The news magazine of the South Pacific · since 1930

Pacific Islands Monthly, 1 April 1995Vol. 65 No. 4

Pacific

p. 5 · Read in the full issue

Islands

Monthl Y

V0L.65 No 4

The News Magazine

April 1995

Letters 6

Headlines 9

Economy

Haiveta gets the ball rolling 10 Coming to terms with the kina 11 WaronVAGST 22

Volcano

Vanuatu’s boiling lake 13

Tahiti

Strikes riots and flag burning 14

Cover Stories

Focus on Vanuatu’s health system 16 The health situation never improves 18 Working out a regional solution 19

Politics

When the roof leaks 21 Who is running the government? 26

Aid

At the crossroads 25

Reform

Reshaping the legislature 29

Budget

A tough balancing act 32

Business

Kava - the next boom industry? 44

Sports

The Ironmen from Samoa 47 Fiji in top Sevens form 50

Yachting

The charm of the channel 52

Shipping

Mad as hell 56 Adventure on the South Seas 58

Opinion

David Barber 46 COVER DESIGN: James Ranuku

Publisher: Brian O’ Flaherty Editor: Mala Jagmohan Senior Writer: Yunus Rashid

Correspondents:

Alan Ah Mu, David North, Ed Rampell, lan Williams, Karen Mangnall, Martin Tiffany, Roman Grynberg, Wally Hiambohn.

Columnists: David Barber (Wellington), Futa Helu (Tonga, covering the Pacific Islands), Jemima Garrett (Sydney), Alfred Sasako (The Forum).

Advertising Sales: * Regional Sales - South Pacific; Ashok Lai, Monita Shires, Tel (679) 304111, 303429, Fax (679) 303809. ‘Sydney, Canberra: Bob Hill Media

Representation, Tel (61-2) 4164245, Fax (61-2) 4165064. ‘Brisbane: Robert Walker, Media House, Tel (61-7) 3710533, Fax (61-7) 3718904. ‘Adelaide: Hastwell Williamsons Representatives, Tel (61-8) 3799522, Fax (61-8) 3799735. ‘Melbourne: Brown Orr Fletcher Burrows (Aust) Pty Ltd. Tel (61-3) 8265188, Fax (61- 3) 8265644. ‘Auckland: McKay & Bowman, International Media Representatives Limited, Tel (64-9) 4190561, Fax (64-9) 4192243. ‘Japan: Universal Media Corporation, Tokyo, Tel (3) 3266626741, Cable: UNI-MEDIA Tokyo. Fax (3) 32626742.F0unded 1930

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

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