Articles Search

HONIARA, Solomon Islands (February 3, 2001 - Solomon Star/Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation/PINA Nius Online)---The Solomon Islands Government Treasury Division is under pressure to make up SI$ 2.2 million (US$ 432,000) worth of bounced government checks with the ANZ Bank.

Sources said the checks were issued mainly in December.

Since then customers who were issued checks have been calling almost every day at the ANZ Bank only to be told "there is no money in the account."

It culminated with the closure of banks in Honiara following threats by former militants demanding their money.

The government has been trying to meet compensation and other payments following the Townsville Peace Agreement ending two years of ethnic conflict.

Bank sources confirmed that the bounced checks totaled SI$ 2.2 million (US$ 432,000).

It is understood the government operates two major accounts through ANZ Bank.

The banks were due to reopen today...

SUVA, Fiji Islands (January 31, 2001 - Oceania Flash/SPC)---Electricity production and distribution processes in the Pacific Islands are expected to be improved significantly following the conclusion of a planned survey by the regional Pacific Power Association (PPA), which includes most power professionals in the region.

The study, with the goal of determining the causes of current energy losses and waste in the electricity production and distribution processes, is projected to continue until August, the French Embassy in Suva said in a release.

It will be carried out by a specialist, final year student from the French national electrical engineers school in Grenoble (southeast France).

The agreement was signed last week between PPA and French Ambassador Jean-Pierre Vidon.

The study goal is to improve the production and distribution quality, as well as reduce energy loss.

This matter was also highlighted recently in a United Nations report, which...

By Priestley Habru Pacific Journalism Online (USP)

HONIARA, Solomon Islands (February 5, 2001 - Solomon Star/Pasifik Nius)---Local government sponsored Solomon Islands students attending tertiary institutions in the country and overseas are still uncertain whether their airfares and tuition fees will be paid, allowing them to resume studies this year.

Those studying at the University of the South Pacific in Fiji are still awaiting confirmation from the Department of Education for airfares to be paid before lectures start on February 19.

As for tertiary institutions in Papua New Guinea, they want the students’ fees to be paid before they allow them to continue their studies.

The Solomon Star understands UPNG's Waigani Campus has already started lectures in some courses and a few Solomon Islands students have returned, but the majority of them remain at home.

As of Friday last week, air tickets for Solomon Islands government sponsored students who...

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (February 5, 2001 - Radio Australia’s Pacific Beat)---A report recommending changes in the Papua New Guinea Defense Force’s management and training has been sent to Prime Minister Sir Mekere Morauta for review.

The report, partially funded by the Australian government, was compiled by an international eminent persons group with assistance from the Commonwealth Secretary General, Don McKinnon of New Zealand.

The four senior Commonwealth officials are prominent Papua New Guinea economist and former Director of Hawai‘i’s East-West Center’s Pacific Islands Development Program Charles Lepani, Australian Defense Force Major General Philip Jeffery, Jamaican Judge Hugh Small, and former New Zealand Defense Secretary Gerald Hensley.

In an interview with Pacific Beat’s Bruce Hill, Hensley said there are serious problems within the Defense Force that need to be resolved.

The PNG announced the review after recent incidents involving...