PAC - Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association articles from June 2005

PAC - Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association archives from June 2005

More regional routes possible: Air Pacific.
June 1, 2005... 01 JUNE 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - The Chief Executive Officer of Air Pacific, John Campbell says the airline is seriously looking at adding new regional destinations to Air Pacific's routes. To facilitate this plan, Mr Campbell said airline is...

Saipan labelled 'island of prostitution'.
June 1, 2005... 01 JUNE 2005 SAIPAN (Pacnews) - The Japanese Business Executive Committee (JBEC) in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) is concerned with the rise of prostitution on the island saying it is detrimental to its tourism...

Blockades hinder movement on Bougainville.
June 1, 2005... 01 JUNE 2005 MELBOURNE (Pacnews) ----Police in Papua New Guinea's autonomous region of Bougainville are concerned over blockades allegedly set up by supporters of secessionist leader Francis Ona. Police Chief Joe Bemu told Radio Australia...

Tahiti's president goes to Samoa for 43rd independence anniversary.
June 1, 2005... 01 JUNE 2005 PAPE'ETE (Pacnews) - French Polynesian President, Oscar Temaru, left Papeete today for a one day trip to Samoa to attend the 43rd anniversary of the island nation's independence. The trip underscores Temaru's wish to strengthen...

PM wants public to help probe threats.
June 1, 2005... 01 JUNE 2005 HONIARA (Pacnews) - Prime Minister Sir Allan Kemakeza has called on all law abiding citizens of Solomon Islands to come forward with information about the person or persons behind letters threatening leaders in the country, their...

Labour plans reconciliation Bill boycott.
June 1, 2005... 01 JUNE 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - Fiji's Opposition Labour Party says it would boycott the second reading of the much-debated Reconciliation, Tolerance and Unity Bill in Parliament today. However, Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase is not fazed by...

Five-year plan for the region to combat HIV/AIDS - SPC director general.
June 1, 2005... 01 JUNE 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - Pacific Leaders at their meeting in Papua New Guinea in October are likely to endorse a five year regional strategy on ways to slow down the spread of the deadly HIV/AIDS disease. The Secretariat of the Pacific...

New Bougainville president to be known by tomorrow.
June 1, 2005... 01 JUNE 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - The President for the Bougainville Autonomous Government would be known by midday tomorrow (02 June), Bougainville election manager Mathias Pihei said. "The Bougainvilleans will know whether their...

Health issues discussed at inter-Samoa talks.
June 1, 2005... 01 JUNE 2005 APIA (Pacnews) --- American Samoa wants all women travellers from Samoa to produce a pregnancy report before they can enter the Territory. It also wants to address the issue of disabled children from Samoa, which the Territory...

Fiji hosts unprecedented multi-country naval exercise.
June 1, 2005... 01 JUNE 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) --- Fiji is this week playing host to an unprecedented deployment of regional naval forces as part of a multilateral exercise dubbed, 'Operation Kurukuru 2005.' Taking part in the exercise are naval vessels from...

NZ funds Tonga's education support programme.
June 1, 2005... 01 JUNE 2005 NUKU'ALOFA (Pacnews) --- New Zealand has announced that it will contribute NZD$14 million toward Tonga's Education Support Programme (TESP). First Secretary with the New Zealand High Commission in Nuku'alofa, Jonathan Curr...

Police confiscate three high-powered guns at Jackson's Airport.
June 1, 2005... 01 JUNE 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- A consignment containing high-powered firearms confiscated by police has become a centre of internal investigating to determine how approval was given for the import amid the moratorium on firearms still...

Fiji exports sheep to Tonga.
June 1, 2005... 01 JUNE 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - Fiji has sold 44 locally bred 'Fiji Fantastic' sheep to Tonga today. The forty pregnant Ewes and four rams have been sold for FJD$144,000 (US$84,816) and is another development of the South-South co=operation....

Firm propose surfers paradise in Weathercoast.
June 1, 2005... 01 JUNE 2005 HONIARA (Pacnews) - Quitales Properties Limited (QPL) is currently working at building a 'Gold Coast Surfers Paradise' like tourism development in Weathercoast, Guadalcanal. The Solomon Islands company's chief executive officer...

Taiwan to announce ambassador to Nauru after China severs ties.
June 1, 2005... 01 JUNE 2005 YAREN (Pacnews) ----Taiwan is to announce an ambassador to Nauru after this week's formal end of diplomatic ties between China and Nauru. This comes just over two weeks after Nauru ended its three-year period of only giving...

Government requests Solomon Telekom to suspend tariff increase.
June 1, 2005... 01 JUNE 2005 HONIARA (Pacnews) - The Telecommunications Authority has requested Solomon Telekom Company Limited to suspend a proposed 4.6 percent increase in the Company's tariffs to be effective today, a government says. The request was...

Chopper Down.
June 1, 2005... PNG, June 1 (Pacnews) - Years of PNG flying experience and exceptional flying skills averted disaster in the crash landing of an Islands Nation Air helicopter near Port Moresby yesterday. After experiencing engine trouble, the expatriate...

Investigation into High-Powered Weapons Seized at Airport.
June 1, 2005... PNG, June 1 (Pacnews) - A consignment containing high-powered firearms confiscated by police has become a centre of internal investigation to determine how approval was given to import the guns with the moratorium on firearms still in place....

Aussie Criticism Receives Qualifed Agreement.
June 1, 2005... PNG, June 1 (Pacnews) - The tough Australian report condemning PNG elite as corrupt has some qualified local support. The Australian think tank, the Centre for Independent Studies, says the Papua New Guinea political and bureaucratic elite...

Hermit Home After 40 Years.
June 1, 2005... SOLOMON IS, June 1 (Pacnews) - A North-east Malaita man who had lived as a hermit for about 40 years has rejoined his family members. The man who,identified as Philip Uduota, now 80, went off to live alone in a cave in the mountain jungles...

Controversial Bill Attempt to Prevent Collapse.
June 1, 2005... FIJI, June 1 (Pacnews) - The leader of Fiji's opposition says he suspects the current government is pushing for passage the controversial Reconciliation Bill to prevent the coalition from collapsing. The iill was tabled in Parliament on...

Army Brass In Parliament.
June 1, 2005... FIJI, June 1 (Pacnews) - Twenty to army officers, in uniform, showed up in the spectators gallery of the Fiji parliament Tuesday to watch as the controversial Reconciliation, Unity and Tolerance bill was introducted. The military presence...

US Criticism Riles Ministers.
June 1, 2005... FIJI, June 1 (Pacnews) - Attorney-General Qoriniasi Bale has described as 'inappropriate' comments made by a foreign envoy on the controversial Reconciliation Bill. Bale was reacting to comments by American ambassador David Lyon that if...

Prostitution Island.
June 1, 2005... CNMI, June 1 (Pacnews) - 'Prostitution island' is how some tourists from Japan describe Saipan, according to the Japanese Business Executive Committee (JBEC). "Saipan is now very famous as a prostitution island. Even me, I saw girls, more...

Government Sees Referendum Loss as "Disapproval" of Chirac.
June 1, 2005... FRENCH POLYNESIA, June 1 (Pacnews) - The victory in France of the "no" vote in the weekend's European Union constitutional treaty referendum was an expression of "disapproval" of French President Jacques Chirac, according to French Polynesia's...

Protestors criticise reconciliation and unity bill.
June 2, 2005... 02 JUNE 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - Over 20 protestors, who are members of Fiji's NGO Coalition Forum, took to the streets outside the temporary parliament, at Nasese in Suva to voice their concerns over the Reconciliation and Unity Bill, now being...

Hard to deal with prostitution: Benavenate.
June 2, 2005... 02 MAY 2005 SAIPAN (Pacnews) - Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Acting Governor Diego Benavenate says the administration has long acknowledged that "the number one issue is the prostitution problem in Garapan," which, he...

Nuclear compensation claims.
June 2, 2005... 02 JUNE 2005 MAJURO (Pacnews) - The Chairman of the Marshall Islands Nuclear Claims Tribunal believes his group has a strong claim to increased compensation from the United States for damage caused by nuclear testing. Judge James Plasman...

JAL keeping option open.
June 2, 2005... 2 MAY 2005 SAIPAN (Pacnews) - Japan Airlines is leaving open the possibility that the carrier might continue providing service between Japan and Saipan. According to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Governor's...

Independence Day celebrations kick off in Samoa.
June 2, 2005... 02 MAY 2005 APIA (Pacnews) - Samoa is today celebrating 43 years of independence from New Zealand. Official celebrations kicked off this morning with a flag-raising ceremony, Radio New Zealand International reports. The ceremony will...

Papua New Guineans warned against fast money scheme promoters.
June 2, 2005... 02 JUNE 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Papua New Guineans have been warned against putting money into 'fast-money' schemes. The warning came from inter-government relations minister, Sir Peter Barter after an advertisement appeared in...

MV Temotu to service Kiribati.
June 2, 2005... 02 JUNE 2005 HONIARA (Pacnews) - Solomon Islands and Kiribati are to begin a new inter island ferry service from next month. Solomon Star reports that Temotu Shipping Line (TSL) plans to extend its service to Kiribati to promote friendship...

Search on for Taiwan's new diplomat to serve in Nauru.
June 2, 2005... 02 JUNE 2005 TAIPEI (Pacnews) ---Taipei is looking for the right person to serve as ambassador to Nauru, now that Chinese diplomats in the South Pacific island nation have officially announced the severing of diplomatic relations, Taiwanese...

China to Niue's rescue.
June 2, 2005... 02 JUNE 2005 ALOFI (Pacnews) - China, the world's most populous nation, has come to the aid of its smallest counterpart, Niue. At a special function in Auckland recently, China's vice-minister of commerce, Wei Jianguo presented a cheque for...

Samoa appoints new ambassadors to Wellington and Brussels.
June 2, 2005... 02 JUNE 2005 APIA (Pacnews) - The Samoan government has appointed a former police commissioner as the country's next ambassador to New Zealand. Asi Blakelock will replace Feesago Siaosi Fepuleai. The government has chosen a trade...

Women back Dame Carol for DPM post.
June 2, 2005... 02 JUNE 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Women in Papua New Guinea (PNG) have urged the government to appoint Dame Carol Kidu as the country's deputy prime minister. A number of women contacted by The National newspaper spoke to about the...

World Bank adopts new four-year strategy for Pacific Island Countries.
June 2, 2005... 02 JUNE 2005 WASHINGTON (Pacnews) - The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors has endorsed a new four-year strategy for the Pacific Islands that will help tackle increasing levels of economic hardship, youth unemployment and the region's...

Fijian chief rejects the Unity Bill.
June 2, 2005... 02 JUNE 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - The paramount chief of Macuata, one of the fourteen provinces in Fiji, has withdrawn his support for the Reconciliation, Tolerance and Unity Bill because of its amnesty provisions. Ratu Aisea Katonivere said...

Pornography cult hits National Capital District schools.
June 2, 2005... 02 JUNE 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Pornography is spreading among school children and some believe it is happening all over Papua New Guinea. At the De La Salle Secondary School in Port Moresby, teachers refused to teach Grade 10...

Fiji ends troop contribution to East Timor.
June 2, 2005... 02 JUNE 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - After six years of serving in East Timor, Fiji soldiers have returned home for good. The last contingent returned to the country last week and will be accorded a welcome ceremony in Suva tomorrow (03 June) by...

Man in hiding returns after 40 years.
June 2, 2005... 02 JUNE 2005 HONIARA (Pacnews) - A man from North-East Malaita who had lived as a hermit for about 40 years has rejoined his family members. Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) reports that the man, who is now 80 years, has...

PACNEWS DIGEST: Leaderless war against HIV/AIDS in PNG.
June 2, 2005... 02 JUNE 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) ---- Any war, including the fight against HIV/AIDS needs generals, but Papua New Guinea has only lieutenants and a few colonels based in Port Moresby. British High Commissioner to PNG David Gordon-Macleod...

Circumcision no real prevention.
June 2, 2005... 02 JUNE 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) ----A proposal to promote circumcision as part of the fight against HIV/AIDS is one initiative being taken up by the HIV/AIDS epidemic trade union response actions (HETURA). HETURA project co-ordinator...

Dogs Add Teeth to Police Force.
June 2, 2005... PNG, June 2 (Pacnews) - After six months of intensive training, the addition of 12 police dogs to the Port Moresby Dog Unit has given police 'more teeth' in performing their duties. The NCD Dog Unit - with the call sign "Delta" -...

Australia Wants Constitution Changed.
June 2, 2005... PNG, June 2 (Pacnews) - Australia says it wants to restore its suspended multi-million dollar aid package for Papua New Guinea, but will not drop its insistence that PNG amend its Constitution. Australian police were pulled out of PNG after...

Bougainville Election Results due Thursday.
June 2, 2005... PNG, June 2 (Pacnews) - Election officials preparing to count ballots in the first elections for an autonomous government in the Papua New Guinea province of Bougainville say nothing will stop the process now. Counting is expected to be...

Dealer Admits Importing Guns.
June 2, 2005... PNG, June 2 (Pacnews) - MEL Management Services, a nationally-owned gun and ammunition dealer, has admitted importing the three SAR-21 high-powered firearms which were confiscated as they entered the country. While the Commissioner of...

Wildlife Trading Stopped.
June 2, 2005... SOLOMON IS, June 2 (Pacnews) - The Malaita Provincial Government has ceased issuing business licences for trading birds and other wildlife. Speaking at a meeting for local tourist operators, Malaita Premier Reuben Moli said this government...

Discordant Bill Gets Second Reading.
June 2, 2005... FIJI, June 2 (Pacnews) - Demonstrators have gathered outside parliament in Suva as Prime Minister Qarase presents second reading of his Reconciliation, Unity and Tolerance bill. (Thurs). Some protestors had their mouths taped, implying their...

Commission Could Stop Coup Trials.
June 2, 2005... FIJI, June 2 (Pacnews) - Prime Minister Qarase has revealed that he cannot assure the public the independent reconciliation commission will not interfere with ongoing trials. Qarase said the decision will rest entirely with the commission...

Biscuit Ban Continues.
June 2, 2005... FIJI, June 2 (Pacnews) - The government is fast losing patience with Vanuatu over the import ban placed on biscuits made in Fiji. Foreign Affairs Minister Kaliopate Tavola told Fijilive he wrote to Vanuatu's Trade Minister James Bule asking...

Education Ministry's Silence Questioned.
June 2, 2005... Fiji, June 2 (Pacnews) - The Fiji Police Force says the Education Ministry has not reported cases of sexual misconduct involving teachers in various schools recently, however. Commissioner Andrew Hughes told a press conference that he did not...

High Cancer Rate Backs Nuclear Increase Claim.
June 2, 2005... MARSHALL IS, June 2 (Pacnews) - The Chairman of the Marshall Islands Nuclear Claims Tribunal believes his group has a strong claim to increased compensation from the United States for damage caused by nuclear testing. Judge James Plasman...

Unions prevent 35 million dollar worth of nickel to be shipped.
June 3, 2005... 03 JUNE 2005, NOUMEA (Pacnews) - A blockade by two unions in New Caledonia, on Wednesday (01 June) prevented the shipment of some 6,800 tonnes of nickel, worth some US$35 million to Asia. The blockade was the result of an announcement of a...

Joseph Kabui leads race for presidency of PNG province.
June 3, 2005... 03 JUNE 2005, PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - The latest results in the presidential race for the Papua New Guinea province of Bougainville show a clear lead for the leader of the People's Congress, Joseph Kabu. Over the past two weeks voters have...

Korman optimistic to see Tanna airport fully operational.
June 3, 2005... 03 JUNE 2005, PORT VILA (Pacnews) - Vanuatu's second international airport at Tanna island is expected to be operational soon with flights from New Caledonia. Infrastructure and Public Utilities Minister, Maxime Carlot Korman has confirmed...

Miss Tahiti 2003 stripped of her title.
June 3, 2005... 03 JUNE 2005, PAPE'ETE (Pacnews) - French Polynesia's winner of the 2003 Miss Tahiti beauty pageant, Heitiare Tribondeau, has been stripped of her title for appearing nude in the June issue of the French version of Newlook magazine. ...

Niue to enforce strict drinking laws.
June 3, 2005... 03 JUNE 2005, ALOFI (Pacnews) - Stricter enforcement of drinking laws on Niue has been recommended by acting chief justice Heta Hingston after hearing several assault cases involving under age youths. Justice Hingston was told police were...

Anatahan smog nears Philippines.
June 3, 2005... 03 JUNE 2005, SAIPAN (Pacnews) - Anatahan's volcanic smog or "vog" is now approaching the Philippines due to current wind movement. Satellite imagery from the U. S. Air Force Weather Agency indicated a moderately thick plume of Anatahan...

Niue faces its biggest political shake up in 30 years.
June 3, 2005... 03 JUNE 2005, ALOFI (Pacnews) - Niue's premier, Young Vivian plans to expand his cabinet by 50 per cent and persuade Niueans to let their MPs serve longer parliamentary terms. Re-elected overwhelmingly last month as leader of Niue's 1200...

Fishing expert says the Pacific's big eye tuna could be gone in a year unless there's action.
June 3, 2005... 03 JUNE 2005, WELLINGTON (Pacnews) - A regional fisheries expert says the most pressing challenge facing the Pacific region over the coming year is to protect big eye tuna before stocks become extinct. The director of the Secretariat of the...

Yakuza faces jail term and US$3. 3 million fine on Guam.
June 3, 2005... 03 JUNE 2005, SAIPAN (Pacnews) - The U. S District Court of Guam ordered a Yakuza member to pay total of US$ 3. 3 million dollars for unlawfully taking money through fraudulent wire transaction. In a recent sentencing hearing Ikuo...

Live whales worth $120m to NZ - report.
June 3, 2005... 03 JUNE 2005, WELLINGTON (Pacnews) - A new report into the economic value of whale watching in New Zealand will be used to boost the growing anti-whaling lobby against Japan. Introducing the report yesterday (02 June), New Zealand's...

French Polynesia to open probe into 2002 plane disappearance.
June 3, 2005... 02 JUNE 2005 PAPEETE (Pacnews) - French Polynesia's assembly today opens its first inquiry under powers granted under the 2004 autonomy statute. A 13-member commission is being set up to try to find out why a small plane carrying leading...

Acting Speaker sparks Labour walkout.
June 3, 2005... 03 JUNE 2005, SUVA (Pacnews) - The Fiji opposition Labour Party walked out of the Lower House again this morning citing unfair treatment by the acting Speaker Manasa Tuqia. This was their second walkout in two days. The walkout...

New Zealand to fund a second deputy commissioner for RSIP.
June 3, 2005... 03 JUNE 2005, HONIARA (Pacnews) ----The Royal Solomon Islands Police (RSIP) is to soon have a second Deputy Commissioner of Police to be funded under assistance from the New Zealand government. This was announced by Solomon Islands Minister...

Veterans of British nuclear test in Kiribati seek funding for compensation fight.
June 3, 2005... 03 JUNE 2005, TARAWA (Pacnews) ----Lawyers representing veterans of British nuclear tests on Kiritimati Island in Kiribati are locked in talks with a British government agency in a bid to fund their battle for compensation. More than...

Airlines move to revive AOC.
June 3, 2005... 03 JUNE 2005, HONIARA (Pacnews) - National carrier Solomon Airlines is currently engaging in the process of reviving its Airworthiness Of Carriage (AOC) to be able to enter into negotiations with overseas companies for an airline lease...

Senate to address alien deportation, illegal entry.
June 3, 2005... 03 JUNE 2005, SAIPAN (Pacnews) - Citing that the current law does not adequately deter the entry into the CNMI of unwanted aliens-including suspected terrorists and members of organized criminal syndicates-the Senate is mulling amendments to...

Fiji army chief threatens to reveal all.
June 6, 2005... 06 JUNE 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) --- Fiji's military commander, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama has threatened to 'open his mouth and reveal all' if the government will continue its push for controversial Reconciliation and Unity Bill. At the same...

Bougainville President elect, Joseph Kabui prepares for new role.
June 6, 2005... 06 JUNE 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- Bougainville's president elect, Joseph Kabui is due to be sworn in later this week after securing a huge victory in the vote for a new autonomous government. Election officials in the Papua New...

SPREP urges Pacific to wage war on waste.
June 6, 2005... 06 JUNE 2005 APIA (Pacnews) --- As part of celebrations to mark Environment Day, the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) is urging all Pacific Islanders to take steps to a cleaner environment by reducing levels of...

Forum economic ministers meet in Tuvalu.
June 6, 2005... 06 JUNE 2005 FUNAFUTI (Pacnews) ---- Economic Ministers from Pacific Islands Forum countries will meet in Funafuti, Tuvalu later this week for their annual Forum Economic Ministers Meeting (FEMM). One of main topics to be discussed at this...

Pacific Islands Forum request industrialised nations help.
June 6, 2005... 06 JUNE 2005 HONIARA (Pacnews) --- The Permanent Representative of the Pacific Islands Forum to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Robert Sisilo has urged the world body to recruit on a temporary basis semi-skilled and unskilled workers from...

Political changes in Niue will need changes to the constitution.
June 6, 2005... 06 JUNE 2005 ALOFI (Pacnews) --- Suggestions of major political changes in the tiny island nation of Niue will require changes to Section 35 of the Constitution. After his re-election as premier, Young Vivian announced his intention to...

CNMI Government will go broke before November elections - Senator Reyes.
June 6, 2005... 06 JUNE 2005 SAIPAN (Pacnews) --- Northern Marianas Senate Minority Leader, Pete Reyes believes that the cash-strapped CNMI government will go broke before the November elections because of the crisis at the Commonwealth Utilities Corp (CUC)....

Samoa acknowledged for abolishing death penalty.
June 6, 2005... 06 JUNE 2005 PAGOPAGO (Pacnews) --- Amnesty International has recognised Samoa as one of the countries that abolished the death penalty in 2004 and the Independent State has been praised by the human rights organisation along with 83 other...

France appoints new overseas minister.
June 6, 2005... 06 JUNE 2005 (Tahitipresse) - New French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin has replaced French Overseas Minister Brigitte Girardin with Francois Baroin a young protege of French President Jacques Chirac, Tahiti Presse reports At the age...

Kabui appoints a woman in caretaker government.
June 6, 2005... 06 JUNE 2005 BOUGAINVILLE (Pacnews) --- Laura Ampa has won one of the three seats in the new autonomous Bougainville Parliament. She polled the highest number of votes in the South Bougainville Regional women's seat ahead of six other women...

Kabui First Bougainville President.
June 6, 2005... PNG, June 6 (Pacnews) - Bougainville People's Congress Party leader Joseph Kabui has been elected the first president of the Bougainville Autonomous Government. He polled 37,928 votes to beat nearest rival and former Governor John Momis...

Momis's Court Challenge of Kabui's Win.
June 6, 2005... PNG, June 6 (Pacnews) - The runner up in the Bougainville Autonomous Government presidential election, former governor John Momis, will take legal action against the election of Joseph Kabui as president. Momis intends to sue the...

Lae Quake Kills One, Hundreds Homeless.
June 6, 2005... PNG, June 6 (Pacnews) - One person is dead, several have been injured and hundreds are left homeless in Lae, Morobe province, following a major earthquake early Sunday morning which measured 6 on the Richter scale. Relatives of the...

TI Calls for Full Probe on Gun Imports.
June 6, 2005... PNG, June 6 (Pacnews) - Transparency International (PNG) Inc. has called on the authorities to thoroughly investigate the disregard of procedures in the importation of three high-powered firearms recently. Chairman Mike Manning said this...

East Malaita Leaders Deplore Threats and Violence.
June 6, 2005... SOLOMON IS, June 6 (Pacnews) - The chiefs and elders of East Malaita constituency have agreed at their recent meeting that activities and threats by certain people who advocate violence on the island are not in the best interest of their people...