Pacific Report

□ Anti-Malaria Tests

A NEW anti-malaria drug is being tested in the Solomon Islands by the World Health Organisation, Australian Army medical officers and local health authorities.

An international test program is un derway to determine the suitability of the drug, Halofantrine, for general use.

□ Matiabe Charged

PNG’S FORMER Education Minister, Mr Matiabe, sacked from the PNG Cabinet in a reshuffle appeared in court charged with unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl under the age of 16. He did not enter a plea and the magistrate remanded him on bail until February 1.

□ French View Of Png

PNG REJECTED a personal apology from the French Ambassador for a French tele vision documentary depicting the coun try as cannibalistic and backward. Papua New Guinea is considering funding a French journalist to produce an alterna tive documentary.

□ End To Png Nepotism

THE NEW Public Service Minister pledged to wipe out nepotism and corrup tion in the 50,000 member Government workforce. Mr Utula Samana said he would not tolerate nepotism, political in terference or corruption, and appoint ments to the public service from now on would be solely on the basis of merit, ex perience and performance.

□ Fiji Indian Policy

THE HEAD of the Indian mission in Fiji, Mr Sreenivasan, said the nature of future relations between his country and Fiji de pended on political developments in Fiji.

Sreenivasan said India’s position had not changed, in that it recognised states and not governments.

□ Png Shark Attack

A MAN was killed in a shark attack in the New Ireland Province. Sharks apparently ripped the man’s body to pieces taking his head, both arms and both legs.

□ Civil Servant Exodus

SOME 600 Indian civil servants in Fiji from various levels have left the service.

The resignations and retirements were de scribed by the general secretary of the Fiji Public Service Association, Mr Mahen dra Chaudhary, as a “purge” directed against one community.

□ Chinese Doctor Intake

FIJI IS to recruit 10 Chinese doctors on a two-year contract. Expected to arrive by mid-February, the Chinese doctors are being brought to alleviate the acute short age of doctors Fiji is facing after a mass ex odus of Government doctors.

□ Marathon Paddle

A Papua New Guinea Man Com

pleted a marathon canoe trip along the coast to raise funds for a church building.

Loa Tutele set out in December to pad dle a small canoe from Alotau in the far east of the mainland to paddle to the cap ital, Port Moresby a distance of more than 450 kilometres.

He took only five packets of biscuits and a litre of water on the journey, which took him two weeks. During the trip Tu tele survived tropical squalls, supple mented his biscuit diet with floating coconuts, and narrowly survived an at tack by coastal villagers who thought he was a young hooligan.

□ Nz Yacht Tragedy

WRECKAGE from a yacht that disap peared with four men aboard after a race from New Zealand to Queensland in 1985 has been found off New Zealand’s North Island.

The crew of a fishing trawler found a section of the hull with a nameplate of the Sequoia Two near Cape Egmont. They also found the passport of one of the four crew members.

The 13-metre yacht disappeared while returning to New Zealand in September 1985 after competing in the Auckland to Mooloolaba race. Two of the crew mem bers were Australians; the others were an American and a New Zealander.

□ Png Computer Boost

A COMPUTER system that is helping to bring order to provincial government ac counting methods in Papua New Guinea has been given another K 2 million. The United Nations Development Agency, which developed the computer system in 1986, donated a further K 700,000 to its de velopment, while Australia contributed K 1.3 million.

□ Nauru, Thailand Recognise Fiji

NAURU is reported to have recognised the Government of the Republic of Fiji. The Fiji Information Ministry says formal rec ognition of the three-month-old Republi can Government in Suva was conveyed in a diplomatic note from the Nauru Exter nal Affairs Department.

The Government of Thailand has re affirmed its respect for the sovereignty of Fiji and the right of the Fijian people to decide their future. The Thai Ambassa dor to Fiji, Mr Jetn Sucharitkul, conveyed the message to the Prime Minister, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, saying Thailand was happy to maintain full relations with Fiji and was keen to expand economic co-op eration both with the public and private sectors.

□ Solomons Vetoes Fiji

SOLOMON ISLANDS said it was not ready to have Fiji included in a proposed regional agreement sought by the Melane sian Spearhead group. The proposed agreement covers economic, trade and cultural co-operation among the Spear head countries Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. The Solo mons’ position is that Fiji was not in cluded when the principles were discussed by Spearhead Group leaders last year and if Fiji was to be included more discussion would be needed.

□ “Asylum” For Aids Victims

AN OPPOSITION member of the Papua New Guinea Parliament wants AIDS car riers to be locked away. The Member for Chuave, Mr Brown Sinamoi, has called on the Health Minister, Mr Tim Ward, to iso late known AIDS carriers from the rest of society.

□ Vanuatu For Expo 88

THE FLAG of Vanuatu was raised in Bris bane over the site chosen for its exhibit in the international Expo 88. The republic’s President, Mr George Sokomanu, was present at the ceremony. Vanuatu is one of seven Pacific countries that will display their products to visitors from around the world when Expo 88 opens this year.

□ Lange’S Race Pileup

THE NEW ZEALAND Prime Minister, Mr David Lange, was shaken but unhurt when the Ford Laser racing car he was driving was involved in a collision with another car. Mr Lange was taking part in a practice session for the first round of an international racing series in Palmerston North.

□ Un’S Maori Land Probe

THE HEAD of the United Nations Work ing Group on Indigenous Populations, Professor Erica-Irene Daes, arrived in New Zealand to gather information about a Maori land rights claim. The Ngati Te Ata tribe wants sand mining halted on land it says was confiscated from it by the Government in 1863.