You are here

Home › 2011 › October 2011 ›

Articles Search

Search results

Mon
10
Oct
admin's picture

PNG TAKES ITS PLACE AMONG PACIFIC DONOR

Submitted by admin on Mon, 10/10/2011 - 00:00

NATIONS
$44 million aid to Solomons belies huge support accepted by PNG

By John Pangkatana PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PNG Post-Courier, Oct. 7, 2011) –Papua New Guinea has signaled a shift in its foreign policy with a 100 million kina [US$44.3 million] commitment to neighbouring Solomon Islands.

This is certainly among PNG’s largest commitment oversees, in particular to a Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) member.

It is also deemed that PNG and the Solomon Islands will work to formalise a similar agreement with other MSG nations (Vanuatu and Fiji) and other neighbouring Pacific nations outside of the Melanesian sub-region.

This commitment and change is geared towards oversees aid has heightened since the recent 66th United Nations general assembly in New York, where PNG was represented by the Prime Ministerial delegation.

[PIR editor’s note: In addition to the approximate US$200 million provided to Papua New Guina each year by its...

+ continue reading
Mon
10
Oct
admin's picture

TAHITI, FRANCE TRADE BLOWS IN VERBAL BATTLE

Submitted by admin on Mon, 10/10/2011 - 00:00

Temaru accuses French government of sabotage

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, Oct. 9, 2011) – French Polynesia’s president, Oscar Temaru, has sharply criticised French leaders in a deepening funding row which threatens to bankrupt his government.

This comes after the French high commissioner, Richard Didier, rejected claims that Paris had stopped a French Development Bank loan which Mr Temaru says is needed to be able to pay the public service at the end of the month.

Contradicting Mr Didier publicly, Mr Temaru has refused to meet him, which in turn has prompted Mr Didier to accuse him of showing a lack of respect.

Mr Temaru says he wonders if Mr Didier knows French Polynesia’s history and what respect Charles de Gaulle showed by deciding to test nuclear weapons in the South Pacific.

He went on to say that France has never respected French Polynesians and every president of the French republic could well go before the...

+ continue reading
Mon
10
Oct
admin's picture

FIJI SEEKS AIR ACCESS TO CHINA TOURIST MARKET

Submitted by admin on Mon, 10/10/2011 - 00:00

Air Pacific, China Eastern Airlines could boost visitor numbers

By Losalini Rasoqosoqo SUVA, Fiji (Fiji Sun, Oct. 10, 2011) –Suggestions are being made in China to have direct air links between booming Shanghai, the country’s largest city, and Fiji.

This was confirmed to the Fiji Sun by the Deputy General Director of the Pudong New Area Government, Jiang Huguang.

Pudong is the home to Shanghai Pudon International Airport, one of the main airports in China and the hub for China Eastern Airlines. China Eastern already flies to Australia and New Zealand.

Fiji’s Air Pacific meanwhile flies direct from Nadi to Hong Kong in the south-west of China.

Mr Huguang said further expanding the airline links would help reinforce the growing ties between China and Pacific Islands nations such as Fiji.

Mr Huguang told the Fiji Sun in Shanghai that China’s relationship with the Pacific Islands countries was of great importance to them and they would...

+ continue reading
Mon
10
Oct
admin's picture

FIJI REGIME ARRESTS AIR PACIFIC EMPLOYEE OVER

Submitted by admin on Mon, 10/10/2011 - 00:00

BREACH
Leaked documents reveal airline’s role in anti-union decree

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, Oct. 9, 2011) – Fiji police have confirmed that they are investigating an Air Pacific employee for allegedly breaching the company’s code of conduct.

However, a senior police officer has told local media he cannot divulge any information about the nature of the alleged breach.

Unconfirmed reports say a pilot, who is an Australian national, is in police custody.

This comes just days after documents were leaked which show Air Pacific hired a law firm in New York to draw up an anti-union decree that the interim regime implemented.

Documents also show that Air Pacific was billed 33,000 US dollars by a British consultancy, Marshall-James, for helping deal with a response to the ILO which found the decree violates conventions Fiji has signed.

Neither Air Pacific nor the interim government has commented on the...

+ continue reading
Mon
10
Oct
admin's picture

FSM LAWMAKER CALLS FOR END TO U.S. COMPACT

Submitted by admin on Mon, 10/10/2011 - 00:00

Pohnpei Sen. Christian says U.S. abusing relationship

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, Oct. 9, 2011) – A senator in the Federated States of Micronesia, Peter Christian, has introduced a resolution to the FSM Congress calling on President Manny Mori to terminate the Compact of Free Association with the US government no later than 2018.

The resolution is a response to the increasingly hard line adopted by the Obama Administration and the US Congress in its dealing with the islands.

Mr Christian’s resolution points out that the purpose of the Compact is for a mutually beneficial relationship between the two nations, and says the US receives many benefits from the relationship.

But the resolution says the recent words and deeds of United States policymakers suggest they view the Amended Compact as an act of charity by the United States rather than a treaty between two sovereign nations.

It charges that the US government abused...

+ continue reading
Mon
10
Oct
admin's picture

CASH-STRAPPED FRENCH POLYNESIA TO SELL ASSETS

Submitted by admin on Mon, 10/10/2011 - 00:00

Real estate in Papeete, offices in Noumea to go on block

PAPEETE, Tahiti (Tahitipresse, Oct. 6, 2011) – The French Polynesian government will sell more assets in the months to come, a press release states.

The decision has been taken Wednesday in Papeete during the Council of ministers.

The assets to be sold include land located in the Papeete suburbs.

They also include offices owned by the government located in the center of Noumea, New Caledonia.

The governement hopes all the assets could be sold for 1.5 billion French Pacific francs.

The funds collected will help the governement to prepare Tahiti's 2012 budget.

French Polynesia already sold several assets in the last months including the Rocklands Hostel, in New Zealand, and the governement-owned place, an ATR aircraft.

However, the French Polynesian government has not decided so far to sell a building owned in Paris' left bank.

+ continue reading
Mon
10
Oct
admin's picture

COOKS SCHOOLS EYE PRACTICAL CAREER TRAINING

Submitted by admin on Mon, 10/10/2011 - 00:00

Pearl farming, fishing skills would add to curriculum

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, Oct. 9, 2011) – The Cook Islands Ministry of Education is pushing for more life education in schools.

The Education Minister, Teina Bishop, says the ministry is looking to introduce bonefishing into the curriculum of Aitutaki schools, and pearl farming for Penrhyn students to factor in education skills specific to each island in the country.

He says the ministry is focused on both academic study and, what he calls, education for life.

Life skills include marine biology, conservation and sustainable fishing.

The proposal will be announced at the launch of the Aitutaki Business Association Invitational Bonefishing Competition this month.

The Prime Minister Henry Puna, the Cook Islands Tourism Chief Executive Carmel Beattie, the Education Secretary Sharyn Paio and the Tourism Council Chaiman Ewan Smith are expected to attend.

+ continue reading
Mon
10
Oct
admin's picture

JORDAN SEEKS TONGA BACKING ON LAND MINE BAN

Submitted by admin on Mon, 10/10/2011 - 00:00

Visiting prince asks help for people around world

NUKUALOFA, Tonga (Matangi Tonga, Oct. 8, 2011) – HRH Prince Mired Bin Raad Al-Hussein of Jordan, during a welcome from Tonga's Red Cross in Nuku'alofa yesterday, said that he looked forward to Tonga supporting a humanitarian cause that aims at saving lives and bettering the lives of people who have been injured and suffered from a terrible weapon - land mines.

Visiting Tonga from October 5-8 the prince also met with Tonga's Prime Minister Lord Tu'ivakano to seek Tonga's support for the Anti Personnel Mine Ban Convention, which Tonga is not a signatory to.

Prince Mired, the Special Envoy for the Anti Personnel Mine Ban Convention, also met with Cabinet Ministers and the Tonga Defence Service Acting Commander Capt Toni Fonokalafi.

The 1997 Convention prohibits of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines.

Tonga's Acting Solicitor General Sione Sisifa said on October 7,...

+ continue reading
Mon
10
Oct
admin's picture

RELIEF CONTINUES IN DRAUGHT-STRICKEN TUVALU

Submitted by admin on Mon, 10/10/2011 - 00:00

Nukulaelae most critical of country’s isles

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, Oct. 9, 2011) – Efforts continue to help Tuvalu deal with its water crisis.

A large desalination plant is being sent to Funafuti in a joint operation by New Zealand and Australia.

Smaller units have already been deployed to Funafuti and Nukulaelae where the effects of the prolonged drought have been most acute.

Capacity is being increased as Funafuti’s 5,000 residents need nearly 80,000 litres a day.

The Tuvalu government is yet to assess all islands to determine the food situation in the medium term.

+ continue reading
Mon
10
Oct
admin's picture

AM. SAMOA GOVERNOR, CONGRESSMAN AT ODDS OVER

Submitted by admin on Mon, 10/10/2011 - 00:00

WAGES
Gov. Togiola says Faleomavaega sending mixed signals

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, Oct. 7, 2011) – American Samoa’s Governor Togiola Tulafono says Congressman Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin is sending mixed messages to Congress regarding the territory’s stance on the minimum wage law.

Both the governor and congressman support the delay of further wage increases and want the return of special industry committees that have set minimum wages for American Samoa in the past.

But Faleomavaega has publicly criticized these past industry committees which he says approved petty wage increases of a few cents for the workers.

He says if Congress should endorse American Samoa returning to the establishment of a special industry committee, the new group must base their decisions on concrete data, so minimum wages are commensurate with the reality of the territory’s economic conditions.

The governor believes Faleomavaega’s...

+ continue reading

Pages

Filter by date created:

Filter by article category: