 17:11:23
The Port Moresby Stock Exchange is showing resilience in the face of world sharemarket volatility, being one of a very few not facing big losses. Fears of a recession in the United States prompted a worldwide slump in share prices early this week. The Australian Stock Market yesterday had its biggest one day fall in 18 years wiping more than 100-billion dollars off the value of listed companies. Overnight action by the US Federal Reserve to cut interest rates has slowed the drop and today there has been a substantial bounce in Australian share prices. Throughout the turmoil the Port Moresby Stock Exchange has remained strong. Last year, it posted overall growth of 32 percent and last week it reached a new record high. The Managing Director of Kina Securities, Sid Yates told Jemima Garrett, that this week's losses have not left the Port Moresby exchange in the red.
SOLOMON ISLANDS: Secrecy over Rudd/Sikua summit
Updated 23/01/2008 17:01:11
The new Solomon Islands prime minister Doctor Derek Sikua is in Canberra today for talks with his Australian counterpart, Kevin Rudd. It's part of a three nation mission to Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand. Doctor Sikua is hoping to improve the diplomatic relationship between Solomon Islands and Australia, which grew incresingly sour under his predeccessor, Manasseh Sogovare.
NZ: China and NZ close to free trade deal
Updated 23/01/2008 17:04:02
China and New Zealand are close to finalising a free trade agreement. If it goes through, it will be the first free trade agreement China has negotiated with a developed country. Trade between the two countries is worth about six billion dollars a year and the deal will add hundreds of millions of dollars to that figure.
FIJI: NGO says membership of council with conditions
Updated 22/01/2008 16:10:40
In Fiji, a non-government organisation, the Citizens Constitutional Forum says it has accepted membership of the National Council with conditions. Fiji's military-led government has launched the council as part of a process it hopes will produce a peoples charter. The development has been controversial with organisations and communities arguing over the legality or otherwise of their participation. The director of the Citizens Constitutional Forum, the Reverend Akuila Yabaki says that his organisation's participation comes with certain conditions.
NZ: Final tributes to Sir Edmund Hillary
Updated 22/01/2008 16:13:05
New Zealand has paid tribute to Sir Edmund Hillary at a state funeral in Auckland. Sir Edmund, along with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, conquered Mount Everest on May the 29th, 1953. He died earlier this month at the age of 88.
TONGA: Double shooting deaths shock nation
Updated 22/01/2008 16:14:32
Tonga's acing police commissioner says the shooting of two people in a murder-suicide has shocked the country. A prominent Nukualofa businesswoman, Mosimani Helu died in hospital yesterday from a gunshot wound to the head. Police say the body of a man was found in her backyard. The motive for the shooting is still not known. However, the local media quotes a neighbour as saying the alleged gunman worked as a security man or gardener for the victim about two years ago. Tonga's acting police commander, Taniela Faletau, says that up until now, this sort of crime has been almost unknown in the Kingdom.
PNG: Solomons PM arrives in Australia
Updated 22/01/2008 16:17:25
The Solomon Islands Prime Minister Doctor Derek Sikua has arrived in Australia on the second leg of his regional tour to mend relations with neighbouring countries. Before flying out of Papua New Guinea, Doctor Sikua apologised and expressed regret to his PNG counterpart over his predecessor's "disrespectful" decision to boycott the Pacific Island Forum meeting in Tonga last year.
SOLS: Former PM fears new Prime Minister will sell out
Updated 22/01/2008 16:20:04
The former Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare says he fears the man who replaced him will undermine the country's laws and sovereignty to please Australia. Mr Sogavare, who is now the Opposition Leader, made the comments as Prime Minister Derek Sikua arrived in Australia from Papua New Guinea on an official trip to restore regional relations. He will also visit New Zealand. Mr Sogavare blames the former Howard government for the sour relations with Canberra. He says there was no reason for Doctor Sikua to apologise to his Papua New Guinea counterpart.
FIJI: Businessman blames Finance Minister for investment loss
Updated 22/01/2008 16:25:50
Fiji's most successful businessman has blamed the interim government's determination to reduce tariffs for his decision to axe a multi-million dollar investment in a new manufacturing facility. Flour Mills of Fiji has announced it will not be going ahead with its new brewery, chocolate manufacturing plant or an expansion of its existing biscuit and chip facility. The move comes as the Fiji economy continues to struggle in the wake of the 2006 coup. Flour Mills Founder and Chairman, Hari Punja, has been named by Pacific magazine as one of the region's top 10 influential people. Mr Punja says the interim government's 2008 budget decision to reduce tarrifs is also forcing his company to scale back its rice and pea processing operation.
FIJI: Remittance pressures forcing overseas Fijians into debt
Updated 21/01/2008 14:40:45
A Fiji community leader in Wellington says Fijians working in New Zealand are sending more money home in the form of remittances than usual. But Sai Lealea says some are going into debt with loan sharks to do so. Remittances from Fijians working overseas declined by 30 per cent overall in the past year, according to figures just released by the Reserve Bank of Fiji. Mr Lealea says that's because the military coup has meant fewer Fijians are able to take part in organised work schemes overseas, and this is placing a greater burden on those already living in other countries.
SOLOMON IS: Auditor Generals backs PM's statement
Updated 21/01/2008 14:41:58
The Solomon Islands Auditor General has welcomed Prime Minister Derek Sikua's commitment to fight corruption. Doctor Sikua says his government will legislate to establish a National Audit Office and an anti-corruption agency. He made the announcement while launching his new coalition government's policy statement in Honiara on Friday. Auditor General Augustine Fatai says establishing a National Audit Office will guarantee the independence of the office in fighting corruption in government.
SAMOA: Rugby boss defends national coach
Updated 21/01/2008 14:44:16
Samoa rugby union chief, Sua Peter Schuster has defended the appointment of sports administrator Niko Palamo as national coach. The union announced last week that Mr Palamo, known as the chief of the Samia 2007 South Pacific Games and general secretary of that country's National Olympic Committee, had won the role. Sevens mentor Dickie Tafua and John Schuster where widely considered strong applicants for the role, advertised as an on island job. Sua Peter Schuster says Palamo has the credentials to take his place on the world stage, alongside Japan coach John Kirwan, Fiji's Ilivasa Tabua and Tonga's Kutusi Fielea.
PNG: Solomons PM arrives to apologise
Updated 21/01/2008 14:45:33
The Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Doctor Derek Sikua arrives in Papua New Guinea today on the first leg of his regional tour aimed at mending strained relations with Australia, PNG and Australia. He will apologise to his PNG counterpart, Sir Michael Somare, over the decision by the former Solomons Prime Minister Manasseh Sogovare to boycott the last Pacific Leaders Forum in Tonga.
SOLOMON ISLANDS: PM arrives in PNG, apologises
Updated 21/01/2008 16:57:41
The Solomon islands' new prime minister, Doctor Derek Sikua, has arrived in neighbouring Papua New Guinea on the first leg of a trip which will also take him to Australia and New Zealand. He's holding talks with his PNG counterpart, Sir Michael Somare, in which he says he is going to apologise for some of the actions of the previous prime minister, Manasseh Sogovare. Our correspondent in Port Moresby, Firmin Nanol, says the welcome for Doctor Sikua today was rather different than that extended to his predecessor.
AUST: Visa restrictions lifted on Solomons politicans
Updated 21/01/2008 16:58:51
In another sign of an improvement in relations between Solomon Islands and its neighbours .. Australia has announced it is lifting visa restrictions on Solomon Islands politicans.
TONGA: Call for Minister to quit over misappropriation claims
Updated 21/01/2008 16:59:54
Tonga's opposition pro-democracy movement wants the country's tourism minister, Fineasi Funaki, to step down over allegations of corruption. An investigation by the Auditor General is underway into claims from the director of tourism, that the minister misappropriated ministry funds. Emails from an anonymous person using an assumed name have been circulating in Tonga and overseas, containing further allegations about the prime minister, Doctor Fred Sevele. Doctor Sevele says due process is being followed, but pro-democracy M-P Clive Edwards says that's no good enough.
SOLOMON IS: Vanuatu escapes serious cyclone damage
Updated 21/01/2008 17:00:55
Vanuatu has escaped serious damage from Tropical Cyclone Funa. The Vanuatu National Disaster Management office says there was some damage to food gardens, cash crops and houses made of bush materials in the Banks and Torres groups in the north of the country. The south-eastern parts of Solomon Islands were also affected by heavy rains and flooding from the tropical cyclone system.
NEW CAL: Plan to recycle domestic rubbish
Updated 21/01/2008 17:02:38
A city in New Caledonia has become one of the first communities in the Pacific to start recycling its domestic rubbish. The residents of Le Mont-Dore are separating their waste into different types to cut back on the amount being sent to landfills.
PNG: Solomons PM apologies to Sir Michael Somare
Updated 21/01/2008 17:46:20
The Solomon islands' new Pime Minister Doctor Derek Sikua has apologised to the Papua New Guinea Prime Minister for the actions of his predecessor, Manasseh Sogavare. Our correspondent in Port Moresby, Firmin Nanol, says Doctor Sikua is in Papua New Guinea on the first leg of a trip which will also take him to Australia and New Zealand.
FRENCH POLY: Former president supports jailed leader
Updated 18/01/2008 16:48:16
A former President of French Polynesia has come out in support of a jailed political leader who has been charged with abusing public funds while in office. Gaston Tong Sang joined around 300 people who recently protested in the streets against the detention of the President of the autonomist party Ai'a Api, Emile Vernaudon.
FIJI: Media Council chair rejects resignation call
Updated 18/01/2008 16:48:16
There's been a call for the Chair of Fiji's Media Council, Daryl Tarte, to step down because of his membership in the government-sponsored National Council for Building a Better Fiji. The Pacific Council for Political Integrity, based in Suva, says his acceptance of a position on the council creates a conflict of interest, and calls the media's independence into question.
PACIFIC: Cyclone affects Solomons, Vanuatu, Fiji
Updated 18/01/2008 16:49:37
Cyclone Funa continues to bring wild weather to the Pacific, causing dozens of alerts to be issued as it pushes between Vanuatu and Fiji. The storm has been upgraded to a category three hurricane. It's forging a path south west, so while the worst is over for Vanuatu and Solomon Islands, Fijians are bracing themselves.
FIJI: Dispute blocks exports of Fiji Water
Updated 18/01/2008 16:53:47
The Fiji government is blocking exports of the bottled water, Fiji Water. The government claims the real value of the water is far higher than declared and Fiji is losing hundreds of millions of dollars in lost revenue. Fiji Water is one of the best selling premium bottled waters in the United States. It's estimated the dispute is costing three-and-a-half million dollars Australian for every week the shipments are stalled.
PNG: Investigation into involvement of police in clan clash
Updated 18/01/2008 16:51:56
Papua New Guinea's police hierarchy says it will punish four policemen if they are found to have helped a tribal group in a raid on a rival clan that left two men dead and 500 villagers homeless. As Firmin Nanol reports it's claimed the policemen using high powered weapons shot two men and burnt down 100 houses, shops and a community school in Morobe province.
PNG: Parliamentary speaker suspended over missing funds
Updated 18/01/2008 17:01:28
Papua New Guinea's speaker of Parliament Jeffery Nape (nah-pay) has been suspended for an indefinite period over allegations of mismanaging funds.Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare has instigated an investigation into the allegations involving the misappropriation of three and a half million dollars Australian. Mr Nape is currently in New Zealand attending a parliamentary conference and has been unavailable for comment. PNG's Deputy Opposition Leader, Bart Philemon says the allegations are very serious and he's urging the Prime Minister to take action.
SOLOMONS: PM says country hampered by corruption
Updated 18/01/2008 17:04:58
The Solomon Islands Prime Minister Doctor Derek Sikua says his country's development has been hampered by enormous corruption.He was speaking during the launch of policy documents outlining his new government's plans for the next two years. Doctor Sikua says his government's policies are geared towards creating social stability. He says since independence social stability has been unattainable.
SOLOMONS: Concern over condom vending machines
Updated 17/01/2008 16:37:04
Some church groups in Solomon Islands are concerned about the installation of condom vending machines in 15 public places around the capital Honiara. The dispensers are part of a project by World Vision aimed at reducing sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted teenage pregnancies.The General secretary of the Solomon Islands Christian Association, Reverend Philemon Riti, has been quoted in the local media as saying the machines are encouraging young people to have sex. Reverend Milton Talasasa from the United Church Assembly spoke to Steve Hassett about the condom dispensers.
VANUATU: Cyclone expected to bring heavy rains
Updated 17/01/2008 16:37:03
Authorities are warning residents to take precautions and move to higher ground as a tropical cyclone approaches Vanuatu. Tropical Cyclone Funa is expected to bring gale force winds and heavy rains and has raised the possibility of flash flooding. As Megan Flamer reports, neighbouring countries may be hit much worse after Funa passes through.
FIJI: Telephone prices expected to fall following deregulation
Updated 17/01/2008 16:56:23
Consumers in Fiji can expect telephone prices to nosedive following the deregulation of the local telecom sector. An agreement paving the way for new competitors to enter Fiji's telecom industry has been signed in Suva. Competition is set to begin as early as October this year.
PNG: Two dead & 100 houses burnt in tribal clash
Updated 17/01/2008 16:59:19
Papua New Guinea police are investigating allegations that police officers were involved in a tribal clash over land in Morobe province that's left two men dead and 500 villagers homeless. Firman Nanol reports it's claimed four policemen using high powered weapons shot two men and burnt down 100 houses, shops and a community school.
AUS: Govt looking forward to improving relations with Solomons
Updated 17/01/2008 16:56:23
To Solomon Islands and just weeks after former prime minister Manasseh Sogavare was ousted, his successor is getting to work on rebuilding relationships.Derek Sikua says he'll apologise to his Papua New Guinea counterpart for the actions of his predecessor, and during a visit next week that will also include Australia and New Zealand. Australia's Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs Duncan Kerr says all sides are looking forward to an improvement in relations. Mr Kerr says he has a "very positive" meeting this week with the Solomons High Commissioner
SOLOMONS: New Attorney General to be local
Updated 16/01/2008 15:24:13
A month after coming into power and Solomon Islands Prime Minister Doctor Derek Sikua and his cabinet have been busy selecting their administrators.Twenty six permanent secretaries have been appointed and 11 political appointees are expected to named next week. But one post that will be under special scrutiny will be the post of attorney general once held by the Australian lawyer facing child sex charges, Julian Moti. Doctor Sikua says this time round, the post will be strictly off limit to foreigners.
FIJI: Tropical storms bring flooding to Northern islands
Updated 16/01/2008 15:24:13
Parts of Fiji's north are under water, after a tropical storm passed through the area. Two tropical depressions have been active in the region, bringing with them heavy rains, strong winds and storm conditions. Megan Flamer reports, there are predictions of more to come.
FIJI: First meeting of National Council
Updated 16/01/2008 15:30:09
Just little over a year since it ousted Fiji's elected government, the interim government has convened the first meeting of a body it is calling the national council on building a better Fiji. The aim of the council is to produce a people's charter which the military led government says will rid the country of its coup culture.
PNG: Govt welcomes proposed apology from Solomons
Updated 16/01/2008 16:49:14
Papua New Guinea has welcomed a proposal by the Solomon Islands Prime Minister to apologise to Prime Minister Michael Somare. Doctor Derel Sikua says he will say sorry for not attending the Pacific Islands Forum leaders' meeting in Tonga last year and for the fiasco caused by former Solomons attorney-general Julian Moti.
TONGA: PSA secretary's sacking defended
Updated 16/01/2008 16:54:40
Tonga's Public Service Commission is defending the sacking of the general secretary of the country's Public Service Association, Mele Amanaki. The PSA is suing the government and prime minister over what they say was Ms Amanaki's unfair dismissal from the public service and banning her from her home in December 2006, in the wake of the November 2006 riot which nearly destroyed Nukualofa. They're seeking around three quarters of a million dollars in damages. Ms Amanaki claims her sacking was politically motivated. But the secretary of Tonga's Public Service Commission, Apisake Soakai, says it was because the PSA head had broken the civil service code of conduct.
AUSTRALIA: Mission to study coral in Southern Ocean
Updated 15/01/2008 15:46:07
Australia's national research vessel, the Southern Surveyor, is about to leave the Tasmanian capital Hobart bound for the Southern Ocean on a mission to study coral off the coast of Australia's island state. An unmanned submersible will dive up to two-and-a-half kilometres to film live and fossilised coral in the Southern Ocean. It's hoped the mission will provide much needed information on changes in ocean temperatures over decades and even centuries.
TONGA: Anthropologist questions Polynesian origins theory
Updated 15/01/2008 15:48:18
A Tongan academic says Archaeologists working in the Pacific need to take greater account of tradition knowledge, such as oral history. Doctor Okustino Mahina, a lecturer in Social Anthropology at Auckland University in New Zealand, is critical of an announcement by a Canadian archaeologist who says he's identified a small fishing village on Tongatapu as the cradle of Polynesia. Professor Burley Griffin's team has discovered pieces of pottery in Nukuleka village, near the Tongan capital Nukualofa, which are nearly three thousand years old - much older than any other pottery found in Polynesia so far. But Doctor Mahina says that archaeology alone can't tell the whole story of Pacific pre-history.
FIJI: Forecasters monitoring possible cyclone
Updated 15/01/2008 15:50:13
There are fears a tropical cyclone is forming near Fiji. Fiji's Department of Meteorology is monitoring a weather pattern off the coast of Vanuatu which is predicted to form a cyclone over the next two days and head for Fiji. The Director of Meteorology in Fiji, Rajendra Prasad says residents should take care as the rains worsen.
VANUATU: Police deny crime is out of control
Updated 15/01/2008 15:51:13
Vanuatu police have rejected reports that crime is seriously out of control in the capital, Port Vila. Following the rape and murder of an elderly Australian resident, Vanuatu's Daily Post Newspaper claimed in an editorial that expatriates are quietly arming themselves. The editorial said Vanuatu police lacked fingerprint technology, and suggested the formation of a police reserve, similar to a scheme in the city of Rabaul, in Papua New Guinea. But Vanuatu's deputy police commissioner, Arthur Caulton, says the situation in Port Vila is not getting worse.
SOLOMONS: New PM to apologise to PNG Prime Minister
Updated 15/01/2008 17:04:19
The Solomon Islands Prime Minister Doctor Derek Sikua is planning to apologise to Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare in his first stop of a fence mending tour of the region. Doctor Sikua plans to visit Port Moresby, Wellington and Canberra starting on Saturday. The Solomon Islands Prime Minister says the meeting with Sir Michael is necessary to clear up the fiasco created by the previous government of Manassseh Sogavare over the Julian Moti affair.
TAIWAN: KMT victory unlikely to change Pacific policy
Updated 14/01/2008 14:56:22
A victory by Taiwan's opposition Kuomintang party in Saturday's parliamentary elections is unlikely to change the country's policy of seeking diplomatic influence among small island states in the Pacific.
SOLOMONS: Condom machines installed in Honiara
Updated 14/01/2008 15:41:47
In a first for the Solomon Islands, condom dispensers will be installed at 15 locations around the capital, Honiara in a bid to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections. The dispensers are part of a World Vision HIV-Aids Prevention Project which also aims to lower rates of teenage pregnancy. However, the General Secretary of the Solomon Islands Christian Association, Reverend Philemon Riti, has told the local media that the project is "encouraging young people to have sex". Steve Hassett asked World Vision HIV/Aids Prevention Project, Project Manager Lorraine Satorara what message World Vision is trying to promote.
TONGA: Union head sues government for unfair dismissal
Updated 14/01/2008 15:42:48
The Tongan government and prime minister are being sued for around three quarters of a million US dollars by the country's Public Service Association. PSA general-secretary Mele Amanaki is accusing the government of dismissing her unfairly and banning her from her home in December 2006, in the wake of the November 2006 riot which nearly destroyed Nukualofa. Tension between the government and PSA has been high since the long-running public servants strike in 2005. Mele Amanaki says she's angry at the way she's been treated.
PNG: Concern over environmental impact of nickel mine
Updated 14/01/2008 16:40:52
The Lutheran Church has petitioned the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Sir Michael Somare to consider the harmful effects on the environmental from the Ramu Nickel mine in Madang province. The mine is owned and being built by China's Metallurgical Company at an estimated cost of more than 800 million US dollars.
