from the islands press
p. 48 · Read in the full issue
From The Samoa Times, Apia Results of last year’s School Certificate exams have shocked at least one principal and have presented him with one big headache. The shock comes in having so many pass the exam and the headache from having to find places for all of them in the sixth form this year. Judging by previous years’ results, he said this year’s pass rate is quite phenomenal. Out of 70 who sat the exam only two scored grades lower than a C, the usual pass.
From the Papua New Guinea Post-Courier, Port Moresby Enga Deputy Premier Ronald Rimbao has been jailed for three months with hard labor for using a government car without permission. Mr Rimbao was found guilty by the Wabag District Court on Monday almost two months after he first appeared and had pleaded not guilty.
From Tala 0 Atiakega, a newspaper produced by the Tuvalu Finance Ministry’s Planning & Statistics Division, Funafuti There were at least thirty happy outboard engine owners on Funafuti last month following the visit of the International Labour Organisation’s Mr Fix-it-man, Thin Aung Nyun. During a training course in small engine repair and maintenance these thirty engines were repaired and most did not require expensive spare parts, which was clearly another bonus.
From the Papua New Guinea Post-Courier, Port Moresby Watut villagers from the Bulolo area of Morobe Province are demanding K 3 million compensation from the National Government for damage caused to their land as a result of gold dredging there in the gold rush days.
From The Fiji Times, Suva Members of the Chinese community in Labasa have criticised Labasa town council for asking guests to pay to attend a reception for the Chinese Ambassador, Mr Ji Chao Zhu. They
said they were “very embarrassed” with the attitude of the council because the idea was “highly insulting” to the Chinese community in Labasa.
From The Tonga Chronicle, Nuku’alofa A seven-member jury was discharged on Tuesday from the Nuku’alofa Supreme Court after it was leamt that a member gave his allowance to the wife of the accused, who was being tried for murder, manslaughter, and causing grievous bodily harm.
From the Papua New Guinea Post-Courier, Port Moresby Clansmen in Enga Province are reported to be turning away from their traditional ways of tribal fighting. They are now using home-made and imported shotguns to fight instead of spears and bows and arrows, according to police. Enga provincial police chief Sen. Insp. Sam Mapi said yesterday there were more than five shotguns known to have been used in a fight at Wapenamanda on Sunday.
From The Samoa Times, Apia Heads are still shaking over the disappointing results in the UE exams. Only 28 students passed of the 62 that sat from Samoa College while the Catholic Combined Senior School could only manage 7 passes. Results from other schools were not available at press time but they are not expected to be any better than those of the top government school.
From the Papua New Guinea Post-Courier, Port Moresby One price for peace in the Dei area of the Western Highlands 14 pigs. This was what people of the district, and the council, put up to stop warring clans in the area from fighting, but it has not worked apparently. The offer came after two Minimbi clansmen were shot dead on Monday following renewed tribal fighting between the Minimbi, Ramdi and Kaulkas clans, of Muglamp . . . The clans had been fighting for the last three months, resulting in 46 deaths.
Nearly three-quarters of the adult Papua New Guinea women murdered are killed by their husbands. And of almost all murders committed by women i PNG, it is their husbands who are the victims - retaliation for long-term abuse and violence. These startling facts, initially gathered by three women in the Public Solicitor’s Office, covered National Court statistics between 1979 and 1982.