Pacific

Islands

Monthly

Vol. 61 No. 9

The News Magazine

September 1991

COVER STORY: Pride in Vanuatu’s leadership crisis could lead to an election downfall. The prospects for foreign and economic policies. The men who would be PM. Jimmy Stevens is free! 9

Games Warm-Up: 35

:Tips on the tussle for top spots :Western Samoa’s Jerry Wallwork aims to tread in his father’s footsteps .For Fiji javelin champ Mereoni Vibose, a trip down memory lane and a shot at a last gold medal :Six-months pregnant, New Caledonia’s Nadia Prasad still will run the marathon :Dodging crab holes on the training track, Jerry Jeremiah may still shine THE FORUM: Twenty years old, it has a mature, respected voice 22 ;Ratu Mara’s swansong, with a few stings. :Nuclear testing still explosive/Environmental issues overgrow traditional loyalties.

Tackling the sticky oil-import issue. ;Red rag for Caledonia’s Right-wing rally. :Call to bag carpetbaggers, withdraw drug smugglers, and send money launderers to the cleaners. ;A nod for Somare’s UN bid/Thumbs up for FSM and Marshall Islands’ full membership.

FRENCH CONNECTION: Maxim Carlot, he could be Vanuatu's next PM

BUSINESS: When things are hurtin’

Hawaii’s tourism tumbles, hit by war, recession and image fatigue 45 COOK ISLANDS: New blood for a tax haven, as the offshore financial centre heads a Pacific drive 50 WESTERN SAMOA: An old warning on spending gains a new urgency 57 FIJI; Air Marshalls has engines fired for the future 49 LURE OF SILVER: Fiji enters the China/Taiwan diplomatic duel 55 MBf IS HERE: with factoring, leasing and Master Card for Fiji 47

David Barber: 17

Jemima Garrett: 27

Margot O’Neill: 25

Futa Helu: 21

Shipping: 51

FOCUS: Showtime in PNG 28

Publisher: Geoffrey Hussey Editor: Jale Moala Assistant Editor: Beryl Cook Senior Writer: Martin Tiffany Correspondents: Al Prince, Angela McCarthy, David North, David Robie, Diana McManus, Dykes Angiki, Frank Senge, Franck Madoeuf, lan Williams, Irene Nisbet, John Hunter, Karen Mangnall, Lovenia Enari, Lito Vilisoni, Macel Manua, Nicholas Rothwell, Pesi Fonua, Richard Dinnen, Ulafala Aiavao, Wally Hiambohn

Columnists: David Barber (Welling ton), Futa Helu (Tonga, covering the Pacific Islands), Jemima Garrett (Syd ney), Margot O'Neill (Washington) Business and Advertising Man ager: Charlotte Thomas Advertising Sales: • Fiji: Salendra Narayan, Tel (679) 304111, Fx (679) 303809 • Sydney, Melbourne: Fergus Maclagan, Tel (61-2) 4134689, Fx (61-2) 4123918 • Brisbane: Robert Walker, Tel (61-7)

3710533, Fx (61-7) 8798964 • Adelaide: Hastwell Williamsons Rep resentations, Tel (61-8) 799522, Fx (61-8) 799735 • Auckland: McKay International Me dia Reps Ltd, Tel (64-9) 4190561, Fx (64-9) 4192243 • Japan: Universal Media Corporation, Tokyo. Tel (3) 6663036, 6663094, Cable: UNIMEDIA Tokyo, Tx 2524665 Founded 1930 (USPS 952480). A Fiji Times Limited production. Cover prices are recommended retail only. Regis

tered by Australia Post, Publication No.

Tel (679) 304111, Fx (679) 303809, Tx FJ2124.

Pacific Islands Monthly is published monthly by Fiji Times Limited, a division of Nationwide News, 2 Holt Street, Surry Hills, Sydney, NSW 2010.

Send address changes to: • Pacific Islands Monthly, PO Box 1167, Suva Fiji. Typeset and printed by Fiji Times Limited, 177 Victoria Parade, Suva, Fiji.

GAMES: Cook Islands, head and shoulder above the rest for a netball gold