Pacific Report

Solomons To The Polls In November

The Solomon Islands Parliament will be dissolved in August in preparation for general elections to be held in November.

Opposition Leader Sir Peter Kenilorea had sought to have the parliamentary dissolution brought forward so that the elections could be held in August, but lacked the numbers in the House to do so. No precise dates have been fixed for either the dissolution or the elections. George Atkin in Honiara.

NEW MAYORS FOR PORT VILA , LUGANVILLE Both Luganville (Santo) and Port-Vila Vanuatu’s two urban centres have new mayors, following the annual elections in February and March. Port-Vila’s mayor is Petre Malsungai, of the Union of Moderate Parties, who was also mayor for the 1982 term. u- u Jack Tokon ’ is fr° m the Vanuaaku Party, a fact which Mr Malsungai welcomes, as vindicating his belief that party factionalism has no part in municipal affairs. Luganville’s new

mayor is Abraham Gaua, and his deputy is Mrs Leo Gete, the first woman to hold the post. Both are from the Vanuaaku Party. Their stated aims for the year are to improve the city’s roads and drainage.

Canberra Approves Torres Treaty

The House of Representatives of the Australian Parliament in April passed in all its stages legislation ratifying the Torres Strait Islands Treaty with Papua New Guinea. The treaty defines the internatio nal border between PNG and Australia which runs through the Torres Strait Islands which are part of the Australian State of Queensland. The treaty, provisionally signed in 1978, recognises cultural affinities on both sides by establishing a marine reserve in which traditional freedom of movement and, sharing of economic resources is recognised. At the wish of the Islanders, three islands close to the PNG coast Boigu, Dauan and Saibai remain part of Australia but are, effectively, island enclaves with a PNG sea

area. There are more than 70 islands and islets and, according to the 1981 census, 10,232 Torres Strait Islanders were living in Queensland and in the islands. A further 5000 live elsewhere in Australia.

Australians Deported From Solomons

One of two Australian men recently deported from Solomon Islands has been declared a prohibited immigrant. He is Ronald Edwin Warnecke, manager, who had earlier been jailed in Honiara after conviction on charges of growing Indian hemp. The other man. Snowy MacArthur, a logging operator, was expelled because of alleged “disturbances” caused by him in the area of his logging activities. At time of writing no decision had been reached as to whether he, too, would be prevented from returning to the country. George Atkin in Honiara.

Fire On Tuvalu S Niutao Island

Tuvalu’s Niutao Island, population about 900, was without medical supplies at the beginning of April following a fire which destroyed the island’s dispensary. The midnight blaze was thought to have been started when a kerosene refrigerator was blown over in strong winds.

FIJI GOVT. TO OPT OUT (HERE AND THERE) The Fiji Government is expected to “turn over various government functions to be handled by profit-minded private enterprise institutions”. Minister of Finance Mosese Qionibaravi has told an accountants’ convention in Fiji. It would be part of the government’s cost-cutting drive which will also freeze, for two years, recruitment to the 19,000-strong Public Service.

Diabetic Centre For Suva

Fiji will set up a national diabetic centre in Suva staffed by medical officers trained at specialist centres in Australia. Recent surveys have revealed that the disease is a major problem in Fiji, with an estimated 20 per cent of all hospital beds occupied by diabetics.

New Radio Series On Islands Trade

The Sydney-based South Pacific Trade Commission, headed by Commissioner Bill McCabe, has begun compiling a monthly 15-minute radio program to be supplied free to radio networks in Pacific Forum countries. The program will provide information on marketing opportunities, investment proposals, shipping and air freight schedules and trends, exchange rate fluctuations and other service information.

Coconut Cheese A Samoa Export?

Taveuni Island (Fiji) copra planter Brian Leonard, who has carried out successful experiments in making cheese from coconuts, has taken over an old dairy farm near Western Samoa’s capital, Apia, and is producing samples of the cheese for prospective buyers in Australia, New Zealand and the United States. He hopes to export about 200 tonnes of the cheese by next year. His request for help for his novel venture from the Fiji Development Bank was turned down. A dairy technologist in Australia for 15 years, Mr Leonard predicts that the manufacture of coconut cheese will revolutionise the coconut industry.

P.T.C. Calls For Papers For 85

The Pacific Telecommunications Council has issued a first call for papers for its seventh annual conference, PTC ’B5, set for Janauary 13-16, 1985, in Honolulu. The conference theme will be ' Telecommunications for Pacific Development: Towaid a Digital World. Proposals are requested for papers on topics relating to the technical, business, regulatory, user, social, and economic aspects of adapting digital technology to all areas of voice and data communications and broadcasting. Focus should be on Asia, the Pacific, and the Americas. Proposals should be submitted no later oJfo 1 J w ne 3®’ 1984, to PTC ’B5, 1110 University Avenue, Suite 3UB, Honolulu, Hawaii 96826. Notification of acceptance or non-acceptance of proposals will be made by August 1, and final manuscripts will be due in camera-ready form by November 30 For further information, contact Richard J. Barber at the address listed.

35° At Papeete Pro Independence Rally

c ra l sponsored by four small pro-independence parties in rrench Polynesia drew only about 350 people on to the streets of Papeete in March, according to a report in the local daily, Les

Nouvelles de Tahiti. Demonstrators carried banners denouncing the French presence in the territory, and the Moruroa nuclear tests.

Parties represented were the Tavini Huiraatira, led by Oscar Temaru, the Taata Tahiti Tiama of Charlie Ching, the Faatereaa Tiama O Porinetia Maohi of Tetua Mai, and the Pomare Party.

Guest speaker at the post-march rally was Yann Celene Uregei, vice-president of New Caledonia’s Territorial Assembly, and a leader of the territory’s Independence Front.

Sai2 Million To Vanuatu From Uji.

In accordance with its April 1983 promise to pay a third of the compensation for damage caused to private property on the island of Santo during the pre-independence rebellion in Vanuatu in 1980, Britain will give Vanuatu about SAI2 million to be used to meet a portion of the estimated 1000-plus claims for compensa tion. The Vanuatu Government has promised to pay one-third and France has been asked to pay the balance but has not yet responded. One of the biggest claims for compensation is by the owners of the fire-gutted coconut oil mill who are asking for $2O million. The chartered accountants Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. assessed the amount of damage and presented their report to the British Government.

Nz Minister Explains Immigration Law

New Zealand’s Immigration Minister Austin Malcolm has visited a number of Pacific Island countries explaining changes to his country’s immigration laws. In Fiji, after visiting Western Samoa and Tonga. Mr Malcolm said the change was aimed at helping those who had genuine reasons for overstaying their visitor’s permit, and to penalise those who flouted the law. He said New Zealand had found its visitor permits system was being abused, and the changes were meant to keep the abuse to an absolute minimum. He added that unlike the present set-up, overstaying would not be a criminal offence under the new law, and people who had been asked to leave the country would be able to return later.

Guam Refinery Closes Amid Protests

Guam’s oil refinery, operated by Guam Oil and Refining Company Inc. (Gorco), closed down at the beginning of March for an indefinite period because of a Pentagon decision to buy military fuels for its giant base in Guam from Singapore refineries. The closure has brought vigorous protests from local users as the refinery was their major source. Price was the main reason for the Pentagon’s switch to Singapore. Gorco’s small plant cannot compete with the giant Shell and Caltex refineries in Singapore and South Korea, or achieve quantity discounts in its purchases of crude oil. U.S. President Reagan has promised to “look into” the matter.

Png To Take Tv Plunge

The Papua New Guinea Cabinet has approved the calling of tenders for establishing a commercial television service and will adopt legislation to allow its introduction next year. The independent Newcastle (Australia) station NBN3 has already submitted proposals to the PNG Government.

Palau Studies Independence Option

A bill has been tabled in Palau’s House of Delegates to create a commission to study independence as an alternative to free association with the United States as proposed in the Compact of Free Association. Negotiations between Palau and the United States have stalled on Palau’s constitutional ban on nuclear weapons or bases being allowed in the republic. The Palauans are now studying suggestions from U.S. Ambassador Fred Zeder for revising the compact.

Vega Circumnavigates Australia

The 12-metre campaign ketch Vega —or Greenpeace lII was due to start out from Sydney on April 8 on a circumnavigation of Australia. A press release from Greenpeace Australia (NSW) said; “Ostensibly, this is a speaking tour providing the public with an opportunity to see the vessel at close quarters. Educational talks and film shows will be conducted by crew members. Other, Greenpeace-style, actions are likely to keep the vessel in the public eye.” Greenpeace 111 is a veteran of three protest voyages to Moruroa Atoll, French Polynesia, site of France’s nuclear testing.

She has also taken part in protest action against whaling operations in the North Pacific.

Burns, Philp In Profit Turn Around

Bums, Philp & Co Ltd., of Sydney, made an operating net profit after tax of 5A10.749 million in the six months to December 31 last, 91 per cent higher than the profit for the corresponding period of 1982. Group sales amounted to $640,194,up 3 per cent on the corresponding period of 1982. The interim report said results from the group’s Pacific operations were disappointing and affected by differing economic conditions in the areas where the group operates and changes in the company’s businesses in Fiji and Papua New Guinea. Merchandise activities in PNG suffered from lower gross profit margins and, while automotive distribution was on budget, heavy machinery sales were low due to reduced capital investment by both business and government. Fiji operations significantly improved their contribution in extremely difficult economic conditions as a result of the restructuring of merchandise activities and improved profits from shipping, travel and motor operations. Niue, Tonga and Western Samoa performed well.

However the overall result from the South Sea Company was below that of the corresponding period due to a poor result from American Samoa. In Vanuatu the depressed economy resulted in severely reduced margins and sales but due to strong management action contribution was maintained at a satisfactory level. The directors declared an interim ordinary dividend of TVz cents per share.

Solomons To Count Heads In 86

Solomon Islands is looking for an aid donor to help finance its national census planned for 1986. The census is of particular importance to Solomon Islands where the annual population growth rate is a steep 3.4 per cent. The last census in 1976 showed a total population of 196,823 (compared with 160,998 in the 1970 census). Estimated population at the end of 1982 was 248,000, and the projection is for a population of 276,000 in 1986, 330,000 in 1991, and 476,000 in 2001. The government hopes that the 1986 census will make clear the areas in which development efforts should be concentrated to keep pace with growth in population numbers. George Atkin in Honiara.

FRENCH POLYNESIA'S 164 f 000 SOULS . . .

From 1977 to 1983 the population of French Polynesia increased by just under 27,000, according to preliminary census figures, up from 137,000 to 164,000. Distribution of people among the five island groups showed little relative change, with by far the biggest concentration of people still in the Windward/Society Islands mainly Tahiti and Moorea. . . . AND NEW CALEDONIA'S 145,000 According to figures released by New Caledonia’s Statistics Institute on the 1983 census, the population has increased to 145,000, an increase of 11,000 since 1976. Melanesians number 62,000 against 56,000 in 1976, and Europeans number 54,000, an increase of 3000. The remainder includes Wallis Islanders, Vietnamese and Indonesians. Nearly 77 per cent of the population is New Caledonia-born, a fact which will no doubt be used by opponents of the pro-independence Kanak parties.

Administrative College For New Caledonia

France’s High Commissioner in New Caledonia Jacques Roynette has opened a new administrative staff college in Noumea designed to help the territory on its way to autonomy. Seventy students in the first enrolment will do the three courses available which, as they take effect, will enable New Caledonia progressively to acquire autonomy in its administration. Mr Roynette said the centre was within the framework defined by the French Government for the development of the territory.

Micronesia: State Battles Interior

There is an ugly intramural fight going on in Washington, D.C., and the Micronesian free association compacts are caught in the middle, getting it from all sides. At one end of the town the compacts as approved with the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia are “sitting on the president’s desk,” awaiting final formal executive branch approval. That was thought to be all but pro forma a few weeks ago. Now, however, a full-scale turf battle is underway. It is a “last one standing” fight. One needs a score card to keep up with the competitors, but essentially here is

how it is all shaping up. At one level, the State Department and the Interior Department are scrambling to be the lead agency with responsibility for Micronesia. Interior, of course, has been the traditional government department for this role. But given America’s poor record in many areas of activity, any historical claims can only hurt Interior. State, on the other hand, argues (convincingly, in many respects) that the autonomous Micronesian political entities will not be under the suzerainty of the federal government. Thus, the new states should be accorded an “independent-like” status with State Department representation. In the middle of this battle is Fred M. Zeder 11, Ronald Reagan’s personal representative to the Micronesian status negotiations.

Zeder says he has given up predicting when the negotiations will actually be completed and the compacts signed, sealed and delivered. But he has a stake in the outcome of this State-Interior fisticuffs. What Zeder wants is a separate inter-agency Office of Micronesian Affairs which would be constructed around his present abode, the Office of Micronesian Status Negotiations. Also playing prominent roles in such an office would be the Defense Department and the Department of Commerce. On that point, Zeder is quite emphatic. While the executive department types are carrying out their hit-and-run attacks, a number of congressmen have decided to get into the act too. Those who have a strong personal interest in Micronesia are balking at giving their blessing to the compacts and this despite the fact that it has taken the U.S. 14 years to get the agreements, and despite the fact also that a majority of Micronesians approve the relationship. One congress man has been talking of holding nearly 20 hearings, a mind-boggling number. In an election year, that alone would ensure delay until well into 1985. Not only that, but Zeder says a number of the lawmakers are looking for a way to get some political mileage out of the Micronesian compacts. “There are a lot of them back there scratching their heads wondering what they can get out of this,” is how Zeder puts it. As someone close to the U.S. negotiating team said, that kind of language makes Zeder’s underlings “squeeze their legs together.” What happens next? The most optimistic observer might still predict passage of the compacts late this year after the elections during a lame duck session. That probability cannot be completely discounted. But the blood and gore in Washington does not now portend swift action. Perhaps Fred Zeder put it best when he described what’s happening in Washington this way: “It’s like elephants mating. It’s done on a high level, a lot of trumpeting goes on . . . and then nothing happens for two years.” Hoyd K. Takeuchi in Honolulu.

Fiji Woos Scared Hong Kong Money

The Economic Development Board of Fiji has sent several missions to Hong Kong to see whether Fiji can benefit from the flight of capital from the British colony. The board, which is a statutory corporation charged with attracting more foreign capital to Fiji, has identified nearly $6O million worth of new investment opportuni ties. More than half are concerned with agriculture, or the processing of agricultural products.

Goodbye Ponape, Greetings Pohnpei

The final draft of the Fonape State Constitution has been signed by the draft convention delegates who approved a resolution asking Governor Resio Moses and the legislature to hold the referendum on the constitution draft on July 2. The draft changes the spelling of the place name Fonape to “Pohnpei.”

Lemoine Surprised' On Noumea Visit

France’s minister for overseas territories, Georges Lemoine, has said that Frances wishes to encourage self-determination in New Caledonia and he did not rule out the possibility of independence.

Speaking in Sydney on a brief stop-over on his journey from Noumea to Paris, Mr Lemoine said his visit to New Caledonia had been aimed at encouraging such a process. He had been surprised, he said, by the will expressed by both sides to refer to the common decisions adopted last year at a conference in France. The draft of the statute prepared for the territory will be examined by the French cabinet on May 2, and is expected to be debated by the French national assembly several weeks later. Mr Lemoine said the next territorial assembly elections in New Caledonia and the formation of a local assembly would be organised according to the new statute. He said the electoral reform now under study would be drafted according to the French constitution