PAC - Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association articles from February 2005

PAC - Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association archives from February 2005

Rebel leader Keke fronts court over Solomon Islands murder.
February 1, 2005... 01 FEBRUARY 2005 HONIARA (Pacnews) - The trial of prominent Solomon Islands rebel leader Harold Keke on a charge of murder has begun. The Guadalcanal militant is accused of killing his local MP in 2002. In a new high-security court...

Senior public servant calls for better service.
February 1, 2005... 01 FEBRUARY 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Civil servants in Papua New Guinea (PNG) are being encouraged to improve their services to the people this year. In a gathering to celebrate the opening of a Lutheran Church, chief secretary to...

Cooks to head regional negotiating group.
February 1, 2005... 01 FEBRUARY 2005 RAROTONGA (Pacnews) - The Cook Islands has been selected to head the Pacific regional negotiating group that will be part of a process to finalise an economic partnership agreement under the Cotonou Agreement between the...

High Commissioner returns to Fiji.
February 1, 2005... 01 FEBRUARY 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - Australia's High Commissioner to Fiji, Jennifer Rawson, has returned to Fiji after recovering from an assault earlier this month. Ms Rawson suffered serious facial injuries when she was attacked and robbed...

Trouble in Solomons may force a switch.
February 1, 2005... 01 FEBRUARY 2005 CANBERRA (Pacnews) - Australia's World Cup play-off in the Solomon Islands later this year could be shifted to a neutral venue after yesterday's Oceania youth (under-20) final in Honiara was marred by crowd violence. The...

Taiwanese President stops off in Guam on return home from trip to Solomons and Palau.
February 1, 2005... 01 FEBRUARY 2005 HAGTNA (Pacnews) --- Taiwanese President, Chen Shui-bian, stopped over on Guam for several hours yesterday and attended a reception on his way back from official visits to Palau and Solomon Islands. Guam's Pacific Daily...

Growers angry over non-payments for crop, burn office.
February 1, 2005... 01 FEBRUARY 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Angry and frustrated oil palm growers in Popondetta, Papua New Guinea have burned down an office and three company cars after they failed to receive their salaries and payment for their crop in the past...

CNMI local immigration control hampers 'stateless' case.
February 1, 2005... 01 FEBRUARY 2005 SAIPAN (Pacnews) --- The Northern Marianas Government has admitted that it faces difficulty in its bid to aid the estimated 300 stateless individuals in gaining federal government recognition, and declaring them Americans. ...

Polynesian Airlines chief executive confirms takeover will mean jobs at risk.
February 1, 2005... 01 FEBRUARY 2005 APIA (Pacnews) --- Managers at Samoa's state airline have confirmed its 370 staff don't know how many of them will keep their jobs when Virgin Blue takes over jet operations this year. One employee in the planning...

Students plan sit in Papua as military campaign in highlands continues.
February 1, 2005... 01 FEBRUARY 2005 JAYAPURA (Pacnews) --- A human rights campaigner in the Indonesian province of Papua says the military is continuing a campaign in the highlands that has caused dozens to die of starvation and left thousands homeless. Dr...

Pacific countries urged to reduce the risk of becoming a weak link in the global fight against terrorist groups.
February 1, 2005... 01 FEBRUARY 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) --- Pacific Islands Forum secretary general, Greg Urwin says the 'modus operandi' used by criminal elements in the wider international context is similar to those used in the Pacific region. "There is...

PNG's Manam Island now uninhabited after latest volcanic eruption.
February 1, 2005... 01 FEBRUARY 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- Papua New Guinea's national disaster centre says the entire population on Manam island has now been evacuated, after the latest eruption of the island's volcano. A series of eruptions that began...

Vanuatu and France resume negotiations on disputed maritime border.
February 1, 2005... 01 FEBRUARY 2005 PORT VILA (Pacnews) ---Vanuatu and French government officials are reported to have resumed talks last week in New Caledonia's capital Noumea to settle a long-standing dispute on their maritime border. Oceania Flash reports the...

Advisory issued for volcanic haze.
February 1, 2005... 01 FEBRUARY 2005 HAGATNA (Pacnews) --- Residents waiting for the haze to clear out of Guam's skies shouldn't hold their breath, an advisory issued by the National Weather Service. According to the advisory issued yesterday afternoon to both...

Prime minister to get 'official house'.
February 1, 2005... 01 FEBRUARY 2005 RAROTONGA (Pacnews) --- Finding an official residence for Cook Islands prime minister is already a priority with the island's new Islands Investment Corporation (CIIC) board. Chairman Temu Okotai says a government-owned...

AIDS team celebrates with Queen's awardees.
February 1, 2005... 01 FEBRUARY 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- Papua New Guinea's National Capital District Provincial AIDS committee last week celebrated the recognition award of its patron Dame Carol Kidu and response coordinator, Isu Aluvula. The two were...

Highway horror.
February 1, 2005... PNG 01 FEBRUARY 2005 (Pacnews) - Two Markham villagers are confirmed dead and nine others are fighting for their lives in hospital after two trucks crashed into each other in a head-on collision. Both vehicles were smashed beyond repair. ...

Refugee Islanders Refused Permanent Settlement.
February 1, 2005... PNG 01 FEBRUARY 2005 (Pacnews) - Former landowners of the Nubia, Potsdam, Asarumba and Mangem plantations in Madang have refused to sign an agreement concerning the permanent resettlement of Manam evacuees forced off their islands by the...

Students Plan Sit In.
February 1, 2005... PAPUA 01 FEBRUARY 2005 (Pacnews) - A human rights campaigner in the Indonesian province of Papua says students plan to stage a protest sit in tomorrow at the Jayapura parliament. They will be protesting a continuing military campaign in the...

Keke Trial Progresses.
February 1, 2005... SOLOMON IS 01 FEBRUARY 2005 (Pacnews) - Former Guadalcanal Liberation Front leader Harold Keke has pleaded got guilty to the murder of former South Guadalcanal MP, Father Augustine Geve. The high court trial of Keke and his two co-accused,...

Taiwan President Addresses Parliament.
February 1, 2005... SOLOMON IS 01 FEBRUARY 2005 (Pacnews) - The president of the Republic of China on Taiwan has thanked Solomon Islands for being one of its main allies and a great supporter in Taiwan's efforts to gain recognition and membership in international...

Taiwan Donates Dental Equipment.
February 1, 2005... SOLOMON IS 01 FEBRUARY 2005 (Pacnews) - The Taiwanese Ambassador to Solomon Islands, Antonio Chen, has given dental equipment valued at nearly a quarter of a million dollars to the Dental Department of the National Referral Hospital in Honiara....

Clan Takes Over School.
February 1, 2005... FIJI 01 FEBRUARY 2005 (Pacnews) - About 280 primary students - including those of kindergarten age - were forced to leave school early Monday after landowners took over their classrooms. Nawaicoba Public School in rural Nadi has since been...

Chiefs Supported Coup says Prosecution.
February 1, 2005... FIJI 01 FEBRUARY 2005 (Pacnews) - The Labasa Magistrates Court has heard that the purpose of several chiefs going to the Sukanaivalu Barracks in 2000 was to support the illegal takeover of parliament in Suva. Public prosecutor Wilisoni...

Polynesian Takeover Puts Jobs at Risk.
February 1, 2005... SAMOA 01 FEBRUARY 2005 (Pacnews) - Managers at Samoa's state airline have confirmed its 370 staff don't know whether they'll keep their jobs when Virgin (Pacific Blue) takes over jet operations this year. One employee in the planning...

Airfares to Northern Islands Criticised.
February 1, 2005... TONGA 01 FEBRUARY 2005 (Pacnews) - An elected MP in Tonga says unreasonable ticket prices are being proposed for flights to the northern outer islands by the country's only domestic airline. The Peoples' Representative for Niuatoputapu and...

Political Campaigning Picks Up Steam.
February 1, 2005... FRENCH POLYNESIA - Political campaigning has picked up momentum on Tahiti and Moorea with three weeks left before the Feb. 13 by-elections for 37 Windward Islands seats in the French Polynesia Assembly. This campaign has become motorized...

Solomons PM called to give evidence in Keke murder trial.
February 2, 2005... 02 FEBRUARY 2005 HONIARA (Pacnews) - The Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Sir Allan Kemakeza is to be called to give evidence in the murder trial of militant leader Harold Keke. Keke and two of his commanders, Ronnie Cawa and Francis Lela...

Fiji PM wants pro-culture tourism in the Pacific.
February 2, 2005... 02 FEBRUARY 2005 NADI, FIJI (Pacnews) - Fiji's Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase has warned that tourism in the Pacific Islands must preserve and not clash with Pacific cultures and the environment. Speaking at the opening of a regional...

Squash pumpkin farmers expect 3,500 tonnes production this year.
February 2, 2005... 02 FEBRUARY 2005 NOUMEA (Pacnews) - Squash farmers in New Caledonia plan to export at least 3,500 tonnes of prized squash pumpkins this year after a bad 2004 season. One of their major target markets this year is Japan, which has a "very...

Most stolen bikes are not recovered.
February 2, 2005... 02 FEBRUARY 2005 RAROTONGA (Pacnews) - Police are finding it difficult to recover lost or stolen motorbikes in Cook Islands in the past six months. They have only managed to recover 39 missing motorbikes, minus some parts. At least 90...

Report finds children in distress.
February 2, 2005... 02 FEBRUARY 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - Save The Children Fiji has revealed that an estimated 5000-8000 children in the West of Fiji could drop out of school this year or face serious health risks if the drought continues. In initial reactions,...

Australian police expand presence in PNG capital.
February 2, 2005... 02 FEBRUARY 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - More Australian police are descending on Papua New Guinea's cities, in the capital Port Moresby in particular, in what's reported to be a campaign against the marked increase in criminal activities. ...

Elections in autonomous Bougainville set for May.
February 2, 2005... 02 FEBRUARY 2005 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) --- The election of an autonomous government in the Papua New Guinea province of Bougainville is to begin on 20 May and continue until early June. The island's leaders agreed on the date last week. ...

Fiji cabinet retains Queen's portrait on Fiji currency notes.
February 2, 2005... 05 FEBRUARY 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) --- The Fiji cabinet has agreed that the personal portrait of Queen Elizabeth II be retained on the new series of notes to be issued in 2007 to allow for a globally recognized icon on the country's currency. ...

Vanuatu Teachers Union strike notice still in force.
February 2, 2005... 02 FEBRUARY 2005 PORT VILA (Pacnews) --- The Vanuatu Teachers Union (VTU) has threatened to go on strike if the government refuses to edorse a proposed collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the union. The collective bargaining...

Taiwan presents US$1.65 million to Tuvalu.
February 2, 2005... 02 FEBRUARY 2005 FUNAFUTI (Pacnews) --- Taiwan today handed over US$1.65 million to the Prime Minister of Tuvalu, Maatia Toafa. Tuvalu Media Corporation reports the funds were part of Taiwan's annual aid to the small Pacific island nation,...

Opposition to announce new presidential candidate.
February 2, 2005... 02 FEBRUARY 2005 TAHITI (Pacnews) --- The Alliance for a New Democracy (AND) led by Nicole Bouteau and Philip Schyle have announced plans to present their own presidential candidate following the 13 Feb French Polynesia Assembly by-election....

Earthquake shakes Guam.
February 2, 2005... 02 FEBRUARY 2005 HAGATNA (Pacnews) --- A magnitude 6 earthquake sent some Guam residents home at midday today. Rota Mayor Benjamin Manglona said he was holding a meeting when his office started shaking. People in the Rota mayor's office ran...

Governor Babauta seeks another term in office.
February 2, 2005... 02 FEBRUARY 2005 SAIPAN (SAIPAN) --- The team of Governor Juan Babauta and Lt. Gov. Diego Benavente is now officially the Northern Mariana Islands Republican Party's standard gubernatorial candidates for this year's General Election. This...

SUMMARY HEADLINES - WED 2 FEB 05.
February 2, 2005... PAPUA NEW GUINEA Man Arrested After Popondetta Riot Justice Needs God's Guidance Manam Eruption Becomes Major Problem NORTHERN MARIANAS Volcanic Haze Reaches Guam SOLOMON ISLANDS Prime Minister to be a Witness at...

Justice Needs God's Guidance.
February 2, 2005... Chief Justice Sir Mari Kapi (front left) and Deputy Chief Justice Salamo Injia leading the procession of the legal fraternity to the Korobosea Seventh Day Adventist Church yesterday to mark the opening of the 2005 legal year. - Photo by WILLIAM...

Manam Eruption Becomes Major Problem.
February 2, 2005... PNG - What was initially a minor disaster has now become major following the Manam Island volcanic eruptions says Inter-Government Relations Minister Sir Peter Barter . The recent eruptions have increased the ash level from 37cm to 2-3...

Volcanic Haze Reaches Guam.
February 2, 2005... CNMI - Anathan volcano's haze and ash that have been a health and safety concern on Saipan and Tinian for days have now reached Rota and Guam. Rudolfo M. Pua, director of the CNMI Emergency Management Office (EMO), said residents should...

Prime Minister to be a Witness at Keke Trial.
February 2, 2005... SOLOMON IS - Prime Minister Sir Allan Kemakeza will be called to give evidence in the Solomon Islands High Court trial of former Guadalcanal Liberation Front leader Harold Keke, charged with the murder of Father Augustine Geve. The...

Law Firm Challenges RAMSI in Court.
February 2, 2005... SOLOMON IS - A local law firm will challenge RAMSI in the High Court for alleged breach of the constitutional rights of a Solomon Islander. Charles Ashley of A & A Legal Service confirms that he will file a High Court application on...

Kids in Distress.
February 2, 2005... FIJI - AN estimated 5000-8000 children in the West could drop out of school during the year or face serious health risks if the drought continues, according to a report by the Save the Children Fund of Fiji. The non-government organisation is...

Airline Denies Ex-Pat Pilots Causing Resignations.
February 2, 2005... FIJI - Air Pacific has denied reports that the current spate of resignations from local pilots is related to frustrations expressed by union representatives over expatriates blocking career paths and other conditions. Airline chief...

UN Asked to Return 'Deserter'.
February 2, 2005... FIJI - Military Commander Frank Bainimarama has asked the United Nations to cooperate in returning former military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Filipo Tarakinikini to Fiji. He is wanted to assist with investigations into the 2000 coup and the...

Man Jailed for Burning House on Chiefly Order.
February 2, 2005... SAMOA - A Samoan man, who told a court he was acting on the orders of his matai (chief) when he burned down a house, has been jailed for three years. Toetu Pa'u Faitala burned down the house and destroyed other property of a family in his...

Granny Scales Building.
February 2, 2005... A 78-year-old Chinese grandmother scaled the outside of her apartment block after locking herself out on the balcony of her fifth floor flat. Nie Sanmei of Hunan province accidentally locked herself out while cleaning, reports Xiaoxiang...

Boasting Conman Comes Unstuck.
February 2, 2005... A prisoner who boasted about tricking a woman out of thousands of pounds landed in trouble when his cellmate turned out to be her husband. The 35-year-old Serb, who was serving a three month sentence for a traffic offence, has been...

South Pacific islanders report volcanic ash sickness.
February 3, 2005... 03 FEBRUARY 2005 HAGATNA (Pacnews) --- Scores of people have reported sick on the South Pacific island of Guam because of haze and ash from an erupting volcano in a neighbouring island in the Northern Marianas. Dozens of people arrived at...

Australian appears in PNG court for abduction.
February 3, 2005... 03 FEBRUARY 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- An Australian man and his Papua New Guinean counterpart appeared in court today for allegedly holding another Papua New Guinea man against his will for three months. Australian, Harvey Goodwin,...

French Socialist MPS to monitor by-election in French Polynesia.
February 3, 2005... 03 FEBRUARY 2005 PAPEETE (Pacnews) --- A delegation from the French Socialist Party in Paris arrives in French Polynesia on Saturday (05 Feb) to monitor the by election scheduled for 13 Feb. Tahiti Presse reports the delegation will...

AIDS orphans to be encouraged to live with families, relatives.
February 3, 2005... 03 FEBRUARY 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- AIDS orphans will not be placed in institutions, but will be encouraged to live with their families and relatives, PNG's National newspaper reports. The Department of Community Development is...

Niue premier delighted at Pacific Blue takeover.
February 3, 2005... 03 FEBRUARY 2005 ALOFI (Pacnews) --- The Premier of Niue, Young Vivian, says he is delighted at a deal that sees Pacific Blue take over the international services of Samoa's Polynesian Airlines. The Samoan government, which owns the...

Solomons Minister describes RAMSI as 'overkill'.
February 3, 2005... 03 FEBRUARY 2005 HONIARA (Pacnews) --- The Australian-led Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) has been described as "overkill" and a "liability" by a senior Minister in the Pacific nation's Government. The Solomons...

India names descendant of semi-slaves as diplomat in Fiji.
February 3, 2005... 03 FEBRUARY 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) --- India has named a descendant of one of the early Indian indentured labourers in Fiji as its new high commissioner in Suva. Ajay Singh's great grandparents came to Fiji as labourers in 1885 but unlike...

Six Tongan women contest upcoming elections.
February 3, 2005... 03 FEBRUARY 2005 NUKUA'LOFA (Pacnews) - Six Tongan women, all working for local community organisations in the island kingdom, are pitching themselves against 58 men in the national elections in March. The women's platforms are simple -...

Fiji government warned it risks upsetting UN.
February 3, 2005... 03 FEBRUARY 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - Fiji's Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) says an attempt to have the world body help return one of its employees to Fiji to face desertion charges, risks upsetting the world body. Isikia Savua says he...

Government team to draw up boundaries.
February 3, 2005... 03 FEBRUARY 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Papua New Guinea's Electoral Commission will send a team to Bougainville tomorrow in preparation for the historic elections for the island provinces' autonomous government. The team will assist the...

U.S. experts deliver crucial information on CNMI.
February 3, 2005... 03 FEBRUARY 2005 SAIPAN (Pacnews) - Crucial information about Northern Marianas' vulnerability to tsunamis and volcanic activities is to be presented by visiting U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) experts on Saipan next week. The Director of...

Legislative assembly offices broken in ahead of crucial elections.
February 3, 2005... 03 FEBRUARY 2005 PAPE'ETE (Pacnews) - Police in French Polynesia are investigating a break in at the office of the National Assembly. A government statement says it believes stolen items include camera equipment that belonged to the local...

North Malaita MP apologises in Parliament.
February 3, 2005... 03 FEBRUARY 2005 HONIARA (Pacnews) - The premier of North Malaita, Daniel Enele Kwanairara has apologised in Parliament for atrocities committed by his people in the ethnic uprising of 2000. He apologised before he spoke on the debate on...

PM sacks two more Cabinet Ministers.
February 3, 2005... 03 FEBRUARY 2005 HONIARA (Pacnews) - Solomon Islands' Prime Minister, Sir Allan Kemakeza, has sacked two of his cabinet ministers. They are Finance Minister, Francis Zama and Communications Minister, Patterson Oti, who received their...

Global warming meeting gives up on George Bush' Kyoto Protocol stance.
February 3, 2005... 03 FEBRUARY 2005 EXETER, LONDON (Pacnews) - A meeting on global warming in the United Kingdom has given up on U.S. President George Bush signing up to the Kyoto Protocol, and is looking ahead. The Kyoto Protocol, a United Nations Framework...

Secretariat calls for stronger small states' voice at WTO.
February 3, 2005... 03 FEBRUARY 2005 LONDON (Pacnews) - The Commonwealth Secretariat says small states and Sub-Saharan Africa are two key Commonwealth constituencies that are being marginalised due to their shrinking share of global trade and investment. Dr...

Bougainville representative says job offer an historic chance.
February 3, 2005... 03 FEBRUARY 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- An dvocate for self-determination on the Papua New Guinea island of Bougainville says there will be much overseas interest in helping set up the first autonomous government in Bougainville. ...

Timor Sea oil leak discovered.
February 3, 2005... 03 FEBRUARY 2005 DILI (Pacnews) - A major investigation is underway in the Timor Sea, between Timor Leste and Australia, for the cause of an oil leak at its Laminaria field. The leak was first noticed last month and investigations had...

80th Hawaiian soldier killed in Iraq.
February 3, 2005... 03 FEBRUARY 2005 HONOLULU (Pacnews) - Another U.S. soldier with ties to Hawaii has been killed in Mosul, Iraq. Pfc Stephen Castellano, of the 25th Infantry Division at Hawaii's Schofield Barracks, became the Barracks' 13th casualty in the...

No Confidence Motion Coming.
February 3, 2005... SOLOMON IS 03 FEBRUARY 2005 (Pacnews) - A no confidence motion against the Prime Minister Sir Allan Kemakeza and his government has been put on notice in parliament. The motion was submitted by M-P Bartholomew Ulufa'alu. According to the...

Cabinet Ministers Call for RAMSI Reform.
February 3, 2005... SOLOMON IS 03 FEBRUARY 2005 (Pacnews) - A group of cabinet ministers in Solomon Islands is renewing calls for a reworking of the Regional Assistance Mission (RAMSI). Finance Minister Francis Zama said in a parliamentary debate in Wednesday...

Keke's Trial in Day Three.
February 3, 2005... SOLOMON IS 03 FEBRUARY 2005 (Pacnews) - The High Court murder trial OF Guadalcanal Liberation Front militant leader Harold Keke and two of his associates, Ronnie Cawa and Francis Lela, continued into its third day Thursday. The brother of...

Commodore Denies Threat Allegations.
February 3, 2005... FIJI 03 FEBRUARY 2005 (Pacnews) - Yet another in what seems an endless series of disputes has flared up between the Prime Minister's office and the military. This time, the Chief Executive Officer at the Prime Minister's Office, Jioji...

Education Minister Questions Accuracy of NGO Report.
February 3, 2005... FIJI 03 FEBRUARY 2005 (Pacnews) - Fiji Education Minister Ro Teimumu Kepa has questioned the accuracy of a report from the Save the Children Fund highlighting the plight of children in drought-affected areas of Tavua and Rakiraki. The...

Taiwan Gives $1.65 Million.
February 3, 2005... TUVALU 03 FEBRUARY 2005 (Pacnews) - The Tuvalu Media Corporation has reported Taiwan has given US$ 1.65 million to the nation, a part of Taiwan's annual aid to the small Pacific island state which recognizes Taipei. The Taiwanese donation...

New ADB President Calls on Bank to Re-Invigorate Itself.
February 3, 2005... REGION 03 FEBRUARY 2005 (Pacnews) - The new president of the Asian Development Bank, Haruhiko Kuroda, has called on the institution to re-invigorate itself to meet the challenges of operating in the world's most dynamic region. Kuroda says...

90% of Electricity Users to Pay Less.
February 3, 2005... FRENCH POLYNESIA 03 FEBRUARY 2005 (Pacnews) - Electricity de Tahiti has lowered its base rate for the first 100-kilowatt hours of consumption by 10 French Pacific francs (US11 cents) which is expected to lower monthly electric bills BY at...

Volcanic Haze Takes Toll on Residents.
February 3, 2005... CNMI 03 FEBRUARY 2005 (Pacnews) - The Anatahan volcano's haze and ash are now taking a toll on the health of some Saipan and Rota residents who have started seeking medical attention. Most of them show mild symptoms, however some need...

Magnitude 6 Quake Jolts Marians and Guam.
February 3, 2005... CNMI 03 FEBRUARY 2005 (Pacnews) - A magnitude 6.0 earthquake jolted residents of the CNMI and Guam at around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, but seismologists quickly assured the public that a tsunami incident was unlikely. The quake lasted for 15...

Temaru's Union for Democracy plans peaceful march on Saturday.
February 4, 2005... 05 FEBRUARY 2005 PAPE'ETE (Pacnews) --- A week before the Windward Islands go to the polls, supporters of French Polynesia's pro independence party, the Union for Democracy (UPLD) plan to take to the streets of the capital, Papeete on Saturday...

PNG's Sir William Skate expelled by his party.
February 4, 2005... 04 FEBRUARY 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- Papua New Guinea's Opposition Leader and head of the People's National Congress (PNC), Peter O'Neill says former Prime Minister, Sir William Skate has been dumped from the party and the Opposition....

Fiji prepares for royal visit.
February 4, 2005... 04 FEBRUARY 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) --- Preparations are underway in Fiji for the visit of the Prince of Wales next month. Clarence House has confirmed that Prince Charles will visit Australia, New Zealand and Fiji between 28 Feb - 11 March....