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Two recent closures over failure to meet standards

By Eric Tapakau PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PNG Post-Courier, Dec. 31, 2009) – In Papua New Guinea (PNG), more and more mining companies are coming under the spotlight as the Mining Inspectorate gets tough to ensure our Mining (Safety) Act and Regulations are complied with.

So far operations have been suspended in mining companies which have cost the companies millions of kina in lost revenue.

Putting mining companies under the spotlight will be a two way issue as the mining industry contributes more than 60 percent of export earnings to the country each year while at the same time Papua New Guinea laws must be seen to be followed.

The Mines Inspection division of the Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) has been busy this year as it tried to ensure all mining laws were followed and no employee’s lives were put at risk during operations.

To date Ramu Nickel/Cobalt mine and Simberi have had their...

Central bank calls for microfinance, accountability

SUVA, Fiji (Fiji Times, Jan. 1, 2010) - ALL COMMERCIAL banks and players in Fiji's financial industry, including new entrants, will have to comply with three new policy guidelines issued by the central bank following its final 2009 meeting two weeks ago.

The new guidelines, issued to commercial banks on December 22, include the:

Governor of the Reserve Bank of Fiji Sada Reddy said each guideline provided for the establishment of an enabling policy governance structure, and clearly spelt minimum operational requirements.

He said these guidelines were targeted at promoting broad based economic development and great financial inclusion.

"This includes extension of financial services to the informal sector of the economy and ensuring that commercial banks undertake development activities suitable to the needs of people in Fiji," Mr. Reddy said in a statement yesterday.

He said the guideline on...

U.S. Coast Guard arrests crew for illegal fishing

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, Jan. 3, 2010) – The U.S. Coast Guard has seized a Taiwanese fishing vessel for illegally fishing in the Northern Marianas Exclusive Economic Zone.

The Coast Guard Cutter, Washington, intercepted the Te Hung Fa 27 kilometres inside the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone.

The crew of the fifty-six ton ship are accused of illegally fishing for sharks and tuna in the waters around the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands .

The Pacific News Centre says the Washington escorted the Taiwanese ship into the Port of Saipan and the Capitan and crew of the Te Hung Fa were placed in custody.

They face charges of illegal fishing.

Commentary

YEAR

By Savea Sano Malifa

APIA, Samoa (Samoa Observer, Jan. 2, 2010) – Now in retrospect we can’t help thinking 2009 was such a terribly wonderful year in Samoa. At times it has also been terribly painful. And yet somehow we all enjoyed the rough ride and we are all still here.

Over the last twelve months we were inundated with formidable challenges. And yet for some weird reason we did not buckle under. Like a silly vagabond brawler we simply picked ourselves up, licked our wounds, and moved on.

Along the way we learned to smile when there was pain, laugh when it was impossible to stop the tears, hit the wall when sight is blurred and we became visionless.

Life, as we have all now come to agree, is such a wonderful learning experience.

This morning as we sit down and think backwards, we are amazed we’ve made it this far; indeed there isn’t a whiff of a complaint from anyone, and as we look up we see that even the sun has...