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PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (Papua New Guinea Post-Courier, June 20) – In what could be a major blow to Papua New Guinea’s intention to process gas onshore for export, the Government had instead opted to sell wet gas to Australian customers without properly amending the Oil and Gas Act.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Petroleum and Energy Sir Moi Avei told the annual South-East Asia Australia Offshore conference in Darwin, Australia, that the Government decided not to build the US$600 million (PGK1.9 billion) gas plant linked to the Papua New Guinea to Australia gas pipeline project. He said the decision was to accommodate an additional customer of the Papua New Guinea Gas Project.

"Because of a certain customer we have made concessions to allow limited wet gas (liquid rich gas) to Australia," Sir Moi told the MarketWatch publication.

Industry analyst said yesterday that the Oil and Gas Act was not fully amended to allow for wet gas to be exported to...

SYDNEY, Australia (ABC News Online, June 5) – Power has been partially restored to the tiny Pacific island nation of Niue after a fire wiped out the country's power supply six days ago.

Engineers have installed a new diesel generator flown to the island by the New Zealand air force at the weekend.

Basic electricity and water supplies have now been restored to Niue's 600 homes.

The island's premier, Young Vivian, says the pressure is now on his government to find a sustainable long-term solution to Niue's energy needs such as wind and solar power.

"And we are very much aware that it is very expensive to keep this little nation going and some of the things you take for granted in New Zealand and Australia, we do not take that for granted here," he said.

The Island should have power fully restored in a few days.

June 6, 2006

Australian Broadcasting Corp.: www.abc.net.au/ra

By Gerardo R. Partido

SAIPAN, CNMI (Marianas Variety, June 27) - The Guam Visitors Bureau is drafting a position paper opposing the bill to increase the minimum wage here.

During its last meeting, the agency’s board of directors agreed to let Visitors Bureau general manager Gerald Perez explain the bureau’s position opposing the minimum wage.

Last week, the Guam Hotel and Restaurant Association and other business groups already testified against the bill, arguing that the tourism industry is still not on solid footing despite the recent increases in the number of visitor arrivals.

According to the Visitors Bureau an increase in the minimum wage may also dissuade much-needed investors from putting money into the island’s tourism industry because competing destinations offer much lower wages.

The Guam Chamber of Commerce, in written testimony sent to the Legislature, pointed out that the tourism industry is still very fragile and that even if...

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PNG Post-Courier, June 6) – Papua New Guinea yesterday sent four senior forensic police officers to Solomon Islands to help with investigations into the April 18 unrest, where buildings were burnt down. Also this year the Bomana Police College outside Port Moresby will start recruiting and training Solomon Islands police.

Solomon Islands High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea Bernard Bata’anisia yesterday told the Post-Courier the country’s Foreign Affairs Minister Patterson Oti met with Papua New Guinea Police Commissioner Sam Inguba to iron out the details of the training and the assistance from the Papua New Guinea Government. The Papua New Guinea officers to Solomon Islands include Chief Sergeant Gaspar Logoson, a finger print expert who is also the team leader, Senior Constable Felix Rayabrum, document examiner, First Constable Ronald Yaneku, expert in arson cases and crime scene examiner and Constable Samuel Koi, the forensic photographer...