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Theme for 2013 meeting: ‘Healthy Islands – Healthy Pacific’

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, Samoa (Talamua, July 1, 2013) – Discussion of mental health issues is on the agenda of the 10th Pacific Health Ministers’ Conference which starts tomorrow in Samoa.

"The control of non-communicable diseases, social determinants of health and human resources for health are some of the topics Pacific Health Ministers will discuss," said Puleleite Dr. Young Soo Shin, Regional Director of Western Pacific of World Health Organisation (WHO).

Samoa, WHO and the South Pacific Commission host this year’s three-day conference which is driven by theme of "Healthy Islands – Healthy Pacific."

Puleite said countries need to stand together to combat issues relevant in "developing the healthy island vision."

This vision aspires to a place where:

Ministers from 20 Pacific countries and territories are set to discuss opportunities to continue the campaign that started...

Improving overseas economics could help remittances, tourism

NUKUALOFA, Tonga (Matangi Tonga, July 1, 2013) – Although Tonga’s economy continues to be weak, there are some positive indicators, according to a market update on July 1, by the Deputy Governor of Tonga’s National Reserve Bank, Jessie Cocker, who met with senior regional officers of ANZ Bank on June 28.

Despite Tonga’s poor economic performance, there was still optimism about the progress made.

Jessie expected that the improving American economy could revive the remittances and visitor arrivals, which fell steeply last year.

"More recently, on the back of the better growth and unemployment outcomes in some of the key source countries, remittances have been increasing.

"We expect tourism to grow further over the short term, on the back of improving growth and unemployment outcomes overseas, particularly in New Zealand and the U.S.," she said.

Other positive reviews were revivals...

Fiji’s National Federation Party Offers Spot To Rabuka Party president: former PM Rabuka ‘welcome’ to join

By Mereani Gonedua

SUVA, Fiji (Fijilive, July 1, 2013) – Fiji’s oldest political party, the National Federation Party (NFP) is willing to include former Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka in its campaign for the 2014 election should he wish to join a political party.

This comes after Rabuka hinted to Radio New Zealand that he would be running for election next year on the National Federation Party ticket.

Rabuka said none of the four parties registered so far have asked him to join but he has been asked to stand for election by his provincial chief.

He said it could mean being under the umbrella of the United Front for a Democratic Fiji which includes old rivals.

"Qarase doesn’t want to work with me, Chaudhry I know doesn’t want to work with me,...

Upgrade necessary to enable construction of hydro-power project

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (The National, July 1, 2013) – The launching of a K11 million [US$4.8 million] road project in central Bougainville marks the arrival of social and economic development potential for the 10,000 people in the area, Papua New Guinea Sustainable Development Program (PNGSDP) chief David Sode says.

Sode said the reconstruction and upgrading of the Wakunai-Togarao Road on the east coast of the island would enable construction of the PNGSDP-funded Togarao hydro scheme to go ahead.

He said the road would also give people in the Togarao area access to markets for their garden produce and to essential services at Wakunai and Arawa and Buka.

Sode said the road would open a new world of opportunities for the people.

"Its main purpose is to allow PNGSDP’s local contractors to start the major development work on the first phase of the Togarao power project," he said...