Solomons budget
pp. 34-35 · Read in the full issue
Heated debate on Solomons budget
THE Solomon Islands budget generated heated debate and resentment in the House, with a government proposal to raise taxes by as much as seven to 10 per cent. Soaring inflation, increased spend ing on development projects and a trade deficit forecast also feature in the USS 92 million 1992 budget.
Solomon summonsed SOLOMON Islands Prime Minister Solomon Mamaloni allegedly owes a Brisbane finance corporation USSI I,SOO which he borrowed in 1989 for a
fibreglass manufacturing company, of
which he is a director. Former Oppo sition leader and private lawyer Andrew Nori, for the Brisbane company, said Mamaloni had 45 days to respond to a summons by the Brisbane company.
A first victory PAPUA New Guinea security forces scored their first real victory in the three year secessionist rebellion on Bougain ville when 15 Bougainville Revolution ary Army (BRA) members surrendered in January. The surrender has allowed the PNG defence forces to begin con structing their first camp on Bougainville since they were forced to leave in 1990.
Pressure on Solomons PAPUA New Guinea has again protested to the Solomon Islands government for what it says is increased Bougainville rebel propaganda in Honiara. A protest note has been sent to the Solomons government demanding immediate ac tion to remove the rebel government office in Honiara.
Fighting zone THE Papua New Guinea city of Lae has; been declared a fighting zone. The; declaration by the Morobe Law andJ Good Order Committee enables police to< erect roadblocks search vehicles and the; public for dangerous weapons.
Bird racket FIJI’S native birds are being smuggled! out of the country in what is believed tot be a million-dollar international racket..
The racket is said to involve visiting* yachties who are selling the birds at) prices of up to USS 14,000 a pair.
Rorovana row THE Papua New Guinea government) and the Bougainville Revolutionary, Army have issued contradictory state ments on fighting at Rorovana nean Arawa in central Bougainville. The PNG Defence Force initially said a patrol boat) had been sent to Arawa to help villagers fleeing to sea to escape BRA members.) However, a shortwave radio message from Francis Ona in Bougainville said: PNG patrol boats fired mortar bombs al Rorovana village for several hours.
Boost by US budget?
THE Federated States of Micronesia aneb
COMPETITIVE price, quality and supply should be the only con siderations when restricting im ports, an Australian minister said in regard to FINAPECO last month.
Australian Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister, Senator Gareth Evans, said during a visit to Fiji he found it hard to believe the Fiji National Petroleum Company (FINAPECO) could be as price-competitive and convenient as present distribution. On January 25, the Fiji Times had reported that FINAPECO already had cost Fiji about FSI million on crude oil offloaded below cost because a storage agreement had not been
reached with the present companies.
Fiji Chamber of Commerce and In dustry secretary Ray Dunstan said the chamber believed the government should opt out of the project before it cost taxpayers and consumers more, and raised the cost of petroleum products.
Senator Evans also said Fiji should seek advice from the International La bour Organisation on the compatability of Fiji’s new labour reforms with ILO conventions. Senator Evans’s visit to Fiji from February 3-5 during his South Pacific tour ended Australia’s four-year quest for normalisation of relations with Fiji, severed after the 1987 coups. □
the Republic of the Marshall Islands will receive over US$l57 million if United States president George Bush’s 1993 national budget is approved. Most of it results from US agreements with the two under compacts of free association.
Matriarch’s change of heart WAITANGI Day protesters were with out one of Maoridom’s most respected leaders last month. The 97-year-old matriarch, Dame Whina Cooper, says die has lost interest in the whole issue and instead will be urging Maoris to strive for unity with their counterparts of Eur opean descent.
I chance with ASEAN PAPUA New Guinea stands a chance of joining the influential ASEAN group thanks to Prime Minister Rabbie Namaliu’s campaign at their last meet, although Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir said he thought it was a bit too ?arly. Namaliu was an observer, the Uatus accorded it by the Association of South East Asian Nations meeting, lournalist banned THE Pacific Islands News Association
condemned the barring of Solomon based Australian journalist Mary Louise
O’Callaghan from Fiji. O’Callaghan was
in the media group with Australia’s Foreign Minister, Senator Gareth Evans, on his South Pacific tour. Fiji’s Minister responsible for Immigration, Tomasi Vakatora, said O’Callaghan was barred because she had previously broken work permit conditions, but gave no details.
Fishing fine THE owners of a Taiwanese fishing vessel have paid U 5575,000 as settlement for fishing illegally. The 1000-tonne vessel was photographed by a Royal Australian Airforce Orion aircraft with its net in the water 16 miles inside the Tuvalu zone on September 13, 1991.
Investment turn-off AN Australian economist says the Papua New Guinea government’s involvement in commercial enterprises would scare off foreign investors. Professor Brian Brogan of the Australian National University says the government should leave com mercial activities to the private sector.□
History: Fiji's President Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau with Australia's Foreign Affairs Minister Senator Gareth Evans at Government House.