Kiribati cools on Soviet fish deal

Soviet fish deal

Russia’s interest in Kiribati, ostensibly as a centre of Soviet Pacific fishing operations, has excited considerable concern in the region, from Japan, to Australia and New Zealand. But there is concern inside Kiribati, too, as indicated by two letters in a recent issue of the local newspaper, Te Uekera.

Correspondent Brian Orme quoted a Radio Fiji broadcast reporting the Fiji government’s concern over Kiribati’s negotia tions with the Russians, and noted statements by New Zea land prime minister, David Lange, that he was attempting to persuade the Kiribati presi dent not to negotiate with Mos cow. He also cited expressions of concern from Papua New

Guinea and the Marshall Is lands. ’The negotiations our gov ernment is having with the Russians not only place Kiribati in danger, but also affect the security of other Pacific coun tries,” Mr Orme wrote. ’’Should we not heed the advice of the other countries in the Pacific and be aware of their concern, then we must be prepared to accept the consequences. ’These consequences could be: (a) The loss of confidence and respect of our Pacific Island neighbors; (b) the total withdra wal of all aid from western democratic countries; (c) sanc tions which would affect travel, work, trade, diplomatic re lationships and recognition.

”My question is, are the people of Kiribati aware of this situation, and are they aware of the consequences we are likely to incur? ”Our government appears to have little concern for the democratic principles which our constitution is based on, or for the wishes of the people. As a citizen of Kiribati, I urge our government to discontinue talks with Russia until after the next meeting of the House in May, and let the people of Kiribati decide themselves whether they wish to live under com munism, or democratic govern ment. ”

The same issue of the news paper carried a second letter, signed by Tiaon Bauro, of the Seamen’s Hostel, who said; “I spent many years as an over seas seaman and during that time I visited many communist countries. I would not like to live in any of them and I would not like to live under a com

munist government in Kiribati. ”1 think if all the people of Kiribati had the chance to visit communist countries they would feel the same way.”

Rust wastes

millions

Rust costs Fiji about Fs47 mil lion a year, according to Ivan Baxter, an executive of British Paints, who was recently in the cyclone-ravaged islands ex plaining the background to his firm’s claim that it could reduce the loss by as much as 70 per cent.

The two industries most menaced by the rust risk are coconut oil milling and fishing, he says. “Coconut oil is highly corrosive. Also, in fishing ves sels, wharf structures, storage and processing plants and other facilities of the fishing industry, corrosion is enormous.”

Not only did fish arrive co vered in corrosive salt water, but their own fatty acids did terrible things to metals, Mr Baxter said.

“The sugar industry also has a big problem,” he said.

To which PIM is sure the executives of the Fiji Sugar Corporation may say only a fervent “Amen.”

BP’s Powell

to ship board

Mr George Powell, a retired international shipping and travel manager has been appointed to the board of the Fiji local inter-island shipping company, Inter-Ports Shipping Corporation.

Mr Powell was shipping and travel manager for Bums Philp in Fiji until 1983. He will repre sent Planters’ Trading Com pany on the shipping company board.

Inter-Ports acquired in Aug ust, 1984, the majority of the local barging interests of Marine Pacific, in which Inchcape, the British maritime and investment conglomerate, maintained an interest. Their vessels provide a scheduled freight service to Labasa, Taveuni and Savusa vu.