Articles Search

By Terry Tavita

APIA, Samoa (August 29, 2002 - Samoa Observer/PINA Nius Online)---Preparations are well under way for the 3rd Annual Pacific Regional Trade Fair, to be hosted this year by Samoa.

Scheduled for September 3-6, the Fair will take place at Apia's To‘oa Salamasina Hall.

Companies from American Samoa, Australia, Fiji, Hawai‘i, New Zealand, Tokelau and Tonga have already confirmed participation.

Organized by the Samoa Association of Manufacturers and Exporters, the Fair has received the full support of the Samoan government.

Previous fairs have been held in Tonga (2000), and the Cook Islands (2001).

According to Trade Fair coordinator Mrs. Joyce Scanlan: "The aim is to get sellers and buyers under one roof and to get full advantage of business opportunities."

A number of potential buyers from the United States of America, China, Germany and Japan are expected to visit the fair.

A series of seminars also will be...

SUVA, Fiji Islands (August 30, 2002 – Daily Post)---The Supreme Court yesterday declared Fiji Labour Party candidate Krishna Prasad as the winner of the Nadi Open Constituency seat, putting Leader of the Opposition Prem Singh out of power.

In a 51-page judgment, judges Sir Thomas Eichelbaum, Dame Sian Elias and Justice Bryan Beaumont, stated their unanimous view was that Justice Anthony Gates was wrong in validating ticks below the line on the ballot papers of the 2001 General Election.

This, however, had no bearing on their ruling, as the ruling of the Court of Disputed Returns was final as per the provisions of the 1997 Constitution and parliamentary decree.

"The court examined the correctness of the ruling given in the High Court relating to the validity of the ticks placed below the line on ballot papers and decided it was incorrect," the judges said.

"In dealing with the appeal itself, the court was faced with the fact, as was the Court of Appeal,...