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Governor Dion: ‘I was in the dark regarding the operations’

By Grace Tiden PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PNG Post-Courier, Dec. 29, 2011) – In Papua New Guinea (PNG), East New Britain Governor Leo Dion has said he was in the dark regarding the operations of the Sinivit Gold Mine and the implementation of the Memorandum of Agreement between the developer, landowners and the provincial government.

Mr. Dion, in a press statement, said he was concerned that there was lack of consultation by the company officials with his government and administration.

"This is what we get when there is lack of or no consultations between the parties concerned," he said.

He said he supported the Uramot Baining landowners but the action taken by the landowners to move into the mine was not the answer to their queries.

Mr. Dion called on the landowners and New Guinea Gold (NGG) Limited to meet and sort out their differences and if the agreement needed to be re-visited...

FUND
Trust to help recover essential services affected by disasters

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, Dec. 29, 2011) – The Cook Islands government has set up a disaster emergency trust fund.

The trust has been set up following the cyclone which devastated Aitutaki in February last year.

Prime Minister Henry Puna says, at the time of the cyclone, government ministries couldn’t front up with money – partly because of the rules governing the expenditure of public funds.

He says the trust fund gets around that problem.

Finance Minister Mark Brown says the fund is for the government’s initial response to emergency situations.

It is to allow government to make sure essential services such as power are re-started as soon as possible, and key areas such as airports and ports are cleared to assist in any recovery.

[PIR editor’s note: Aitutaki was hit by Cyclone Pat in February 2010, and at least 80 percent of...

Allegations of ‘legalized corruption’ prompted program cut

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, Dec. 29, 2011) – The New Zealand government has suspended an aid project in Vanuatu that aimed to bring transparency to the issuing of passports.

Since last year New Zealand has been helping Vanuatu set up an office to produce biometric passports but former foreign minister, Joe Natuman, says recent changes made by the Vanuatu amount to legalized corruption.

Don Wiseman reports:

"Mr. Natuman’s claim comes after reports that the passport office has been directed to print diplomatic passports for five Chinese nationals. The Chinese had earlier got honorary citizenship after offering millions of vatu for the restoration of Parliament, but this money has never been accounted for. One intention of the changes was to stop government ministers selling Vanuatu passports to foreign nationals and Mr. Natuman brought in amendments earlier this year...

News Release

Yap State Government Colonia, Yap

Dec. 30, 2011

YAP, POHNPEI

The Asian Development Bank proposes to field a loan fact-finding mission to the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) from Jan. 23 to Feb. 5, 2012 to visit Yap and Pohnpei states.

The mission will comprise of Anthony Maxwell, senior energy specialist/mission leader; Paul Hattle, energy specialist; Asghar Ali Syed, legal counsel; and. Martina Tonizzo of the Pacific department.

The objectives of the mission are to (1) review consultants report and undertake due diligence assessment for the project, (2) sign a memorandum of understanding with the government agreeing on the scope of works of the project, and (3) hold discussions with the state and national governments about the proposed financing plan, including government guarantees.

The mission will meet with relevant government officials, assistance partners, and other stakeholders.

Among those the...