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HONIARA, Solomon Islands (August 20, 1997 - PACNEWS)---The political battling in the Solomon Islands between interim Prime Minister Solomon Mamaloni's Group for National Unity and the Grand Coalition for Change continues with claims and counter claims over which side has the numbers to form the next government later this week.

The Group for National Unity has issued a statement claiming that it has secured the votes of 27 members of Parliament, giving it the power necessary to take charge.

Unity General Secretary Sam Alasia says the numbers include 16 former MPs in the former Mamaloni government and 11 new members of the 50-seat Solomon Islands Parliament.

But the Chairperson of the Grant Coalition for Change, Hilda Kari, has refuted the claim, saying it not only was propaganda but a deliberate lie.

Kari said her coalition of six different political parties and independent MPs has the people's mandate for change and now is ready to form the new Solomon...

By Mele Laumanu Petelo

HONOLULU, Hawaii (August 20, 1997 - PIDP/CPIS)---Chewing tobacco with betel nut is a major emerging problem in Palau and neighboring Micronesian islands, causing increased incidences of cancer.

A Palauan physician, Dr. Caleb Otto, told the First Conference on Tobacco Control Models for Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders, meeting at the Outrigger Prince Kuhio Hotel in Honolulu last week, that 95 percent of the people who use tobacco in Palau, chew it with betel nut.

Only 28 percent of Palau's population actually smoke tobacco, he said.

Dr. Otto noted that Palau, in just the past five years, has seen a major jump in cases of cancer of the stomach, esophagus and mouth. He says scientific research must be carried out to determine the precise danger of combined tobacco and betel nut chewing.

Dr. Otto, in his comments, recommended Pacific-wide cooperation among government officials and local communities to achieve the goal of a...

Australian Delegation Brief Prepared for the July 11, 1997 Forum Economic Ministers’ Meeting in Cairns, Australia

VANUATU

"Commitment in Vanuatu to reform is fragile, because of ingrained bad habits."

Vanuatu has the potential to be economically independent. Instead it is performing poorly, with GDP per capita declining, investor confidence eroding, foreign reserves falling and the Government’s balances at the central bank low. Urban employment opportunities are few, tourism is flat and a major retail employer failed this year. Inadequate infrastructure, marketing and extension services limit agriculture’s potential. Economic growth is set to continue into 1997 at 3 per cent. But with the population growth rate at 2.5 per cent, only small increases in per capita income are possible.

Shocked by the deterioration in Vanuatu’s finances and by a major financial scam in 1996 involving the Treasurer, Prime Minister Vohor has signed on to a comprehensive reform...

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa (August 20, 1997 - PACNEWS)---With only 48 hours to go, Nauru, winner of 33 gold medals, already is in a very good position to take top honors at the 5th South Pacific Mini-Games in American Samoa.

The Micronesian country expects to win still more medals during the powerlifting competitions.

Runner-up Fiji has won 14 gold medals.

The latest medal tally is:

The closing ceremonies for the Mini Games in American Samoa will take place Wednesday (Thursday west of the International Date Line) instead of Thursday, as originally planned.

Co-Chairman of the 5th South Pacific Mini-Games organizing committee, Lt. Governor Togiola Tulafono, says the reason for the change is that several overseas teams must make plane connections on Thursday.