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Police call on businesses to ensure buyers are of legal age

By Jasmine Netzler

APIA, Samoa (Samoa Observer, Jan. 8, 2013) – Samoa’s Police are calling on businesses that sell alcohol to be mindful about who they are selling it to.

The warning comes from the Assistant Police Commissioner, Le’aupepe Fatu Pula following several nasty incidents during the holidays where alcohol was a factor.

Two people were also killed as a result of alcohol-fuelled incidents.

"There were over twenty arrests involving people who were fighting and causing trouble while under the influence of alcohol," Le’aupepe said about the Christmas holidays. This is an indication that people are having easy access to alcohol.

"From our point of view, we want to remind the business community that sell liquor - whether its beer or spirits – to make sure that the buyers are not minors and that those people buying it are over the legal age."

Le’aupepe said alcohol-related...

Few housing units built, with thousands left on waiting list

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, Jan. 8, 2013) – French Polynesia’s Public Accounts Office has painted a bleak picture of the organization in charge of the territory’s social housing, the OPH.

Its report, which covers the decade to 2012, says targets have rarely been met and the organization’s finances are troubled.

It says since 2008 contracts had been drawn up for 17 projects but 12 are still in the planning stage.

The report says the OPH built 72 housing units a year while demand is such that there are nearly 3,000 approved applicants on a waiting list.

It says in 2010, only 78 percent of the rent was collected from its 2,800 housing units, leaving a shortfall of more than US$22 million.

It highlights unstable leadership at the OPH, with 11 board chairs and nine directors in charge of the organization over the 10-year period.

Public auditor: government has not ‘acknowledged’ looming bills

By Gaynor Dumat-ol Daleno

HAGÅTÑA, Guam (Pacific Daily News, Jan. 9, 2013) – Raising more revenue through a higher tax rate, as well as implementing meaningful spending cuts, should be discussed as a possible way to help the government avert a potential shortage of cash, Guam’s public auditor recommended.

Public Auditor Doris Flores Brooks made the suggestion in light of big bills the government of Guam faces this year, including a few potential expenses that aren't part of this year's budget.

A combination of increased revenue – in part by raising taxes and limiting tax exemptions –and cutting expenses, such as reducing GovGuam's cost of Retirement-Fund-related expenses, should be part of the discussion on potential solutions, the public auditor said.

A $22 million bill that was due to the Internal Revenue Service on Jan. 1, $105 million in tax refund obligations for this year, $21...

Authorities report less problems compared to prior years

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (The National, Jan. 8, 2013) – For the first time, ex-combatants and Community Auxiliary Police (CAP) were engaged in special police operations for the festive period in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.

Assistant commissioner of police in the region, Thomas Eluh, said the 14-day operation began on Dec 24 and ended on Monday.

Eluh said the operations discovered there were fewer problems related to homebrew and unlawful use of firearms during the festive period last year compared to previous years.

He said, even though there was a shortage of manpower with 179 police officers who were evenly distributed throughout the region, the successful liaison with the Bougainville government enabled the use of ex-combatants and CAPs.

He said the ex-combatants and CAPs were used in the districts of South, North and Central Bougainville.

Eluh said former...