Archive _{- April 2002}

By Jack Metta

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (April 25, 2002 – The National)---Health Minister Tommy Tomscoll is to seek an explanation from the Australian aid agency, AusAID, about the shortage of medical drugs in the country.

He said the PNG government did not budget for the cost of medical supplies because AusAID had made a commitment of K 30 million (US$ 8,292,000) for that purpose.

"We have not budgeted for the supply of drugs to public hospitals this year on the understanding that AusAID will take care of this function," Mr. Tomscoll said.

He said he did not know why this undertaking had not been honored, leading to widespread drug shortages in public hospitals throughout the country.

The Australian High Commission and AusAID officials will be asked to comment on Mr. Tomscoll's statement.

"There is some serious explanation to be made and I will be demanding such from the appropriate people in Port Moresby," he said yesterday.

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ALOFI, Niue (April 24, 2002 – Niue Economic Review)---Intense political jostling by three political factions on Niue is delaying the selection of a speaker and premier in the island's 20-seat Legislative Assembly.

It could be next week before lobbying is completed.

Political commentators report that the current situation is a result of party politics in the world's smallest state.

There were no Legislative Assembly seat changes in the weekend general election. All sitting members were returned to office.

Earlier this week, the Alliance of Independents team met with highest common roll poller Toke Talagi in a bid to overthrow the Niue Peoples Party. However, sources say personality differences put a damper on that coalition, which would have seen Mr. Talagi become the country's leader with a majority of one.

The ruling Niue Peoples Party is believed to be in turmoil as previous Premier Sani Lakatani is reported to be facing a challenge from his...

FLOSSE

PAPE‘ETE, Tahiti, French Polynesia (April 12, 2002 - Oceania Flash)---French Polynesia President Gaston Flosse said this week that he believed the French Pacific territory's economy was "doing well," seven months after the September 11 terrorist attacks on the U.S. and its global repercussions.

Flosse told the Territorial Assembly that in spite of the global recession the attacks had caused, especially in the transportation and tourism sectors, investors seemed to remain confident.

Four resorts are currently under construction for a total investment value of some 13.3 billion French Pacific Francs (close to 100 million U.S. dollars). This will add an additional 384 rooms to the current capacity and comes in addition to upgrading and renovation work on existing resorts, which will bring a further 572 rooms to French Polynesia's hotel capacity "by the end of 2002."

By 2004, the total investment value is expected to reach 70 billion CFP, Flosse said...

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (April 24, 2002 – Post-Courier)---The Port Moresby General Hospital is critically short of drugs.

Medical superintendent Dr. Chris Marjen is hoping and "praying’’ the government will bail the hospital out.

"We don’t have drugs that can put you to sleep during an operation and wake you up again. We need antibiotics,’’ Dr. Marjen said, adding that only emergency surgery and laboratory tests are being carried out.

"There are no anesthetic drugs and laboratory reagents. Please try not to get sick because there is no medicine across the board, as I can only hope and pray the government will bail us out," he said yesterday.

Dr. Marjen renewed his call for assistance from the business houses yesterday after receiving more than K 26,000 (US$ 7,213) worth of medicine from Trade Link International Pty Limited.

He thanked Trade Link director Robinson Namaliu for assisting the hospital and said the donation came at a time when...