PAC - Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association articles from August 2004

PAC - Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association archives from August 2004

Tonga misses access to billion dollar US aid fund.
August 2, 2004... 02 AUGUST 2004 NUKUA'LOFA (Pacnews) - Tonga has been dropped from a list of the world's poorest countries that the United States will allow to become candidates for a new multi-billion dollar aid fund next year. US Secretary of State Colin...

Custard removed from supermarket shelves.
August 2, 2004... 02 AUGUST 2004 RAROTONGA (Pacnews) - One of Cook Islands' largest supermarket, CITC, has withdrawn six packets of Robinson's Step Up Egg Custard from shelves after the product was recalled in New Zealand. Reports from the Cooks say the...

PNG mining set for big expansion.
August 2, 2004... 02 AUGUST 2004 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Papua New Guinea's mining sector has recorded an increase in mineral exploration with four new mines expected to open early next year. The PNG's Mining Minister, Sam Akoitai, says the government has...

Governor told of no special Iraq soldiers' families' payments.
August 2, 2004... 02 AUGUST 2004 PAGO PAGO (Pacnews) - American Samoa's Governor, Togiola Tulafono, has been told that there are no special payments for the families of reservists due to be posted to Iraq. He had been concerned about those in the military...

Social conflict in New Caledonia grounds Noumea-Papeete flight.
August 2, 2004... 02 AUGUST 2004 PAPEETE (Pacnews) - A social conflict in New Caledonia grounded the weekly Noumea-Papeete flight by Air Caledonie International. "The New Caledonia airport is blocked following a social movement that initially began at the...

Premier calls for co-operation.
August 2, 2004... 02 AUGUST 2004 HONIARA (Pacnews) - Guadalcanal Provincial Premier, Waeta Ben Tabusasi has called on the people of his province to work together to ensure peace after they underwent a reign of terror during the ethnic clash of Solomon Islands....

SPECIAL PACNEWS REPORTS - 35th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders' Summit, Apia, Samoa (03 - 10 August 2004).
August 2, 2004... PACNEWS coverage is made possible under AusAID Pacific Media Initiative Pacific Plan to reflect practical programmes that will enhance stronger links between Forum Island Countries 01 AUGUST 2004 APIA (Pacnews) --- Samoa's Prime...

Tahiti's President Temaru to address Forum leaders.
August 2, 2004... 02 AUGUST 2004 PAPE'ETE (Pacnews) - Senior Government officials in French Polynesia have confirmed newly-elected President Oscar Temaru's participation at the 35th Pacific islands Forum Leaders' Summit in the Samoa capital, Apia later this...

Trade Accord to benefit Fiji.
August 2, 2004... 02 AUGUST 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) - Fiji and developing countries who are often penalised with high export subsidies and import duties could soon benefit from a comprehensive global accord which was finally agreed upon by World Trade Organisation...

Organisers hail success of Arts Festival.
August 2, 2004... 02 AUGUST 2004 KOROR (Pacnews) - The ninth Festival of Pacific Arts in Palau ended on Saturday night, as participants and supporters came together for a grand Pacific show-case of cultures in the closing ceremony. And organisers are...

Vanuatu holdings launches project.
August 2, 2004... 02 AUGUST 2004 PORT VILA (Pacnews) - Vanuatu's bech-de-mer farmers, particularly rural women, stand to greatly benefit from a project that will involve major bech-de-mer farming. Vanuatu Holdings Limited (VHL) has announced its first...

Company officials come under scrutiny.
August 2, 2004... 02 AUGUST 2004 ALOFI (Pacnews) - Principals of an offshore company registered in Niue are facing Serious Fraud Office (SFO) prosecution in New Zealand. New Zealand's National Business Review (NBR) has reportedly revealed that two of those...

Three to run for Governor's position.
August 2, 2004... 02 AUGUST 2004 CHUUK (Pacnews) - Three local leaders have held separate rallies in the past week to campaign for the Governor's post in Chuuk State, Federated States or Micronesia (FSM). Current Gov. Ansito Walter and several of his Cabinet...

Two pilots killed, one passenger survives crash.
August 2, 2004... 02 AUGUST 2004 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Two pilots, including one of Papua New Guinea's female pilots, are confirmed dead while a third person survived the Airlines PNG twin otter crash in Goilala district of Central province last Thursday. ...

Women's Council call for respect from media.
August 2, 2004... 02 AUGUST 2004 HONIARA (Pacnews) - The Solomon Islands National Council of Women is calling on the media to respect the rights of victims when it comes to court actions. Council President, Sarah Dyer, made the statement after the Solomon...

Ministers Meeting to integrate agriculture and forestry sectors.
August 2, 2004... 02 AUGUST 2004 NOUMEA (Pacnews) - Agriculture and forestry activities still accounts for a large proportion of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of most Pacific Islands, says a report from the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC). It...

CNMI to consider unlimited alien hiring.
August 2, 2004... 02 AUGUST 2004 SAIPAN (Pacnews) - Amid plans by a Korean investor to build a factory in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas to make military products, Northern Marianas' senators last week passed a bill that seeks to authorise the...

Eighteen Tongans make Athens list.
August 2, 2004... 02 AUGUST 2004 NUKUA'LOFA (Pacnews) - Eighteen Tongans have made the final list toi represent the Kingdom at the Athens Olympic Games later this month. The Matangi Tonga reports that the athletes will take part in four sports; archery,...

SPECIAL PACNEWS REPORTS - 35th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders' Summit, Apia, Samoa (03 - 10 August 2004).
August 2, 2004... PACNEWS coverage is made possible under the Australian Government's Pacific Media Communication Facility (PMCF) Bougainville activist to share experiences with NGO and civil society colleagues 01 AUGUST 2004 APIA (Pacnews) ---An...

Pacific leaders meet to work out new plan to promote good governance.
August 3, 2004... 03 AUGUST 2004 APIA (Pacnews) - Pacific nations, which are among the world's poorest and smallest, meet in Samoa this week to devise a strategy to combat political failures and promote better governance. An AFP reports says that officials...

Vanuatu's three proposals at MSG meet.
August 3, 2004... 03 AUGUST 2004 PORT VILA (Pacnews) - Vanuatu has put together critical issues in three trade proposals to be considered by leaders of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), according to reports from the Vanuatu Daily Post. Among the issues...

Tongan king dedicates West Valley church.
August 3, 2004... 03 AUGUST 2004 UTAH STATE (Pacnews) - The king of Tonga, Taufa'ahau Tupou IV dedicated the Tongan United Methodist Church in West Valley, Utah in the US last Saturday. The church was built after an arson fire destroyed the original...

PNG education system not working.
August 3, 2004... 03 AUGUST 2004 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Papua New Guinea's Minister for Education says the country's education system is not working due to a lack of proper co-ordination and management by authorities. Radio Australia quotes Michael Laimo...

Selling property assets best way for Nauru, say receivers.
August 3, 2004... 03 AUGUST 2004 YAREN (Pacnews) - Receivers acting for the General Electric Capital Corporation (GE) over Nauru's 165-million US-dollar debt say the country might benefit most from the sale of properties. Steve Parberry, a partner with...

Japan accused of buying off Tuvalu's whaling situation.
August 3, 2004... 03 AUGUST 2004 FUNAFUTI (Pacnews) - The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) Pacific Office has accused Japan of "vote-buying" the Pacific Island state of Tuvalu to join the International Whaling Commission (IWC). IFAW Asia/Pacific...

Sea kayaking growing rapidly in the Pacific.
August 3, 2004... 03 AUGUST 2004 PACIFIC (Pacnews) - A recent report by the South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) indicates that sea kayaking is small, yet a rapidly growing sector in the Pacific tourism market. The number of tourists taking part in...

Help for Niue from Manukau City Council in NZ.
August 3, 2004... 03 AUGUST 2004 ALOFI (Pacnews) - Cyclone-battered Niue has been presented with a series of alternative rebuilding and recovery plans, courtesy of the staff of Manukau City Council, Auckland, New Zealand. A report on the Events Polynesia...

Tokelauans now have access to the Internet.
August 3, 2004... 03 AUGUST 2004 APIA (Pacnews) - The Internet has arrived in Tokelau Islands, considered as some of the smallest Pacific Island atolls. The people of Tokelau Islands, which are only accessed by a 42-hour boat ride, can now access a wealth of...

French Polynesia set to join Pacific Forum as observer.
August 3, 2004... 03 AUGUST 2004 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) - New Zealand Prime Minister, Helen Clark, may have already given the green light to French Polynesia's Observer Status at the Pacific Islands Forum. Oceania Flash reports that the PM, who was last year's...

Strikers shut down broadcasts.
August 3, 2004... 03 AUGUST 2004 NOUMEA (Pacnews) - Striking workers in New Caledonia have blocked radio stations and television transmissions, says Radio NZ International. The escalation in industrial action, that has seen roads, ports and airports...

Bougainville unveils economic task force.
August 3, 2004... 03 AUGUST 2004 BUKA (Pacnews) - Bougainville Governor, Father John Momis, has announced the establishment of a Bougainville Economic Taskforce to look for investment and business activities for the country as it makes a transition to peace. ...

Former late First Lady's Requiem Mass in Suva tomorrow.
August 3, 2004... 03 AUGUST 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) - The head of the Catholic Church of Fiji, Archbishop Petero Mataca, will officiate at a Requiem Mass for the late former First Lady of Fiji, Ro Lady Lala Mara, wife of the late former Prime Minister and President...

New PM might declare emergency.
August 3, 2004... 03 AUGUST 2004 PORT VILA (Pacnews) - Vanuatu's new Prime Minister, Serge Vohor, could declare a state of emergency for the country this week following moves by dissatisfied MPs to move a vote of no confidence. There are reports that...

Dengue outbreak hits Palau.
August 3, 2004... 03 AUGUST 2004 KOROR (Pacnews) - Artists who have just been showcasing the best of Pacific art, craft, music and culture in the Palauan capital, Koror, should go for checks at their local hospitals if they experience body pains and fever. ...

Port to move for security reasons.
August 3, 2004... 03 AUGUST 2004 NUKUA'LOF (Pacnews) - International port facilities in Tonga's main port are being moved to accommodate the United States' anti-terrorism legislation, says a Radio NZ International report. Tonga Ports Authority chief, Etuate...

Singh takes Buick golf crown.
August 3, 2004... 03 AUGUST 2004 MICHIGAN - Fiji's champion golfer, Vijay Singh, has won the 2004 Buick Open Golf championships in Michigan, USA. Singh prevailed by a stroke over John Daly and by two strokes over Tiger Woods and Carlos Franco. "Wow,...

Women candidates 'prepare to win'.
August 4, 2004... 04 AUGUST 2004 RAROTONGA (Pacnews) - Cook Island women are coming together in the next two days to prepare themselves to stand in the coming national elections. Cook Islands News reports the women, particular those who have decided to...

Palau delegates monitored for dengue outbreak.
August 4, 2004... 04 AUGUST 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) - Fiji's health authorities have issued a nation-wide dengue alert following an outbreak of the mosquito-borne disease at the recent 9th Pacific Festival of Arts, held in Palau last week. The Suva-based...

Government approves of aviation policy.
August 4, 2004... 04 AUGUST 2004 NUKUA'LOFA (Pacnews) - The Tongan Cabinet and Privy Council have authorised the establishment of a government policy on domestic air operations in order to sustain the kingdom's air transportation system. And Radio Tonga...

Regional markets grows substantially - SPTO.
August 4, 2004... 04 AUGUST 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) - Strong growth has been recorded for several Pacific Island countries' tourism in the past year. Statistics from the Fiji-based South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) report that growth for the first three...

Gold prospectors optimistic about Mt Kasi operation.
August 4, 2004... 04 AUGUST 2004 LABASA, FIJI (Pacnews) - Australia-based Burdekin Pacific, which is prospecting for gold at Mount Kasi in Fiji's second largest island, Vanua Levu, has promised they will carry on exploring for gold despite recent criticisms...

Fiji attempts to help Samoa and PNG reach a compromise.
August 4, 2004... 02 AUGUST 2004 APIA (Pacnews) --- Fiji's Foreign Affairs Chief Executive Officer, Isikeli Mataitoga, says Fiji has attempted to act as a go-between Papua New Guinea and Samoa on a candidate for the secretary general for the African, Caribbean...

First shipment of Fiji-bred sheep to arrive in Apia on Friday.
August 4, 2004... 02 AUGUST 2004 APIA (Pacnews) ---- After years of negotiations on the export of Fiji-bred sheep, the dream will become a reality later this week when the first shipment arrives in Apia from Suva. Fiji's Assistant Minister for Agriculture,...

Fiji supports any measures to assist Nauru.
August 4, 2004... 03 AUGUST 2004 APIA (Pacnews) --- Fiji will support any measures by Pacific Leaders to assist in the financial reconstruction of Nauru. Foreign Affairs chief executive officer, Isikeli Mataitoga, who will chair the two day session of senior...

Tonga without Head of State a second time - royals place Fiji high.
August 4, 2004... 04 AUGUST 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) - Tonga's Royal Family this week broke with political traditions in the island kingdom to provide a special room for their blood links and traditional bond to one of Fiji's last paramount chiefs and close relative,...

Nauru detention centre releases refugees, 5 children.
August 4, 2004... 04 AUGUST 2004 YAREN (Pacnews) - Five children are among the latest asylum-seekers to arrive in Brisbane from the detention centre on Nauru. The 16 people include the last of the Afghans processed on the Pacific Island facility... and an...

Officer had warned Army Commander.
August 4, 2004... 04 AUGUST 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) - New evidences have surfaced regarding Fiji army commander, Commodore Frank Bainimarama's alleged threat to overthrow Laisenia Qarase's Government around December 2003. The Fiji Sun reports that a senior army...

President heads New Caledonia delegation to Forum.
August 4, 2004... 04 AUGUST 2004 NOUMEA (Pacnews) - New Caledonia's newly-elected President, Marie-Noelle Themereau, is scheduled to leave Wednesday for Samoa, to attend the 35th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders summit. New Caledonia has been an observer at...

Common love for sports unites Australia and Pacific.
August 4, 2004... 04 AUGUST 2004 CANBERRA (Pacnews) - Australia has launched the Pacific Sporting Needs Assessment, which was commissioned by the Australian Government as part of the AusAID funded Australia-South Pacific Sports Programme (ASP). The ASP...

President Temaru attends Pacific Leaders Summit.
August 4, 2004... 04 AUGUST 2004 APIA (Pacnews) --- French Polynesia's new president, Oscar Temaru will attend the 35th Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Apia at the invitation of Samoa's Prime Minister, Malielegaoi Tuilaepa Sailele. This will be the...

Airline braces for nation-wide strike.
August 4, 2004... 04 AUGUST 2004 PORT VILA (Pacnews) - Vanuatu's domestic air carrier, Vanair, is bracing itself for a strike that could ground its fleet unless the government intervenes with a rescue package. A 30-day industrial action notice, served to the...

Former Speaker found guilty of fraud.
August 4, 2004... 04 AUGUST 2004 POHNPEI (Pacnews) - The Supreme Court of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) yesterday found former Speaker of the FSM Congress Jack Fritz guilty of fraud. The FSM government in December 2002 filed an 11-count criminal...

Teak exporter bristles at PNG charges.
August 4, 2004... 04 AUGUST 2004 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Prominence Holdings, a logging company accused of exporting teak logs, has distanced itself from the 14 containers of teak logs detained at the Lae wharf two weeks ago in Papua New Guinea. Company...

Lifuka want clean environment for agriculture.
August 4, 2004... 04 AUGUST 2004 NUKUA'LOGA (Pacnews) - The people of Lifuka, on Tonga's main Ha'apai group of islands, want their island region to be declared pesticides and chemical-free and growers should return to organic farming. They made their stance...

Nurses to graduate from Fiji/WHO Bachelors' Programme.
August 4, 2004... 04 AUGUST 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) - At least 25 young Fijian men and women will qualify for first intensive and cardiac care nursing skills after obtaining their degrees from James Cook University's School of Nursing Sciences. The nurses have...

Electoral appeal adjourned.
August 4, 2004... 04 AUGUST 2004 RAROTONGA (Pacnews) - Cook Islands' Chief Justice, Laurence Greig, has adjourned a hearing on an application by three electors against electoral rolls and a new date is to be set by the High Court Registrar. Chief Registrar...

New Caledonian union wins strike battle.
August 5, 2004... 05 AUGUST 2004 NOUMEA (Pacnews) - Thousands of striking workers in New Caledonia have called off widescale industrial action after all their demands were met. The strike led to a blockade of radio, television, the ports and the airport,...

PNG planning minister quits.
August 5, 2004... 05 AUGUST 2004 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Papua New Guinea's National Planning Minister, Moses Maladina, has resigned. His departure comes after Prime Minister, Sir Michael Somare, accused him of plotting with the opposition to topple his...

Hundreds line Mara funeral route to show last respects.
August 5, 2004... 05 AUGUST 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) - Hundreds of school children, teachers and people lined the entire 38-kilometre Suva to Nausori road this morning to pay their last respects to the late Adi Lady Lala Mara, paramount chief of Fiji. The lady...

Pacific to have large representation at Spain World Youth Forum.
August 5, 2004... 05 AUGUST 2004 PACIFIC (Pacnews) - Young people of the Pacific Islands will have a large representation at the World Youth Forum to be convened in Barcelona, Spain from this weekend. Fiji will be represented by Epeli Vakalalabure, who was...

Mayors' conference becomes political confrontation.
August 5, 2004... 05 AUGUST 2004 PAPEETE (Pacnews) - The 19th annual French Polynesia mayors' conference that opened Monday has become a political confrontation between new President Oscar Temaru and his predecessor, Gaston Flosse. During President Temaru's...

Tuna Convention poses no threat to FFA work, Teo says.
August 5, 2004... 03 AUGUST 2004 APIA (Pacnews) --- The director of the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), Feleti Teo says the establishment of the Tuna Commission poses no threat to the work carried out by the Honiara based secretariat. "The Tuna Commission...

Disability issues pushed through NGO forum.
August 5, 2004... 03 AUGUST 2004 APIA (Pacnews) --- Human rights of people living with disabilities is among new issues discussed by regional non-governmental organizations and civil societies meeting in Samoa this week. Representing people with...

Regional register to control illegal fishing in the Pacific.
August 5, 2004... 04 AUGUST 2004 APIA (Pacnews) --- Between five to six vessels registered to fish in the Pacific region are blacklisted every year. Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) director, Feleti Teo says FFA does not allow these vessels to fish in the...

Prime Minister Vohor calls for sense of nationalism.
August 5, 2004... 05 AUGUST 2004 PORT VILA (Pacnews) - Vanuatu Prime Minister Serge Vohor has reiterated that while Vanuatu will continue to look to foreign donor countries for assistance, he said the government would rather the help offered was requested by the...

Pacific NGO's call for greater role in national budgets.
August 5, 2004... 05 AUGUST 2004 NADI, FIJI (Pacnews) - Pacific Non Government Organisations (NGOs) meeting in Nadi this week have called for a greater NGO role in Pacific Governments' annual Budget processes. They have also put a strong case to have this...

Former Fiji DPM in US for UN CEDAW Committee elections.
August 5, 2004... 05 AUGUST 2004 NEW YORK (Pacnews) - Former Fiji Deputy Prime Minister, Taufa Vakatale, is in New York, USA, to see first hand whether she will be elected Pacific representative to the United Nations CEDAW Committee in the next few hours. ...

Police found homemade beer a "real problem".
August 5, 2004... 05 AUGUST 2004 HONIARA (Pacnews) - Solomon Islands' immediate past Deputy Police Commissioner, Ben McDevitt, says homemade beer has created "a real problem" for the country's men. Speaking just before his return to Australia at the weekend,...

Japanese tourists streaming back to Marianas.
August 5, 2004... 05 AUGUST 2004 SAIPAN (Pacnews) - Japanese tourists are back on the move in the Nortehrn Pacific islands, with destinations such as Saipan, Guam, and Hawaii showing a strong trend of recovery that exceeds 2002 pre-SARS levels. Based on the...

Nauru weightlifter charged with murder.
August 5, 2004... 05 AUGUST 2004 MELBOURNE (Pacnews) - A former weightlifter who represented Nauru at the 1996 Olympics has appeared in a court in Australia, charged with the murder of a sex worker. Quincy Detenamo, made a brief appearance in Melbourne...

Regional HIV/AIDS strategy hopes to halt the spread of deadly disease.
August 5, 2004... 04 AUGUST 2004 APIA (Pacnews) --- The Pacific is being marketed as the only region in the world where we can make a difference in the fight against HIV/AIDS, says Dr Jimmie Rogers of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) "This is...

Depletion of two species of tuna stocks worries FFA.
August 5, 2004... 04 AUGUST 2004 APIA (Pacnews) --- The Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) says there's worry on the sustainability of the big eye and yellow fin tuna stocks in the Pacific region. FFA director, Feleti Teo quoted from an assessment carried out by...

Negotiations underway to reduce costs of anti retroviral drugs.
August 5, 2004... 04 AUGUST 2004 APIA (Pacnews) --- The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) says negotiations are continuing with suppliers of anti retroviral drugs to reduce the costs for Pacific Island Countries. Deputy-director general of SPC, Dr...

SPC to take lead role in the implementation of HIV/AIDS regional strategy.
August 5, 2004... 04 AUGUST 2004 APIA (Pacnews) --- The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) is expected to take the lead role in the implementation of the regional strategy on HIV/AIDS to be discussed by Pacific Leaders when they begin their meeting in...

Samoa calls for action on global warming.
August 5, 2004... 05 AUGUST 2004 APIA (Pacnews) - The Samoa Government has called on the international community to stop arguing about global warming and take action to halt it. Radio Australia reports that the appeal came at the opening of the meeting of...

Claims that PM used Chinese donation for Samoa trip.
August 5, 2004... 05 AUGUST 2004 HONIARA (Pacnews) - There are allegations in Solomon Islands that money intended to facilitate the establishment of the country's border control with Papua New Guinea was used to fund Prime Minister Sir Allen Kemakeza's trip to...

Pitcairn Island turning to eco-tourism.
August 5, 2004... 05 AUGUST 2004 BANKSTOWN (Pacews) - The people of Pitcairn Island are becoming entrepreneurial to kickstart their moribund economy. For many years the Pitcairn Islanders have operated a philately service, providing stamps to collectors...

Canegrowers told to expect better prices.
August 5, 2004... 05 AUGUST 2004 CANBERRA (Pacnews) - Australian canegrowers have been told to expect improved prices following the World Trade Organisation (WTO) decision that European Union (EU) sugar subsidies breach trade rules. Australia, Brazil and...

Government wants land back.
August 5, 2004... 05 AUGUST 2004 SAIPAN (Pacnews) - The municipal government on the island of Tinian in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas wants a portion of the 17,799 acres of public lands currently leased by the United States government returned. ...

Fiji Vice President found guilty of taking unlawful oath.
August 5, 2004... SUVA, FIJI - Fiji's Vice President, Ratu Jope Seniloli, along with four prominent Fijians, face possible life sentences after they were this afternoon found guilty of taking an unlawful oath at the height of the May 2000 political uprising. ...

Vice President Seniloli and fellow accused await judgement at local police station.
August 6, 2004... 06 AUGUST 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) - Fiji's Vice President Ratu Jope Seniloli and four other prominent Fijians, found guilty of taking unlawfu oaths during the May 2000 coup, are awaiting Justice Nazhat Shameem's sentencing later today. The...

Aviation executive shocked at government red tape.
August 6, 2004... 06 AUGUST 2004 NUKU'ALOFA (Pacnews) --- The Chief Executive of Tonga's Fly Niu Airlines, Atu Finau, says he is shocked at the new policy on domestic air operations by the government of Tonga. Mr Finau says he is opposed to the new policy:...

Adi Lady Lala bids farewell to her people at moving funeral service.
August 6, 2004... 06 AUGUST 2004 REWA PROVINCE (Pacnews) - A cloudy day, with a gentle breeze this morning provided a somewhat somber weather for thousands of mourners who bade an emotional farewell to one of Fiji's respected mothers and women's leaders', the...

World war veterans mark battle of Guadalcanal Day.
August 6, 2004... 06 AIUGUST 2004 HONIARA (Pacnews) ---- Hundreds of Americans will be in Honiara during the weekend, marking the 62nd Commemoration of the Battle of Guadalcanal. A spokesperson for the event, John Innes, told SIBC that 8 surviving veterans...