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Wed
05
Oct
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AUSTRALIA SCOFFS AT FIJI’S DEMOCRACY INITIATIVE

Submitted by admin on Wed, 10/05/2011 - 00:00

Anti-union decrees fly in face of democracy claims

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, Oct. 4, 2011) – The Australian government says it is still waiting to see a genuine move towards democracy in Fiji.

Fiji’s interim Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama reiterated his plan at a recent meeting of the United Nations General Assembly for the run up to elections in 2014, saying electronic voter registration would start in January.

He also said from September next year, Fiji must turn its attention to developing a new constitution.

But Australia’s Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs, Richard Marles, says it’s hard to see that plans for registering voters are a meaningful step, when in the same breath the regime announces a new decree targeting union activity.

"To hang your hat on this investigation of electronic voter registration as being some meaningful step towards democracy is just not right. We need to see a...

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Wed
05
Oct
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CHINESE INVESTORS PLAN MAJOR HOTEL IN YAP

Submitted by admin on Wed, 10/05/2011 - 00:00

Project would become largest hotel in FSM

By Jon A. Anderson HAGÅTÑA, Guam (Marianas Variety, Oct. 5, 2011) – A development proposal which would dwarf anything so far seen in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) has been proposed by Chinese investors for Yap, the closest FSM state to Guam.

As reported in the Oct. 3 edition of Kaselehlie Press, a biweekly newspaper published in the Pohnpei, a private investor group called the Exhibit and Travel Group (ETG), from Chengdu in Sichuan Province, in the People’s Republic of China, has met with Yap officials to discuss the proposal. The development could involve as many as eight to 10 hotel complexes with up to 4,000 guest rooms which, if approved, could be ready for occupancy in 2015. The plans actually envision an ultimate total of...

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Wed
05
Oct

ARTISTIC ESCAPADES: PRIVATE ARTIST RESIDENCIES IN OCEANIA

Submitted by piradmin on Wed, 10/05/2011 - 00:00

Artistic Escapades: Private artist residencies in Oceania from East-West Center's Pacific Islands Development Program on Vimeo.

Presenter: Katherine Higgins Artist residencies have been supporting the growth of contemporary arts in Oceania since the late 1960s. Residencies offer time, space, and resources for artistic growth, as well as opportunities for local and regional cultural exchange. In this presentation, Katherine Higgins will discuss three private residency programs: Papua New Guinea, in 1969; Cook Islands, in 2009; and Sāmoa, opening in 2012. Drawings and paintings produced by Timothy Akis and Andy Leleisi‘uao during their respective residencies in Port Moresby and Rarotonga will be introduced to highlight the influence of artistic and...

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Thu
06
Oct
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U.S. HEALTH EXPERTS LEAD DIABETES WORKSHOPS ON GUAM

Submitted by admin on Thu, 10/06/2011 - 00:00

Two-day training workshop focuses on prevention practices

By Geraldine Castillo HAGÅTÑA, Guam (Marianas Variety, Oct. 6, 2011) – A team of five healthcare experts from the University of Pittsburgh Diabetes Institute and their Diabetes Prevention Center are on-island to lead a two-day workshop designed for health professionals who care for individuals at risk for diabetes.

In an effort to promote diabetes prevention on Guam, the Guam Healthcare and Hospital Development Foundation (GHHDF), in partnership with the University of Guam School of Nursing and Health Sciences, is hosting "The Group Lifestyle Balance Training Program," which takes place today and tomorrow at the Hyatt Regency Guam.

The Group Lifestyle Balance Program is a train-the-trainer program on proven effective practices that can prevent or delay Type 2 diabetes.

The high-caliber team of professionals covers a wide spectrum of areas where diabetes can be addressed. Among those experts are...

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Thu
06
Oct
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VANUATU MULLS SWITCHING TO PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM

Submitted by admin on Thu, 10/06/2011 - 00:00

First Head of State supports ‘voice of the people’

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, Oct. 5, 2011) – Vanuatu’s first head of state, Ati George Sokomanu, say the people will ultimately decide if the country should change to a Presidential system.

Vanuatu has been marking the 32nd anniversary of signing its Westminster style constitution in 1979.

The country became independent from Britain and France the following year.

Sokomanu says the country is ready to make constitutional changes, including introducing the direct election of a president.

"We’ve gone through the parliamentary system, and I see no reason why, if the population of Vanuatu agrees that we should have a referendum and we should change the system into a Presidential system, I think it’s the voice of the people that we need so that if they back it up, well we’ll go ahead with the new system."

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Thu
06
Oct
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PNG POLICE CHASE AFTER EX-MINISTER ENDS IN AUSTRALIA

Submitted by admin on Thu, 10/06/2011 - 00:00

Paul Tiensten wanted for corruption, $4.4 million fraud

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PNG Post-Courier, Oct. 5, 2011) – Former Papua New Guinea (PNG) government minister Paul Tiensten has surfaced in Cairns, Australia where he has instructed a PNG law firm to mount a legal challenge against the team seeking his arrest.

His court challenge against the National Economic Council (NEC)-sanctioned Investigative Team Sweep will be heard today in the Kokopo National Court.

He will be represented by Warner Shand Lawyers in court while PNG Solicitor General Neville Devete confirmed last night that he has dispatched a team to Kokopo to defend the State in the matter.

[PIR editor's note: Tiensten went missing after police arranged for him to appear for questioning in mid-September 2011; at the time, he was reported to have flown the coop to Brisbane after managing to...

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Thu
06
Oct
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OPPOSITION FILES 3 MORE COMPLAINTS AGAINST SOLOMONS PM

Submitted by admin on Thu, 10/06/2011 - 00:00

Philip allegedly exceeded authority in logging, copra, power company directives

HONIARA, Solomon Islands (Solomon Star, Oct. 6, 2011) – In the Solomons, three more complaints are being filed against Prime Minister Danny Philip by the Office of the Leader of Opposition.

These complaints which are related to issues of misconduct was filed with the Office of the Leadership Code Commission (LCC).

This was announced by the Opposition Leader Hon. Dr Derek Sikua yesterday.

Hon. Dr Sikua said these complaints concern letters by the Prime Minister in support of a tax exemption by Ex-field Bakery Limited for logging heavy plant machineries, directive to CEMA for the issuance of a copra export license and letter to SIEA to restore the power supply to Ex-field Bakery Limited.

"The Prime Minister has used his official position to commit these actions which amount to misconduct contrary to Section 11 (20) of the LCC Act and he must be held accountable for them...

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Thu
06
Oct
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GEORGIA, FIJI EXPLORE IMPROVING ECONOMIC RELATIONS

Submitted by admin on Thu, 10/06/2011 - 00:00

Future plans to exchange foreign delegations in progress

By Repeka Nasiko SUVA, Fiji (Fijilive, Oct. 5, 2011) – After establishing a diplomatic relationship with Fiji in March last year, Georgia is now looking to transform the two countries relationship into an economic beneficial partnership.

In a meeting with Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama earlier today, Georgia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Grigol Vashadze said they discussed ways on how to take the Georgia and Fiji relationship to another advanced stage.

"I think that we have an outstanding political relationship and everybody has stressed the necessity to transform that wonderful political relationship now into mutually beneficial economic relationships," said Vashadze at a press conference after the meeting.

"We talked about aspects of our education, economics, trade, culture and corporation within international organizations."

He revealed Commodore Bainimarama had drafted out a...

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Thu
06
Oct
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AM. SAMOA GOVERNOR WANTS TO BUY UNUSED FISHING DAYS

Submitted by admin on Thu, 10/06/2011 - 00:00

Seeks some of U.S. portion of tuna allocation for territory

By Fili Sagapolutele PAGO PAGO, American Samoa, (Samoa News, Oct. 5, 2011) - Gov. Togiola Tulafono has asked the U.S. State Department to allow American Samoa to purchase unused apportioned fishing days for U.S. fleets under the U.S. agreement with the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA), which governs the management of fisheries in eight countries in the Pacific, an area covering 25% of the world's tuna caught annually.

Speaking on his weekend radio program, Togiola says he made the request during a meeting while in Washington D.C. recently. He said the meeting with the State Department, which covers areas such as fisheries in the region and U.S. vessels home-ported in American Samoa, was a continuation of meetings with the federal agency held in New Zealand last month during the Pacific Island Forum.

Among the fishery issues discussed was the U.S. fisheries agreement that affects the canneries in...

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Thu
06
Oct
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PRICES OF GOODS, SERVICES ON GUAM UP 3.6 PERCENT

Submitted by admin on Thu, 10/06/2011 - 00:00

Food shows biggest increase: 6.4 percent from last year

By Therese Hart HAGÅTÑA, Guam (Marianas Variety, Oct. 6, 2011) – The prices of goods and services on Guam are up, with food commodities showing the biggest increase – a rise of 6.4 percent compared to September 2010.

According to the Guam Bureau of Statistics and Plans, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) indicates a 3.6 percent rise.

Aside from food, other categories also showed an increase such as housing costs, up 2.9 percent; energy up 3.6 percent; and the cost of services up 4.9 percent.

The CPI is a measure of the average change in prices over time of goods and services purchased by households, both families and single persons living alone.

Compared to the 3rd quarter in 2010, bakery products indicate a 13.4 percent increase; other meats besides beef, pork and poultry increased 12.8 percent; eggs increased 13.6 percent; fresh fruits increased 11.9 percent; and sugar and sweets increased...

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