PAC - Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association articles from May 2008

PAC - Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association archives from May 2008

Vanuatu to ditch tax haven.
May 6, 2008... 06 MAY 2008 PORT VILA (Pacnews) ------ The Vanuatu Government will scrap its secretive company law provisions within months as part of a legal overhaul aimed at abolishing the Pacific nation's reputation as an international tax haven, according...

Vanuatus top law official defends giving warrants for raids by Australian police.
May 6, 2008... 06 MAY 2008 PORT VILA (Pacnews) ----- Vanuatus Attorney general has defended the warrants issued for Australian Federal Police (AFP) to search businesses in Port Vila last week, Radio New Zealand International reports. In a joint operation...

Fiji Times publisher to continue work from Australia.
May 6, 2008... 06 MAY 2008 SYDNEY (Pacnews) ----- Deported Fiji Times Managing Director Evan Hannah says he will continue to do his job from offices in the city of Sydney, Radio Australia reports. Mr Hannah was expelled from Fiji on Friday. It was eleven...

Australia seeks greater private sector role in Pacific.
May 6, 2008... 06 MAY 2008 CAIRNS (Pacnews) ----- The Australian Government's push to rejuvenate relations with Pacific island nations has key role for the private sector, Radio Australia's reports. Australia's Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island...

Officials meet to finalise Asia-Pacific dengue strategy.
May 6, 2008... 06 MAY 2008 SINGAPORE (Pacnews)------Asia-Pacific health officials began a meeting in Singapore on Monday to finalise a strategy against dengue fever, reports AFP. Representatives from more than 20 countries are attending the five-day...

Taiwan's vice-premier quits over PNG graft claim.
May 6, 2008... 06 MAY 2008 TAIPEI (Pacnews) ----- Taiwan's vice-premier has quit the ruling Democratic Progressive Party taking responsibility for an embarrassing diplomatic scandal involving the alleged embezzlement of $US30 million, Radio Australia reports....

PNG not aware of Taiwans secret offer: Pepson.
May 6, 2008... 06 MAY 2008 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) ---- The Papua New Guinea (PNG) Government has denied knowledge of a secret offer of US$30 million from Taiwan in exchange for diplomatic recognition, reports The National. PNGs foreign affairs secretary...

Samoan PM threatens bi election on new political party.
May 6, 2008... 06 MAY 2008 APIA (Pacnews) ------ Samoan Prime Minister has threatened to call a bi-election on all opposition Members of Parliament who have agreed to form a new political party, reports SamoaNewline. Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele...

Fake medicines 'endangering PNG lives'.
May 6, 2008... 06 MAY 2008 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) ----- Papua New Guineans (PNG) lives are in danger due to increasing amounts of counterfeit and substandard pharmaceuticals being sold in the country, the PNG government has warned, reports The Age. PNG's...

Expected increase in rice price in Solomon Islands.
May 6, 2008... 06 MAY 2008 HONIARA (Pacnews) ----- Solomon Rice Company Limited has warned that the current increased prices on rice may increase further. SIBC reports the company's General Manager Brian Hutchinson said the recent increase was...

Cardiology team in Samoa for lifesaving surgeries.
May 6, 2008... 06 MAY 2008 APIA (Pacnews) ----- Samoan health officials say they are confident rheumatic heart disease in the country will be wiped out for good, with the help of a team of New Zealand surgeons. For the second year, a team of cardiologists...

Palauan soldier killed during training for Iraq.
May 6, 2008... 06 MAY 2008 KOROR (Pacnews) ----- A Palauan soldier was accidentally killed during a training prior to his deployment in Iraq. Palaus President Tommy Remengesau identified the soldier as Philton Ueki. He however said that the circumstances...

Pacific Islands Forum Secretary tenders his formal resignation.
May 6, 2008... 06 MAY 2008 SUVA (Pacnews) --- The Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Greg Urwin has formally tendered his resignation to the chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, reliable diplomatic sources have confirmed to PACNEWS....

Kyoto protocol a challenge.
May 6, 2008... 06 MAY 2008 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) ------ Papua New Guinea (PNG) still needs to develop a legal framework to implement the Kyoto Protocol in the Pacific nation, reports Post Courier. And the countrys biggest challenge now, if it wants to...

French Government ot receive Tahiti delegation in two weeks.
May 6, 2008... 06 MAY 2008 PAPEETE (Pacnews) ----- The junior French minister in charge of overseas territories, Yves Jego, is to receive a delegation from French Polynesia led by President Gaston Tong Sang next week to firm up development contracts, reports...

Indigenous peoples have crucial role in climate change debate UN forum.
May 6, 2008... 06 MAY 2008 NEW YORK (Pacnews) ------- Indigenous peoples have an important role to play in the global response to climate change, given their knowledge and experience with impacts of the phenomenon, and should be included in the international...

Indonesia returns East Timor rebels.
May 6, 2008... 06 MAY 2008 DILI (Pacnews) ----- Four men accused of involvement in armed attacks on East Timor's president and prime minister have been extradited from Indonesia, BBC reports. Police escorted the men onto a plane in Jakarta, for the...

Fiji remains suspended from Commonwealth, NZ support suspension.
May 13, 2008... 13 MAY 2008 LONDON (Pacnews) ---- Fiji remains suspended from the Commonwealth following the Commonwealth Mininisterial Action Group (CMAG) meeting in London last night. The Commonwealths watchdog on democratic governance, CMAG said that...

IMF sounds K10m warning.
May 13, 2008... 13 MAY 2008 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) ----- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned that the plan to spend K10 million (US$3.7 million) in each district could see PNG return to the dark days of macro economic instability, reports The...

Regional news organisation vows to stay in Fiji.
May 13, 2008... 13 MAY 2008 SUVA (Pacnews) ---- Pacific Island News Association (PINA) says it wont run away from threats to media freedom in Fiji, reports Radio New Zealand International. The head the Media Association of Solomon Islands (MASI) John...

Palau ban on live fish export becomes law.
May 13, 2008... 13 MAY 2008 KOROR (Pacnews) ------ Palaus President Tommy Remengesau has signed a bill in the senate to ban the export of live reef fish. The bill, which prohibits and provides penalties for the export of live reef fish from Palau, was...

More men, women join police force.
May 13, 2008... 13 MAY 2008 HONIARA (Pacnews) ------ More than 100 young men and women joined the Solomon Islands Police Force (SIPF) yesterday as full time officers after two years on probation, Solomon Times online. The 114 police constables 82 males...

New Zealand Immigration boss quits.
May 13, 2008... 13 MAY 2008 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) ---- New Zealands Senior Immigration Service executive Mary Anne Thompson has resigned, reports NZ Herald . Ms Thompson's resignation comes as the State Services Commission reviews residency applications by...

PNG shocked at IMF warning.
May 13, 2008... 13 MAY 2008 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) ----- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) warning on the use of K10 million (US$3.7 million) to each Papua New Guinea (PNG) district has been described as an old economic text book argument, reports The...

Nuclear test ban treaty discussed.
May 13, 2008... 13 MAY 2008 APIA (Pacnews) ------ A discussion of the consequences of nuclear testing involving 17 Pacific region countries has begun in Samoa, reports Samoan Observer. It involves discussion of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty...

Air New Guinea acquired new Boeing 767, calls to lower airfares.
May 13, 2008... 13 MAY 2008 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) -----Papua New Guineas ( PNG) national carrier Air Niugini last Friday took delivery of its new flagship, a Boeing 767-300 wide-body aircraft with a seating capacity of 214. The aircraft, in full Air...

President Horta wants UN to stay in E Timor.
May 13, 2008... 13 MAY 2008 DILI (Pacnews) ------The United Nations (UN) should stay in East Timor until at least 2012, President Jose Ramos Horta has said. He told the BBC there was still great potential instability and the country needed more time to...

Fiji unhappy with CMAG decision.
May 13, 2008... 13 MAY 2008 SUVA (Pacnews) --- Fijis interim government has issued a challenge to the new Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Kamlesh Sharma, to visit the country and judge the situation for himself. The invitation comes in the wake of...

Ousted PM charged, pleaded not guilty.
May 13, 2008... 13 MAY 2008 SUVA (Pacnews) --- Fijis ousted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase has pleaded not guilty to misusing funds set aside for extinct tribes while Minister for Fijian Affairs, reports Fiji Live . Mr Qarase appeared in the Suva...

Two die of whooping cough.
May 13, 2008... 13 MAY 2008 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) ----- Two children are dead and many more likely to be affected by a whooping cough outbreak reported in Papua New Guineas (PNG) Bogia District of Madang Province, reports Post Courier. Pius Aguagu, a...

FFA says satellite monitoring a surveillance option.
May 13, 2008... 13 MAY 2008 HONIARA (Pacnews) ------- The Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) says its exploring the possibility of satellite monitoring to catch illegal fishing vessels in the Pacific ocean, Radio New Zealand International reports. Greenpeace...

Niue asbestos disposal still undecided.
May 13, 2008... 13 MAY 2008 ALOFI (Pacnews) ------ The Niue Government is yet to make a decision on how to dispose of tonnes of asbestos roofing, much of it damaged during Cyclone Heta four years ago, reports Radio New Zealand International. Some asbestos...

Greenpeace exposes illegal Tuna purse seiner fishing in the Pacific.
May 13, 2008... 13 MAY 2008 SUVA (Pacnews) ----- Greenpeace exposed an illegal tuna purse seiner, the Queen Evelyn 168, in a pocket of international waters between Papua New Guinea and the Federated States of Micronesia. This Philippines-flagged vessel...

Military chief, ousted PM in talks.
May 20, 2008... 20 MAY 2008 SUVA (Pacnews) ------ Fijis military chief and interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama and the man he removed from office 17 months ago, ousted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, met for the first time yesterday since the...

Pacific migrants 'drain on economy'.
May 20, 2008... 20 MAY 2008 AUCKLAND (Pacnews) ------- Pacific Islanders'crime rates, poor education and low employment are creating an underclass and a drain on the New Zealand economy, a study says, Stuff NZ reports. Economist Greg Clydesdale, of Massey...

Palau appeal for unity among FFA members and Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission.
May 20, 2008... 20 MAY 2008 KOROR (Pacnews) -----Palau used the official opening of the 4th Ministerial Meeting of the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA)members to appeal to members to fiercely protect the last remaining healthy tuna fishery in the world. Vice...

Three in hospital after brawl outside Tongan wedding in Sydney.
May 20, 2008... 20 MAY 2008 SYDNEY (Pacnews) ------ Three men are in hospital after being stabbed outside the wedding of a Tongan couple in Sydney over the weekend. Four Tongan nationals were set upon in the suburb of Lidcombe, where two of the Tongans...

AFP overstepped the mark with Finance Centre raids, says Vanuatu Finance Minister.
May 20, 2008... 20 MAY 2008 PORT VILA (Pacnews) ----- Vanuatus Finance Minister claims that Australian Federal Police (AFP) overstepped the mark in carrying out raids on businesses in Port Vila earlier this month, reports Radio New Zealand International. ...

PM Clark orders Immigration Service inquiry.
May 20, 2008... 20 MAY 2008 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) ------ New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark has signalled a major loss of trust in the Immigration Service and called in Auditor-General Kevin Brady to investigate its Pacific Division, reports Stuff NZ. ...

Pacific's top policemen train in Tonga.
May 20, 2008... 20 MAY 2008 NUKUALOFA (Pacnews) ---- Potential police commanders and assistant commanders for the Pacific are currently being trained for the top job in a Pacific Regional Policing Training course that opened in Nuku'alofa, reports Matangi...

New Caledonias biggest political party faces split.
May 20, 2008... 20 MAY 2008 NOUMEA (Pacnews) ------- New Caledonias biggest political party, the anti-independence Future Together, is expected to split after differences were accentuated at a weekend meeting, reports Radio New Zealand International. The...

Pacific Islands Development Bank seeking new members.
May 20, 2008... 20 MAY 2008 PAGOPAGO (Pacnews) ----- The Pacific Islands Development Bank (PIDB), a lending institution funded by the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures ( PIL) has again raised hopes that American Samoa will become a PIDB member. ...

Families of diplomats in Fiji home-bound.
May 20, 2008... 20 MAY 2008 CANBERRA (Pacnews) ------ Security will be stepped up at the Australian High Commission in Fiji and families will will retun to Australia following serious threats to the diplomatic mission, Australian foreign mnister Stephen Smith...

Union warns of backlash against Pacific worker scheme.
May 20, 2008... 20 MAY 2008 CANBERRA (Pacnews) ------ A former Australian union boss is warning of a backlash in the community if unskilled guest workers are allowed into Australia. The immigration minister, Chris Evans, said allowing in unskilled...

Australia boosts immigration to plug labour market gaps.
May 20, 2008... 20 MAY 2008 SYDNEY (Pacnews) ------ Australia will increase its annual migration intake to 300,000 people a year - the biggest rise since the end of World War II, reports Voice of America. The increase in the annual quota is intended to...

K4.2m immigration office established.
May 20, 2008... 20 MAY 2008 SUVA (Pacnews) -----A new Papua New Guinea (PNG) Immigration and Citizenship Service office has been set up to improve the processing of immigration matters, Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Abal said yesterday, reports The National....

Demand from community needed to strengthen financial management in public sector.
May 20, 2008... 20 MAY 2008 TARAWA (Pacnews) ---- Kiribati President, Anote Tong has highlighted the need to promote greater. accountability and transparency in the use of Public funds in the Pacific nation. The workshop, organised by the...

Forum Fisheries Agency members to benefit from US$96 million Japans promotion fund.
May 20, 2008... 20 MAY 2008 KOROR (Pacnews) ----- Forum Fisheries Agency members ( FFA) members are to reap substantial financial benefits from a new line of funding from Japan, it was announced in Palau today. FFA Director General Tanielu Sua and the...

Fiji snubs diplomat death threat action.
May 21, 2008... 21 MAY 2008 CANBERRA (Pacnews) ---- Australian foreign Minister Stephen Smith has described death threats against Australia's high commissioner in Fiji as vile and repugnant, as the government moved to repatriate diplomatic families. The...

Guest workers wont spark backlash.
May 21, 2008... 21 MAY 2008 CANBERRA (Pacnews) ------ A guest worker scheme for South Pacific Islanders would not spark a right-wing backlash by undercutting local wages and conditions, Australian Immigration Minister Chris Evans says, reports The Age . ...

RAMSI shows weaknesses in Australian security: think tank.
May 21, 2008... 21 MAY 2008 HONIARA (Pacnews) ----- An Australian defence think tank says the intervention in Solomon Islands shows some of the weaknesses in Australia's national security system, Radio Australia reports. The Kokoda Foundation said the...

Claims of Pacific underclass slammed.
May 21, 2008... 21 MAY 2008 AUCKLAND (Pacnews) ------ The Samoan Advisory Council is unimpressed at a university discussion paper claiming too many Pacific and Asian migrants are creating an underclass in New Zealand, reports TVNZ. Research by economist...

People move inland to flee rising sea level.
May 21, 2008... 21 MAY 2008 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) ----- Elders in the Duke of York Islands in East New Britain of Papua New Guinea. (PNG) have expressed concern over global warming which is causing most of their islands to disappear slowly, reports The...

ADB approve a grant of US$11million for reconstruction of Nukualofa.
May 21, 2008... 21 MAY 2008 NUKUALOFA (Pacnews) ---- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved US$11.3 million grant for the reconstruction of Nuku'alofa, reports Radio Tonga News. Tongan Prime Minster, Dr Feleti Sevele made the revelation after...

PNG lags behind in food production capacity.
May 21, 2008... 21 MAY 2008 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) ------- Papua New Guinea (PNG) still depends heavily on imported food products simply because it has not reached the optimal production capacity towards self-sufficiency in food requirement, reports The...

Plan to block tuna fishing welcomed.
May 21, 2008... 21 MAY 2008 SUVA (Pacnews) ----- Enviromental groups have welcomed a decision by eight Pacific nations to block tuna fishing in pockets of international waters, reports AAP. A meeting in Palau of 17 Pacific countries, including Australia,...

Logs deal not best for PNG.
May 21, 2008... 21 MAY 2008 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) ----- Papua New Guinea (PNG) is getting less for its round log exports, Mendi MP Isaac Joseph told PNG Parliament yesterday, reports Post Courier. Mr Joseph raised the matter during Question Time and...

MPs form party outside parliament.
May 21, 2008... 21 MAY 2008 APIA (Pacnews) ----- Eleven independent MPs in Samoa have formed themselves into an unofficial opposition party,, reports Talamua online. The party according to spokesman and interim chairperson, Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi, is a...

Interim regime cease on tax for SPC staff.
May 21, 2008... 21 MAY SUVA 2008 (Pacnews) --- Fijis interim Government has approved a temporary cease in the charging of income tax on Fiji nationals working for the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) based in Fiji with effect from today, reports Fiji...

French Overseas State Secretary in New Caledonia next week.
May 21, 2008... 21 MAY 2008 NOUMEA (Pacnews) ------ French Overseas State Secretary Yves Jgo will be on his first official visit in New Caledonia next week, the French High commission in Nouma has announced, reports Oceania Flash. The visit is scheduled...

Two PNG nationals and a Fijian are top contenders for MSG top job.
May 27, 2008... 27 MAY 2008 SUVA (Pacnews) --- Two Papua New Guineans and a Fiji national are top contenders for the position of director general of the newly established Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) secretariat in Port Vila. PACNEWS has gathered that...

China, Tonga defence ministers vow to boost military ties.
May 27, 2008... 27 MAY 2008 BEIJING (Pacnews ) -- Chinese Defence Minister Liang Guanglie has met with visiting Tongan foreign and Defence Minister Sonatane Tupou in Beijing, Xinhua News Agency reports. They expressed the hope of enhancing exchange and...

UN Polynesian development workshop opens.
May 27, 2008... 27 MAY 2008 RAROTONGA (Pacnews ) -- A United Nations (UN) workshop, aimed at helping five Polynesian countries plan, cost and budget Millennium Development Goals ( MDG) opens in Cook Islands on Monday, Radio Australia reports. Cook...

Niue business group calls for a major rethink on tax.
May 27, 2008... 27 MAY 2008 RAROTONGA (Pacnews ) -- Business people on Niue say the island needs a new approach to taxation if it wants to boost the flagging economy, reports Radio New Zealand International . The Niue Business Roundtable group said it was...

Rat killing spree may save endangered wildlife on remote Pacific islands.
May 27, 2008... 27 MAY 2008 TARAWA (Pacnews) ------ A team of scientists is on its way to remote Phoenix Islands Protected Area in Kiribati to eradicate rats that are threatening populations of indigenous seabirds, reports Conservation International. The...

Taiwan release funding for Solomon Islands census.
May 27, 2008... 27 MAY 2008 HONIARA (Pacnews) ----- The Taiwanese Government will fund Solomon Islands National Population and Housing Census preparatory project, SIBC reports. The Taiwanese Ambassador to Solomon Islands, George Chan released a $3.7...

Bainimarama wants ousted ruling party out of election.
May 27, 2008... 27 MAY 2008 SUVA (Pacnews) ----- Fijis ousted ruling party, the Soqosoqo Duavata Ni Lewenivanua (SDL) party will not be allowed to contest next years general election, reports the Fiji Sun newspaper. In a radio interview yesterday, the...

USP sends 600 students home.
May 27, 2008... 27 MAY 2008 SUVA (Pacnews) ----- About 600 students have been deregistered from the University of the South Pacific (USP) because of failure to pay tuition fees, reports the Fiji Sun newspaper. And acting Vice chancellor Esther Williams...

Veteran PNG politician says parliament must have opportunities for votes of no confidence.
May 27, 2008... 27 MAY 2008 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) ---- A former Papua New Guinea (PNG) prime minister, Sir Julius Chan says MPs have to re-consider the grace period that protect governments from votes of no confidence, reports Radio New Zealand International....

Guam governor asks NMI peoples forgiveness.
May 27, 2008... 27 MAY 2008 HAGATNA (Pacnews) ------- Guam Governor. Felix P. Camacho has asked forgiveness from the CNMI for his islands rejection of the proposed Marianas reunification in 1969, reports Marianas Variety. Mr Camacho was the keynote speaker...

WTO issues services paper.
May 27, 2008... 27 MAY 2008 GENEVA (Pacnews) ----- A World Trade Organisation (WTO) mediator has issued proposals to open up services such as telecoms and banking, as France decried last week's negotiating texts on farming and industrial goods as a step...

New Zealand lawyer Heffernan named Fiji poll chief.
May 27, 2008... 27 MAY 2008 SUVA (Pacnews) ----- New Zealand lawyer Felicity Heffernan has been chosen Fijis Supervisor of Election, reports Fiji Live. She will take up her appointment on 01 July . Constitutional Offices Commission (COC) chairman...

Call on Tongas PM to resign.
May 27, 2008... 27 MAY 2008 NUKUALOFA (Pacnews) ------ The Langafonua Tuuloa Party in Tonga is calling on the Prime Minister Dr Feleti Sevele and and three other cabinet ministers to step down, Radio New Zealand International reports. The party said the...

Concern in Niue about lack of contest in June polls.
May 27, 2008... 27 MAY 2008 ALOFI (Pacnews) ----- While Niue goes to the polls in the next two weeks there are concerns that the results in nine of the 20 seats are already known, reports Radio New Zealand International. These candidates, who include the...

Greenpeace targets tuna fishing vessel.
May 27, 2008... 27 MAY 2008 SUVA (Pacnews) ------- Environmental activists in the South Pacific have protested against what they claim is the world's largest tuna catching vessel by trying to prevent it from hauling in its net, reports The Age. Greenpeace...

Vanuatu takes over from PNG as MSG chair.
May 27, 2008... 27 MAY 2008 PORT VILA (Pacnews) ----- Vanuatu is the new chair of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), taking over from Papua New Guinea (PNG), Radio New Zealand International reports. The change over was approved as MSG Foreign Ministers...

Call for WTO to scrap subsidies causing overfishing.
May 27, 2008... 27 MAY 2008 MELBOURNE (Pacnews) ----- A fisheries lobby group says more than 80 per cent of the world's fisheries are at risk from overfishing, Radio Australia reports. Oceana said the World Trade Organisation (WTO)must act urgently to...

Marshall Islands receives UNDP assistance for five year plan.
May 27, 2008... 27 MAY 2008 MAJURO (Pacnews ) ----- More assistance in the areas of Environment, Governance and Poverty Reduction will be rendered to the Marshallese people with the recent signing of the Country Programme Action Plan (CPAP) 2008-2012, reports...

University of the South Pacific (USP) formally announce position of Vice-Chancellor.
May 27, 2008... I am pleased on behalf of the USP Council to formally announce the appointment of Professor Rajesh Chandra to the position of Vice-Chancellor of the University of the South Pacific. Prior to becoming the Foundation Vice-Chancellor of the...

Fiji situation has deteriorated: Amnesty International.
May 29, 2008... 29 MAY 2008 LONDON (Pacnews) ------ Amnesty International has criticised Fiji's human rights record in its annual report, describing deaths in custody, cruel and degrading punishments of political opponents and a media crackdown during 2007,...

PNG national is new MSG director general.
May 29, 2008... 29 MAY 2008 PORT VILA (Pacnews) ------ Papua New Guinean (PNG) national Rima Ravusiro is expected to be confirmed today as the first head of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) secretariat, Islandbusiness online reports. His name will go...

Niue planning to use Forum summit to push for greater commitment to climate change.
May 29, 2008... 29 MAY 2008 ALOFI (Pacnews) ---- Niue wants Pacific countries to think about what they can do to combat climate change during this years Pacific Islands Forum leaders summit on the island, reports Radio New Zealand International. The...

Alert us on poll, says MSG.
May 29, 2008... 29 MAY 2008 PORT VILA (Pacnews) ----- The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Foreign Affairs Ministers council has recommended that Fiji alert members if it is unable to meet the March 2009 elections deadline, reports The Fiji Times. Newly...

Vanuatu say sorry to Solomon Islands.
May 29, 2008... 29 MAY 2008 PORT VILA (Pacnews) ---- Chiefs of Vanuatu put on an elaborate ceremony of reconciliation on Wednesday for Solomon Islands delegates attending the MSG Summit, islandbusiness online reports. The say sorry ceremony followed the...