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Mon
31
Dec
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RECOUNTS ORDERED IN BUNGLED MARSHALLS ELECTIONS

Submitted by admin on Mon, 12/31/2007 - 00:00

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, Dec. 28) - Six weeks after a controversy-plagued national election in the Marshall Islands, the chief electoral officer has ordered recounts in two seats which had been decided by four or fewer votes.

As well, United States-based voters have appealed to the Marshall’s High Court to allow their votes, which, if counted, could change the results in several of the close races.

Many of the postal votes were rejected because they missed deadlines, while other overseas voters did not receive their voting papers in time.

The government’s chief electoral officer, Carl Alik, has announced that recounts for Maloelap and Likiep Atolls will be held next Thursday.

The ruling United Democratic Party lost its 20-seat majority in the 33-seat parliament, but the opposition Aelon Kein Ad party also did not win an outright majority.

Both parties have been negotiating with independent candidates to form a new...

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Mon
31
Dec
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RESIGNATIONS ROCK PNG UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

Submitted by admin on Mon, 12/31/2007 - 00:00

By Frank Rai

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (The National, Dec. 28) - The Papua New Guinea University of Technology (Unitech) faces a serious threat to its academic program next year following resignations by its senior staff.

More than 22 senior academics – expatriates and nationals - have resigned from the Lae campus over the past three months.

Three more are expected to follow suit in the New Year. The turn-over list includes doctorate holders.

And the severe repercussion is that three highly technical programmes may have to be scrapped.

It is understood the tutors’ departures is connected to the differences between the staff and some senior members of the university’s administration and Unitech’s inability to address their concerns.

Unitech’s mining and engineering department, computer science (business studies department) and chemistry (department of applied physics) are on the brink of shutting down if replacements are not recruited...

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Mon
31
Dec
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FIJI PRESIDENT ILOILO TURNS 87

Submitted by admin on Mon, 12/31/2007 - 00:00

SUVA, Fiji (Fijilive, Dec. 29) - Fiji’s Citizen’s Constitutional Forum has called on the people of Fiji to support the President Ratu Josefa Iloilo as he celebrates his 87th birthday today.

"Today is the 87th birthday of Ratu Iloilo. Currently Fiji is stuck in a bad situation whereby an appointment of a vice president cannot be made, because the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) has been suspended," CCF chief executive officer, Rev Akuila Yabaki said. "The President is in an unenviable position where he cannot delegate duties to a deputy or consult one, because there is no one in that position. As such, we should provide him with support, rather than with criticism, as he continues to do his job."

Ratu Josefa recently returned from a medical check-up in Australia amongst criticism by many who feel his health may be affecting his ability to carry out his duties as the country's President.

Yabaki meanwhile adds the CFF is hopeful that the GCC will be able to...

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Mon
31
Dec
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PHILADELPHIA FIRM LANDS GUAM MILITARY CONTRACT

Submitted by admin on Mon, 12/31/2007 - 00:00

By Gerardo Partido

SAIPAN, CNMI (Marianas Variety, Dec. 31) - DZSP 21, the base operation support contractor for the Navy on Guam, has been awarded a nearly $66.5 million contract by the Pentagon to exercise its continuing option of a previously awarded contract.

The option is the third of nine one-year options on the contract that DZSP won in December 2004.

[PIR Editor’s Note: Day & Zimmermann is a Philadelphia-based military contractor.]

The current total contract amount after exercise of the option is $203,098,127.

If the contract is renewed every year up to 10 years, the consortium stands to gain up to $423 million from the Navy.

Work will be performed at various installations on Guam, with work expected to be completed by December 2008.

According to the Department of Defense, contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.

The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii...

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Mon
31
Dec
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NEW SOLOMONS ADMINISTRATION WANTS CARS BACK

Submitted by admin on Mon, 12/31/2007 - 00:00

HONIARA, Solomon Islands (SIBC, Dec. 29) - Former Ministers and political appointees have until early January to return the government vehicles they are using.

Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Infrastructure and Development, Peter Hau'ia confirms the date, saying according to Parliamentary Entitlements Regulations the 14 day grace period for their use of the vehicles will lapse on the third of January 2008.

Mr Hau'ia explains the Ministry understands the vehicles are needed for re-allocation to new ministers of the Sikua-led government.

Earlier this month, the Minister for Infrastructure, Stanley Sofu had told SIBC News that the government cannot afford to buy new vehicles as funds have already been exhausted and funds under the government's contingency warrant has gone over its ceiling.Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary says the Ministry is still expecting the 23 vehicles bought this year to be returned for checking and servicing before re-allocation....

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Mon
31
Dec
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FIVE MISSING FROM TEMOTU TURN UP IN VANUATU

Submitted by admin on Mon, 12/31/2007 - 00:00

HONIARA, Solomon Islands (Solomon Times, Dec. 29) - In a press statement today, the Police Media Unit reported that it has received information that the five people who were thought to be missing at sea have been found safe and alive in Vanuatu.

The five people from Tikopia, in Temotu Province, departed on 14 December 2007 and were traveling to Utupua. However, they never arrived. The missing people were Fr. Ambrose Muna, James Moratai, Christopher Kiri, Lilly Kiri and Monica Forau.

Police in Lata were informed that the group did not arrive and commenced a search and rescue operation. Police conducted searches within the Santa Cruz coastal areas and communities around Reef Islands and Utupua. A Participating Police Force and Sol Air flight also searched the area from the air as part of the rescue operation. However, no sign of the missing people or boat were found.

Temotu Provincial Police Inspector, Lazarus Taki, said it was with great relief that he received...

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Mon
31
Dec
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FIJI AIR CARRIERS SEE 21 PERCENT INCREASE IN PASSENGERS

Submitted by admin on Mon, 12/31/2007 - 00:00

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (RNZI, Dec. 30) - Fiji airlines saw an increase in the number of passengers they carried in the third quarter of this year.

In its latest statistical news, the Bureau of Statistics said local airlines carried almost 170 thousand passengers on international flights in the quarter.

The bureau said that was an increase of 21.3 per cent in the number of passengers carried in the third quarter of 2007.

The Fiji Times quotes the local Hotels Association president, Dixon Seeto, as saying the increase in the third quarter of 2007 was probably because of visitors, friends and relatives taking advantage of the reduced air tickets .

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Mon
31
Dec

PAKISTAN’S BHUTTO WAS ONE OF A KIND

Submitted by piradmin on Mon, 12/31/2007 - 00:00

Editorial

PAKISTAN’S BHUTTO WAS ONE OF A KIND

Fiji Sun

SUVA, Fiji (Dec. 29) - The cruel and tragic death of Pakistan's democracy activist Benazir Bhutto has shocked the world. This amazing woman was one of a kind. In what was (and sometimes still is) thought of a male-dominated mostly Muslim nation, she was twice elected prime minister, a post in which she served with style and distinction though her path was ever a controversial one.

She faced charges of corruption and, indeed, her husband was jailed for eight years before being released without a conviction on corruption related charges.

There is evidence that the judge in Mrs Bhutto's case was under pressure from the military to convict her. He did not.

Mrs Bhutto meanwhile had gone into self-imposed exile in Dubai with her three young children though she had always wanted to return to Pakistan which has been plagued over the past three decades by military takeovers, the latest nearly...

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