Pacific Report
pp. 7-8 · Read in the full issue
Major Reshuffle For Png Cabinet
The Papua New Guinea Foreign Affairs Minister, Rabbie Namaliu, has been moved from his portfolio in the first major Cabinet reshuffle since the Somare government was formed in 1982. Eight ministers have been dropped, three voluntarily, and nine backbenchers given ministries. The Prime Minister, Mr Somare, told a news conference in late December that while he had been generally happy with the previous Cabinet’s record, the perform ance of the ministers was “beginning to slip.” It is understood that Mr Namaliu had expressed a desire for a ministry which would allow him more time with his young family. Mr Namaliu has spearheaded negotiations with Indonesia on the Irian Jaya border issue. He has also developed a close working relationship with Canberra. He has been moved to the Primary Industry portfolio.
His replacement is the former Police Minister, John Giheno, 33, from the eastern islands. He has been a pro-Somare Independent and in the ministry since his election to Parliament in 1982. Mr Somare told reporters he didn’t think the change in the foreign affairs portfolio would set back sensitive negotiations with Indonesia on the border issue. Another keynote of the reshuffle centres on the return to the ministry, in an upgraded Youth portfolio, of Tony Siaguru. Mr Siaguru resigned as Public Service Minister in November after bitter brawling with the Deputy Prime Minister, Paias Wingti. Mr Wingti has been demanding that Mr Siaguru be dropped as part of a wider reshuffle. In turn, some old party hands had demanded that Mr Wingti be sacked for disloyalty.
But in the event, Mr Wingti has remained in the ministry and retained the Deputy Prime Ministership. At the news conference, Mr Somare said Mr Wingti would be the new Education Minister, replacing Sir Barry Holloway who becomes Minister for National Planning. Mr Somare pointed out that education had the highest budget allocation and was equivalent to the National Planning Ministry. Mr Somare said that there had also been a need to upgrade some portfolios, in particular Youth, Tourism and Civil Aviation. Among the senior ministers who stepped aside were Sir Pita Lus, Pato Kakarya and Martin To Vadek. The prime minister said he did not think the changes would herald defections.
Palau: It's Still President Remeliik
Palau’s President Haruo I. Remeliik had an easy win in the country’s presidential elections in late November. He polled 4050 votes to 2482 for Airai state Governor Roman Tmetuchl, and 1418 for Koror Mayor Ibedul Yutaka Gibbons. Lieutenant-Governor Alfonso Oiterong, who ran separately from Remeliik, was also comfortably re-elected. The results, as well as those of legislative elections held at the same time, were seen by observers as indicating that most Palauans want rapid progress towards the conclusion of the Compact of Free Association with the United States. (See full report by Floyd K. Takeuchi in this issue).
Japan To Drop N-Waste Plan?
On the eve of his planned January 13-20 visit to the South Pacific, Japanese Prime Minister Nakasone said his government was “putting on hold” plans to dump nuclear waste at a point about 1000 kilometres north of the Northern Marianas. The plan had aroused strong opposition from countries in the region. A spokesman for the Science and Technology Agency, which runs the waste disposal program, said he was unaware of a change in dumping plans, although the prime minister’s office later confirmed Mr Nakasone’s decision. Japanese newspapers quoted some agency officials as saying that the dumping would take place on Japanese soil rather than in the South Pacific. Japan’s 24 nuclear power stations have produced about 320,000 drums of nuclear waste, and the government says the number will reach 1.8 million by the year 2000.
France Makes It 67 Underground Tests
France was reported to have detonated two nuclear devices in the first week of December. 1984. New Zealand Prime Minister David Lange said the second blast, estimated to be of about 70 kilotonnes. was the eighth recorded by New Zealand scientists in
the course of the year. Mr Lange said he deplored France's disregard for the protests against its nuclear testing by New Zealand and other countries. The two December blasts brought to 67 the number of tests carried out by France since it began underground testing at Moruroa Atoll in 1975.
Niue's Population Down To 2900
Provisional results from the recent census in Niue have shown a continuing decline in population caused by migration to New Zealand. The figures show a population of 2900, nearly 400 fewer than at the previous census in 1981. The population of some villages fell by as much as 35 per cent, and a population increase was recorded in only one village. However. Niue government officials say the census disproved claims that the island is inhabited only by the very old and the very young. They point out that the census showed the Niuean population to be young and active, with half in the employable age category of 15 to 59.
Alp, Nzlp Now Flp?
A leading trade unionist in Fiji has said the time has come for workers in the country to form their own political party, along the lines of the Australian and New Zealand Labor Parties. The general secretary of the Fiji Trade Union Congress, Mr Raman, told a rally in Lautoka that the Alliance and National Federation parties represented vested interests opposed to workers, and that it was time the workers had their own political party. Mahendra Chaudhary, national secretary of Fiji’s largest union, the Public Service Association, told the rally his association “fully backed” the call for a workers’ political party.
Lome Three Is Signed
The European Economic Community and more than 60 developing countries have formally signed a new trade and aid agreement worth more than $6 billion. Reuters newsagency quoted sources in Lome, capital of the West African nation of Togo, as saying the signing brought to an end long and often acrimonious negotiations. Under the agreement, known as Lome Three, the EEC countries will provide trade incentives and aid to African. Caribbean and Pacific countries worth $6200 million. The agreement with the ACP countries provides for the first time for contributions from Spain and Portugal, who are expected to join the EEC in 1986. Reuters said ACP delegates had expressed disappointment at the size of the aid package, and its lack of concessions on access for their exports to the EEC.
Nauru's Mammoth Honolulu Project
The Nauru Phosphate Royalties Trust in late 1984 received approval to proceed with a mammoth residential-commercial industrial project next to Hawaii's famed Ala Moana Shopping Center. Construction on the half-billion-dollar development spread over 7 hectares on two adjoining parcels of land is expected to begin in 1986. The project, called 404 Piikoi Street for its location, will be one of the largest in Honolulu. Plans call for four high-rise towers and a mid-rise structure which will vary in height from 50 to 130 metres. There will be 1759 residential units built in high-rises and townhouses. The price range will be aimed primarily at middle- and upper-income groups, although state requirements also call for lower-income housing as well. The price range of residential units is expected to go from a low of about $90,000 to a high of $500,000. Within the park-like development, which will be just west of the shopping centre, there will also be a high-rise office tower, commercial and light industrial space, and 3800 parking stalls located below a 15-metre deck, the top of which will be heavily landscaped. There will be about 17.500 square metres of retail space. 22.000 square metres for industrial customers, and a 17-story office tower with 20.000 square metres. The trust will use Architects Hawaii Ltd. and other local consultants to prepare the final plans for 404 Piikoi. According to a Honolulu newspaper account. Theodore Moses, chairman of the Melbourne-based Nauru trust, issued the following statement on the project; "We are proud of (the plan) and believe it will meet a real need in Honolulu, especially a housing need, but also light industrial, retail and office
requirements in a revitalised Kakaako (the district where the project is located). The large investment by the trust, I believe demonstrates our faith in Hawaii’s long-term future economic growth and political stability. Our primary goal is to make investments which will result in continuing income for Nauru’s people. With this is our determination to ensure that our developments are in accord with the needs of people where we invest . . Alex Weinstein, a director of Architects Hawaii; “What we ve designed is a little city. There will be a variety of housing small apartments, large apartments, small townhouse units and large townhouse homes . . . We’ll have tennis courts and swimming pools, health spas and quiet, park-like areas. ” 404 Piikoi will be across the street from Ala Moana Beach Park, one of Honolulu s most popular parks, particularly for residents. The firms working with Architects Hawaii are Woolsey, Miyabara & Associates, landscape architects; Richard Sato & Associates, civil pnd structural engineers; ECS Inc., mechanical engineer; Douglas V. MacMahan Ltd., electrical engineer; Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade & Douglas, traffic study; and Engineers-Surveyors Hawaii Inc., surveyors. Floyd K. Takeuchi in Honolulu.
Vanuatu Reps’ Rough Times In Noumea
The Vanuatu Government has protested strongly to the French Government over the treatment of its officials visiting New Caledonia, Vanuatu says that its officials are thoroughly searched at Noumea airport on arrival, and in a recent incident one of its diplomats was maltreated by New Caledonian immigration officers Prime Minister Lini has told the French ambassador in Port-Vila that if such incidents recur his government would be forced to reconsider visa exemptions for French passport-holders visiting Vanuatu. He also told the ambassador his government was deeply disappointed over allegations reported to be circulating in New York from the French mission to the United Nations. The allegations accuse Vanuatu of helping to provoke violence in New Caledonia.
Pon Ape Has Leprosy Epidemic
Parts of Micronesia are experiencing an epidemic of leprosy, a congressional subcommittee was told last December. During the last four or five years, “it has been pretty well determined . . . there is what could be considered an epidemic of Hansen’s Disease, particularly in Ponape state,” said Dr John R. Trautman, director of the National Hansen’s Disease Medical Programs for the Department of Health and Human Services. (Hansen’s Disease is leprosy.) “This is not to say this so-called epidemic is out of hand, ” he added, “. . . there has been at least a handle gained.” Dr Trautman testified before the House of Representatives Interior Committee’s Subcommittee on Public Lands and National Parks. It held the hearing on health care in Micronesia in connection with the Compact of Free Association, which will give the U.S. Trust Territory limited independence, if Congress approves. Dr Traut man said there now are more than 1000 leprosy patients on several islands of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), which has a total population of 78,000. This number might eventually rise to 2000, he said. On one small island, Kapingamarangi, 40 per cent of the population of 1000 could develop the disease, he said.
“If that happens, and it could, it would be considered the most significant epidemic, percentage-wise, in the history of the world,”
Dr Trautman said. Testifying before the subcommittee, Richard T.
Montoya, Assistant Secretary for the Interior for Territorial and International Affairs, said the cholera epidemic in the FSM’s state of Truk appeared to be over. No new cases had been reported since April, 1984, he said.
Reforms Urged In Png Bureaucracy
An Australian academic has recommended sweeping changes to Papua New Guinea’s government and public service structures.
Professor Helen Hughes said the reforms were urgent, because the government and public service systems were too complicated and expensive. She said that part of the reason for this was that the systems were inherited by PNG from the Australian colonial era, and were out of date. Professor Hughes also criticised PNG’s 19 provincial governments, saying that they often duplicated national government functions. Professor Hughes, who recently completed a study on industrialisation, growth and development in PNG, also said that the country’s education system as it stands is incapable of adequately training the engineers, accountants and other pro fessional people needed by PNG for continued development.