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Kiwi Foreign Minister calls it ‘major promotional opportunity’

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (RNZI, Feb. 23, 2012) - New Zealand is to give support to the Cook Islands as it hosts the Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting in August.

The Pacific Islands Forum secretariat this week announced new dates of August the 27th to the 31st in Rarotonga.

New Zealand’s foreign minister, Murray McCully, says on a recent trip to the Cook Islands, he was impressed with the preparations so far.

He says as the current chair of the Forum, New Zealand wants to offer as much support as it can.

"I’ve been careful to make sure we offer some support in one or two areas, but the Cook Islands understand that hosting the forum is an honour that comes around occasionally, and they plan to pick up their obligations."

Murray McCully says the Forum will be a major promotional opportunity for the tourism-dependent country.

Chinese construction company denies allegations

By Jeremy Inifiri

HONIARA, Solomon Islands (Solomon Star, Feb. 24, 2012 - Reports have surfaced that some Asian loggers and their families are residing illegally in the apartment blocks of the new incomplete Sol-Plaza Rugby Stadium and Commercial Center at Town Ground.

This was after the Honiara City Council halted construction at the newly built sports and commercial center, after it was found that China United Corporation Ltd, the company that had agreed to construct the center under the 3-year lease deed agreement with the Solomon Islands Rugby Union Federation (SIRUF) had been issuing occupancy licenses to various businesses operating in the ground floor of the new center.

Reports reaching Solomon Star claimed that almost all rooms on the third floor apartment of the new center are being rented out to various tenants-mostly Asian loggers and their families.

Tenants are said to be paying the...

Separate portfolios split from Education Ministry

By Frederica Elbourne

SUVA, Fiji (Fiji Times, Feb. 23, 2012) - A permanent secretary and the head of a vocational training institute have joined the Cabinet line-up as government ministers after they were sworn in yesterday.

Commander Viliame Naupoto, who was the permanent secretary for Fisheries and Forest, and Jone Usamate, the former CEO of the Training and Productivity Authority of Fiji, took up their respective roles as Cabinet ministers immediately after the ceremonial event.

Naupoto is now the minister for Youth and Sports. He held the previous posts of permanent secretary in the Prime Minister’s office and was also Immigration Department director.

Mr. Usamate was formerly director for Technical and Vocational Education at the Fiji National University.

The statement said the creation of a separate ministerial portfolio for the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment...

First PM ‘can’t be compared to anyone else’

By Thompson Marango

PORT VILA, Vanuatu (Vanuatu Daily Post, Feb. 23, 2012) - Yesterday as the country commemorated Lini Day in honour of Vanuatu’s first prime minister, Opposition Leader, Edward Natapei described the first Vanuatu Prime Minister and his team that fought for the country’s freedom from the colonial powers as incomparable to any Vanuatu leaders today.

"I must say that late Father Walter Lini and his team can’t be compared to anyone else, it is very difficult to compare them with anyone else today," MP Natapei told a gathering at Seadside area yesterday.

"I classify them in their own class. I myself can’t compare myself with the kind of leadership of Father Walter," Natapei said.

"All of us who came after them are a long way behind.

"In fact when I was first elected Prime Minister, I announced in Parliament that I felt like David when he was looking after sheep when he was asked to...