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July 27, 1999 atimes.com
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Oceania

Pacific Islands Report for July 26

Two narrowly miss Air Fiji crash
SUVA, Fiji Islands - Two people scheduled to be on board the Air Fiji flight from Suva to Nadi that crashed early Saturday morning, killing the 15 passengers and two crew members aboard, narrowly missed the tragedy. Air Pacific pilot William Gardiner's alarm clock did not wake him as scheduled. When his wife rushed him to the airport, the flight was already on the runway. Senator Paula Sotutu was scheduled to catch the flight but was held up at home by church commitments. A Tongan man, however, was not so lucky. He unexpectedly caught the fatal flight when a seat became available. Tevita Maka, 38, perished in the accident.

Solomons government denies it has lost control
HONIARA, Solomon Islands - Minister of State Alfred Sasako has denied reports that the national government has lost control of most of the island of Guadalcanal to local militants. Roadblocks have been set up at all entrances to the capital, beyond which the Isatambu Freedom Fighters, also known as the Guadalcanal Revolutionary Army, are said by international observers to be in charge. Sasako said there is no lack of government authority on the island, but it "simply does not want to inflame the situation while negotiations continue on implementing the Honiara Peace Accord" among various ethnic and governmental factions.

Guadalcanal palm oil plantation threatens to close
HONIARA, Solomon Islands - A major palm oil plantation, which contributes 20 percent of the government's annual operating budget, may close down permanently if it is not permitted to resume operations soon. Solomon Islands Plantations Ltd. was forced to suspend work in early June when members of the Guadalcanal Liberation Army overran the plantation at the height of ethnic unrest on Guadalcanal island. Company manager Dr. Mike Workmen said if the national government, provincial authorities and the militants cannot reach an agreement to have the company reopen its operations, it will close down in two weeks.

Ex-boss blamed for Vanuatu livestock company collapse
PORT VILA, Vanuatu - Vanuatu's ombudsman Marie-Noelle Ferrieux-Patterson has determined that the former manager of the government-owned Vanuatu Livestock Development Company, Selwyn Leodoro, destroyed the firm by misappropriating its funding and assets. She found that he gave away livestock or sold animals cheaply and when he was eventually suspended the once-model company was left with virtually no money in the bank, very few cattle and dilapidated assets. Ferrieux-Patterson said Leodoro had no agricultural or farming qualifications but had got the job because he was the brother-in-law of a then government cabinet minister.

Air Fiji secures rights to fly to Tuvalu
SUVA, Fiji Islands - Air Fiji, one of two domestic carriers, has secured exclusive rights to provide air service from Suva to the neighboring nation of Tuvalu for the next five years. Air Fiji chief executive Ken McDonald said: "Twice-weekly flights will provide Tuvalu with essential air-links to the outside world." Air Marshall Islands terminated its flights to Tuvalu in April, at which time Air Fiji began service under temporary authorization.

Niue premier undergoes medical treatment
ALOFI, Niue - Premier Sani Lakatani has flown to New Zealand for treatment of a heart condition. With the Premier away, national budget discussions will be delayed several weeks, compounding the tiny country's cash flow problems. In addition to holding the top government post, Lakatani also is Minister of Finance, Telecommunications, Shipping, Economic Development and Civil Aviation.

Cook Islands' coalition wrangling continues
RAROTONGA, Cook Islands - The make-up of a coalition government is still under discussion a month after Cook Islanders went to the polls in a national election. Now, three members of the former ruling Cook Islands Party - Tom Marsters, Dr. Joe Williams and Tangata Vavia - are discussing the possibility of forming a coalition with the opposition Democratic Alliance Party. The move would give the opposition the numbers in the 25-member Parliament to form a government. The three men say they are dissatisfied with their current party leader, longtime Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey Henry, over his political maneuvering.

Tonga applies for UN membership
NUKU'ALOFA, Tonga - Tonga has applied for membership in the United Nations, and the Security Council's committee on admissions is expected to consider the kingdom's application on Monday. Last month, the Security Council recommended membership for the Micronesian nations of Kiribati and Nauru. They are expected to be formally admitted to the world body as its 186th and 187th members when the General Assembly meets at UN headquarters in New York later this year.

Pacific Islands Report is a service of the East-West Center and the University of Hawaii. For news in depth, link to the PIR website: http://pidp.ewc.hawaii.edu/pireport


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