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PACIFIC LAWMAKERS MEET ON SAIPAN

Submitted by admin on Tue, 06/06/2006 - 00:00

By Agnes Donato

SAIPAN, CNMI (Saipan Tribune, June 6) – Over 30 Pacific Island lawmakers are on Saipan to get more information and share ideas about sustainable energy.

The island governments represented in the 25th General Assembly of the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures are the CNMI, Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, Yap, Guam, Palau, and Hawaii.

Four jurisdictions were missing as of yesterday: Marshall Islands, Nauru, Kiribati, and American Samoa.

From Monday through Wednesday, the APIL member delegations will discuss the topic of this year's conference, "Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources for the Pacific Islands."

House Speaker Oscar M. Babauta and Senate President Joseph M. Mendiola, who joined Gov. Benigno R. Fitial in welcoming the participants, said the topic was timely.

"The global rise in the cost of oil, coupled with our remote locale, has become a major challenge for our region. However, it is because of our unique...

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Tue
06
Jun
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SOLOMONS APPROVE PNG AIRLINE TRANSIT

Submitted by admin on Tue, 06/06/2006 - 00:00

HONIARA, Solomon Islands (Solomon Star, June 2) – Solomon Islands foreign affairs minister Patteson Oti has given the approval for Papua New Guinea airlines to use Honiara as the transit point to fly to other Pacific Island countries.

Mr. Oti told the Post Courier of Papua New Guinea 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 on Tuesday.

Mr. Oti also told the Post-Courier the new Government of Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare 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...

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Tue
06
Jun
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MOVE AFOOT TO RECALL CNMI GOV. FITIAL

Submitted by admin on Tue, 06/06/2006 - 00:00

By Gemma Q. Casas

SAIPAN, CNMI (Marianas Variety, June 6) – A local political analyst says the move to recall Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana IslandsGov. Benigno Fitial is a good indication that elected leaders are not above the people who put them in office, but it will still not solve the problems plaguing the CNMI.

Sam McPhetres, chairman of Northern Marianas College’s political science department, said retired teacher Jim Feger’s proposal to recall the governor is likely to get the support of most retirees and their relatives.

The recall move was provoked by the governor’s plan to write off the government’s US$123 million unpaid employer contributions to the Retirement Fund, and to compel the agency to lend the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. $40 million.

Fitial said he doesn’t mind the recall threat.

"That’s freedom of speech," said the governor. "And I believe that what I’m doing will salvage the Retirement Fund."

But McPhetres said...

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Tue
06
Jun
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SOLOMONS 25-DAY PARLIAMENT ‘INSUFFICIENT’

Submitted by admin on Tue, 06/06/2006 - 00:00

HONIARA, Solomon Islands (Solomon Star, June 2) – An academic says Solomon Islands parliamentarians are not doing enough as lawmakers, describing their 25 days a year average meeting record as insufficient.

Professor Graham Hassall of the University of South Pacific said parliament has to evolve in order to maximize the capacity of the Members of Parliament.

"That has yet to happen in the Solomon Islands," the professor told the Solomon Star yesterday after addressing the Members of Parliament in the third day of their Induction Workshop.

Professor Hassall said there is a lot more to be done by parliamentarians and the 25 days per year sitting is not enough.

He said sitting time is required if Members of Parliament are to fully maximize their duty as law markers.

The lecturer said parliamentarians are public servants and they are voted in to make laws.

"If they are not having enough meetings, then what are they doing for the four years,"...

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Tue
06
Jun
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FIJI RESORT OWNER BEMOANS WATER SERVICE

Submitted by admin on Tue, 06/06/2006 - 00:00

SUVA. Fiji (Fiji Times, June 6) – A resort owner along Korotogo on Fiji’s Coral Coast has hit out at the Public Works Department for the water problems experienced in the area over the weekend.

Sandy Point Beach Cottages owner Robert Kennedy said department did not inform them and others in the area that water would be cut off neither did it send any water trucks to cater for that shut-down period.

He said the issue was no one informed them what the problems were instead they received water cuts without notice.

A frustrated Mr Kennedy said he called Sigatoka Water Supply over the weekend but no one answered the phone and even called Lautoka with the same result.

"I’m trying to run a resort and I have guests who I need to guarantee the terms and conditions of their stay," he said. "This has been going on for so long, we have been patient and suffered for so long but this has got to stop."

He said they did not have water until Sunday night and then...

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Tue
06
Jun
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NEW ZEALAND DELEGATION BOUND FOR COOK ISLANDS

Submitted by admin on Tue, 06/06/2006 - 00:00

RAROTONGA, Cook Islands (Cook Islands News, May 31) –Rarotonga will be inundated next week by scores of New Zealand heavyweights in politics and commerce. Foreign affairs minister Winston Peters is bringing a delegation of around 60 people to the Cook Islands during what's called the annual "Pacific road-show".

For Peters, leader of the New Zealand Party, it will be a case of returning to the island he often visits on holiday - but this time he will be on duty. The delegation arrives on Wednesday June 7 and leaves on Saturday June10. They will be in Rarotonga the whole time.

Beforehand the delegation will visit Vanuatu for a few days.

Peters will be accompanied by a delegation comprising members of parliament as well as business and non-government organization representatives.

It has become a tradition for New Zealand's minister of foreign affairs to lead a delegation of Members of Parliament, non-governmental organizations, officials, media and business...

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Tue
06
Jun
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SOLOMONS GOLD MINE TO REOPEN NEXT YEAR

Submitted by admin on Tue, 06/06/2006 - 00:00

HONIARA, Solomon Islands (SIBC, June 3) – The reopening of gold ridge mine in Central Guadalcanal is expected toward the end of 2007.

Managing Director of Australia Solomon Gold, Mike Christies who has been holding talks with land owners for nearly a year says this after the signing of three agreements between various associations and tribes in the Gold Ridge area last Wednesday night.

"If all goes according to the timing that we've got in mind the approval will be towards the end of this year and commencement of refurbishment and construction early next year and into full production towards the end of next year".

[PIR editor’s note: According to a story by Reuters news service last month, the mine was closed in 2000 after workers were chased from the site by factions of the Solomons’ political instability. ]

Mr. Christie says the three agreements were the final ones for landowners.

He says the next phase would be to complete a feasibility study...

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Tue
06
Jun
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FIJI ‘WHITE PAPER’ SUGGESTS MAJOR MILITARY CUT

Submitted by admin on Tue, 06/06/2006 - 00:00

FIJI ‘WHITE PAPER’ SUGGESTS MAJOR MILITARY CUT

SUVA, Fiji (Fijilive, June 5) – A Defence White Paper commissioned by the Fiji government has proposed slashing the strength of the army by nearly 50 percent from 3,300 to just 1,700.

Radio New Zealand International reports the paper has recommended the cuts should come from the land force or infantry and force headquarters, leaving the army engineering regiment largely untouched.

The Defence White Paper also strongly recommends that the government moves to reassert civilian control over the army.

[PIR editor’s note: According to the Fiji Sun, the report was commissioned by the previous government and submitted to Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase on February 9, 2004.]

It says its recommendations are designed to ensure that there is no excuse for the military to enter domestic politics.

The Defence White Paper has also recommended that the police force be strengthened to assume full responsibility...

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Tue
06
Jun

FIJI’S FALTERING WATER SYSTEM NEEDS FIX

Submitted by piradmin on Tue, 06/06/2006 - 00:00

Editorial

FIJI’S FALTERING WATER SYSTEM NEEDS FIX

Fiji Times

SUVA. Fiji (June 6) – It seems that now is a good time to be a water truck owner.

For, according to Minister for Public Utilities and Infrastructure Robin irwin, more than half a million dollars was spent carting emergency water supply in just over three months for the greater capital city area.

That amount was spent in material costs, wages and vehicle hire for emergency water for Cunningham, Tacirua, Namadi Heights, Tuirara Subdivision, Makoi, Delainavesi, Lami and Veisari.

That is certainly a conservative estimate of the cost of ageing pipes, pumps and waterworks.

For it does not take into account the cost to all the households that miss out on emergency water because they are not able to meet the water trucks on time to fill buckets and containers most often because of the irregular hours the trucks keep.

There has been a lot of finger-pointing over the water...

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Tue
06
Jun

COOK ISLANDS HAVE ‘ISSUES’ WITH JAPAN LARGESSE

Submitted by piradmin on Tue, 06/06/2006 - 00:00

Editorial

The Cook Islands Herald

RAROTONGA, Cook Islands (June 3) – The Japanese may be pouring more money into the Pacific region but questions remain over how meaningful that extra aid assistance will be for the Cook Islands.

Buoyed by the announcement that Japan will provide the Pacific Forum members with US $400 million (45 billion yen) in multilateral aid over the next three years, the Cook Islands still has unresolved bilateral issues with the ‘Land of the Rising Sun’.

Foremost among those issues is the persistent refusal by Japan to recognize the Cook Islands by way of full diplomatic relations. This stumbling block means that the Cook Islands does not enjoy a meaningful bilateral aid program with Japan, like that established with the People’s Republic of China.

In fact, while Japanese officials are quick to caution Pacific states about the spread of Chinese influence in the region, they do little to advance the political desires of...

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