Pacific Report

“Png Should Join Asean” Chan

Sir Julius Chan, former prime minister of Papua New Guinea, has urged that his country join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Speaking at a ceremony at the University of Technology in Lae during which he received an honorary doctorate, Sir Julius said that PNG is geographically part of the Southeast Asian region, and joining ASEAN would be a positive statement of its intention to take an active part in regional affairs. Sir Julius said PNG’s immediate post independence foreign policy of “friends to all, enemies to none” was well and trully gone, and the country should now accept that it must make the choice as to who its real friends were. PNG’s neighbor across the border in Irian Jaya, Indonesia, is the largest and most influential member of ASEAN. Fears of Indonesian intentions with regard to PNG are widespread among Papua New Guineans. Dr John Waiko, a history lecturer at the University of PNG, writing on his countrymen’s attitudes to Australia in the The Sydney Morning Herald on November 29, said: “We believe that when, not if, Papua New Guinea is invaded, Australia might not act with the speed with which it came to our aid 40 years ago. Australia may evacuate its citizens and leave us to face the enemy.” Although not named, he clearly meant Indonesia as “the enemy”. Perhaps Sir Julius has adopted the well-known principle; “If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.”

Fiji To Host Lome Meeting

Fiji will host the third African-Caribbean-Pacific (AGP) meeting with the European Economic Community (EEC) to compile the Lome 111 agreement. Dates have not yet been fixed but the meeting will be in April or May, possibly beginning towards the end of April and continuing into May. Sixty-three countries will Kp rpnrpcjpntpH

Santo Rebellion Pay-Out: Sus4.S Million

The long-drawn saga of payment of compensation for damage caused by the 1980 secessionist rebellion on Vanuatu’s island of Santo seems to be drawing to a close. The accountancy firm of Peat, Marwick and Mitchell has had its report on more than 1000 damages claims from businesses and individuals accept ed by the British Government, which has agreed to pay the equivalent of about SUSI.S million in compensation, one-third of the total amount. A spokesman for the French Government has agreed that France will match the British contribution. The Vanuatu Government is to pay the remaining third.

Png Chogrm Off, Friends Still Invited

Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister Michael Somare announc ed in December that a Commonwealth Heads of Government Regional Meeting (CHOGRM) planned for Port Moresby this year will not now be held. Only two days before it had been reported from New Delhi that the Port Moresby meeting would go ahead. Announcing the cancellation, Mr Somare added, however, that all regional Commonwealth heads of government had been invited to the opening of PNG’s new parliament building on August 7, 1984. He said the leaders will then have an informal meeting, which would “recapture the original atmos phere of the regional summits”. He said Asian and Pacific leaders at the November 1983 meeting in New Delhi had agreed that the official regional meeting was “not necessary”. Concern had been expressed that the CHOGRM were being held too often.

Niue Seeks Drought Aid

The Niue Government has appealed to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation office in Western Samoa for emergen cy relief to bridge gaps in water and food supplies created by the prolonged drought which is hitting most countries in the region.

Niue is expecting a gift of $NZ21,591 from the South Pacific Bureau for Economic Co-operation’s disaster relief fund and has asked for $20,000 from the Australian bilateral aid program, in addition to the funding by Australia of a water bore project which includes the sinking of eight wells.

New Cabinet In Nauru

Following parliamentary elections in December, the new parlia ment of Nauru re-elected Hammer Deßoburt as president of the

republic. The new Cabinet chosen by President Deßoburt is: Hammer Deßoburt: president, minister for external affairs, minister for internal affairs, minister in charge of the public service, minister for island development and industry; Buraro Detrudamo: minister for works and communications, minister assisting the president; Kenas Aroi: minister for finance; Laur ence Stephen; minister for health and education; Bernard Dowiyogo: minister for justice.

“GEAR UP FOR TV NOW” PNG RADIO CHIEF The chairman of Papua New Guinea’s National Broadcasting Commission has warned against delaying the introduction of television to the country. Speaking at the December 1 10th anniversary celebrations of the NBC, Austin Sapias said central planners must prepare to broadcast television, or face the consequences. The government of Prime Minister Somare has directed the NBC to take no further action on television until firm guidelines for its introduction are set by Cabinet. The NBC already has a television studio, and the equipment to broadcast signals. Mr Sapias said that, as responsible broadcasters, the NBC was alarmed at the amount of recorded foreign video programs being brought into the country without any alternative being provided. The NBC came into being on December 1, 1973, when it took over the PNG service of the Australian Broadcasting Commission and the government radio service of the Australian PNG administration.

Samoan Teachers Slam Uni. Plan

In a letter to the Western Samoa Minister for Education, Le Mamea Ropati, the Teachers Association of Samoa has op posed the government’s plan to establish a national university, a plan which, the teachers say, “will only result in serious damage”. The teachers described the country’s education system as being like a “child still grabbing for support as it walks because its bones are not strong enough yet”. The association also expressed deep concern at the alleged diversion of funds from the Australian aid program previously earmarked for education curriculum development, to the re-construction of the Faleolo airport folowing the government’s decision to halt the curriculum program. (PIM Dec. p 5).

Fiji Booze Exported To New Zealand

South Pacific Distilleries, of Lautoka, Fiji, has broken into the New Zealand liquor market. It has shipped its first major export order of gin and vodka, worth about $A25,000, to New Zealand, and is negotiating for a second order. The company is a subsidiary of the Fiji Sugar Corporation and, since its formation in 1979, has accumulated losses totalling $1,401,576 up to last March 31. However, in the last 12 months, gross revenue increased by 193 per cent over the previous year’s revenue. The distillery, which won gold medals at an international show in London recently with its rum, produces whisky under its own “Old Club” label and gin and vodka under the “Booths” and “Cossack” labels.

Namaliu Raps Oz, Png, Businessmen

In a paper on bilateral trade presented to last year’s annual joint meeting of the PNG-Australia Business Co-operation Commit tee in Port Moresby, Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Rabbie Namaliu complained that Australians were not taking enough interest in setting up joint ventures with PNG firms. “Your twin business co-operation committees have now been operating for some years, but apart from the establishment of the Australian Executive Service Overseas Program (AESOP) scheme, I have yet to see some positive effects of your endeavors”, Mr Namaliu said.

INDONESIA OFFERS AID TO FIJI, W. SAMOA A government delegation from Indonesia held talks in Suva in November with Fiji government officials. The Indonesians are believed to have offered to train Fiji personnel in agriculture, forestry, trade, communications and other fields. The delegation later went on to Western Samoa for similar meetings.

Eec Helps Out On Coconuts, Tourism

The European Economic Community has agreed to finance a study of the coconut industry in eight South Pacific countries

with the aim of identifying products that can be marketed on a co operative basis by the countries concerned. The study will also recommend areas of possible co-operation in research and product development. The study will examine the coconut industry in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Western Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Tuvalu and Kiribati. In another development, the EEC has agreed in principle to finance a promotional film on the tourist industries of PNG, Fiji, Tonga, Western Samoa and Kiribati. The film will be distributed to travel agencies throughout the world.

PNG: DASH TO SELL DASH 7s IS HALTED The Papua New Guinea Government has decided not to sell the three Dash 7 aircraft in its Air Niugini fleet after hearing that there would have been a loss of Kl 2 million (SAI6 million) on the sale, a much greater amount than had been budgeted for.

The sale would have realised KlO million for the aircraft, the original purchase price of which was K 7.5 million each. Lease obligations attached to the Dash 7s would have cost the government K 22 million. The Dutchairline KLM, which manages Air Niugini, made the original assessment on which the govern ment based its decision to sell. Also, it had been assumed that the sale would increase the airline’s income by K 3.7 million a year through savings on the lease payments, but selling the Dash 7s would have increased profits by only K 2.7 million a year.

Usp-Upng Exchanges Saved For Now

An injection of emergency funds by the University of the South Pacific and its instutute of Pacific Studies has saved the university’s student exchange scheme with the University of Papua New Guinea at least for this year. USP Vice-Chancellor Geoffrey Caston had earlier announced suspension for the scheme due to lack of funds (PIM Dec. p 6).

U.S. Tuna Boat Captain Killed

The captain of an American tuna boat, Ocean Pearl, was killed and six crewmen seriously injured in November when the vessel’s engine exploded in waters off Tuvalu. The injured crewmen were flown more than 100 kilometres to Tuvalu for medical treatment and then transferred to Honolulu. The vessel was towed to American Samoa for inspection by officials.

Fiji: Malaysian Canner Taken Over

Castle Trading, a Malaysian canning company which had operated in Fiji from 1977 to the end of 1982, has been taken over by Burns Philp and the Fiji Government’s National Market ing Authority. The company produced a range of foods including desiccated coconut, canned pineapple, noodles and chili for the local market and for export. It is believed that unreliability in the supply of raw materials was the main reason it went into receivership in December 1982.

Labor Relations Seminar In Ponape

The International Labor Organisation (ILO) sponsored a semi nar in Ponape, Federated States of Micronesia, in December.

ILO spokesman in Suva David Groman said the seminar aimed to create an awareness of different industrial systems, and the importance of good industrial relations in economic development.

Pacific Harbour On The Market

One of Fiji’s biggest tourist resorts, Pacific Harbour, was up for sale in November after being seized for repayment of a mortgage. Fiji’s National Provident Fund, which put up about $F4.6 million in loans for the project, exercised its rights as mortgagee to dispose of the property in an effort to recover its money. The complex is owned by Pacific Hotels, which in turn is owned by Suburban Investments, whose American owner, Harold Wosepka, was recently convicted of fraud by a U.S. court.

Trukese Pore Over Constitutions

A five-man mission from the state of Truk, which is part of the Federated States of Micronesia, made a Pacific tour in Novem ber studying constitutional arrangements in Tonga, Western and American Samoa, and Hawaii. The tour formed part of the preparations to draw up a constitution for Truk.

Nobody Breathed The Word “Blackmail”

The French-language monthly 30 Jours speculated in its November issue on the possibility that economic considerations

might gag Australia and New Zealand on the question of independence for New Caledonia. It said: “The recent silence of these two countries might also be explained by the fact that they are taking into account their economic interests, which are a lot more important to them than the political demands of certain micro-states. In adopting strong positions on New Caledonia, New Zealand and Australia could run the risk of compromising trade agreements reached with countries of the European Economic Community, and France in particular, for the sale of New Zealand dairy products, and, in Australia’s case, uranium.

Australia, moreover, is buying helicopters from France. As far as Fiji is concerned, its sugar exports to EEC countries depend to a certain extent on the moderate nature of its policies.”

Hefty Fund For Education Of Fijians

The Fiji Government has announced a special grant of $F3.5 mijlion to help upgrade education among the country’s ethnic Fijian population. The money will be administered by a special unit within the Department of Fijian affairs. Setting up of the unit was recommended by the Great Council of Chiefs, which advises the government on matters affecting the Fijian population.

Air Tungaru Seeks Nadi Flight

Air Tungaru, Kiribati’s national airline, has applied to Fiji for permission to operate one flight every 14 days between Tarawa and Nadi, using a Boeing 727.

Solomons Wants Out Of Air Pacific

The Solomon Islands Government is offering to sell its share holding in Fiji international airline Air Pacific, just under one per cent, for about $A74,000. Solomon Islands appears to be loosening its ties with some of its neighbors. It has opted out of the Pacific Forum Shipping Line and is co-operating closely with Vanuatu in its Air Vanuatu airline. It also has its own domestic airline, Solair. The Fiji Government is considering the Solomons’ offer.

Honolulu Seminar On Islands Exports

The U.S. Agency for International Development, supported by the Pan-Pacific Alliance for Trade and Development, will spon sor a week-long regional conference in Honolulu March 18 to 23 on the theme “Exporting Pacific Island products to the United States market”. Through panel discussions, a trade exhibit and an empl sis on “one-on-one” sessions featuring personal assistance to Island producers by state government and private sector experts, the conference will focus on practical training in producing exports for the American market.

Solomons Copra Outut Down

Copra production in Solomon Islands for the first half of 1983 was 11,783 tonnes, 32 per cent lower than for the first half of 1982, due mainly to the after effects of Cyclone Bernie which hit the country’s Western Province in April, 1982.

Tonga’S German Maritime Know-How

A government marine training school, funded with a grant of $500,000 from the West German Government, will open in Tonga early this year with an initial intake of 25 students.

Navigation, engineering and catering form the main areas of instruction, and four teachers from West Germany will conduct courses for 18 months.

Png-Australia Defence Talks

Discussions have been held in Port Moresby between Aust ralian Defence Department officials and their opposite numbers in PNG on future defence co-operation. Australia has allocated K 12.4 million ($A16.5 million) for the defence co-operation programme.

Drinking Drivers Of Kiribati

Of more than 3200 traffic offences recorded in Kiribati in 1981, more than half were drink-related, the police have reported, and 162 people were killed or injured. Casualties in the previous year totalled 111.

Japan Funds Fiji, Tuvalu Fishing Survey

A joint fisheries survey to last nearly two years will begin in Fiji and Tuvalu waters in May. The Fiji and Tuvalu governments, the Tuvalu fisheries agency, the Ika Corporation of Fiji and the Japan International Co-operation Agency will be represented on a management committee. All expenses will be met by the Japanese Government.