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WELLINGTON, New Zealand (RNZI, Oct. 1) - The National Bank of Solomon Islands, one of three commercial banks in the country, is to cut its lending interest rates from today.

The bank’s Managing Director, Peter Goodwin, says the one point two-five per cent cut is the direct result of a number of positive changes that have taken place since the arrival of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands nine weeks ago.

He says previously too much power had been exerted by those with self-interest in mind, but tighter controls supported by serious political change now point to a better and clearer future for Solomon Islands.

Mr Goodwin says the National Bank has a positive view of its market and intends to help the government, its ministries and Solomon Islanders as much as it can.

October 1, 2003

Radio New Zealand International: http://www.rnzi.com/

MELBOURNE, Australia (Radio Australia, Oct. 1) - Tonga's Cabinet Secretary, Eseta Fusitua, is playing down concerns over the government's plans to change a clause of the constitution affecting freedom of speech.

Debate on the amendments is to resume in the Tongan parliament next week.

In the meantime, senior Tongan government officials and cabinet ministers have joined Tonga's Human Rights and Democracy Movement in holding public meetings to explain the changes.

Mrs Fusitua says people are being made to believe Tonga's constitution is a holy document. But she said there have been 64 changes to the constitution since 1988:

"If you take a look at Clause 7, and you take a look at the totality of Tonga's law ... the protection that it gives the journalist is much, much more powerful than the protection it gives the people. And I don't know whether other people will realize we have laws about television; we have laws about radio; we don't have it about...

By Jaime Espina

KOLONIA, Pohnpei (Marianas Variety, Oct. 1) — The Pohnpei State Election Commission has released the final list of candidates running for governor, lieutenant governor and members of the State Legislature in the Nov. 11 state elections, with all incumbent elected state officials seeking reelection.

The deadline for the filing of nomination petitions for the positions at stake was midnight of Saturday, Sept. 27.

There are three candidates for governor — the incumbent, Johnny P. David, former Gov. Del Pangelinan and William Iriarte.

Six are contesting the lieutenant governorship, including the incumbent, Jack E. Yakana. The other candidates are Churchill B. Edward, Marcus Rosario, Solpisio T. Salvador, John E. Weilbacher and Hanover Ehsa.

Fifty-three candidates are vying for the 23 State Legislature seats apportioned among Pohnpei’s 11 municipalities.

In Madolenihmw, 10 candidates will be contesting the municipality’s...

By Valerie Monson

WAILUKU, Maui (The Maui News, Sept. 28) - After a wave of controversy that tore the Molokai community apart, leaders of two cruise ship companies said they have scuttled all plans to anchor off Kaunakakai.

"I feel very badly that the way we were introduced to this island created so much conflict and consternation," said Tom Dow of Princess Cruises and Princess Tours as he addressed a crowd of about 75 concerned citizens Thursday night. "The success of our business is directly tied to how well we are received in the local community."

When Dow and John Shively of Holland America Line announced that their company fleets had dropped Molokai from their itineraries, a happy roar went up from the throng.

"To everybody on Molokai, I think we give ourselves a hand," said Walter Ritte, one of the leaders of Hui Ho'opakele 'Aina ("Rescue the Land"), the grass-roots organization that protested the arrival of the big ships. "Tonight is a night...