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RAROTONGA, Cook Islands (January 2, 2000 – Radio Australia)---Veteran Member of Parliament and former Cook Islands Prime Minister Dr. Pupuke Robati, has received a knighthood "for services to the public and community" in the Queen's New Year's Honors list.

Dr. Robati is the Cook Islands' longest-serving MP, having been first elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1965.

He has also been a cabinet minister, deputy prime minister and, from 1987 to 1989, prime minister.

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

PEOPLE’S COALITION GOVERNMENT, FIJI

Suva, Fiji Islands

NEWS RELEASE January 2, 2001

The substantiative President, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, has not formally resigned from his post.

The Qarase regime two weeks ago had claimed that it had received a letter from the President informing it of his decision to resign from the Presidency with effect from 29 May 2000.

The announcement to the effect that Ratu Mara had resigned was made by the interim Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase’s office.

But many had remained skeptical of the Qarase announcement.

First, despite the demands from the media, the regime did not produce a copy of the resignation letter.

Second, under law and custom, any resignation from the post would have to be communicated not to the interim PM’s office but to the Great Council of Chiefs.

GCC Chairperson, Sitiveni Rabuka, informed the media that he had not received any resignation letter. But pro-Qarase political...

SOLOMON ISLANDS’ HILDA KARI URGES WOMEN TO TAKE ON LEADERSHIP

HONIARA, Solomon Islands (January 2, 2000 - Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation/PINA Nius Online)---Solomon Islands women are being urged to take on the responsibility of national leadership alongside their men folk, as the country moves toward national elections.

In a New Year's message to women, the Minister for Youth, Sports and Women Development, Hilda Kari, encouraged intending candidates to have courage and boldness in running for Parliament.

The country's only female parliamentarian believes there are many women capable of running for office. The events that have rocked the country in the past two years should encourage them more in vying for positions of leadership, she said.

She warned that fighting against the male contenders, and not having family support, can be obstacles to winning. But she said being successful is only through the grace of God.

Mrs. Kari said those...

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (December 27, 2000 - Post-Courier/PINA Nius Online)---The banana, one of the main staple foods of Papua New Guinea's New Britain Islands, is threatened by an outbreak of fruit flies -- a pest that can destroy the entire banana crop if it is not controlled immediately.

Researchers at the National Agricultural Research Institute at Kerevat said the fruit fly infestation was discovered first in East New Britain.

It is believed the pest was brought into East New Britain by boat from Lae during the peak of either the 1994 twin volcanic eruptions or the El Niño drought. At that time 40 to 60 fruit flies were found in a shipment.

The pest then multiplied and spread throughout the province, affecting most of the major Gazelle Peninsula areas.

Some of the places where the fruit pest has been found are Kerevat, Warangoi, all of Toma, Kokopo, Bitapaka, the south coast villages, Sikut, Gelagela and settlement blocks from Vunapalading...