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EDITORIAL COMMENT Fiji Times January 7, 2000

It is tragic that the nurses' dispute has been allowed to escalate into what now looks like becoming a full-blown strike.

This will be damaging to all concerned -- the hospital system, the patients, the Government and the nurses themselves, who stand to lose significant sums of money in sacrificed pay.

Indeed the money lost by striking workers can take many months or even years to be fully recovered by any pay increase.

But the nurses are fighting for their future here.

They are convinced that their cause is just and that they have been mistreated by the Government.

Whether they are right or wrong in that, they have very significant public support, which the Minister of Health and the Government as a whole would be foolish to underestimate.

And amid all the threats, the double-talk, the posturing and deliberate delay everyone concerned knows that there will be a solution to this dispute...

NUKU‘ALOFA, Tonga (January 7, 2000 – Radio Australia)---A baby girl born in Tonga has become the challenger for the title of the world's first millennium baby -- an honor already bestowed on a New Zealand boy.

Josephine Millennium Kauvaka, was born 55 minutes before Tuatahi Manaakitunga Edwards in New Zealand, officials say, because Tonga, observing time that is an hour ahead of New Zealand’s, already was in the new millennium.

The claim has sparked controversy in New Zealand, which on New Year's Eve claimed Tonga had cheated to enter the new millennium first.

It said Tonga used daylight savings time to claim the honor, even though the countries normally observe the same time.

For additional reports from Radio Australia, go to PACIFIC ISLANDS REPORT News/Information Links: Radio/TV News/Radio Australia.

NUKU‘ALOFA, Tonga (January 10, 2000 – Radio Australia)---Tonga's Tupou College will house over 600 youth from around the Pacific region this week, for a Pacific Youth Convention.

The convention has the theme " Youth Fully Alive in Christ."

The Secretary of the National Council of Churches, Reverend Simote Vea, said the conference would encourage young people from around the region to be strong and dynamic Christians.

He said it would also be instrumental in helping their families, churches and their respective societies.

Among the countries taking part in the convention are French Polynesia, the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Niue, Papua New Guinea and Samoa.

For additional reports from Radio Australia, go to PACIFIC ISLANDS REPORT News/Information Links: Radio/TV News/Radio Australia.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (January 9, 2000 – Radio Australia)---Indonesia hopes continued cooperation with Fiji will build stronger bilateral relations between the two countries.

Indonesia's Ambassador in Wellington, who also is accredited to Fiji, Titiek Rustaman, has written to Fiji's Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr. Tepeni Baba, in response to Fiji's efforts to help resolve the crisis in East Timor, which last year voted overwhelmingly for independence from Indonesia.

Mr. Rustaman has assured Dr Baba that the Indonesian Government is committed to developing good relations with East Timor.

He said Indonesia also hopes cooperation with Fiji will lead to mutual respect, shared prosperity and equitable partnership.

One-hundred-eighty-five Fiji soldiers have just left for East Timor to take part in United Nations peacekeeping duties in the territory.

For additional reports from Radio Australia, go to PACIFIC ISLANDS REPORT News/Information Links: Radio/...