PAC - Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association articles from July 2004

PAC - Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association archives from July 2004

Three dead in Saipan typhoon.
July 1, 2004... 01 JULY 2004 HAGATNA (Pacnews) --- Three people reportedly died and about 200 evacuated from their homes during Typhoon Tingting, the first major storm to hit the Northern Marianas in seven years, according to Saipan officials According to...

Descendants of Bounty mutineers to face sex trial on remote British island.
July 1, 2004... 01 JULY 2004 PITCAIRN (Pacnews) ---Seven men from Pitcairn Island in the South Pacific will face multiple sex abuse charges in a specially convened court on their remote British territory. Two seven-week trials are likely to swell the...

Samoans campaign for visa free entry to New Zealand.
July 1, 2004... 01 JULY 2004 APIA (Pacnews) --Thousands of people have rallied in the Samoan capital, Apia, to demand the reinstatement of visa free entry to New Zealand - home to a large Samoan community. The campaign is being backed by both the...

Air Niugini acquires new plane.
July 1, 2004... 01 JULY 2004 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- Air Niugini's new Fokker 100 aircraft made its maiden return flight to Lae from Port Moresby yesterday (30 June) to mark the start of its international and domestic services. It will now continue its...

Opposition to elect new leader.
July 1, 2004... 01 JULY 2004 HONIARA (Pacnews) --- Solomon Islands Opposition members will meet early next week to elect a new leader. This follows the former leader, John Garo's decision to cross the floor and accept an offer by Prime Minister Sir Allan...

New Zealand gets own justice system after 160 years.
July 1, 2004... 01 JULY 2004 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) --- New Zealand will end a 160-year-old colonial link with Britain when it opens its new Supreme Court for the first time. The London-based judicial committee of the Privy Council has been New Zealand's...

Bomb threats at the coup trial.
July 1, 2004... 01 JULY 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) --- Hundreds of people including civil servants were ordered out of their offices this morning as the army's bomb squad swept the grounds of Fiji's court house after a two bomb threats. High Court Judge, Nazhat...

Oceania volleyball tournament starts underway in Tahiti.
July 1, 2004... 01 JULY 2004 PAPEETE (Pacnews) --- The Oceania volleyball tournament is currently underway at the Fautaua Stadium in Pirae (East coast of Tahiti). According to the Tahiti Presse, two competitions - the indoor and beach volleyball events...

Rabi Council lobbies Kiribati Government for scholarship for its students.
July 1, 2004... 01 JULY 2004 SUVA (Pacnews)--The Rabi Island Council has renewed calls on the Kiribati Government to reserve scholarship awards for its students in Fiji. The call comes amidst concerns over Fiji's affirmative action plan, specifically...

Once-rich Nauruans now forced to forage for food, island official says.
July 1, 2004... 01 JULY 2004 YAREN (Pacnews) --- Inhabitants of the once-rich South Pacific island of Nauru are now forced to forage for food because of its economic crisis, the head of the country's property trust said Wednesday. Fabian Ribauw, a member...

Catholic priest declared a prohibited immigrant.
July 1, 2004... 01 JULY 2004 APIA (Pacnews) --- A Catholic priest who used to serve in Samoa and now in police custody in Australia, Father Frank Klep has been declared a prohibited immigrant in Samoa. The decision was announced by Auseugaefa M.T Vaasatia...

PNG opposition reach no agreement on alternative prime minister.
July 1, 2004... 01 JULY 2004 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- Papua New Guinea's Opposition has reaffirmed its plans to introduce a motion of no confidence in the government, but has failed to reach agreement on its preferred candidate as the alternate Prime...

Tuvalu leaders to put together a sustainable development plan.
July 1, 2004... 01 JULY 2004 FUNAFUTI (Pacnews) --- Tuvalu's Prime Minister, Saufatu Sopoaga has called on leaders attending the country's National Summit to help put together a development plan that will be sustainable in the future. In his opening...

Grog drinkers criticised by church.
July 1, 2004... 01 JULY 2004 FUNAFUTI (Pacnews) --- Kava clubs have come under fire from Tuvalu's main religious body Ekalesia Kelisiano Tuvalu or the Tuvalu Christian Church. Members attending these clubs to consume kava, a traditional beverage consumed...

Forum team to go for fact-finding mission.
July 1, 2004... 01 JULY 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) - A fact-finding mission from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat will travel to French Polynesia next week for talks on building close ties between the Forum and Tahiti. The visit from 5-9 July was confirmed...

Australian police to be deployed to PNG as early as next month.
July 1, 2004... 01 JULY 2004 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Australia have formally adopted a new aid programme, worth nearly US$700 million, aimed at boosting law and order in the former colonial territory. Radio Australia reports...

Tokelau looks for flexibility in new Samoan immigration laws.
July 1, 2004... 01 JULY 2004 APIA (Pacnews) --- Tokelau's Immigration department fears people trying to travel to Apia will be stuck in Tokelau because of Samoa's strict new immigration measures. Tokelau's deputy director for Immigration Maka Iaone says...

Celebrations expected next week.
July 1, 2004... 01 JULY 2004 FUNAFUTI (Pacnews) --- A new date for the opening of the Tuvalu Government's building has been brought forward to July 6. Acting Secretary to Tuvalu government, Simeti Lopati, said the opening will coincide with the arrival in...

Nuclear compensation discussions continuing.
July 1, 2004... 01 JULY 2004 NADI (Pacnews) - Talks are still continuing in Nadi, Fiji over the transportation of nuclear material through Pacific region. Pacific Forum member countries have been urging nuclear shipping states, such as Britain, Japan and...

Ligairi returns to face Wallabies.
July 1, 2004... 01 JULY 2004 ADELAIDE (Pacnews) - Hard-hitting Fiji fullback Norman Ligairi returns for the Pacific Islanders in Saturday's inaugural Test against the Wallabies in Adelaide, Australia. Waikato Chiefs loose forward, Tongan Sione Lauaki,...

Government moves quickly to quell political battle.
July 2, 2004... 02 JULY 2004 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Political battles in Papua New Guinea have taken another twist with government moving quickly to reshuffle members of a standing committee ahead of the looming no-confidence motion. The committee's...

Politician denies NZ aid interview.
July 2, 2004... 02 JULY 2004 NUKUA'LOFA (Pacnews) - Firebrand politician, Akilisi Pohiva, of Tonga has denied statements suggesting that New Zealand cut its annual aid to Tonga. Mr Pohiva cleared himself after the New Zealand media produced reports of his...

Government to review investment legislation.
July 2, 2004... 02 JULY 2004 HONIARA (Pacnews) - Work is underway in the Solomon Islands to overhaul investment laws to make it easier for potential investors to start businesses in the country. SIBC reports that Director of Investment, Derrick Aihari said...

Pool resources to fight diabetes - Field.
July 2, 2004... 02 JULY 2004 RAROTONGA (Pacnews) - Cook Islands and other Pacific Island Countries need to pool resources together with Australia and New Zealand in dealing with diseases such as HIV and diabetes, says New Zealand's Associate Minister for...

Treaty clears way for Australian police deployment to PNG.
July 2, 2004... 02 JULY 2004 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Australian police could be on patrol in Papua New Guinea by next month after the signing of a new joint aid treaty. Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has endorsed the treaty at a signing ceremony in...

Samoans demand free visas into NZ.
July 2, 2004... 02 JULY 2004 APIA (Pacnews) - Samoans are still demanding for their visa-free status in New Zealand, which was granted in 1962. Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi says he would meet his NZ counterpart, Helen Clark, in five weeks'...

Senior civil servants sign two year contracts.
July 2, 2004... 02 JULY 2004 NUKU'ALOFA (Pacnews) --- Tonga's senior civil servants have signed two year contracts, a first major step towards the implementation of the public sector reforms. 17 heads of government departments signed their contracts on 30...

Maori candidate woos Niuean voters.
July 2, 2004... 02 JULY 2004 AUCKLAND (Pacnews) - Niuean voters in New Zealand are being wooed by the new Maori Party. Polynesian leaders in Mangere recently met with Tariana Turia, founder of the party, along with co-founder Dr Peter Sharples, and...

Angry landowners shut Buka airport.
July 2, 2004... 02 JULY 2004 BOUGAINVILLE (Pacnews) - Landowners of Buka Airport in Bougainville have shut down the premises, claiming ownership of the land where the airport is located, The National reports. The move to close down the airport on Tuesday...

Henderson Airport's SBD$50m face-lift draws close.
July 2, 2004... 02 JULY 2004 HONIARA (Pacnews) - The Solomon Islands government has signed a SBD$50 million (US$6.7 million) grant agreement with Japan for the upgrade of the country's Honiara International Airport at Henderson Field. The agreement was...

Annual Heilala Festival starts.
July 2, 2004... 02 JULY 2004 NUKUA'LOFA (Pacnews) - The annual Heilala Festival is well underway in the Tongan capital, Nuku'alofa and the winner will become Tonga's tourist ambassador for the coming year. Ten contestants are vying for the crown this year....

Warriors battle for their islands.
July 2, 2004... 02 JULY 2004 ADELAIDE (Pacnews) - Perhaps the most significant rugby match anywhere in the world in 2004 will be played at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday, the London Financial Times reports. It isn't a Tri-Nations or Six Nations match....

NZ minister urges solution to ease Samoan quote take-up.
July 2, 2004... 02 JULY 2004 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) --- A New Zealand Government Minister says ways must be found to more than double the number of Samoans who enter New Zealand each year under a quota system. More than five thousand Samoans have protested...

Kiribati unlikely to give the green light for secondary mining at Banaba.
July 2, 2004... 02 JULY 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) --- Plans by the Rabi Island Council to pursue secondary mining on Banaba is likely not to get the support of the Kiribati Government. The Kiribati High Commission in Suva admitted that the former government...

UN extends Bougainville office.
July 2, 2004... 02 JULY 2004 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- The United Nations Security Council has agreed to extend its office in Bougainville by six months, until Dec 31. But it said that the UN Observers Mission on Bougainville (UNOMB), which was supposed...

Solomon Islands ports authority implements security measures.
July 2, 2004... 02 JULY 2004 HONIARA (Pacnews) --- Honiara and Noro sea ports in Solomon Islands have implemented new security measures as required under the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). General Manager of Solomon Islands Ports Authority,...

Paedophile jailed for ten years.
July 2, 2004... 02 JULY 2004 SAIPAN (Pacnews) --- A paedophile who sexually molested a nine-year-old girl several times in the Northern Marianas after bribing her with money was sentenced on Wednesday to 10 years in prison. The Marianas Variety reports...

Papua, Indonesia plan peace talks in Vanuatu.
July 2, 2004... 02 JULY 2004 MELBOURNE (Pacnews) --- The Pacific nation of Vanuatu says it will host peace talks late next month between Indonesia and Papuan separatists. The foreign minister, Moana Kalosil, says Vanuatu wants to offer both sides a...

French Polynesia decides against selling Flosse plane.
July 2, 2004... 02 JULY 2004 PAPEETE (Pacnews) --- The French Polynesian government has decided not to sell an aircraft used by the ousted President, Gaston Flosse, after an election campaign that described the plane as a symbol of extravagance. The...

Pacific office opens in Geneva.
July 5, 2004... 05 JULY 2004 GENEVA (Pacnews) --- Pacific Island Countries will now be represented in Geneva, with the formal opening of a new office last week. The Pacific office, supported by a grant from the European Union (EU) will be the regional...

NZ set to reduce troop numbers in Solomons.
July 5, 2004... 05 JULY 2004 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) --- New Zealand is set to reduce its military commitment to the Solomon Islands despite lingering concerns that the strife-torn islands could easily slip into chaos again. The New Zealand Herald reports...

Government agencies to fight corrupt practices.
July 5, 2004... 05 JULY 2004 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- Various government agencies in Papua New Guinea (PNG) have come together and signed an agreement to set up the National Anti-Corruption Alliance (NACA). NACA, an alliance of Government agencies...

Experts look at seaweed as cause of Titikaveka scare.
July 5, 2004... 05 JULY 2004 RAROTONGA (Pacnews) --- Experts in Cook Islands are beginning to look at seaweed found in Titikaveka to provide some lead as they search for a source of the health scare in the area. The Ministry of Marine Resources is...

Air Tahiti Nui announces first profit ever.
July 5, 2004... 05 JULY 2004 PAPE'ETE (Pacnews) --- French Polynesia's international flag carrier, Air Tahiti Nui (ATN), has announced its first net profit in its five-year history, the daily newspaper Les Nouvelles de Tahiti reports. ATN said it had...

Solomon Islands handicap team win medals in Australia.
July 5, 2004... 05 JULY 2004 HONIARA (Pacnews) --- Solomon Islands has made its biggest medal haul ever at the Southern Cross Games in Sydney, Australia. The Southern Cross Games is a regional competition for children with disabilities. Ten Solomon...

Niue Internet domain owner threatens legal action.
July 5, 2004... 05 JULY 2004 ALOFI (Pacnews) --- NU Domain Ltd, the US-based operator of the .nu domain name registry has announced that it will take legal action against African computer software company, Secure Computing Corporation for making false claims...

Australian lawyers appeal court decision on Nauru asylum seekers.
July 5, 2004... 05 JULY 2004 MELBOURNE (Pacnews) --- A group of Melbourne lawyers is appealing to Australia's High Court over last month's judgement in Nauru's Supreme Court upholding the legality of its detention of asylum seekers. If leave to appeal is...

Air New Zealand and Qantas case goes before Auckland High Court.
July 5, 2004... 05 JULY 2004 AUCKLAND (Pacnews) --- The long, drawn-out fight by Air New Zealand and Qantas to form an anti-competitive alliance goes into the next round at the High Court in Auckland today. Qantas wants to buy up to 22.5 per cent of Air...

Future of Marlon Brando's Tahitian island unclear.
July 5, 2004... 05 JULY 2004 PAPEETE (Pacnews) --- The future of Marlon Brando's private island in French Polynesia is unclear, after the actor's death at the age of 80. Mr Brando bought the remote atoll of Tetiaroa near Tahiti in 1966, and spent millions...

China sends patrol ship to the north Pacific.
July 5, 2004... 05 JULY 2004 BEIJING (Pacnews) --- China has sent a patrol ship to the north Pacific to join counterparts from the United States in cracking down on illegal fishing. The Xinhua news agency says the 1,000-ton ship set sail from Shanghai and...

American Samoan reserves on alert for possible mobilisation.
July 5, 2004... 05 JULY 2004 PAGOPAGO (Pacnews) --- Two infantry units of the American Samoa Army Reserve have been placed on alert status for possible mobilisation. Today's alert order follows a similar order issued last month for the remainder of the...

Tuvalu and Kiribati plan to repatriate its nationals from Nauru over pay problems.
July 5, 2004... 05 JULY 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) --- As Nauru's financial problem continues to deteriorate, neighbouring countries have demanded the payment of outstanding salaries owed to their nationals working on the island. The two countries, Kiribati and...

Reports question 51 percent Telikom buyer's activities.
July 5, 2004... 05 JULY 2004 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- Econet Wireless International (EWI), the company that has been chosen to buy 51 percent of Telikom PNG Ltd, is shrouded in controversy in African countries and in New Zealand. Information suggesting...

Rare starfish found in Saipan.
July 5, 2004... 05 JULY 2004 SAIPAN (Pacnews) --- A very rare type of starfish has been found on Saipan and is named after its founder: Capt. Carl's starfish. The Marianas Variety reports that only a single Capt. Carl starfish - about 10 inches across the...

International Youth Parliament sits in Australia.
July 5, 2004... 05 JULY 2004 SYDNEY (Pacnews) --- Young people from around the world are gathering in the Australian city of Sydney for a week-long International Youth Parliament. Event coordinator Nicole Breeze says the delegates, aged from 18 to 25,...

Australia branded worst greenhouse gas polluter.
July 5, 2004... 05 JULY 2004 CANBERRA (Pacnews) --- Environmentalists have urged the Australian Government to do more to develop renewable energy technologies, amid news that Australia had been branded the world's worst greenhouse gas polluter. Green...

New chairperson for VBTC.
July 5, 2004... 05 JULY 2004 PORT VILA (Pacnews) --- The Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation (VBTC) has for the first time elected a female as its chairperson. A former news editor for VBTC, Evelyn Toa now works for the Vanuatu Daily Post. The...

Polling opens in Vanuatu general election.
July 6, 2004... 06 JULY 2004 PORT VILA (Pacnews) --- Polling has opened in Vanuatu's general election. More than 220 candidates are contesting 52 seats. Senior journalist, Len Garae, says there's an increase in the number of independents standing in...

PM pays tribute to out going governor general.
July 6, 2004... 06 JULY 2004 HONIARA (Pacnews) --- Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Sir Allan Kemakeza has paid tribute to the out-going Governor General, Sir Father John Lapli for his contribution to the nation, especially during the 'dark years' of the social...

Chinese airlines to test Fiji market.
July 6, 2004... 06 JULY 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) --- Chinese airline officials say they will monitor the flow of visitors to Fiji from China before deciding on establishing direct flights to Fiji. Chinese Ambassador to Fiji Cai Jinbiao says the direct flights...

No-go zone at Cook Islands wharves.
July 6, 2004... 06 JULY 2004 RAROTONGA (Pacnews) --- New security measures now in force at the Rarotonga and Aitutaki ports ban any importer from collecting cargo until the wharves are cleared of international vessels. Harbourmaster John Fallon said all...

Court rules 'stateless' people in Northern Marianas are US citizens.
July 6, 2004... 05 JULY 2004 SAIPAN (Pacnews) --- The United States Court of Appeals has decided 200 so-called stateless people living in the Northern Marianas are US citizens. The court has ruled that people born in the Northern Marianas prior to the...

Government drafts anti-plastic bag bill.
July 6, 2004... 06 JULY 2004 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) -- The Government is working on a law that would completely ban the sale of plastic bags in Papua New Guinea, said Environment Minister William Duma. He told parliament last week a bill was being prepared...

Australian navy vessels patrol Solomon seas.
July 6, 2004... 06 JULY 2004 HONIARA (Pacnews) --- The Royal Australian Navy Warship, HMAS Gascoyne has completed maritime surveillance of the New Georgia Sound and the Solomon Islands Economic Exclusive Zone. SIBC reports that during the surveillance, a...

Kiribati leader worried China trying to influence change of government.
July 6, 2004... 06 JULY 2006 TARAWA (Pacnews) --- The president of Kiribati has expressed concern over the presence of Chinese officials in the South Pacific nation, saying he feared they could be trying to influence a change of government. Kiribati's...

Air NZ tells court Qantas alliance would have helped fight competition.
July 6, 2004... 06 JULY 2004 AUCKLAND (Pacnews) ---Air New Zealand wanted an alliance with Australian rival Qantas to help fight off the threat posed by global carrier Emirates and a new discount airline, the High Court was told. Qantas Airways Ltd. wants...

Vanuatu's caretaker Prime minister congratulates French Pacific's new leaders.
July 6, 2004... 06 JULY 2004 PORT VILA (Pacnews) --- Vanuatu's caretaker Prime minister Edward Natapei has congratulated the new leaders of French Polynesia and New Caledonia. In a message sent to the new presidents of New Caledonia and French Polynesia,...

Expatriate dies from exhaust fumes.
July 6, 2004... 06 JULY 2004 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- Police in Port Moresby are investigating the mystery surrounding the death of an expatriate, who was found dead in his car last week. Police Metropolitan Superintendent Joe Poma said the man, from...

Competition driving up fuel prices in Cook Islands.
July 6, 2004... 06 JULY 2004 RAROTONGA (Pacnews) --- Cook Islands financial secretary, Kevin Carr believes that tendering on a "controlled basis" for a single fuel supplier for the country should now be considered. Mr Carr says recent developments in the...

Transparency identifies causes of corruption on Nauru.
July 6, 2004... 06 JULY 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) --- It has been widely accepted that part of Nauru's economic collapse is due to corruption, according to a study by the Transparency International (TI). In its country report on Nauru, Transparency International...

Tuvalu's new government building opens.
July 6, 2004... 06 JULY 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) --- A multi-million complex, the biggest building in Tuvalu, was officially opened this afternoon by the country's Prime Minister Saufatu Sopoaga. The AUD$11 million building was jointly funded by the Taiwanese...

Nuclear veterans association gets support from new President.
July 6, 2004... 06 JULY 204 PAPE'ETE (Pacnews) --- French Polynesia's nuclear veterans association, Moruroa e Tatou (Moruroa and us) have received support from the French Pacific country's new President, Oscar Temaru. The association held its annual...

Prison guards wanted for remote island.
July 6, 2004... 06 JULY 2004 PITCAIRN (Pacnews) --- One of the world's remotest islands, the British Pacific colony of Pitcairn, is recruiting prison guards ahead of a sex abuse trial, New Zealand's Corrections Department said Tuesday. Corrections...

Air Vanuatu to consider an additional expansion in six to 12 months.
July 6, 2004... 06 JULY 2005 PORT VILA (Pacnews) --- Air Vanuatu, which added a number of additional international flights last week, is likely to increase its services further later this year. The airline's CEO, Jean Paul Virelala says the key determinant...

Springboks ready for bruising Pacific Islanders test.
July 6, 2004... 06 JULY 2004 JOHANESBURG (Pacnews) --- South Africa's Tri-nations squad flew out to Australia yesterday with coach Jake White expecting a bruising encounter in their opening match against the Pacific Islanders on July 17. The Pacific...

PM Natapei squeezes through as first results come to hand.
July 7, 2004... 07 JULY 2004 PORT VILA (Pacnews) - The first results in Vanuatu's general elections shows a lot of upsets and mixed results. RNZI reports that Prime Minister Edward Natapei looks to have squeezed through but other high profile candidates...

US ports expel Cook Islands flagged ships.
July 7, 2004... 07 JULY 2004 RAROTONGA (Pacnews) -Three Cook Islands-registered vessels have been turned back from United States ports for not complying with the United Nations International Shipping and Ports Facility security code that came into force last...

PNG and Solomon Indonesians go to polls.
July 7, 2004... 07 JULY 2004 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - The Indonesian community in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands went to the polls with more than 150 million other Indonesians in the first presidential election where the people directly elect their...

Cabinet approves ten places for permanent residents.
July 7, 2004... 07 JULY 2004 APIA (Pacnews) - Samoa has launched its first ever Permanent Resident Permit Programme, which will allow foreigners to settle and do business in the country. Prime Minister Malielegaoi Tuilaepa Sailele last week announced...

Solomon Islands turn 26 today.
July 7, 2004... 07 JULY 2004 HONIARA (Pacnews) - Solomon Islands celebrates its 26th independence in Honiara today. The programme starts with the official swearing in of the country's new Governor-General, Nathaniel Waena, after which he will inspect a...

Islanders say they can play for free.
July 7, 2004... 07 JULY 2004 PACIFIC (Pacnews) -The Pacific Islanders are prepared to play virtually for free in an expanded Super 12, team chief executive Charlie Charters said yesterday (06 July). Charters, who heads the Pacific Islanders Rugby Alliance...

Tonga's civil service to face a major downsizing.
July 7, 2004... 07 JULY 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) --- Tonga's civil service is projecting a downsizing of its manpower by 800 in the next three to five years. This was revealed in the Transparency International (TI) National Integrity Survey on Tonga, released...

AIDS alert.
July 7, 2004... 07 JULY 2004 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Two Papua New Guinea government ministers have called for a stronger government concentration on the HIV/AIDS pandemic as it is no longer a simple situation but threatening the country's development. ...

Veterans retain seats.
July 7, 2004... 07 JULY 2004 PORT VILA (Pacnews) - Unofficial Vanuatu election results have shown Prime Minister Edward Natapei on top of the polls in the six-seat Port Vila Constituency while Sela Molisa, who was sacked from Cabinet, is in danger of losing...