The Island Press

Reports from the papers, compiled by John Carter

THE ORGANISERS of Sunday’s peace march say that it is to bring people to the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, yet they have some funny ideas. Powes Parkop said they were marching on Palm Sunday morning “just like Jesus marched into Jerusalem”.

Either Mr Parkop doesn’t know his Bible too well, or donkeys will be handed out at the start of the march.

From Tok Pilai in the University of Papua New Guinea’s Uni Tavur.

A KUNDIAWA rugby league official has laid a complaint against Police Minister and Chimbu MP Peter Kuman for inde cent exposure and inciting a riot.

Brothers rugby league team coach Wally Yegiora, who is also a reserve policeman, filed the complaint with police station commander Mr Robert Kalasim on Sunday.

The provincial police commander, Chief Inspector Allan Kundi, confirmed yesterday that complaints had been laid against Kuman.

Mr Yegiora alleges that Kuman bared his private parts publicly during the main rugby league fixture between Souths and Brothers on Sunday and incited a riot.

From the Papua New Guinea Post-Courier, Port Moresby.

IT IS COSTING the Government nearly K 12.5 million a year to keep its vehicles on the road.

That is far too high, says personnel management secretary Wep Kanawi, and he is determined to do something about it.

For starters, he has issued strict instruc tions to departmental heads at both na tional and provincial level to control the use of government vehicles.

From the Papua New Guinea Post-Courier, Port Moresby.

THIEVES AND vandals have been active in recent weeks and the incidence of prop erty-related offences is increasing.

These offences include: ■ Three reports of the theft of fuel from motor vehicles; ■ More than $lOOO worth of goods sto len from the jetty during unloading of the last ship; ■ Three reports of stolen motor vehicles; ■ $5OO worth of malicious damage to plant and equipment belonging to a local industry; □ The annual theft of palm seeds has started; □ A new one for Norfolk visitors had their clothing stolen from a clothesline at their holiday accommodation.

From The Norfolk Islander.

DURING THE Cabinet meeting earlier this month, child abuse was one of the is sues that generated serious discussion. It was pointed out by directors whose de partments are involved with the handling of child abuse cases that one of the reasons behind the increase in child abuse is that parents, especially mothers, do not spend enough time with their children. One di rector pointed out that many mothers work during the day then rush to the bingo games, thus having no time at all for an end-of-the-day family get-together or eve ning prayer.

From The ASG Report of the Amer ican Samoa Government, Pago Pago.

EUROMARCHE, the giant low-priced supermarket and department store in the Moana Nui Shopping Centre in the Com mune of Punaauia, came up with an orig inal idea for celebrating the Chinese New Year. Its pastry kitchen prepared a cake 30.25 metres long! And it was one solid piece of cake that was later cut into 3000 pieces and given to Euromarche cus tomers on February 13.

From Tahiti Sun Press, Papeete.

ALL PUBLIC officers have again been re minded about the type of dress they wear to work. In a circular from the Ministry of Public Service, the Permanent Secretary, Mr James Saliga, reminded all public of ficers to dress properly in a manner that would draw respect to their offices. “It is noted with pity that some officers have been wearing jeans, T-shirts, soccer and rugby jerseys and boots to work,” Mr Sal iga said.

From The Nius, Honiara, Solomon Islands.

RESULTS OF the 1987 Livestock Census for three islands have been released by the Agricultural Division. The pig population of Tuvalu has shown a decline of 923 pigs since the 1986 Census, a drop of more than 11 per cent. The greatest changes have been in Nukulaelae, where pig numbers have dropped by 1024 since 1987 to a total of 347, a drop of almost 75 per cent. On Fun afuti pig numbers have reached 1736, an increase of 1016 since 1986 or an increase of 141 per cent. On Vaitupu the number of pigs has dropped from 2139 to 1130 or by 47 per cent since last year.

From Tuvalu Echoes, Funafuti.