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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...

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,"...

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...

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...