Pacific Report
p. 29 · Read in the full issue
□ Cyclone Aid To Vanuatu
AUSTRALIA is to provide up to SABOO,OOO in aid for victims of a cyclone that struck the northern islands of Vanu atu in January.
The Australian High Commissioner to Vanuatu, Mr Greg Unwin, said that RAAF Hercules transport aircraft had made flights to Port Vila in the wake of the cy clone, carrying a helicopter used to assess the extent of cyclone damage in the Banks and Torres Islands and supplies of shelter materials, food and other emergency relief.
□ Vanuatu Pm Flies To Nz
VANUATU’S Prime Minister, Father Walter Lini, flew to New Zealand for spe cial medical treatment in mid-January.
Father Lini suffered a stroke in Wash ington almost a year ago, but has denied
he is too ill to lead the country and before departing for three weeks’ holiday and medical treatment in Auckland and Ro torua, told party supporters he intended remaining as Prime Minister for his full four-year term. □ FIJI TO FLY THE (NEW) FLAG THE Fiji Government invited entries for a competition to select a new national flag and anthem for the Republic. The com petition, open to all Fiji citizens, closed on February 16.
Fiji’s present flag comprises the Union Jack in the top left comer, with the Fiji coat of arms on a light blue background. Fiji ceased to be a member of the Common wealth when it became a Republic last Oc tober and the new flag is expected to drop the Union Jack.
□ Public Service Cleanup
FIJI’S Prime Minister, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, has ordered the country’s top civil servants to crack down on malpractice in their departments. The Prime Minister is sued the order during an address to per manent secretaries of Fiji’s public service commission and called on them to set pro duction and productivity goals, adding that department heads must crack down on unpunctuality, inefficiency, stealing, fraud and corruption.
□ Samoan Nurses May Strike
MEMBERS of Western Samoa’s Regis tered Nurses’ Association have threat ened to strike over pay and working conditions. A spokesperson for the as sociation said few recruits were attracted to nursing in Western Samoa because of poor salaries and that many established nurses were leaving their jobs to take more highly paid positions in other countries.
The association submitted a new sa laries proposal in January to Western Sa moa’s Public Service Commission.
Officials have agreed to negotiate on the proposal, but have not yet set an agenda.
Western Samoa’s 300 nurses are asking for an unspecified increase in starting sa laries (at present around SUS 1000 a year), paid overtime, travelling expenses and compensation for exposure to disease.
□ Tonga Defamation Trial
THE trial has begun in Tonga of a news paper editor, ’Akalisi Pohiva, a Tongatapu People’s Party representative and member of Parliament, for allegedly defaming the Minister of Police.
The alleged defamation relates to a let ter in the Kele’a newsletter of November 1986, which included allegations about Tonga’s Police Minister, the Noble ’Akau’ola.
□ Us Aid To Typhoon-Hit Guam
THE United States is to provide emer gency relief to the Pacific islands of Guam and Rota following devastation caused by Typhoon Roy, which struck the American dependencies of Guam and Rota in the Marianas on January 11 and 12, wrecking 985 residencies on Guam. The relief pro gram includes temporary housing and low interest loans to cover uninsured property and business losses.
□ Tonga’S Nz Consulate
TONGA is soon to establish its first dip lomatic mission in New Zealand by open ing a consulate in Auckland (home to the largest concentration of Tongans outside the kingdom). Tonga is also looking into the possibility of sharing some diplomatic representation with Western Samoa.