PAC - Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association articles from September 2005

PAC - Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association archives from September 2005

PNG police beat, rape children, says Rights report.
September 1, 2005... 01 SEPTEMBER 2005 SYDNEY (Pacnews) - Papua New Guinea police are engaging in brutal beatings, rape and torture of children and risk spreading HIV/Aids in the South Pacific island nation, New York-based Human Rights Watch said in a report...

Fiji PM push for SPARTECA revision.
September 1, 2005... 01 SEPTEMBER 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - Fiji's Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase, is to formally request his Australian counterpart, John Howard to provide better market access for products from Pacific Island countries. Mr Qarase wants Australia...

Nabi's wrath spares NMI.
September 1, 2005... 01 SEPTEMBER 2005 SAIPAN (Pacnews) - Tropical storm Nabi intensified into a typhoon and slammed into the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas (CNMI) around noon yesterday with 105mph winds. Preliminary reports indicate that the capital,...

Australia beefs up maritime security.
September 1, 2005... 01 SEPTEMBER 2005 CANBERRA (Pacnews) - Crews of container ships will soon be subjected to electronic clearance before arrival at Australian sea ports, Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone has said. Senator Vanstone said the advance...

Fiji Church organise mass march against homosexual sex.
September 1, 2005... 01 SEPTEMBER 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - Fiji's Methodist Church is organising the biggest mass march ever in the country to pressure the government to criminalise homosexual and lesbian sex both in public and private. Radio Legend says the...

Frozen to death.
September 1, 2005... 01 SEPTEMBER 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Three people were frozen to death, one drowned while 27 others are recovering from injuries after walking five days across the uninhabited Sarawaged Range in Papua New Guinea's Morobe province. ...

Euro plan jolts Temaru's independence dialogue.
September 1, 2005... 01 SEPTEMBER 2005 PAPEETE (Pacnews) - While a switch from the French Pacific franc to the Euro could benefit French Polynesia, it would mean a 'brutal economic readjustment for the working population.' That's the conclusion of a...

Tonga civil servants call for fully elected parliament.
September 1, 2005... 01 SEPTEMBER 2005 NUKU'ALOFA (Pacnews) - The Interim Public Servants Committee, which has been leading the six week long strike in Tonga, has unveiled its proposal for a new form of government. Thousands of striking workers are demanding...

Solomon Islands and Australia hold bilateral discussions in Honiara tomorrow.
September 1, 2005... 01 SEPTEMBER 2005 HONIARA (Pacnews) - A high level consultation (HLC) between the Government of Solomon Islands and Australia will be held in Honiara tomorrow (02 Sept). Permanent Secretary for National Planning and Aid Coordination, Jane...

Airfares to go up for Air Pacific passengers.
September 1, 2005... 01 SEPTEMBER 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - Airfares to and from Fiji will go up with an increase just announced for fuel surcharges. Air Pacific announced yesterday that effective from tomorrow (02 Sept), fuel surcharge would increase by US$4 for...

Government admits CNMI can't protect its own borders.
September 1, 2005... 01SEPTEMBER 2005 SAIPAN (Pacnews) - Local officials have admitted that the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas (CNMI) lacks the ability to protect its own borders, particularly in preventing foreigners from illegally exiting the commonwealth...

New Caledonia raises its concerns on possible restrictions by the Tuna Commission.
September 1, 2005... 01 SEPTEMBER 2005 NOUMEA (Pacnews) - New Caledonia's fishing industry is concerned with possible restrictions to be imposed by the new Tuna Commission. This was the resolved at the recent meeting of the scientific committee of the...

OCO secretariat relocates to Fiji.
September 1, 2005... 01 SEPTEMBER 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - The Oceania Customs Organisation (OCO) secretariat will relocate to Fiji in 2006. "The transfer of location to Fiji will be totally independent from the Government of Fiji and the Fiji Islands Revenue &...

French High Commissioner leaves New Caledonia.
September 1, 2005... 01 SEPTEMBER 2005 NOUMEA (Pacnews) - France's High commissioner in New Caledonia, Daniel Constantin leaves the French Pacific territory at the weekend. He has been New Caledonia's French High commissioner since August 2002. In July, to...

Crusade man robbed in Port Moresby.
September 1, 2005... 01 SEPTEMBER 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - A member of world-renowned Evangelist Reinhart Bonnke's advance party lost his mobile phones and crusade documents to thieves in Port Moresby yesterday shortly before the preacher arrived. Crusade...

Pacific franc finished; Euro will replace it - Temaru predicts.
September 2, 2005... 02 SEPTEMBER 2005 PAPEETE (Pacnews) - President Oscar Temaru of French Polynesia predicts the introduction of the Euro but did not make a commitment on when it will happen. "The Pacific franc, it's finished. The Euro will replace it. We...

Tokelau referendum on self government likely within months.
September 2, 2005... 02 SEPTEMBER 2005 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) - Tokelauans are likely to vote in a referendum on self government in free association with New Zealand before the end of this year. The General Fono, the territory's main political body, has reached...

The Australian government has welcomed the developments in Tonga.
September 2, 2005... 02 SEPTEMBER 2005 CANBERRA (Pacnews) - The Australian Government has welcomed developments in Tonga. The Parliamentary Secretary on Foreign Affairs, Bruce Billson says the efforts by the government could lead to a positive breakthrough. ...

Urban drift figures alarming: Committee.
September 2, 2005... 02 SEPTEMBER 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Key infrastructure in Papua New Guinea (PNG) will be severely constrained with an estimated urban population expected to reach 2 million mark by 2020, according to figures released by the newly...

National Peace Council reviewed.
September 2, 2005... 02 SEPTEMBER 2005 HONIARA (Pacnews) - The Solomon Islands Government has announced the establishment of a taskforce to review the mandate of the National Peace Council (NPC). The 13-member taskforce will be headed by retired civil servant,...

Aust Governor General to visit PNG.
September 2, 2005... 02SEPTEMBER 2005 CANBERRA (Pacnews) - Australian Governor-General Major General Michael Jeffery is to travel to Papua New Guinea this month for the 30th anniversary independence celebrations. The main celebrations will be in Port Moresby on...

French Polynesia's Parliament drifts to the centre.
September 2, 2005... 02 SEPTEMBER 2005 PAPE'ETE (Pacnews) - French Polynesia's 57-seat Legislative Assembly has drifted further to the centre, with one more defection by an MP from the former ruling majority, the Assembly said this week in a release. Temauri...

McKinnon welcomes developments in Tonga.
September 2, 2005... 02 SEPTEMBER 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - Commonwealth Secretary General, Don McKinnon has welcomed attempts by both parties in the Tongan national crisis to enter into negotiations and work out a resolution to the six weeks old impasse. Speaking...

Suppression of sexual minorities "contrary to good public health practice".
September 2, 2005... 02 SEPTEMBER 2005 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) - A call to criminalise homosexual sex in Fiji will endanger public health and foster the spread of HIV/AIDS, the New Zealand AIDS Foundation says. The Foundation has expressed deep concern at the...

PNG faces major AIDS crisis.
September 2, 2005... 02 SEPTEMBER 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Papua New Guinea (PNG) faces the region's biggest problem because the AIDS epidemic appears to have moved into the general population, UNAIDS Global Director Dr Peter Piot said during a speech at the...

State of emergency declared.
September 2, 2005... 02 SEPTEMBER 2005 SAIPAN(Pacnews) - Northern Marianas Governor Juan Babauta has declared a state of emergency yesterday "to mobilize resources" in response to the damage wrought by Typhoon Nabi in the Commonwealth. At least six houses on...

National dress soon for PNG.
September 2, 2005... 02 SEPTEMBER 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Papua New Guinea (PNG) will soon have a national dress. National dress competition panel of judges began their first judging session yesterday by eliminating entries. The competition, which...

American Samoa Government buys a plane for marine surveillance.
September 2, 2005... 02 SEPTEMBER 2005 PAGOPAGO (Pacnews) - An aircraft has been bought by the American Samoan Government to monitor unauthorised fishing in its territorial waters. The aircraft, which cost about US$380,000, should arrive this month. The money...

Lawyers argue on 'police force'.
September 2, 2005... 02 SEPTEMBER 2005 HONIARA (Pacnews) - There can only be 'one police force' in Solomon Islands, a local lawyer has argued. The creation of any other force whether by law or otherwise will therefore be unconstitutional, said Charles Ashley,...

Fresh support for thousands on strike in Tonga.
September 2, 2005... 02 SEPTEMBER 2005 NUKU'ALOFA (Pacnews) - Support for thousands of striking civil servants in Tonga is continuing to swell. They've rejected the latest government offer to come to the negotiating table. There are unconfirmed reports the...

Churches urge PNG Government to control use of small weapons.
September 2, 2005... 02 SEPTEMBER 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - The Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC) has urged the Papua New Guinea (PNG) Government to put in place mechanisms to ensure the safety of its citizens. The call comes in the wake of an unprovoked...

National EPI campaign in Solomon Islands set for 2006.
September 2, 2005... 02 SEPTEMBER 2005 HONIARA (Pacnews) - A massive Expanded Programme for Immunisation (EPI) is schedule to begin in April next year targetting some 70,000 children nation wide. Speaking to Solomon Star yesterday National Coordinator for EPI...

Uncloak Polynesia Blue's mystery shareholders, Samoa opposition says.
September 2, 2005... 02 SEPTEMBER 2005 APIA (Pacnews) - Samoa's Opposition leader, Le Mamea Ropati, is demanding an answer from the government on who will own the remaining two per cent of the newly-merged airline Polynesia Blue. The airline is the union of...

Solomon coach still hopeful.
September 2, 2005... 02 SEPTEMBER 2005 SYDNEY (Pacnews) - Solomon Islands coach Ayrton Andrioli says he would have liked five months rather than four weeks to prepare his players for the biggest match of their lives against Australia tomorrow (03 Sept) night. ...

Tonga strike over.
September 5, 2005... 05 SEPTEMBER 2005 NUKU'ALOFA (Pacnews) - After 44 days of nationwide strike, Tongan civil servants will return to work this afternoon. On Saturday (03 Sept), the Tongan Government signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the interim...

New Caledonia declares hepatitis epidemic.
September 5, 2005... 05 SEPTEMBER 2005 NOUMEA (Pacnews) - A hepatitis, type A epidemic has been declared for New Caledonia. Health and Social Services head, Dr Jean-Paul Grangeon, said in a government statement that for the past few weeks, hospitals have been...

British man wanted by PNG police seen with rebels in Bougainville capital.
September 5, 2005... 05 SEPTEMBER 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - A British man wanted by police in the Papua New Guinea province of Bougainville has been sighted in the provincial capital, Buka, with a heavy rebel guard. James Nesbitt is wanted for questioning...

Marshall Islands considers largest ever budget.
September 5, 2005... 05 SEPOTEMBER 2005 MAJURO (Pacnews) - The Marshall Islands Nitijela, the local legislature, has launched public hearings on a US$146.3 million national budget for fiscal year 2006 - the largest budget ever in the 26-year history of this western...

Former diplomat calls for Foreign Service training.
September 5, 2005... 05 SEPTEMBER 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - There is an urgent need to establish a career Foreign Service training programme in Fiji, says Berenado Vunibobo, a former Fiji Ambassador to the United Nations. Mr Vunibobo made the statement last week in...

Pacific Sky cruise liner stuck on New Caledonia's reef.
September 5, 2005... 05 SEPTEMBER 2005 NOUMEA (Pacnews) - Australia-based P&O-owned cruise liner Pacific Sky ran aground on New Caledonia's southern reef, off one of its regular stopovers, the Isle of Pines on Saturday (03 Sept), local media report. The...

Tuvalu's PM strengthens his power in parliament.
September 5, 2005... 05 SEPTEMBER 2005 FUNAFUTI (Pacnews) - Tuvalu's Prime Minister, Maatia Toafa, has strengthened his majority in Parliament with the newest Member announcing he'll join the Government. The newly elected representative from Nanumaga island...

Fiji opposition to lobby for election monitors.
September 5, 2005... 05 SEPTEMBER 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - Fiji's opposition leader, Mahendra Chaudhry says he will request the Commonwealth Secretary General to send a group to monitor the country's national election next year. Mr Chaudhry told Radio Fiji there...

Princess Anne to visit AIDS and disabled centres.
September 5, 2005... 05 SEPTEMBER 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Princess Anne will also visit a Stop-AIDS centre and a disabled centre in Port Moresby during her two-day visit to the country later this month. Princess Anne will arrive in the country on 28 Sept...

Niche market targeted.
September 5, 2005... 05 SEPTEMBER 2005 BEIJING (Pacnews) - Chinese tourists need to get used to the idea of "sand surf and sun" before they will fully appreciate and choose the Pacific as a holiday destination. According to New Zealand Ambassador to China, Tony...

Pacific needs genuine Chinese business intervention.
September 5, 2005... 05 SEPTEMBER 2005 BEIJING (Pacnews) - The Pacific needs to start attracting genuine, larger and well established businesses into our island countries. Fiji's Ambassador to China, Jeremaia Waqanisau believes Chinese companies operating and...

Air Tahiti Nui to maintain three weekly flights to Japan.
September 5, 2005... 03 SEPTEMBER 2005 PAPEETE (Pacnews) - French Polynesia's national airline, Air Tahiti Nui will not cut down its three weekly Tokyo-Papeete flights during the Japanese tourist market's low season from 30 October to 27 March. The airline's...

Ants hitch a ride on Fiji iPod.
September 5, 2005... 05 SEPTEMBER 2005 AUCKLAND (Pacnews) - A New Zealand man got more than he bargained for when he found a colony of Singapore ants had followed him home from Fiji, StuffNZ reports. The Auckland man discovered the infestation in the packaging...

Marshall Islands exodus expected to continue to the U.S.
September 5, 2005... 05 SEPTEMBER 2005 MAJURO (Pacnews) - The exodus of people from the Marshall Islands to the United States is expected to continue in the forseeable future. The country's director of planning, Carl Hacker says approximately one in every five...

Stop selling government properties - Sasako.
September 5, 2005... 05 SEPTEMBER 2005 HONIARA (Pacnews) - A Member of Parliament in Solomon Islands has called for a moratorium on the sale of government land and properties in the capital until a full review is undertaken after next year's general election. ...

NZ dispute relocation of OCO headquarters to Fiji.
September 5, 2005... 05 SEPTEMBER 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - New Zealand has disputed plans to relocate the headquarters of the Oceania Customs Organisation (OCO) to Fiji. In a brief email to PACNEWS, John Secker, the deputy comptroller of New Zealand Customs said...

Palau, FSM target maritime boundary.
September 5, 2005... 05 SEPTEMBER 2005 KOROR (Pacnews) - Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) will sign early next year a treaty that draws the line between the two countries' maritime boundary. Representatives of the two governments made the...

Sir Peter urges people to celebrate as nation.
September 5, 2005... 05 SEPTEMBER 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Papua New Guinea's 30th Independence Anniversary celebrations must not be seen as an event to be celebrated only in Port Moresby but in every province and district in the country, chairman of the...

Mine will test wisdom of Solomons.
September 6, 2005... 06 SEPTEMBER 2005 HONIARA (Pacnews) - A new gold float planned for next year will test whether a 2.37 million ounce resource is enough to reassure investors that a Solomon Islands project is the right thing for them, The Australian reports. ...

Civil servants march for political reforms.
September 6, 2005... 06 SEPTEMBER 2005 NUKU'ALOFA (Pacnews) - Organisers of the protest march in Tonga estimate that over 20,000 people took to the streets this morning to demonstrate the need for political reforms in the island kingdom. The peaceful march...

Yamarna loses passion for Niue's uranium.
September 6, 2005... 06 SEPTEMBER 2005 MWLBOURNE (Pacnews) - The discovery of a 26-year-old research report has put a dampener on Yamarna Goldfields' share-price-soaring claim of last month that the Pacific island of Niue was potentially sitting on top of the...

McKinnon wants to meet State.
September 6, 2005... 06 SEPTEMBER 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - Commonwealth secretary general, Don McKinnon plans to meet the Fiji Government to discuss next year's general elections and issues raised by the opposition. The comment comes after the Leader of...

Kiribati chaplain on attachment in Solomon Islands.
September 6, 2005... 06 SEPTEMBER 2005 HONIARA (Pacnews) - A Kiribati Protestant Church Chaplain is in Honiara on a two-month exchange attachment programme with the Seafarers Mission in Honiara. Reverend Rewi Tekaotioti who is the Chaplain for Kiribati Marine...

Solomons confident of trouble-free qualifier.
September 6, 2005... 06 SEPTEMBER 2005 HONIARA (Pacnews) - Solomon Islands soccer officials are confident crowd violence will not disrupt today's World Cup qualifier with Australia in Honiara. A sell-out crowd of more than 20,000 people will attend the match,...

New Caledonia's government grants Filipino nickel workers special labour status.
September 6, 2005... 06 SEPTEMBER 2005 NOUMEA (Pacnews) - New Caledonia has endorsed a special status for some four thousand Filipino workers to be sent shortly to the French Pacific territory to work on the Southern Goro-Nickel mining project. Oceania Flash...

Fiji faces major power blackouts from Thursday.
September 6, 2005... 06 SEPTEMBER 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - Fiji is bracing for major power blackouts as more than 400 workers of the state-owned Electricity Authority prepare to go on an indefinite strike from Thursday (08 Sept). The general secretary of the Fiji...

Ship's in better shape.
September 6, 2005... 06 SEPTEMBER 2005 NOUMEA (Pacnews) - Australian cruise liner Pacific Sky, which ran on to a reef in New Caledonia at the weekend, was yesterday pulled free by two tugs and led to an anchorage, marine authorities said. According to an...

Permanent residency seekers to lobby U.S. Congress.
September 6, 2005... 06 SEPTEMBER 2005 SAIPAN (Pacnews) - Foreign workers in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas (CNMI) will go ahead with a petition to the U.S. Congress to give them residency status. The 3,000 foreign workers, members of the group...

PAP questions PM's campaign manager's trip to New York.
September 6, 2005... 06 SEPTEMBER 2005 HONIARA (Pacnews) - A senior member of the ruling People's Alliance Party (PAP) in Solomon Islands has attacked government's decision to send the prime minister's campaign manager to New York. Prime Minister Sir Allan...

Mekamui men seize police vehicle.
September 6, 2005... 06 SEPTEMBER 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Buin police in Bougainville have lost their vehicle to Mekamui supporters at a roadblock in the area at the weekend. Bougainville police chief Assistant Commissioner Joe Bemu told The National...

River a threat to Lae City.
September 6, 2005... 06 SEPTEMBER 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Lae City in Papua New Guinea (PNG) is under threat from the Bumbu River, The National reports. Provincial and Local Level Government chairman Gigo Zaliong said if the river broke the Didiman Creek...

Air Caldonie replaces ageing fleet.
September 6, 2005... 06 SEPTEMBER 2005 NOUMEA (Pacnews) - New Caledonia's domestic airline Air Caldonie (AirCal) has purchased three new ATR series 500 aircraft to replace its ageing fleet. The purchase, which was estimated to cost US$50 million, was...

Province granted power to control logging operations.
September 6, 2005... 06 SEPTEMBER 2005 HONIARA (Pacnews) - Solomon Islands Isabel Provincial Government has been granted absolute power to safeguard logging operations on the island. This followed a Court of Appeal decision early last month where the 1997...

New legal bid for Australian man charged for gay sex in Fiji.
September 6, 2005... 06 SEPTEMBER 2005 MELBOURNE (Pacnews) - The Australian man who successfully fought a gay sex conviction in Fiji has begun legal action against the lawyer who originally defended him. Max McCosker, who returned home less than two weeks ago...

Rare bird count near complete.
September 6, 2005... 06 SEPTEMBER 2005 RAROTONGA (Pacnews) - The annual count of the rare kakerori birds (Rarotonga flycatcher) in Rarotonga and Atiu is currently underway. Takitumu Conservation Area (TCA) spokesperson Ian Karika says the census team is led by...

It's time for political reforms in Tonga: Pohiva.
September 7, 2005... 07 SEPTEMBER 2005 NUKU'ALOFA (Pacnews) - Tonga's pro-democracy leader, Akilisi Pohiva says it's time that the monarchy accept the participation of the people in governance. Mr Pohiva told Radio New Zealand International that the people have...

Fiji to develop plan for falling sugar prices.
September 7, 2005... 07 SEPTEMBER 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - A national strategy will be drawn up to help the Fiji sugar industry adapt to the social impact of lower revenue because of the planned phasing out of preferential sugar prices in 2007. The decision to...

Bougainville ban on women's shorts 'stinks'.
September 7, 2005... 07 SEPTEMBER 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - A female lawmaker in Bougainville says a recent ban by local chiefs to stop women from wearing shorts "totally stinks." Deputy Speaker of the Autonomous Bougainville Government Francisca Semoso...

Looming legal battle in NAuru.
September 7, 2005... 07 SEPTEMBER 2005 YAREN (Pacnews) - Thousands of landowners on Nauru are taking legal action demanding the Nauru Phosphate Royalties Trust handover some US$69million they claim it owes them. Landowners want payment for compensation and...

26 Air Vanuatu employees lose their jobs.
September 7, 2005... 07 SEPTEMBER 2005 PORT VILA (Pacnews) - Vanuatu's state airline has sacked twenty-six employees. The Daily Post reports Air Vanuatu staff who received their letters of termination confirmed that no reasons were provided, but the letter was...

Samoan drug defendant in Honolulu apprehended; Tongan convicted for human trafficking.
September 7, 2005... 07 SEPTEMBER 2005 HONOLULU (Pacnews) - A Samoan man who fled from federal authorities in Hawaii has been captured and his drug trial set for October. According to federal court records, an arrest warrant was issued in March 2002 against...

Warnings about Tonga's economy following strike deal.
September 7, 2005... 07 SEPTEMBER 2005 NUKU'ALOFA (Pacnews) - In Tonga, concerns have been raised about the economic impact of a settlement reached between striking public servants and the government. Public servants have returned to work after six weeks of...

ADB raises AIDS awareness.
September 7, 2005... 07 SEPTEMBER 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) sees the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS in Papua New Guinea (PNG) as important to the development of the country. Aware of the massive awareness campaign...

Fijian gold miner reports 'ballooning' losses.
September 7, 2005... 07 SEPTEMBER 2005 SYDNEY (Pacnews) - Fijian gold miner Emperor Mines Ltd reported ballooning losses, prompting one of its principal creditors to undertake a review of the company's operations. The Australia-listed company reported a...

Dental team off to Tonga.
September 7, 2005... 07 SEPTEMBER 2005 MELBOURNE (Pacnews) - A group of Ballarat dental professionals is heading to Tonga next week to boost health services in the country. The volunteers are part of a team of 12 people and will construct a dental clinic on a...

Solomon PM intervenes in media debate.
September 7, 2005... 07 SEPTEMBER 2005 HONIARA (Pacnews) - Solomon Islands Prime Minister Sir Allan Kemakeza has rejected media reports questioning his decision to take his political officer Clement Betea to New York. "Mr Betea is a political officer in the...

Japanese cabinet push to recover remains of war dead from PNG and Solomon Islands.
September 7, 2005... 07 SEPTEMBER 2005 TOKYO (Pacnews) - The Japanese Government plans a final push to recover the remains of Japanese soldiers and civilians killed in the Philippines and South Pacific islands during World War II, the Asahi Shimbun reports. ...

Vanuatu's police force to be restructured and foreign police commissioner appointed.
September 7, 2005... 07 SEPTEMBER 2005 PORT VILA (Pacnews) - The police force in Vanuatu is to be restructured and a foreign police commissioner is to be appointed. The Minister of Internal Affairs, George Wells said he would also like to see the police force...

Suspend Fiji if bill passed: Chaudhry.
September 7, 2005... 07 SEPTEMBER 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - Fiji's opposition leader has asked the Commonwealth to suspend his country if the government passes legislation which could forgive perpetrators of the 2000 coup. Mahendra Chaudhry, who was deposed as...

Australian company undeterred in Niue uranium search.
September 7, 2005... 07 SEPTEMBER 2005 MELBOURNE (Pacnews) - An Australian mining company, Yamarna Goldfields Limited, is continuing to explore for uranium on Niuemdespite a report that there's only a slight possibility of locating an exploitable, commericially...