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NAP joins other groups closing over new party requirements

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, Feb. 6, 2013) – The founder of Fiji’s National Alliance Party (NAP), Ratu Epeli Ganilau, says the party will not be re-registering.

Fiji’s sixteen political parties have until next Thursday to re register under new rules or face stiff penalties.

Ratu Epeli, who resigned from his ministerial post with the interim government two years ago, says the Alliance Party has not been functional for at least six years.

"The requirements in the decree are quite specific and for a small party, especially the Alliance Party, being a small and new party, it’s quite daunting to try and fulfill all the requirements within the 28 days time frame."

Ratu Epeli says he has not given any more thought to forming a new party after the deadline but he has not ruled out joining another political party, although he says he is resigned to staying out of...

Report given during review of DPS commissioner nomination

By Haidee V. Eugenio

SAIPAN, CNMI (Saipan Tribune, Feb. 7, 2013) – The number of inmates at the $20.9-million prison complex in Susupe has increased by 32 percent, Corrections Commissioner Ray Mafnas told members of the Northern Marianas’ Senate Committee on Executive Appointments and Government Investigations (EAGI) during yesterday morning's public hearing on the governor's nomination of Sgt. James C. Deleon Guerrero as Department of Public Safety (DPS) commissioner.

Deleon Guerrero said his main thrust is to restore the public's trust and confidence in DPS and boost employee morale. DPS has remained without a permanent commissioner since early 2012.

Government officials, meanwhile, see the 32-percent increase in the number of inmates as good and bad. Either there's an increase in incarceration rate, which is good, or a plain increase in the number of crimes and civil offenses in the community...

Concerns about student scholarships raised

By Jonas Cullwick

PORT VILA, Vanuatu (Vanuatu Daily Post, Feb. 6, 2013) – The Parliament of Vanuatu will meet in March during which it will debate the Government’s Budget for the year.

The First Political Advisor of the Prime Minister’s Office, Richard Kaltongga made this statement in response to questions whether the House would sit before March amid reports of concerns in the media the scholarships of some recipients were being affected by government’s budget constraints.

First Political Advisor’s statement also puts to rest doubts as to when the country’s parliament would be convened. Parliamentary Standing Orders require the First Ordinary Sitting of Parliament to be held in March of each year, when the Prime Minister in consultation with Speaker of Parliament requests the sitting.

On the subject of budgetary concerns, Mr. Kaltongga added that the issue of funding for scholarships was a matter for the...

100 homes destroyed as utilities are down in Santa Cruz

MELBOURNE, Australia (Radio Australia, Feb. 7, 2013) – Police in the Solomon Islands say at least six people have been killed after an earthquake and tsunami struck the Pacific nation on Wednesday.

The 8.0-magnitude quake has caused major damage to villages in the Santa Cruz islands and triggered a small tsunami that sparked warnings in several Pacific countries.

International aid agency World Vision says the communities of Venga and Nela in the Solomon Islands province of Temotu have been almost entirely wiped out by a one meter tsunami.

There are unconfirmed reports that some people and fishing boats may have been swept out to sea by the surge.

Three people have been injured but the full extent of the disaster is still unknown, with access to some areas made difficult by debris and high water levels.

[PIR editor’s note: Disaster authorities in the Solomons have additionally reported...