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By Jason Som Kaut

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (The National, Oct. 2) - Freight services have been hardest hit by the closure of third level airline, Airlink, and now the [maintenance problems with] national flag carrier Air Niugini.

[PIR editor’s note: Domestic Papua New Guinea airline Airlink was grounded following the crash landing in May of one of its small planes in Goroka, Eastern Highlands province]

Major air freight companies yesterday claimed they were not moving cargo to destinations in PNG on schedule because of the problems in the airline industry.

These sentiments were shared by two of the major air freighting companies TNT Air Cargo and DHL, whose domestic services have also been affected. Another company also hard hit is Post PNG, which relies on Air Niugini for its express mail services (EMS).

TNT general manger Doug Maskelyne said the air freighting service had been unacceptable since the cancellation of Airlink’s operations...

HONIARA, Solomon Islands (People First Network, Oct. 2) – The Solomon Islands High Court has extended an injunction it originally granted to Solomon Telekom against Digicel Pacific Limited.

[PIR editor’s note: Digicel Pacific is a sister company to the Caribbean-based telecommunications company Digicel Group. Solomon Telekom Company Limited (Telekom), is a joint venture company between Solomon Island's National Provident Fund, which holds 65 percent of shares, Cable & Wireless Plc of the United Kingdom, which holds 33 percent of shares and Investment Corporation of the Solomon Islands (ICSI) which owns about 3 percent of shares.]

The extension now covers other members and associates of the Digicel Group.

Under its original order of last December, the High Court restrained Digicel Pacific...

Editorial

Palau Horizon

KOROR, Palau (Oct. 3) – Road is always a sign of progress, infrastructure project is a vital key to economic development.

The 13th Palau Independence Day celebration coincided with the formal turnover of the 53-mile asphalt Compact Road that took seven years to build.

Despite the challenges the contractor faced in building the road, it was worth the wait. It is a high quality road and traveling to Babeldaob has never been this convenient and enjoyable.

Before the road was built, it took a long time for those living in Babeldaob to reach their destination because of the rough road and some had to travel by boats.

Today several had built their houses in Babeldaob because it is now accessible.

Roads bring jobs and prosperity, and it helps economic growth.

President Remengesau in his remarks during the festivities said that the new roads are "literally helping to pave the way to our development as a nation...

News Release

Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet Honiara, Solomon Islands October 2, 2007

The United Nations needs to become more involved in the management of regional peacekeeping operations in trouble spots or the lead countries in those missions will inevitably use them for the benefit of their own economic interests, the Solomon Islands’ Foreign Minister told the General Assembly today.

Patteson Oti said his Government has begun a parliamentary review of the legislative basis for the continuing presence in his country of the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI), which was deployed in 2003 to try to quell violent unrest after years of simmering ethnic tensions.

RAMSI comprises police, military and civilian personnel from Australia, New Zealand and 13 Pacific island nations.

While the visiting forces deserve credit for restoring law and order, Mr. Oti said, the underlying social and cultural causes of tensions in...