PAC - Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association back issues from January 2005:
REGIONAL HEADLINES - MON 3 JAN 05.
Jan 03, 2005 ... PAPUA NEW GUINEA Sir William Skate and Dame Carol Kidu Honoured ECP Immunity Tested Shoe War Ends Airline 'No Shows' Will Pay FIJI Travel Agency Denies 'Cheaters List' Red Cross Appeal Hits $52,869 - Forum Chips In. 2005 Traffic Toll Starts with a Child AMERICAN ...
Roadblocks set up as search for the killer of Australian RAMSI officer continues.
Jan 04, 2005 ... 04 JANUARY 2005 HONIARA (Pacnews) - The hunt in Solomon Islands for the killers of Australian Federal Police officer, Adam Dunning, is continuing with road checks being set up in various areas of Honiara. Residents of Kakabona a village on the western outskirts of the capital ...
Regional participants at world gathering on tsunami restoration meeting.
Jan 04, 2005 ... 04 JANUARY 2005 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) - New Zealand's Prime Minister, Helen Clark and Foreign Minister Phil Goff will be in Indonesia this week for a summit of international donors in Jakarta, Indonesia for last week's devastating tsunami, which has killed more than 100, 000 people across ...
Trust warns people off Takutea.
Jan 04, 2005 ... 04 JANUARY 2005 RAROTONGA (Pacnews) - Concerned conservationists in Cook Islands' Atiu Island are concerned with the fast decrease of the bird population on the uninhabited island and the illegal intrusion of wildlife. The 120-hectare island is located 14 kilometres north of ...
2004 tourism arrivals an estimated 215,000.
Jan 04, 2005 ... 04 JANUARY 2005 PAPE'ETE (Pacnews) - French Polynesia's tourism authorities estimate the French Pacific country has this year welcomed around 215,000 visitors, which is about the same as last year, in spite of the 230,000 target they had set themselves. However, tourism minister ...
Air Niugini announces new boarding rules.
Jan 04, 2005 ... 04 JANUARY 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Papua New Guinea's national carrier Air Niugini is cracking down on passengers who fail to board their flight after being allocated a seat. The airline has instituted a new fail-to-board policy in line with international measures to ...
Niue comes up with five proposals for Fiji meet.
Jan 04, 2005 ... 04 JANUARY 2005 ALOFI (Pacnews) - Budding Niue entrepreneurs have entered five tourism development proposals to an event being staged in Nadi, Fiji in February. Tourism executives from around the region hope to meet potential partners and investors from all over the world and ...
PR status for non-citizens facilitated this month.
Jan 04, 2005 ... 04 JANUARY 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Papua New Guinea has opened itself up this month to welcome non-citizens who have stayed in the country for at least eight years to apply for a permanent residency (PR) status in the country. And if people have had children while staying ...
Tourism investment increase substantially in the region.
Jan 04, 2005 ... 04 JANUARY 2005 PACIFIC (Pacnews) - Statistics have indicated that there has been a substantial increase in tourism investment in the Pacific Islands in recent years. Major investments have been taking shape in Cook Islands, Fiji, New Caledonia and Samoa and other destinations ...
Fiji TV makes final payment.
Jan 04, 2005 ... 04 JANUARY 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - Fiji Television has made a final payment of AUD$1. 68million (USD$1. 313m) to buy and take complete control of EMTV, Papua New Guinea's only free-to-air television station. The transaction was completed over the New Year period. It appears Papua ...
Pacific Forum donates towards international relief effort on Asian tsunami destruction.
Jan 04, 2005 ... 04 JANUARY 2005 PACIFIC (Pacnews) - Pacific Island leaders have authorised a donation of FJD$80, 000 (USD$48, 672) towards the international relief efforts on the destructive earthquake/tsunami that destructed countries in Asia last week. Pacific Forum Secretary General, Greg ...
2005 heralds free education for Solomon Islands children.
Jan 04, 2005 ... 04 JANUARY 2005 HONIARA (Pacnews) - Solomon Islands' Minister of Education Snyder Rini says he believes that with the substantial increase in the allocation of primary school grants, it is possible to abolish school fees at the primary school level from 2005 and beyond. He says it is ...
Land reclamation committee jumps over first hurdle.
Jan 04, 2005 ... 04 JANUARY 2005 PAPEETE (Pacnews) - Representatives of at least 43 families seeking to reclaim land in French Polynesia's Tupai Atoll have signed a draft agreement with the government for the return of the land. The signing has cleared the first hurdle in the families' 20-year ...
REGIONAL SUMMARY Tuesday 4 Jan 2005 (c) Copyright PINA 2004.
Jan 04, 2005 ... REGIONAL HEADLINES - TUE 4 JAN 05 REGION PNG, Marshall Islands Know the Danger Taiwanese President to Visit Solomon and Marshall Islands PAPUA NEW GUINEA Police say Elections Costs High SOLOMON ISLANDS Heightened Security for Aussies FIJI ...
Fijian business executive dies in PNG fire.
Jan 04, 2005 ... 04 JANUARY 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Papua New Guinea police are investigating the death of a Fijian man and South African business partner in Kavieng after a fire razed their house to the ground during the early hours of the New Year celebrations. NBC PNG quotes Provincial ...
Public outcry on exorbitant electricity costs.
Jan 04, 2005 ... 04 JANUARY 2005 NUKU'ALOFA (Pacnews) - There has been widespread outcry in Tonga on the high cost of electricity, prompting sacked former Cabinet Minister Clive Edwards to reveal a few disturbing facts about Crown Prince Tupouto'a and his company Shoreline, which distributes electricity. ...
Minister sets 2005 goal for Bougainville.
Jan 04, 2005 ... 04 JANUARY 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Papua New Guinea's Minister for Inter-Government Relations, Sir Peter Barter, says the new year will begin with an initiative to speed up the next phase of Bougainville's transitional autonomy in Bougainvilleans' hands. He says that as ...
Government earmarks USD$100,000 for Indian Ocean tsunami victims.
Jan 04, 2005 ... 04 JANUARY 2005 NOUMEA (Pacnews) - The New Caledonian Government has announced it would donate about USD$100,000 or about CFP$10 million to help with an international relief effort on the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami devastation on December 26. It had earlier placed its ...
France wants French Polynesia better integrated in Pacific region.
Jan 04, 2005 ... 04 JANUARY 2005 PAPE'ETE (Pacnews) - France's High Commissioner in French Polynesia, Michel Mathieu, has relayed a government wish that it wants to see French Polynesia take all the necessary initiative for regional integration. In his New Year speech, Mr Mathieu said the ...
PACNEWS DIGEST - The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS.
Jan 04, 2005 ... Trade Commissioner says Cook Islands must prepare for quality visitors from China RAROTONGA, COOK ISLANDS - Rohan and Adrianne Ellis are in Rarotonga, Cook Islands for Christmas and New Year celebrations with the family. Ellis is the Trade Commissioner at the Pacific ...
Call for climate-change meeting and Kyoto Protocol signing.
Jan 05, 2005 ... 05 JANUARY 2005 CANBERRA (Pacnews) - An Australian Premier has called on Prime Minister John Howard to tackle climate change now and sign on to the Kyoto Protocol if he wants to save the country's future generations. South Australian Premier, Mike Rann, says the future for ...
PM Lini signs agreement for two ships.
Jan 05, 2005 ... 05 JANUARY 2005 PORT VILA (Pacnews) - Vanuatu's Prime Minister Ham Lini and Chinese Ambassador, Bao Shusheng have signed an agreement to formalise the construction of two ships for the country. The agreement follows a request originally made by former Prime Ministers Edward ...
Taiwan president plans Pacific visit.
Jan 05, 2005 ... 05 JANUARY 2005 PACIFIC (Pacnews) - Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian plans to visit two South Pacific allies and at least one country that has diplomatic ties with China, the country's Foreign Ministry announced. The move reportedly would irritate Beijing. Taiwanese ...
Dunning killer suspected remanded in custody.
Jan 05, 2005 ... 05 JANUARY 20-05 HONIARA (Pacnews) - John Hen Ome, a 31-year-old Solomon Islander suspected of shooting Australian police officer, Adam Dunning, to death two weeks ago is further placed in custody. He had been arrested and charged on December 24, with one count of murder and ...
28 theft counts filed vs. ex-Speaker, wife.
Jan 05, 2005 ... 05 JANUARY 2005 SAIPAN (Pacnews) - Foremr Northern Marianas Speaker Oscar Rasa and his wife Patricia have been charged with 28 counts of theft. They will appera in court on Monday next week. The Rasas appeared have appeared in court to answer to the charges and are ...
Government commits PGK$2m for Asia tsunami rescue efforts.
Jan 05, 2005 ... 05 JANUARY 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Papua New Guinea's Acting Prime Minister, Sam Akoitai has announced an initial PGK2 million (USD$636, 000) as a start-off mark for PNG's contribution towards the Asian tsunami relief and reconstruction operations. Mr Akoitai said the ...
PACNEWS DIGEST - The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS.
Jan 05, 2005 ... Tsunamis, a tragic lesson for Tonga A PACNEWS feature today comes from a letter written by a concerned Tongan woman, now living in Jakarta, Indonesia, who felt and saw the immediate effects of the devastating December 26 earthquake and tsunami and witnessed its destruction, lost ...
Possible Cyclone Forming North of Fiji Moving Toward Open Sea.
Jan 05, 2005 ... REGION - The Joint Typhoon Warning Centre in Hawaii has issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert for an area about 545 nautical miles North West of Fiji. At present the disturbance is slowly moving away from Fiji and Vanuatu. They say there is a 'good' chance of the formation of a ...
Fijian scouts face chicken pox scare at international jamboree.
Jan 05, 2005 ... 05 JANUARY 2005 MANAWATU (Pacnews) - The fear of chickenpox has isolated 27 Fijian scouts attending the 17th World Scout Jamboree in New Zealand. More than half of the Fijian contingent has been moved from the Manfield Park jamboree venue in Manawatu today to an alternative ...
Agriculture Minister faces axing.
Jan 05, 2005 ... 05 JANUARY 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Serious allegations of misconduct in public office have surfaced against Papua New Guinea's Minister for Agriculture and Livestock, Mathew Siune. Milne Bay Governor, Tim Neville, made an announcement on the issue yesterday. ...
Canadian nickel giant gets French tax holidays for Goro Nickel.
Jan 05, 2005 ... 05 JANUARY 2005 TORONTO (Pacnews) - Canadian mining giant Inco has reached an agreement with the French Government on obtaining significant tax rebates for its USD$1.88 billion Goro Nickel and cobalt project in the Southern part of New Caledonia's main island. Inco says it had ...
French experts re-assess tsunami risk in French Pacific islands.
Jan 05, 2005 ... 05 JANUARY 2005 NOUMEA (Pacnews) - French geo-scientists are moving to re-assess natural disaster risks in French Pacific island countries and territories, following the deadly Indian Ocean tsunami. A joint release from the French scientific research institute (CNRS) and ...
Tongans pray for their future.
Jan 05, 2005 ... 05 JANUARY 2005 NUKU'ALOFA (Pacnews) - Thousands of Tongans have packed local churches in the past week to pray for their country. It is the annual Week of Prayer and Tongans have focussed "on various important issues pertaining to the well-being of everyone in the society, both ...
Possible cyclone forming for Fiji.
Jan 05, 2005 ... 05 JANUARY 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - The Joint Typhoon Warning Centre in Hawaii has issued a tropical cyclone formation alert for an area about 545 nautical miles North West of Fiji. At present the disturbance is slowly moving away from Fiji and Vanuatu. Experts say ...
CHARITY CRICKET MATCH LIVE IN THE PACIFIC.
Jan 05, 2005 ... SUVA, Fiji Islands - Regional Television stations are working together to broadcast a charity cricket test between Australia and the rest of the world at the MCG in Australia next week. (January 10) Fiji TV has been licensed to broadcast the entire match and distribute the match to Tonga, ...
REGIONAL HEADLINES - WED 5 JAN 05.
Jan 05, 2005 ... PAPUA NEW GUINEA Election Hinges on Weapons Destruction SOLOMON ISLANDS Murder Suspect Remanded Government Appoints Asian Tsunami Committee NORTHERN MARIANAS Marianas remember Those Lost Protection Given to Crime Stoppers Now Law FIJI Suspect ...
Labour calls for media standards authority.
Jan 05, 2005 ... 05 JANUARY 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - The Fiji Labour Party has called for the establishment of a Media Standards Authority to guide editors on reporting ethical issues. The Indian-dominated party says this would ensure that the media were not used as a vehicle for the agendas of ...
Samoa women's report to be presented at UN Special Session.
Jan 05, 2005 ... 05 JANUAR 2005 APIA (Pacnews) - Samoa joins seven other nations next week in presenting its country report to the 32nd Session of the United Nations Committee on CEDAW in New York. Samoa becomes the only second Pacific Island country to Fiji to appear before the UN CEDAW ...
Palau Legislature backs ocean oil drilling.
Jan 05, 2005 ... 05 JANUARY 2005 KOROR (Pacnews) - Members of the 6th Olbill Era Kelulau (OEK), Palau's legislature, have approved a House Joint Resolution urging implementation of oil exploration in Kayangel. The resolution supports a 2002 agreement between the Kayangel State and Palau Pacific ...
Government urges Bougainvilleans to hold hands.
Jan 05, 2005 ... 05 JANUARY 2005 BUKA (Pacnews) - Papua New Guinea's National Government is urging Bougainvilleans, currently outside the peace process, to join in. In making the call, Minister for Inter-Government Relations, Sir Peter Barter said the move, will help shape Bougainville's future ...
New Caledonia pays homage to Indian Ocean tsunami victims.
Jan 05, 2005 ... 05 JANUARY 2005 NOUMEA (Pacnews) - New Caledonia will fly its national flags at half mast on Wednesday (local time) as a sign of respect for the victims of the tsunamis that struck eight Indian Ocean countries. New Caledonia's Congress (Parliament) made the resolution, saying ...
Charity cricket match to screen on Pacific TV.
Jan 05, 2005 ... 05 JANUARY 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - Regional television stations are working together to broadcast a charity cricket test between Australia and the rest of the world at the MCG in Australia next week. (January 10) Fiji TV has been licensed to broadcast the entire match and ...
Air Vanuatu cancel flights, loses millions to competition.
Jan 06, 2005 ... 06 JANUARY 2005 PORT VILA (Pacnews) - Air Vanuatu has lost around Vt280 million (USD$2. 649m) as a result of stiff competition from a foreign airline and political bickering among its directors. The airline's ATR aircraft has also been sitting idle for at least seven months in a ...
New Caledonia archaeologists uncover historic fort.
Jan 06, 2005 ... 06 JANUARY 2005 NOUMEA (Pacnews) - Archaeologists working for the institute for research and development in New Caledonia have discovered a historic fort in the Loyalty islands. Officials in the north of Mare have found cut blocks of coral more than three metres high which make ...
Niueans not expecting any election fireworks.
Jan 06, 2005 ... 06 JANUARY 2005 ALOFI (Pacnews) - The lead up to the 2005 general election on Niue is unlikely to spark any hot debate. The main interest will centre on the appointment of a new Premier. Niue News says political commentators are at this early stage predicting the ...
Kemakeza off to Mauritius.
Jan 06, 2005 ... 06 JANUARY 2005 HONIARA (Pacnews) - Solomon Islands' Prime Minister Sir Allan Kemakeza today leaves Honiara to attend the United Nations Conference on the future of Small Islands Developing States (SIDS), in the Indian Ocean island nation of Mauritius between January 10 and 14. ...
American Samoa's Governors are sworn in.
Jan 06, 2005 ... 06 JANUARY 2005 PAGO PAGO (Pacnews) - American Samoa's Governor Togiola Tulafono and Lieutenant Governor Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia, have been sworn in to their first full four-year term in office. The King and Queen of Tonga, and the Samoa Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele were ...
Police to provide security for Oceania soccer tournament.
Jan 06, 2005 ... 06 JANUARY 2005 HONIARA (Pacnews) - Solomon Islands will provide security for the participants in the Oceania Football Confederation Under 20 qualifiers tournament to be held in Honiara starting on January 17. Participating countries include Australia and New Zealand. ...
Chief queries raids on foreign investors.
Jan 06, 2005 ... 06 JANUARY 2006 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Senior Papua New Guinea government officials and police may have committed a diplomatic or blunder after allegations have surfaced that they were using the Prime Minister's Office's power to intimidate foreign investors. Word is out that ...
Royal Tongan liquidator sells aircraft.
Jan 06, 2005 ... 06 JANUARY 2005 NUKU'ALOFA (Pacnews) - The liquidator for Royal Tongan Airlines has sold the company's Twin Otter aircraft for about USD$830,000. The liquidator PricewaterhouseCoopers didn't name the buyer in the transaction last month, but said it had worked with the New ...
UN and COMSEC encourage disaster management strengthening.
Jan 06, 2005 ... 06 JANUARY 2005 LONDON (Pacnews) - Commonwealth leaders are going to start examining ways of strengthening existing disaster management networks and initiatives among member countries. The London-based Commonwealth Secretariat is seeking to discuss the issue at a meeting with ...
Army chief denies Mara ousting.
Jan 06, 2005 ... 06 JANUARY 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - Fiji's army commander, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, has denied allegations that the army forced former president, the late Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, to step down during the coup of May 2000. Bainimarama says the late former president "voluntarily" ...
Japanese investors leaving.
Jan 06, 2005 ... 06 JANUARY 2005 SAIPAN (Pacnews) - Japanese investors are leaving Northern Marianas by the numbers because they feel the business climate no longer is as conducive to investment as before. Hiroyuki Saito, vice president of Saipan LauLau Development Inc., which operates the ...
Icebergs in NZ waters after 57yrs.
Jan 06, 2005 ... 06 JANUARY 2005 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) - New Zealanders complaining about unseasonal summer rain in recent weeks have received proof of changing climatic conditions after icebergs were sighted in local waters for the first time since 1948. The icebergs are being seen in the ...
SUMMARY HEADLINES - THU 6 JAN 05.
Jan 06, 2005 ... REGION Kerry Moving Toward Vanuatu PAPUA NEW GUINEA PM Questions Raids on Foreign Investors Plastic Bag Ban Ignored Prince Andrew Plans to Visit FIJI Commander Says President Voluntarily Stepped Down During Coup Sinking Inquiry Finds Great Negligence NEW ...
Death penalty draft report completed.
Jan 06, 2005 ... 06 JANUARY 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Papua New Guinea experts have completed a draft report on the death penalty for its criminals. NBC/PNG reports that copies of the document have been sent to the Ministers for Justice and Internal Security and Correctional Service for ...
Chamorro language to be assessed.
Jan 06, 2005 ... 06 JANUARY 2005 HAGATNA (Pacnews) - The Department of Chamorro Affairs at the University of Guam has received a one-year grant of USD$87,040 to conduct a scientific assessment to determine the current status of the Chamorro language on Guam, according to the Governor's Office. ...
Tikopia and Anuta warned of cyclone.
Jan 06, 2005 ... 06 JANUARY 2005 HONIARA (Pacnews) - The people of Tikopia and Anuta islands, Temotu province have been warned to expect strong winds which would develop into a cyclone level within the next 24 hours. Principal Meteorological Officer Forecasting, Freddie Fera says the current ...
Isle troops prepare for Iraq duties.
Jan 06, 2005 ... 06 JANUARY 2005 HONOLULU (Pacnews) - More than 2,200 members of the 29th Infantry Brigade from Hawaii have begun final preparations before they are sent to Baghdad, which has seen an increasing insurgency ahead of the Jan. 30 Iraqi election. After a holiday leave that began Dec ....
Assembly approves measures boosting the economy.
Jan 06, 2005 ... 06 JANUARY 2005 PAPEETE (Pacnews) - The French Polynesia Assembly has approved measures aimed at boosting Tahiti's economy by providing aid to new car dealers and helping the home construction sector. The Assembly approved a measure aimed at safeguarding employment in the new ...
State top brass in travel query.
Jan 06, 2005 ... 06 JANUARY 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - A major investigation against senior government officials, including government departments' CEOs and Cabinet Ministers in Fiji for abusing travel privileges in the past year. At least 20 CEOs and 22 Cabinet Ministers have been questioned over ...
EMTV sale create controversy.
Jan 07, 2005 ... 07 JANUARY 2005 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - The sale of Papua New Guinea's sole television station EMTV to Fiji Television Limited has struck a discord with PNG's licensing authority, Papua New Guinea Telecommunications Authority (PANGTEL). PANGTEL director general Charles Punaha ...
Former President's son new Speaker.
Jan 07, 2005 ... 07 JANUARY 2005 YAREN (Pacnews) - Nauru has elected a new Speaker to replace Vassal Gadoengin who died over three weeks ago. He is Valdon Dowiyogo, Member of Parliament for Ubenide. Mr Dowiyogo is ...
Pacific urged to do more for natural disasters.
Jan 07, 2005 ... 07 JANUARY 2005 SUVA (Pacnews) - The head of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat says Pacific island states still have a lot of work to do to prevent a similar disaster from a tsunami. Forum Secretary General, Greg Urwin will be among 2, 000 delegates, including heads of ...
Polynesian Airlines get new Tonga rights.
Jan 07, 2005 ... 07 JANUARY 2005 APIA (Pacnews) - Samoa's national carrier, Polynesian Airlines, will fly its Dash 8 planes to Tonga's capital, Nuku'alofa this year. Airline chief executive, Malopaia John Fitzgerald, says Polynesian Airlines will operate the flights in its international sector ...