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ALOFI, Niue (February 4, 2001 - Niue Economic Review/PINA Nius Online)---Niue's former Minister of Finance Terry Coe said he warned the government several years ago about getting involved in offshore banking operations and that cost him the finance portfolio.

"I expressed my opposition to offshore banking publicly and got the sack," said Coe.

The 57-year-old New Zealander, who was previously principal of Niue High School before entering politics, said he was advised by New Zealand and British security agencies to keep clear of offshore banking. It was fraught with problems and abuse by international criminal elements, he said.

"But there was a lot of pressure from several government officials to introduce offshore banking in an urgent bid to improve the revenue earning capacity of Niue," said Coe. He is a top polling common roll member of the Legislative Assembly’s Opposition faction.

Another critic of offshore banking was the former Australian Catholic...

HONOLULU, Hawai‘i (February 4, 2001 - Pacific Magazine/PINA Nius Online)---Former Fiji President and Prime Minister Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara has spoken warmly of the work of the Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders.

Ratu Sir Kamisese, who is 81 and played a key role in developing a number of regional organisations, said this was the last one to which he was attached.

"It is very dear to me," he told reporters. It is a forum where island leaders "can voice concerns and problems, and see if the East-West Center can come up with solutions."

Ratu Sir Kamisese was speaking after the conclusion of the two-day Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders summit in Honolulu last week.

The Conference's secretariat is the Pacific Islands Development Program at the East-West Center in Honolulu.

Island leaders, while acknowledging globalization as a fact of life, expressed concern that the economies of small island nations are being hurt by global trade policies and...

FIJI’S CHAUDHRY RETAINS LABOUR PARTY LEADERSHIP, DROPS BOMBSHELL

By Leone Cabenatabua

SUVA, Fiji Islands (February 4, 2001 - Fiji Sun/PINA Nius Online)---Deposed Fiji Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry yesterday staved off a challenge to his leadership but said he would not be part of any government of national unity.

Mr. Chaudhry dropped the bombshell shortly after being unanimously reaffirmed Fiji Labour Party parliamentary group leader at a caucus meeting at Olosara, Sigatoka.

"I will not be party to any government of national unity," an obviously emotional Mr. Chaudhry told the meeting. He said he would "stick to his principles."

But Mr. Chaudhry will continue as Labour's "parliamentary leader" until the Fiji Court of Appeal decision on Justice Anthony Gates' ruling that the 1997 constitution is still in effect. The court of appeal is due to begin sitting on the 19th of this month.

Justice Gates' High Court ruling is being challenged by...

GUAM’S GOVERNOR GUTIERREZ WANTS TO BORROW US$ 400 MILLION

By Steve Limtiaco

HAGÅTÑA, Guam (February 3, 2001 – Pacific Daily News)---Gov. Carl Gutierrez wants to borrow $400 million in bond money to pay part of the government's $750 million debt to the Retirement Fund.

The governor also want to free up money in the general fund for basic public services.

His proposals came during his annual State of Our Island address at the Guam Legislature.

Bureau of Budget and Management Research Director Joe Rivera said the proposal would free up about $30 million in the general fund each year that normally would have been spent on supplemental benefits for retirees.

Gutierrez also submitted a $481 million budget request to the Legislature for fiscal 2002, which begins October 1.

The governor spoke on several issues during his 50-minute speech at the session hall. Senators, mayors, government directors, military officials and others attended the...