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Hundreds allegedly entered unsafe, active mining areas

By Philip Kepson

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (The National, Dec. 31, 2013) – More than 1,000 illegal miners have reportedly entered the Porgera gold mine site over the past couple of weeks, causing serious concern for Barrick and Papua New Guinea government authorities on the future of the multi-million kina gold project.

Barrick management executives and Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) said after a joint visit to the SML (special mining lease) area last Friday, the problem with the illegal miners had reached a catastrophic level and parties involved in the project needed to address the issue urgently.

MRA coordinator of PJV (Porgera Joint Venture) and Mt Kare exploration project Joe Kak Ryangao said after seeing hundreds of people (illegal miners) flooding into the SML area, including the open pit, stock pile sites and other sensitive company facilities, that he would put together a report for...

Palusalue labels recent government spending as ‘reckless’

By Jasmine Netzler

APIA, Samoa (Samoa Observer, Dec. 30, 2013) – The leader of the Opposition, Palusalue Fa’apo II has called on Samoa’s Minister of Finance, Faumuina Liuga Tiatia, to step down.

Palusalue said the Officers of Parliament Committee report detailing how WST$339,105.90 [US$143,677] was spent to buy Faumuina a Lexus when he was the Minister of Samoa Land Corporation (SLC) is unacceptable.

The issue was brought to light after the report by the Controller and Chief Auditor, Fuimaono Camillo Afele was leaked and published.

A Parliamentary Select Committee reviewed the claim - among many others – and they found that the Lexus was bought from Corporation funds with a budget of WST$400,000 [US$169,477] for vehicles.

The money was supposed to be for the purchase of two vehicles, one for the Corporation and another for the Minister, at a cost of WST$200,000 [US$84,738] each....

Parliamentarians call for change, action from government

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, Dec. 31, 2013) – A re-elected MP in the autonomous Papua New Guinea province of Bougainville, Thomas Keriri, says the government has to address issues around marijuana growing and homebrew in the villages.

Mr Keriri, who was re-elected in the Rau by-election earlier this month, joined other new MPs in making his maiden speech in the ABG legislature this week.

New Dawn FM reports him saying that with poor returns from cocoa and copra people are resorting to illicit drugs and this must be addressed.

The new member for Peit, on the west coast of Buka island, Jerome Tsimoli Sawa, says there have to be changes in his electorate.

Calling it the last frontier, he told parliament Peit had been without a strong leader for a long time and this meant it had fallen behind other electorates on Bougainville.

Another re-elected MP, Dominic...

Roll has been reduced, current voters away for holidays

By Ricky Binihi

PORT VILA, Vanuatu (Vanuatu Daily Post, Dec. 31, 2013) – The decision to hold the Port Vila Municipal Elections during the festive season may have a drastic effect on its outcome as many of the residents of Vanuatu’s capital are away holidaying in the islands and many voters are still in the festive mood.

But the date of January 7 for elections cannot be moved as it is the maximum limit for an election to be held in Port Vila after the dissolution of the Port Vila Municipality in October this year.

The registered voters of the Constituency of Port Vila of 22,308 in 2012 has been reduced because huge town suburbs of Port Vila, like Beverly Hills, Blacksands, Man Ples, and End blong Eapot and Etas areas that had a choice of voting in Port Vila or for the Efate constituency in 2012 are not included in the Municipal boundary.

The number of councilors has been increased from 13 to...