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PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (The National, May 31) – Autonomous Bougainville President Joseph Kabui will try to secure the remaining PGK18 million [US$6.2 million] assistance promised to his government by Canadian mining company Invincible Resources Ltd.

The amount was part of the PGK20 million [US$6.9 million] aid package for Autonomous Bougainville Government signed by Mr. Kabui and Invincible recently.

Mr. Kabui and his delegation left for Vancouver yesterday to find out from Invincible Resources what happened to the promised money.

The mining company was trying to convince Autonomous Bougainville Government to allow it to develop its gold resources and struck an assistance deal with the island’s government as a sign of good faith on its part.

The deal had called for the delivery of initial PGK2 million [US$699,500] within seven days after the signing while the rest of the assistance would be delivered 60 days later.

The PGK2 million had...

‘DA VINCI’ DRAWS MIXED REACTION IN NEW CALEDONIA

By Patrick Antoine Decloitre

SUVA, Fiji (Oceania Flash, May 31) – The screening of the controversial movie The Da Vinci Code, which premiered last week in New Caledonia, has received mixed feeling in the French Pacific territory, with Roman Catholic Church officials saying the movie was "wrong".

The movie, directed by American former actor Ron Howard (and starring Tom Hanks and French actors Audrey Tautou and Jean Reno), has triggered a ban in Samoa and hostile reactions from other Pacific island nations, such the Solomon islands, where Prime minister Mannaseh Sogavare on Wednesday saying he intended to get the movie banned in the Melanesian state, because it was casting doubt in the very foundations of the Christian faith.

In New Caledonia, the movie does not seem to be threatened by a ban, but Roman Catholic Nouméa cathedral Deacon Jean-Bernard Robert-Traeger also lashed out at the Hollywood blockbuster...

By Rita Bill

PORT VILA, Vanuatu (The Independent, May 30) – The development at the Port Vila sea-front for the Iririki company has led the paramount chiefs of Tongoa, who are amongst claimants for the Port-Vila urban area, the market house association, and the public land transport association to mobilize together to stop the developer's work by setting up a namele [fern] leaf tabu [forbidden] sign.

A representative of the paramount chief of Tongoa, Chief Tarisaliu Alec Louis Pakoa told The Independent that the Port Vila urban area is still in dispute between Paramount chiefs of Tongoa and seven others claimants from Ifira, and the court has not yet decided who is the true custom owner. Ifira Land Trust, also one of the claimants, has, however, signed an agreement with Iririki, the municipality, and the minister of lands for development to take place even though the case is still in court.

[PIR editor’s note: Ifira and Iririki are small islands located offshore...

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PNG Post Courier, June 1) – The Government of Solomon Islands has given approval for Papua New Guinea airlines to use Honiara as the transit point to fly to other Pacific Island countries.

Solomon Island Foreign Minister Patteson Oti said yesterday it was now up to Papua New Guinea to negotiate landing rights with the other neighboring countries such as Vanuatu and Fiji to fly there.

Mr. Oti said he had already informed Papua New Guinea Foreign Minister, Sir Rabbie Namaliu about this during their bilateral discussions in Port Moresby yesterday.

Mr. Oti also told the Post-Courier the new Government of Prime Minister Manasseh Sogovare wants to see more Papua New Guinea private sector investment in the Solomon Islands. He said the Government welcomed Papua New Guinea companies which were already operating in the Solomon Islands but wanted to see more going to help develop the Solomons.

Meanwhile, Mr. Oti said the Solomon...