Islands

From the

Press

Editorial comment from the Samoa Times, Apia, criticising the Samoan government for not formally opposing the visit to New Zealand of the South African Springbok football team Sure, New Zealand is our friend but this should not prevent our government from letting New Zealand know where we stand. A statement of principle is not interference in another country’s internal affairs. By not coming out with a statement of opposition, government has lost goodwill among the under-developed countries of the world. The government is against apartheid, but in this instance it is not apartheid, not the New Zealand Rugby Union, not the feelings of the New Zealand government that is the issue. It is where our government stands that is the issue. . . and a letter to the Cook Islands News, Rarotonga, in which T. Tearii criticises the Cook Islands government for not allowing the Springboks to pass through

Rarotonga

Since when have the people of the Cook Islands opposed any sporting contact with South Africa? This is probably the government’s view, but surely not the view of the people. Now I ask, why does our premier Sir Thomas Davis close the Rarotonga airport to the Springboks but welcome a visiting French warship when he has already stated publicly that he opposes French nuclear tests in the Pacific?

Editorial comment from the Papua New Guinea Post- Courier, Port Moresby, on the recent tour to South Pacific countries by the PNG prime minister, Sir Julius Chan In Fiji, Tonga and Cook Islands Sir Julius has preached a gospel of regional unity, one aim of which is to dispel the Great Romantic South Seas Myth. The region, Sir Julius believes, is largely ignored in world forums because of its minuscule impact on global affairs.

The prime minister argues that we should have a place in global politics because great power rivalries and strategies are in fact in our part of the world. Without a common voice we run the risk of allowing the big powers unlimited scope to dabble with our resources and to meddle in our affairs... Sir Julius is right —we need a common voice, and we need it now.

From the Fiji Ministry of Information’s publication Fiji, published in Suva, quoting a parliamentary statement by the prime minister, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara Phosphate mining on Ocean Island has now finished. The farmers of Australia and New Zealand have benefited. From its 85% share of the royalties, the Kiribati government has accumulated a capital reserve of about $BO million. As for the Banabans, their 15% share of the royalties has been spent in pleading their case for fairer treatment. In short, the history of phosphate mining on Ocean Island (the original homeland of the Banabans) is a sad and sordid story of colonial exploitation of an innocent people in its worst form.

The Marshall Islands Journal, Majuro, Marshall Island The hospital badly needs an incinerator. Dangerous drugs and hypodermic needles easily accessible to children are life threatening, and there is no good way to dispose of parts of bodies

cut out in operations. All we can do is wrap what is cut off and hope Public Works will carry it away, a hospital spokesman said recently.

From an advertisement published in Tohi Tala Niue, Niue, on behalf of a coconut processing factory Notes: We will only purchase unhusked nuts as a special favour to those persons unable to husk, for example elderly or disabled persons. No unhusked nuts will be expected at the factory PICK YOUR OWN COCONUTS AND BECOME A MILLIONAIRE!

Part of a letter in the Nauru Post, written by an un named seaman serving in a ship of the Nauru national line All my mates tell me I am a mug to work the ships for such low pay while everyone else ashore earns much more money. We seem to be the forgotten men of Nauru four years with no rise in pay.

It has now reached the stage where we are getting paid 30% beneath the Nauru basic rate. I don’t think the government even knows, or maybe it does but doesn’t care. We are human beings, too, just like the others on the island although there are some who don’t think so. If you are a seaman you are a mug these days.

Editorial comment in The Times of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby, on a report that the deputy prime minister, Mr Okuk, had accused the PNG press of writing nonsense and having a low standard of journalism The same has been said often by many politicians. And yet, the press has to struggle on with the same problems: high overheads and capital costs; a complete absence of government subsidies (making PNG virtually unique in the would-be literate world); astronomic freight charges; and, most seriously, a lack of skilled manpower and training facilities. We trust that, in the light of his comments, Mr Okuk will champion moves currently seeking government support to upgrade journalism training within the country.

Editorial comment in the Fiji Times, Suva, on the formation of the new political group, the Western United Front Although one of its founders denies suggestions that the WUF is only for Fijians, it is difficult to see how it can, or ever will, attract non-Fijian support if it is preoccupied with the downfall of the Alliance at any cost. No political party founded on such a negative premise can survive for long. All that the WUF appears to be doing at present is to arouse the baser instincts of provincialism, if not racialism, by spawning an organisation that in reality is confined to the Western Division. Perhaps we are hasty in our judgment, but WUF will be viewed with some degree of suspicion until it speaks out loud and clear for the things it stands for, and not simply for what it stands against.

Letter to the editor, signed Lupe Eves, appearing in the Samoa Times, Apia I think that the trip by His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili to the wedding in London of Prince Charles and Lady Di is a big waste of money (and time). I don’t see why he needs seven guards to guard him when only two can do. Taking seven guards with him wastes a lot of money. At the state we are in right now we are looking for money, and yet our money is not really used in the way it should be. Why not send a single telegram congratulating the wedding, like this for instance: ‘Congratulations on your wedding day. Sorry, could not come. Not enough money’. Anyway, as I was saying before about taking seven guards. What would seven guards do? They can’t shoot or do judo or anything. They have a nice long trip and holiday all the way to England.

The Papua New Guinea Post-Courier, Port Moresby A mother received this response to an application for her third child to enrol at a school in Port Moresby: ‘Dear Prospective Parent. . .’

T was under the impression I had been a parent for some years,’ says our horrified mum. ‘Has the school come up with a new definition of parenthood, or are they trying to tell me I’m about to become a mother again?’