PAC - Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association articles from May 2003

PAC - Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association archives from May 2003

French Pacific territories to get two extra seats in French Senate.
May 22, 2003... 22 MAY 2003 PARIS (Pacnews) - New Caledonia and French Polynesia will get one more seat each in the French Senate, as part of reforms currently undertaken by France's Upper House, French Polynesia's President Gaston Flosse said on Wednesday....

Health authorities yet to confirm epidemic.
May 22, 2003... 22 MAY 2003 NUKUA'LOFA (Pacnews) - Tongan health authorities are yet to confirm whether the current flu outbreak is indeed- dengue fever. Ministry of Health officials say the flu has symptoms similar to dengue, which include high fever,...

Youth attend cultural diversity workshop.
May 22, 2003... 22 MAY 2003 SUVA (Pacnews) - Over 20 young people are to attend a youth workshop focussing on cultural diversity and globalisation in Fiji. The workshop, which is organised by the Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG), is part of a...

American Samoa appeals to the US for flood assistance.
May 22, 2003... 22 MAY 2003 PAGO PAGO (Pacnews) - The American Samoan government says it will not be able to meet reconstruction costs after the recent heavy flooding without assistance from the United States. Radio Australia reports that American Samoa...

Solomon Islands constable shot dead after brawl.
May 22, 2003... 22 MAY 2003 HONIARA (Pacnews) - A special police constable in Solomon Islands has been shot dead in the capital, Honiara. Reports say the shooting occurred when a brawl broke out among a group of men who had been drinking. Police say...

Sports Federation offers cash rewards for would-be gold medallists at SPG 2003.
May 22, 2003... 22 MAY 2003 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Cash rewards are on offer for Papua New Guinean gold medallists at next month's South Pacific Games as sports officials add a professional touch to athletes' Fiji campaign. The PNG Sports Federation...

PACNEWS DIGEST - The views expressed in PACNEWS DIGEST are those of agencies contributing articles and not necessarily those of PIBA and/or PACNEWS.
May 22, 2003... 21st MEETING OF COMMONWEALTH MINISTERIAL ACTION GROUP ON THE HARARE DECLARATION 1. The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on the Harare Declaration (CMAG) met in London, on 19-20 May 2003. This was the Group's third meeting following...

Fiji Cabinet does not accept Pacific Islands Air Services Agreement.
May 22, 2003... 22 MAY 2003 PACIFIC (Pacnews) - The Fiji Government has re-endorsed its position not to accept the concept of a regional air services agreement. This decision follows a submission to Cabinet by the Minister for Transport and Civil...

Suppression order for alleged NZ druggist upheld.
May 22, 2003... 22 MAY 2003 RAROTONGA (Pacnews) - An order for interim name suppression for a 47-year-old New Zealand man charged with allegedly stealing pethidine, has been upheld by Cook Islands' Chief Justice, Laurie Greig. CI News reports that the New...

New Indonesian Ambassador presents credentials.
May 22, 2003... 22 MAY 2003 HONIARA (Pacnews) - Indonesia's Ambassador to the Solomon Islands, Johannes Djopari, has presented his credentials to Governor General Sir John Ini Lapli at Government House in the capital, Honiara. SIBC quotes Mr Djopari as...

Saipan factories face shutdown.
May 22, 2003... 22 MAY 2003 SAIPAN (Pacnews) - Five garment factories in the Northern Marianas capital, Saipan, may be shut down for violating federal labour and safety standards, Gov. Juan N. Babauta said. "We cannot afford another controversy involving...

US coast guard finds missing canoe bound for Yap.
May 22, 2003... 22 MAY 2003 YAP (Pacnews) - A United States Coast Guard plane has found the 13-man crew aboard a traditional canoe, which was missing for two weeks. The 34 foot canoe had left Palau for Yap on May the 7th with modest provisions and was led...

Fiji minister gets passport for South Africa trip.
May 22, 2003... 22 MAY 2003 SUVA (Pacnews) - Fiji's Minister for Youth and Sports, Isireli Leweniqila, has been given back his confiscated passport to travel to South Africa for an official trip. Mr Leweniqila was this month charged with serious...

Missionary killer's identity known to police.
May 22, 2003... 22 MAY 2003 HONIARA (Pacnews) - The man alleged to have killed Seventh Day Adventist missionary Lance Gersbach, is on the run after his identity was revealed to police this week. Radio Australia reports that the man's identity has not been...

Wrangle over air space management, Samoa downplays Fiji report.
May 22, 2003... 22 MAY 2003 APIA (Pacnews) - There is an apparent wrangle over the air space management of two Pacific Island nations. Fiji aviation officials had stated last week that they held talks with their Samoan counterparts on renegotiating the...

PNG says gas pipeline may be close to reality.
May 22, 2003... 22 MAY 2003 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Papua New Guinea says a proposed billion-dollar gas pipeline to Australia is closer than ever to being realised. PNG's Prime Minister, Sir Michael Somare, and Petroleum Minister, Sir Moi Avei, have returned...

Panellists to debate Intellectual Property laws.
May 22, 2003... 22 MAY 2003 SUVA (Pacnews) - Senior Fiji Government officials will tomorrow organise a panel discussion on the legislative framework of the Patents and Trademarks Registrations in the capital, Suva to mark the end of the World Intellectual...

Yachting - crews of 25 yachts fix sights on Fiji in annual regatta.
May 22, 2003... 22 MAY 2003 NEW ZEALAND (Pacnews) - Twenty-five yachts will line up on the Waitemata Harbour, Auckland on Saturday for the start of the Auckland, New Zealand to Musket Cove Resort, Fiji ocean event. The 1100-mile race is expected to take six...

China hands over multipurpose sport complex in time for Games.
May 22, 2003... 22 MAY 2003 SUVA (Pacnews) --- Fiji's largest sporting complex was officially opened today with pomp and colour and is ready for next month's South Pacific Games. The complex, which is situated next to the National Stadium, consists of a...

Forum adopts HIV/AIDS workplace policy.
May 23, 2003... 23 MAY 2003 PACIFIC (Pacnews) - The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat has adopted a workplace policy on HIVAIDS. "The policy will guide our response to the medical, legal and ethical questions posed by HIVAIDS in the workplace," said the...

PM Natapei's UK visit a commitment to development.
May 23, 2003... 23 MAY 2003 PORT VILA (Pacnews) - Vanuatu Prime Minister, Edward Natapei's official visit to the United Kingdom will reaffirm the relationship that exists between Vanuatu and the United Kingdom. A government statement says it will also...

Judiciary hearing continues on royal family protection.
May 23, 2003... 23 MAY 2003 NUKUA'LOFA (Pacnews) - A judicial review concerning legislation to protect Tonga's King Taufa'ahau Tupou and the royal family, government and people of Tonga from abuse of press freedom continued yesterday at the Nuku'alofa Supreme...

Police chief says poll a "success".
May 23, 2003... 23 MAY 2003 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Papua New Guinea's police commissioner Sam Inguba has described supplementary elections in the Southern Highlands province as a success. Declaration of the final seat for the elections is expected...

Flood damage estimated at US$50m.
May 23, 2003... 23 MAY 2003 PAGO PAGO (Pacnews) - Assessment of the damage caused by this week's floods in American Samoa is still to be completed but officials say it may be in the range of US$50 million. The homeland security director, Leiataua Birdsall...

"Mafia in government blocking royalties" - MP.
May 23, 2003... 23 MAY 2003 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - A Mafia-like group in the public sector responsible for landowner royalties has made its business to stop the monies from reaching the provinces, Gulf Governor Chris Haiveta told Parliament during grievance...

PACNEWS DIGEST - The views expressed in PACNEWS DIGEST are those of agencies contributing articles and not necessarily those of PIBA and/or PACNEWS.
May 23, 2003... Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat HIVAIDS Workplace Policy Guiding principles Recognition of HIV/AIDS as a workplace issue The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat yesterday approved of policy guiding principles to recognise HIV/AIDS as a...

Prime Minister still hopeful for a majority in Parliament.
May 23, 2003... 23 MAY 2003 FUNAFUTI (Pacnews) - Tuvalu's Prime Minister, Safatu Sapoanga says he is still hopeful of governing the country because of the prospect of an opposition member of parliament joining the government. Mr Sapoanga says he is...

Publisher slates Solomon Islands in another editorial.
May 23, 2003... 23 MAY 2003 SUVA (Pacnews) --- The publisher of the Samoa Observer, Save Sano Malifa has chosen another Pacific Island Country to denigrate. In his May 14 editorial column, "Press Freedom and Corruption", Malifa said the 'Solomon Islands...

Government to restructure Southern Highlands.
May 23, 2003... 23 MAY 2003 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Papua New Guinea's National Government will restructure Southern Highlands province to create three administrative zones that would be administered by a deputy provincial administrator with full...

Plan to stop Great Barrier Reef destruction.
May 23, 2003... 23 MAY 2003 CANBERRA (Pacnews) - The Australian government released a plan Thursday designed to stop the Great Barrier Reef being poisoned by pollution leaching from coastal areas. The Reef Water Quality Protection Plan was devised after...

Inter-island airfares rise.
May 23, 2003... 23 MAY 2003 HONOLULU (Pacnews) - Aloha and Hawaiian airlines have raised rates for the second time since March, increasing the cost of some one-way, inter-island seats to as high as US$95.50. The new rates affect travel as of June 1. In...

Police arrest suspected missionary killer.
May 23, 2003... 23 MAY 2003 HONIARA (Pacnews) - Solomon Islands Police have arrested a man suspected of murdering Seventh-Day Adventist Missionary, the late Lance Gersbach last weekend. SIBC reports that the suspect is from East Kwaio and quotes Deputy...

Battle on for new members elected in Kiribati.
May 23, 2003... 23 MAY 2003 TARAWA (Pacnews) --- The second round of elections in Kiribati has produced more than ten new members of Parliament, with both the Opposition and Government members scurrying to win their support. A staunch opposition member and...

France values Pacific States, French PM tells Vanuatu's Natapei.
May 23, 2003... 23 MAY 2003 PARIS (Pacnews) --- French Prime Minister, Jean-Pierre Raffarin, has met with Vanuatu Prime Minister Edward Natapei in the capital, Paris and told him France "is very much attached" to the Pacific region, RFO's...

Pacific delegation invited to visit Israel.
May 23, 2003... 23 MAY 2003 SUVA (Pacnews) --- The Israeli Government has invited a delegation of Pacific Island Ambassadors based at the United Nations in New York to visit Israel later this year. Israel's Ambassador to Fiji, Gabby Levy, confirmed the...

Opposition criticises government plans for Pacific Islands Forum 2004 bid.
May 23, 2003... 23 MAY 2003 ALOFI (Pacnews) - A proposal to add another 70 accommodation units on Niue and purchase more than 100 cars in a bid to host the 2004 Pacific Forum leaders meeting on Niue has drawn sharp criticism from tourism property owners and...

Census starts in July.
May 23, 2003... 23 MAY 2003 NOUMEA (Pacnews) --- For the first time in seven years, New Caledonia is to undertake a census in July this year, the daily newspaper Les Nouvelles Caledoniennes reports. The exercise will be supervised by a French public...

Australian senators to visit Fiji.
May 23, 2003... 23 MAY 2003 SUVA (Pacnews) --- A five-member delegation of Australian Senate References Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade will visit Fiji over four days beginning tomorrow. Led by Committee Chair, Senator Peter Cook, the...

Pacific Islanders care for elders at home, NZ survey reveals.
May 26, 2003... 26 MAY 2003 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) ---There is almost a stubborn refusal by Pacific Islanders in New Zealand to put relatives with disabilities into rest homes, a survey has found. Families stressed by jobs and other responsibilities would...

Japanese behind medicine factory.
May 26, 2003... 26 MAY 2003 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) -- The Japanese government will establish a medicine factory in Papua New Guinea's Central province. The factory will use pawpaw to produce drugs for treating diseases like malaria, cancer and other...

Kava study supports Pacific view.
May 26, 2003... 26 MAY 2003 SUVA (Pacnews) --- A study into the kava industry has found that there was no basis for the market restriction on kava by health agencies in Europe in 2001, a move that crippled Pacific Island kava exports to Europe and other major...

Another political party leader in Solomon Islands resigns.
May 26, 2003... 26 MAY 2003 HONIARA (Pacnews) --- The Parliamentary Leader of the Peoples Progressive Party in Solomon Islands, Manasseh Sogavare had resigned from the party. Mr Sogavare was former Prime Minister and MP for East Choiseul. His...

Israeli visit cautioned.
May 26, 2003... 26 MAY 2003 SUVA (Pacnews) --- A proposed visit by Pacific diplomats based at the United Nations in New York to Israel later this year has been cautioned by the NGO Coalition on Human Rights. Chairman of the Coalition group, reverend Akuila...

PACIFIC GENDER AND TRADE WORKSHOP, 26 - 30 May 2003, Fiji Mocambo.
May 26, 2003... 26 MAY 2003 SUVA (Pacnews) --- The Pacific Concerns Resource Centre (PCRC) with the Pacific Gender and Trade Network (PGTN) Advisory Group will be hosting a workshop on Gender and Trade in Fiji this week. Tupou Vere, the Assistant Director...

Public hearing in Nauru to determine interpretation of constitution provision.
May 26, 2003... 26 MAY 2003 YAREN (Pacnews) --- Nauru's Chief Justice, Barry Connell has left it to the people on the island to interpret a provision in the constitution that has been cause of the political deadlock in Parliament. In a move never done on...

Bad fish deal costs Manus.
May 26, 2003... 26 MAY 2003 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- The Manus Provincial Government has lost K10 million (US$2.8 million) in revenue due to a defective agreement it signed with an allegedly corrupt fishing company. Manus Governor Dr Jacob Jumogot made...

High-level trade mission promotes Fiji products in French Polynesia.
May 26, 2003... 26 MAY 2003 SUVA (Pacnews) --- A high-level trade delegation, headed by Fiji's Foreign Affairs Minister, Kaliopate Tavola, has departed for French Polynesia. The five-day trade mission, which involves prominent Fiji companies, aims to...

Niue targets vanilla as a major export.
May 26, 2003... 26 MAY 2003 ALOFI (Pacnews) --- Niue will be seeking support from New Zealand to develop vanilla growing on the island. At present the industry is private sector driven and a number of workshops have been held to educate farmers in growing...

Advisory on volcanic haze lifted.
May 26, 2003... 26 MAY 2003 HAGTNA (Pacnews) --- The National Weather Service lifted a volcanic haze advisory put in effect for Guam last week after the eruption on Anatahan. But there's a chance Guam may be placed on an ash advisory again depending on...

Supreme Court again quashes Privy Council ban on Taimi o Tonga.
May 26, 2003... 26 MAY 2003 NUKUA'LOFA (Pacnews) - Tonga's chief justice, Gordon Ward, again declared this morning that a Privy Council ban on the New Zealand-published Tonga language newspaper, Taimi o Tonga, was "unlawful and invalid". Justice Ward...

Organic law proposal to be finalised for June meeting with French PM.
May 26, 2003... 26 MAY 2003 PAPEETE (Pacnews) - French Polynesia President Gaston Flosse has announced that he is finalising a proposal on an organic law for Tahiti to present to French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin on June 2. Flosse, who is also...

Japan hands over new power supply project.
May 26, 2003... 26 MAY 2003 TARAWA (Pacnews) - Kiribati's power needs gets a surging boost at the end of the week as the Japanese Government hands over new power supply facilities that it constructed at a cost of approximately US$11.5m. The project...

Well-known journalist dies.
May 26, 2003... 26 MAY 2003 HONIARA (Pacnews) - One of Solomon Islands' well-known journalist, Imo Ta'asi died in his home in the Western Province. A former Editor of the country's only daily tabloid newspaper, Solomon Star, Mr Ta'asi was also the...

People urged to boil drinking water after heavy rain.
May 26, 2003... 26 MAY 2003 APIA (Pacnews) - Samoans have been urged to boil all drinking water after the recent heavy rain in the country to prevent illnesses the season brought. Samoa's Director of Clinical Health Services at Tupua Tamasese Meaole...

New President meets with Cabinet, 13th Congress.
May 26, 2003... 26 MAY 2003 PALIKIR (Pacnews) - The new President of the Federated States of Micronesia, Joseph J. Urusemal, and his Cabinet have met with members of the Thirteenth Congress for an informal Executive/Congress consultations meeting. The...

Publisher promises Taimi o Tonga newspaper released tomorrow.
May 27, 2003... 27 MAY 2003 NUKUA'LOFA (Pacnews) - The publisher of Taimi o Tonga, Kalafi Moala, has promised Tongans he will immediately fly copies of the banned newspaper to the island as soon as the ban is lifted. Yesterday, Chief Justice Gordon Ward...

PIROF to develop regional framework for Pacific region.
May 27, 2003... 27 MAY 2003 PACIFIC (Pacnews) - Delegates from Pacific Island countries and territories will meet in February next year at the Pacific Islands Regional Ocean Forum (PIROF) to develop an Integrated Framework for Action of Ocean Initiatives for...

AUT establishes Pasifika Advancement Plan.
May 27, 2003... 27 MAY 2003 AUCKLAND (Pacnews) - Auckland University of Technology (AUT), the university with New Zealand's largest communication studies and journalism programme, is boosting its Pacific education programme by creating an Office of Pasifika...

Vanuatu documentary to go on show in Australian Parliament.
May 27, 2003... 27 MAY 2003 PORT VILA (Pacnews) - The Australian Parliament House will host a special screening of Vanuatu's indigenous theatre group, Wan Smolbag film 'A Piece of Land'. Parliamentary members of the All Party Parliamentary Committee on...

Pearl industry to benefit from European Union.
May 27, 2003... 27 MAY 2003 RAROTONGA (Pacnews) - Cook Islands pearl industry can expect assistance from the Centre for the Development of Enterprise (CDE) in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries this month. A CDE consultant who recently visited...

Nursing school closes early for holidays after missionary murder.
May 27, 2003... 27 MAY 2003 HONIARA (Pacnews) - A nursing school attached to the Seventh Day Adventist Hospital at Atoifi, Malaita in Solomon Islands has closed down for its holidays a week early following the killing of missionary, Lance Gersbach. Mr...

MSG leaders to meet in Gizo in August, ahead of the Forum Leaders summit.
May 27, 2003... 27 MAY 2003 SUVA (Pacnews) --- The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) meeting is likely to go ahead despite attempts by some member countries to hold it off until the Forum Leaders meeting in Auckland later this year. PACNEWS has established...

Ash cancels Marianas flights, passengers stranded.
May 27, 2003... 27 MAY 2003 SAIPAN (Pacnews) - Air transportation services in Guam and Northern Marianas, which were cancelled last Friday, have resumed normal operations after weather reports indicated that volcanic emissions from the Anatahan Volcano no...

PNG warns peace accord in danger.
May 27, 2003... 27 MAY 2003 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Papua New Guinea has reportedly warned the United Nations (UN) that peace accords, which ended the 10-year Bougainville separatist war, could unravel when peacekeepers quit the province next month. The...

Air Tahiti Nui recruits 72 flight attendants.
May 27, 2003... 27 MAY 2003 PAPEETE (Pacnews) - Air Tahiti Nui has recruited 72 flight attendants to fly the national carrier's international routes. The new staff includes 39 stewards and 33 hostesses. Air Tahiti Nui CEO, Nelson Levy, said it is a...

French president's visit to Australia in July in question.
May 27, 2003... 27 MAY 2003 PACIFIC (Pacnews) - New Caledonia's veteran politician, Jacques Lafleur, says he doubts that the French President, Jacques Chirac, will visit Australia during his South Pacific trip in July. Mr Lafleur, who is the territory's...

Police alter policies; SARS preparedness affects response to calls.
May 27, 2003... 27 MAY 2003 HAGATNA (Pacnews) - The Guam Police Department is no longer responding to health emergency calls and has started to take all complaint reports outdoors because officers lack protective equipment against the mystery killer disease,...

Chief Justice says country's Parliament breached constitution.
May 27, 2003... 27 MAY 2003 SUVA (Pacnews) - An interpretation of the Nauru constitution by its Chief Justice has raised doubts about the quick resolution of the political impasse that has plagued the island nation for weeks now. This morning, Chief...

MP alleges that budget cuts will fund campaign.
May 27, 2003... 27 MAY 2003 RAROTONGA (Pacnews) - Wilkie Rasmussen, Member of Parliament for Penrhyn in the Cook Islands, says he believes that the proposed 10 percent budget cut in government will go towards creating a campaign nest egg for the current...

Attorney General proposes life imprisonment for rapists.
May 27, 2003... 27 MAY 2003 SUVA (Pacnews) - Fiji's Attorney General, Qoriniasi Bale, has invited Fiji's courts and lawmakers to give life imprisonment to those who commit crimes of robbery with violence and rape. Speaking in Parliament yesterday and...

Samoa gears up for Independence Day horse races, hunt on for smaller Samoan jockeys.
May 27, 2003... 27 MAY 2003 APIA (Pacnews) - Samoan horse racing's biggest event, the Independence Day Cup, has drawn several New Zealand jockeys to the country, with competition shaping up to become a great family outing this weekend. Seven NZ jockeys...

Mainstreaming gender in community fisheries management.
May 27, 2003... 27 MAY 2003 PACIFIC (Pacnews) - The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) has organised a gender and Fisheries workshop in Wallis and Futuna and Tuvalu in order to examine the traditional and changing roles of women in fisheries in the...

ADB Signs Poverty Partnership with Tuvalu.
May 27, 2003... 27 MAY 2003 PACIFIC (Pacnews) - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is expected to sign Poverty Partnerships with various Pacific Island nations soon. It recently signed a Poverty Partnership with Tuvalu and under the agreement; ADB and the...

Pacific Island leaders hope PALM opened tourist floodgates.
May 27, 2003... 27 MAY 2003 PACIFIC (Pacnews) - Pacific Island leaders, among pressing regional issues, dwelled a little bit longer on tourism at the recent Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM) in the Japan city of Okinawa, Port Vila Presse reports. The...