Articles Search

By Donaldson Rusa

HONIARA, Solomon Islands (Solomon Star, May 31) – Guadalcanal chiefs have banned further logging operations in the Paripao and Tasimboko districts for fear of logging demons.

[PIR editor’s note: Guadalcanal Island is in the province of the same name located in the southern part of Solomon Islands. The national capital of Honiara is situated on Guadalcanal.]

"Our people have been victims of the demons of logging that terrorized the communities over the years. The peace and harmony we once enjoyed over the years are no longer present in the community," said Chief Enock Pegoa of Paripao.

He cited corruption as one of the demons. The corrupt practices of logging companies should not be left unchallenged, he said.

"Although logging is the major contributor to the national economy, it is the source of corruption and conflict. The incidents of alleged bribery involving high government ranking officers and non-government organizations...

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PNG Post Courier, June 1) – Bougainville's self proclaimed king and failed money scheme operator Noah Musingku has returned to his base camp in Tonu, South Bougainville, threatening villagers.

After fleeing the area following threats of suppression from the local people, Musingku and his men have returned and are said to be threatening the local people with arms, a reliable source told Post-Courier yesterday.

[PIR editor’s note: According to PIR news files, earlier this month, Musingku fled the Siwai area and went into hiding, though it is not known why he had abandoned his palace, but it could be related to the decision by the strong stand taken by the Bougainville government to counter attacks by Me’ekamui and Musingku sympathizers on the police in Buin and Siwai. Me’ekamui and Musingku supporters fired at police and torched a police post in Siwai. Seeing this as a direct challenge on its mandate, the Bougainville government responded...

SUVA, Fiji (Fiji Times, June 1) – Fiji's national carrier Air Pacific has recorded an operating profit before tax of FJD$21.5million [US$12.5 million] for the 2006 financial year.

However, the result is a 40 per cent drop in profits compared to figures posted last year.

While the airline earned FJD$449.4 million [US$262.3 million] in revenue - up 2 per cent from last year, total expenditure increased by 5 per cent to FJD$428.9million [US$250.3 million].

Air Pacific's chairman, Nalin Patel said the huge rise in expenditure was a result of increased fuel costs.

Mr. Patel said fuel costs had increased from 27 per cent to 34 per cent of the airline's total expenditure.

"The key expenditure increase was the cost of fuel which rose by FJD$35.5 million [US$20.7 million] between 2004/2005 and 2005/2006," Mr. Patel said.

"Income tax expense of 30 percent resulted in an after-tax profit of FJD$14.9million [US$8.7 million], compared with the FJD$24....

SOLOMONS ‘INDUCTION WORKSHOP’ FIRST IN THE REGION

By Robert L. Iroga

HONIARA, Solomon Islands (Solomon Star, May 31) – Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare believes the recent looting and burning of Honiara are indicators of how people feel about change.

Addressing the Members of Parliament in the opening of Induction Workshop in Honiara, Sogavare said the recent happenings were clear indicators of change and it is the responsibility of the Members of Parliament to ensure that the right changes take place.

Top regional bureaucrats and academics are running the workshop, which is the first of its kind in the region and is being attended by parliamentarians.

Leader of Opposition Fred Fono said it is not unusual for him to agree with the prime minister, or vice-versa, but today "we both agree that this important program will be of great benefit to all of us."

Mr. Sogavare said the program is taking pace at a particularly crucial...