PAC - Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association articles from May 2004

PAC - Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association archives from May 2004

Chiefs of Fiji again urged to unite.
May 3, 2004... 03 MAY 2004 LAKEBA (Pacnews) - Fiji's chiefs were once again urged to preserve and guard traditional customs and beliefs and lead by example as they would now determine the future of the Fijian race in today's changing times. Delivering a...

Government investigates missing forest millions.
May 3, 2004... 03 MAY 2004 HONIARA (Pacnews) - Solomon Islands investigators are probing a claim that millions of dollars allegedly paid to the Solomon Islands government by a logging company under terms of an agreement never went into the country's coffers....

New property deal to save Nauru from bankruptcy.
May 3, 2004... 03 MAY 2004 YAREN (Pacnews) - Nauru is reported to have agreed to a property deal that will save it from bankruptcy. Under an agreement arranged in Sydney, an Asian property group will take over some of Nauru's investment property in...

Turia won't lead new Maori party.
May 3, 2004... 03 MAY 2004 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) - Sacked Labour MP, Tariana Turia, a fighter of Maori rights, has confirmed that she does not intend to be the leader of an inevitable and new Maori political party, the New Zealand Herald reports. But she...

Education targeted to expand culture.
May 3, 2004... 03 MAY 2004 ALOFI (Pacnews) - An increased emphasis on Niue culture is expected to be a key element the island's 10-year strategic plan for education. Over the next two weeks, education authorities in Niue will be seeking public input into...

Agreement reached for Royal Tongan Airlines.
May 3, 2004... 03 MAY 2004 NUKUA'LOFA (Pacnews) - Royal Tongan Airlines says it has reached agreement with Fiji's national flag carrier, Air Pacific and Samoa's Polynesian Airlines to help passengers affected by the suspension of its international services....

Major oil companies merge.
May 3, 2004... 03 MAY 2004 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Two of Papua New Guinea's leading international fuel distributors are now history. British Petroleum and Shell have now been acquired by a new company, Interoil Limited, says an NBC report today. ...

Media and civil society key partners for good governance.
May 3, 2004... 03 MAY 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) - The Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General, Greg Urwin, says that the media and civil society are key partners in promoting good governance, and should not expect to leave this task to national leaders. "A...

FEMA to send more aid to Yap.
May 3, 2004... 03 MAY 2004 YAP (Pacnews) - Residents of Yap in the Federated States of Micronesia will receive more help as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) took 12 boxes of medicine and medical supplies from the Ayuda Foundation at the weekend....

Mara buried after ceremonies of Pacific-wide traditions.
May 3, 2004... 03 MAY 2004 LAKEBA (Pacnews) - The late Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, a paramount chief, in his professional and personal achievements, was today buried alongside his forefathers at the chiefly burial grounds in Tubou, Lakeba, Lau in the Eastern...

Sir Mekere's party to join Government.
May 3, 2004... 03 MAY 2004 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - In what's believed to be manouverings to thwart a suspected vote of no-confidence move, Papua New Guinea's Opposition Leader, Sir Mekere Morauta's PNG Party has resolved to join Prime Minister Sir Michael...

Turia would like separate Maori house in Parliament.
May 3, 2004... 03 MAY 2004 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) - Sacked minister Tariana Turia says she would like to see a dual Parliament with a separate House for Maori. She said she would resign from Parliament on May 17 and seek a fresh mandate as an independent...

Dealer says Europe to reopen kava market soon.
May 3, 2004... 03 MAY 2004 PORT VILA (Pacnews) - One of the Pacific's original kava dealers, Charles Long Wah, has predicted that Pacific kava would hit the international market before the year is over. Talking from experience, as kava entrepreneur in the...

Party announces May 15 demonstrations to cut off Papeete.
May 3, 2004... 03 MAY 2004 PAPEETE (Pacnews) - Oscar Temaru, leader of Tahiti's independence political party, has called on supporters to organise two peaceful demonstration marches on May 15 to cut off Papeete. "Everything will be blocked in Tahiti," he...

News boost for Pacific on World Press Freedom Day.
May 3, 2004... 03 MAY 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) - News and current affairs will receive a boost in the Pacific through a new Australian media assistance initiative, the Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Chris Gallus, announced today on World Press...

Regional Catholic women arrive in Fiji for annual summit.
May 3, 2004... 03 MAY 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) - More than 100 delegates have arrived in Fiji for the Asia Pacific Conference for the World Union of Catholic Women's Organisations (WUCWO). This is the first time the conference is hosted by a Pacific Island member...

Governor general post open to bribes.
May 4, 2004... 04 MAY 2004 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- A leading political party and members of Papua New Guinea's parliament have demanded bribes in return for supporting candidates for the post of governor general, The Age newspaper reports. One contender,...

Jet aborts landing in storms.
May 4, 2004... 04 MAY 2004 RAROTONGA (Pacnews) --- An Air New Zealand jet was forced to abort its landing on the Rarotonga Airport tarmac on Saturday (01 May) after storms lashed Cook Islands. Cook Islands News reports that the plane had been scheduled to...

Proposal to form leadership integrity commission.
May 4, 2004... 04 MAY 2004 HONIARA (Pacnews) --- Executives of the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) have proposed that a Solomon Islands Leadership Integrity Commission (SILIC) be formed to deal with corruption. SIBC reports that the...

Nauruans celebrate National Day.
May 4, 2004... 04 MAY 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) --- Family and friends in Fiji's Nauruan community gathered yesterday (03 May) to mark the opening of a week-long Nauru Constitution Day. Sports and activities were carried out by adults and children at the Suva...

CNMI scores high on recycling.
May 4, 2004... 04 MAY 2004 SAIPAN (Pacnews) --- The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) reduced waste by 25 percent in 2003 by sending garment scraps off-island and scored higher on its recycling rate than the US average, Governor Juan N....

Two dead in chocolate factory blast.
May 4, 2004... 04 MAY 2004 NOUMEA (Pacnews) --- Two workers died after an explosion in a chocolate factory in New Caledonia, fire-fighters said yesterday (03 May). The two workers, aged 40 and 32, died after steam-pressured equipment used to make sweets...

A touch of the Pacific in India.
May 4, 2004... PUNE, INDIA - In Tonga, rugby is played on almost every street and park by everyone - children, adults - much like cricket in India. "It's the national passion and pastime. Now, seeing the kids learning the basics at the ground, it feels like...

Women call for intellectual property rights.
May 4, 2004... 04 MAY 2004 RAROTONGA (Pacnews) --- Women's groups in the Cook Islands are concerned with the protection of intellectual property and now want laws passed to protect it. Their concern is contained in a draft submission prepared by a women's...

Pro-independence movement plans mass demonstration.
May 4, 2004... 04 MAY 2004 PAPEETE (Pacnews) --- French Polynesia's pro-independence movement has organised two anti-government marches at the end of next week - just eight days before the election of a new parliament, Radio New Zealand International reports....

Flood damage toll tops F$4 million.
May 4, 2004... 04 MAY 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) --- The total cost of damage caused by Fiji's floods to roads, bridges and the Navua Hospital two weeks ago increased from $2.2 million (US$1.238 million) to $4 million (US$2.25 million), says a report in the Fiji...

Government faces second defection.
May 4, 2004... 04 MAY 2004 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) --- The New Zealand Government's majority has been put in jeopardy after Tainui MP Nanaia Mahuta refused to confirm she will stay with Labour, New Zealand Herald reports. With Tariana Turia's defection cutting...

PNG alerted to cocoa pest.
May 4, 2004... 04 MAY 2004 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- Papua New Guinea (PNG) quarantine officials are warning travellers about bringing the cocoa pod borer disease into the country, after reports the pest has destroyed cocoa beans in neighbouring Indonesia....

Cash surplus budget for March quarter.
May 4, 2004... 04 MAY 2004 HONIARA (Pacnews) --- With the exception of Foreign Affairs and the National Parliament, all other Solomon Islands government ministries and departments spent below their budget allocation in the March quarter of this year, Solomon...

Global warming threatens isle species.
May 4, 2004... 04 MAY 2004 HONOLULU (Pacnews) --- Over the course of 20 years, a tiny dot of land in the northwest Hawaiian Islands, about 10 - 15 acres in size, has completely disappeared due to rising sea levels. And with it went habitat for the nesting sea...

Visit by Australia's Justice will reaffirm commitment.
May 4, 2004... 04 MAY 2004 HONIARA (Pacnews) --- The Australian Minister for Justice and Customs, Senator Chris Ellison, will visit Solomon Islands and Vanuatu this week to reaffirm Australia's commitment to help South Pacific neighbours with domestic and...

Special police operation to address incest cases.
May 4, 2004... 04 APRIL 2004 PORT MOREBSY (Pacnews) --- A special police operation is being planned in East New Britain to deal with the high number of incest cases reported in the province, NBC reports. Members of the police force in the National Capital...

May Day march gathers over a thousand.
May 4, 2004... 04 MAY 2004 NOUMEA (Pacnews) --- A march organised by the Union of Kanak and Exploited Works (USTKE) on May Day (01 May), gathered over a thousand participants in the streets of the capital Noumea. Banners were both defending local and...

Catholic women call for understanding.
May 4, 2004... 04 MAY 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) --- Catholic women from throughout Asia and the Pacific are asking their leaders to accept and understand the dignity of women and involve them in all processes of decision-making. They say they believe that the...

Vandals damage bus fleet.
May 4, 2004... 04 MAY 2004 NOUMEA (Pacnews) - At least 24 buses were damaged in the New Caledonia capital, Noumea after suspected vandals went on what the local media has called "a weekend destruction spree". Noumea police say they believe that a drunken...

Citizenship scam investigation begins.
May 5, 2004... 05 MAY 2004 HONIARA (Pacnews) --- Investigations have begun into a citizenship scam in Solomon Islands. The Immigration probe is trying to establish how many passports issued to foreigners did not meet immigration standards. National...

Nauru's President defends his position.
May 5, 2004... 05 MAY 2004 YAREN (Pacnews) --- Nauru's president Rene Harris has defended the constitutional validity of his presidency and the government following last month's resignation of the Speaker of Parliament. President Harris says his...

Politicians should learn to exploit media - Australian Press Council Chairman.
May 5, 2004... 05 MAY 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) --- Fiji's politicians have been urged not to "shoot the messenger" when dealing with the media but to "learn to exploit it" instead. Speaking at the launch of the Charter of Media Freedom in Suva last night (04...

Inter Island Airways seek landing rights from Samoa.
May 5, 2004... 05 MAY 2004 APIA (Pacnews) --- Inter Island Airways has filed a request with the Samoa government seeking landing rights to operate charter flights in and out of the independent state from American Samoa. If given the green light, Inter...

Niue confident aid donors will provide recovery package funds.
May 5, 2004... 05 MAY 2004 ALOFI (Pacnews) --- The Premier of Niue Young Vivian says he is confident that aid donors will come up with most of the NZD$37.7 million (US$23.7 million) requested as part of a recovery package after the devastation of cyclone...

Pitcairn official says US$2.7million ready for airport plan.
May 5, 2004... 05 MAY 2004 PITCAIRN (Pacnews) --- The deputy governor of Pitcairn, Matthew Forbes, says moves are under way to have US$2.7million released from the European Union (EU) for development projects on the island group. This follows a...

Southern Province headquarters targeted by gunshots, home-made explosives.
May 5, 2004... 05 MAY 2004 NOUMEA (Pacnews) --- Only five days ahead of a crucial poll in New Caledonia, its Southern Province headquarters in the capital Noumea, have been targeted by gunshots and what investigators describe as home-made explosives. ...

Nose problems send Papaaroa college students back home.
May 5, 2004... 05 MAY 2004 RAROTONGA (Pacnews) --- Papaaroa College's 90 students were sent home yesterday morning (04 May) after some complained of nose and ear irritations, Cook Islands News reports. The health problems may have been caused by...

Pro-democracy activist court case delayed.
May 5, 2004... 05 APRIL 2004 NUKU'ALOFA (Pacnews) --- The case of pro-democracy activist Alan Taione, due to go before Tonga's Supreme Court today has been delayed until Monday (10 May) as there are no supreme court judges available in Nuku'alofa. ...

Fiji's media not promoting inter-racial harmony, Fiji Media Council.
May 5, 2004... 05 MAY 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) --- Fiji's media is not doing enough to promote inter-racial harmony, says Fiji Media Council Member Dijendra Singh. Speaking at the launch of the charter of Media Freedom in Suva last night (04 May), Mr Singh...

Saint Patron of the Oceanians commemorated.
May 5, 2004... 05 MAY 2004 NOUMEA (Pacnews) --- Thousands of worshippers last week joined in a mass in Noumea to commemorate the 163rd anniversary of the death of Saint Pierre Chanel, the daily newspaper Les Nouvelles Caledoniennes reports. The church...

Villagers warned of dangers of lava flow.
May 5, 2004... 05 MAY 2004 BOUGAINVILLE (Pacnews) --- While Mount Bagana in Torokina, Central Bougainville poses no real danger of a major eruption, people living around the base are being warned of the dangers of lava flow. After carrying out an aerial...

Two Fiji police officers linked to May 2000 coup, police probe reveals.
May 5, 2004... 05 MAY 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) --- Police investigations into their own involvement in Fiji's May 2000 coup have concluded that two officers, a middle ranking and a senior police officer were involved in criminal activities at the height of the...

Thousands of Maoris march for land rights in New Zealand.
May 5, 2004... 05 MAY 2004 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) --- About 10,000 mainly indigenous Maori protesters have marched through New Zealand's capital, Wellington, to protest against government plans to nationalise the seabed and foreshore. New Zealand police...

Administration drafting bill to remove poker machines from villages.
May 5, 2004... 05 MAY 2004 SAIPAN (Pacnews) --- The Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI) government is now drafting a bill closing residential areas to poker and gaming operations, as the Legislature reiterated its support to the measure this...

Graduate health interns not paid.
May 5, 2004... 05 MAY 2004 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- Twenty-five recently graduated pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, imaging technicians, lab technicians and dentists have not been paid since January, the Post Courier newspaper reports. They join 50...

Vanuatu could qualify for US aid.
May 5, 2004... 05 MAY 2004 WASHINGTON (Pacnews) --- Vanuatu could qualify for US aid under a new government programme that provides cash in exchange for reforms, congressional officials and aid groups said on Monday. The Millennium Challenge Account, proposed...

Tickets will be honoured says Royal Tongan airline.
May 5, 2004... 06 MAY 2004 AUCKLAND (Pacnews) --- Royal Tongan Airlines says passengers stranded by the repossession of its sole international aircraft will have their tickets honoured by other operators, notably Air New Zealand. Air New Zealand said last...

Opposition leader sacked, plans to join government.
May 6, 2004... 06 MAY 2004 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister, Sir Michael Somare, has avoided the media as speculation becomes rife that the main Opposition party plans to join the government. Sir Michael, who returned to Port...

Tuvaluans to consider severing links with British queen, becoming republic.
May 6, 2004... 06 MAY 2004 FUNAFUTI (Pacnews) --- Tuvalu, one of the world's smallest nations, is considering holding a referendum on severing links with Britain's Queen Elizabeth II as head of state and becoming a republic, its prime minister said yesterday...

Possible boost for Cook Islands tourism results from Chinese talks.
May 6, 2004... 06 MAY 2004 RAROTONGA (Pacnews) --- Tourism stakeholders in Cook Islands can now look forward to a big boost in tourist arrivals after Prime Minister Dr Robert Woonton concluded talks on the issue with the Commerce Minister of China, Bo Xilai....

Fiji police chief frustrated with government delays over vehicle requests.
May 6, 2004... 06 MAY 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) ---- Fiji's police commissioner, Andrew Hughes is frustrated with delays in government's response to a request for more vehicles for the police force. Speaking to journalists in Suva yesterday (05 May), Mr Hughes said...

PM explains compensation decision.
May 6, 2004... 06 MAY 2004 HONIARA (Pacnews) - Solomon Islands' Prime Minister, Sir Allan Kemakeza, says government is committed to meeting compensation claims by the people of Choiseul and Shortland Islands, once funds are available. He says the government's...

Stolen cars from Malaysia shipped to Fiji.
May 6, 2004... 06 MAY 2004 JOHOR BARU (Pacnews) --- According to Police in Johor Baru (JB) state, Malaysia, a car-smuggling syndicate is operating in Fiji involving cars stolen from Malaysia. The Straits Times reports that Johor Baru police suspect that the...

The role of women in the Church has become crucial.
May 6, 2004... by Vasiti Ritova, PACNEWS SUVA, FIJI - Violence against women, as a global concern, remains pervasive and persistent, cutting across race, religion, class and geographic boundaries. It is for this concern that Catholic women from the...

Tonga adopted Singapore laws to control the Press.
May 6, 2004... 06 MAY 2004 NUKUA'LOFA (Pacnews) - Tonga's Attorney-General and Minister for Justice has revealed that the Tongan Government copied Singapore's suppressive media laws when it drafted its new media legislation that came into force this year. ...

Sandline closes shop 7 years after Bougainville.
May 6, 2004... 06 MAY 2004 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- Sandline International, a UK company involving mercenaries that described itself as a private military company, shut down its operations last month in Papua New Guinea (PNG) - seven years after its aborted...

Hawaiian universities ranked among America's best.
May 6, 2004... 06 MAY 2004 HONOLULU (Pacnews) - US-based Consumers Digest magazine, which for 43 years, has identified what it calls "outstanding values in the market-place", has ranked two Hawaii universities as offering some of the top academic value per...

Australian vessels pay goodwill visits.
May 6, 2004... 06 MAY 2004 LAUTOKA (Pacnews) - Two Australian naval vessels arrive in Fiji's Lautoka wharf tomorrow on a goodwill visit. The ships, HMAS Warrnambool and HMAS Bunbury are based in Darwin and will be conducting joint training exercises with...

Pacific championship to prepare lifters for top competition.
May 6, 2004... 06 MAY 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) - Weightlifters from the Pacific Islands have gathered in Suva, Fiji for the annual Oceania and South Pacific Championships in the senior and junior categories. The tournament, which will help prepare Pacific...

Tuvalu plans party for biggest building.
May 6, 2004... 06 MAY 2004 FUNAFUTI (Pacnews) - Tuvalu is planning a party next month to celebrate the opening of its biggest building, a three-floor structure from Taiwan, Prime Minister Saufatu Sapoanga said this week. Tuvalu is one of the few nations...

RAMSI police find more graves in Guadalcanal.
May 6, 2004... 06 MAY 2004 HONIARA (Pacnews) - Police with the Regional Assistance Mission in the Solomon Islands' Weathercoast of Guadalcanal are going on with their search for graves of people, who may have been killed during the ethnic crisis. The...

Journalist assaulted by government official.
May 6, 2004... 06 MAY 2004 NUKA'LOFA (Pacnews) - Tonga police are investigating a complaint that a Tongan journalist was punched in the face by a top level public servant in a road incident on Sunday. The incident occurred on the main highway of Hala...

Take-over agreement signed.
May 6, 2004... 06 MAY 2004 DILI (Pacnews) - The United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET) has signed an agreement with the Falintil Defence Forces of Timor Leste (FDTL) to hand over all operations of East Timor next week. The agreement...

First crude shipment next month.
May 6, 2004... 06 MAY 2004 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Papua New Guinea's first crude oil shipment of the local Kutubu blend crude is scheduled to arrive at the Napa Napa Oil refinery in June. Canadian company InterOil Ltd told the Port Moresby Stock...

Teachers' union warns against caning.
May 6, 2004... 06 MAY 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) - The Fiji Teachers Union (FTU) has reminded members not to inflicting corporal punishment on students. The Fiji Times quotes FTU president Balram saying the union believed corporal punishment on students was...

Split could cost Democratic Party the election, Party President warns.
May 7, 2004... 07 MAY 2004 RAROTONGA (Pacnews) --- Cook Islands ruling Democratic Party began its annual conference yesterday morning (06 May) with President Iaveta Short warning members that any split could cost them the election, Cook Islands News reports....

500 march in Papua human rights protest.
May 7, 2004... 07 MAY 2004 JAYAPURA (Pacnews) --- About 500 people have marched through the capital of Indonesia's Papua province, in a protest demanding better human rights. The Papuans, in the Coalition of Civilians for Human Rights, rallied in Jayapura...

Amnesty wants court outcomes conveyed to victims.
May 7, 2004... 07 MAY 2004 HONIARA (Pacnews) --- Amnesty International says victims of crimes need to know the outcomes of court decisions relating to them. Amnesty officer for the Asia-Pacific Region, Dr Heinz Schurmann-Zegel says this is to ensure victims...

Improvement of school curricula, rebuilding of civil society requires urgent attention.
May 7, 2004... 07 MAY 2004 SUVA (Pacnews) --- The availability and improvement of school curricula in East Timor requires urgent attention, said a speaker at the World Union of Catholic Women's Organisations Asia Pacific Conference in Suva yesterday (06 May)....

Potential for a Maori party in New Zealand.
May 7, 2004... 07 MAY 2004 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) --- Sacked New Zealand Minister, Tariana Turia, has predicted a new Maori political party would defeat the government in all seven Maori electorates. The Labour MP lost her cabinet post last week for...

Economy is expanding says Governor.
May 7, 2004... 07 MAY 2004 HAGATNA (Pacnews) --- According to Governor Felix P. Camacho, Guam's economy is expanding, Marianas Variety reports. In his weekly address, he said the thriving visitor industry has resulted in a multiplier effect, expanding many...

Candidates for governor general rejected due to "defects" on nomination forms.
May 7, 2004... 07 MAY 2004 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) --- Papua New Guinea's Clerk of Parliament Ano Pala rejected the nominations of the four candidates in the race for the governor general's position yesterday (06 May), the Post Courier newspaper reports. ...

Police continue exhumation of bodies in Weathercoast.
May 7, 2004... 07 MAY 2004 HONIARA (Pacnews) --- Solomon Islands Police will today complete the exhumation of the remains of eight of the 10 Kwaio men who were killed in the Weathercoast of Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation reports. The...

NZ not honouring immigration deal: Tuvalu PM.
May 7, 2004... 07 MAY 2004 FUNAFUTI (Pacnews) --- The Prime Minister of Tuvalu has claimed New Zealand is not honouring its side of a special immigration deal struck in case the tiny Pacific nation sinks beneath the waves. AFP reports that three years...

Guam and Hawaii possibly within range of North Korea missile.
May 7, 2004... 07 MAY 2004 SEOUL (Pacnews) --- North Korea is preparing to deploy a new missile that could reach Guam and possibly Hawaii, South Korean newspapers reported this week. According to a story from the LA Times, North Korea has been trying to...

Australia willing to assist legal agencies.
May 7, 2004... 07 MAY 2004 CANBERRA (Pacnews) --- Australia has indicated willingness to assist Solomon Islands strengthen its legal and justice institutions, Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation reports. Minister for Police and National Security, Michael...

10th Pacific rheumatic fever patient treated in Tahiti.
May 7, 2004... 07 MAY 2004 PAPEETE (Pacnews) --- An 18 year-old from Cook Islands is the tenth person from the Pacific to undergo an operation on Tahiti as part of a French Polynesia government programme aimed at preventing rheumatic fever in the Pacific. ...

Early poll results indicate major political swing.
May 10, 2004... 10 MAY 2004 NOUMEA (Pacnews) ---Early provincial elections results in New Caledonia indicate a significant swing marking the end of a ruling era for the incumbent anti-independence party, RPCR. RPCR, the Rally for New Caledonia within the...