Briefs

Canberra Australia welcomed the outcome of the meeting of South Pacific Forum Economic ministers in Nadi, Fiji. Assistant treasurer, senator Rod Kemp, who represented Australia at the conference, said that despite economic difficulties, ministers recommitted themselves to further eco nomic reform as the key to improving the climate for private investment in the region.

He said this would foster greater competi tiveness and raise sustainable levels of growth within the Forum. Kemp said Australia continued to progress its own important reform agenda since last year’s ministerial meeting in Caims, introducing world class legislation in the areas of financial system regulation and fiscal reporting, and transparency.

Honiara The Solomon Islands government will more than double its revenue from fishing permits and licence fees from Taiwanese fishing boats. This follows the signing of a bilateral fishing agreement in Honiara between the Taiwanese Premier Vincent Siew and Solomon Islands Prime Minister Bartholomew Ulufa’alu.

Apia

Samoa’s opposition leader Tupua Tamasese Efi says Prime Minister Tofilau Eti Alesana should pay for a SUSSOO,OOO prayer temple he ordered built. Samoa National Development Party leader Tupua Tamasese says devoutly Christian Samoa was already full of churches to pray in and the money could have been used on the islands flagging health or education sys tems.

Nukualofa The government of Tonga and the Republic of China on Taiwan have vowed to further strengthen their mutual co-operation in a number of fields. They include agriculture, technology, fisheries, small business ven tures as well as cultural exchanges.

According to the Taiwanese premier, Vincent Siew, his country will further pro mote development projects for Tonga in these areas. Premier Siew and his wife, some cabinet ministers as well as reporters

from Taiwan were in Nuku'alofa for the 80th birthday celebrations of King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV.

Suva Fiji’s health minister, Leo Smith has direct ed the medical council to look into the reg istration of foreign doctors working in gov ernment hospitals. This followed a disclo sure that several of these doctors are work ing without proper certification from the council.

Suva The Emergency Powers Bill was passed by Fiji’s Lower House, giving the presi dent the power to declare a state of emer gency following advice from cabinet.

Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry said his party opposed the Bill and sug gested the Government withdraw it and refer it to a select committee. Opposition leader Jai Ram Reddy voiced his support for the Bill and said that the country must ensure that there will be no need in the future to declare a state of emergency.

Honolulu Hawaii-based Outrigger Hotels and Resorts has signed an agreement with the fiim, Societe des Hotels Tahitiens, to pro vide technical assistance and management for a third resort in French Polynesia. The new property will be built on the island of Moorea, with construction scheduled to

begin in September. Municipal conduct survey Port Villa The Port Villa municipal council in Vanuatu is conducting a general sanitation survey ahead of a policy statement on kava establishments, make-shifts settlements and raising of domestic animals in the town vicinity. Municipal town planner Peter Morris said temporary kava bar establishments and squatter settlements are widespread which calls for the need to put in place clear policy guidelines.

Honiara Solomon Islands has confirmed its with drawal from the Commonwealth Games to be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in September. Secretary of the National Olympic Committee, Fox Qwaina said Solomon Islands had to withdraw because of financial problems and lack of prepara tion by the athletes.

Nukualofa Tonga’s deputy secretary of finance Aisake Eke says the kingdom will soon have an ombudsman. He says this is one of the eight principles of accountability that is not already part of the island kingdom’s legal framework.

Alofi Niue’s plan to set up an internet casino gambling web site has been dealt a blow.

According to reliable sources in Wellington, New Zealand has vetoed the establishment of a prime server computer site at the Niue Consul office in Auckland, The Niue Economic Review reports. This in turn has apparently led to a major Canadian backer pulling out of the project.

Honiara The China Times newspaper of Taiwan has reported that the Taiwanese government has been embarrassed by a request by the Solomon Islands Government for SUSIIO million. The China Times says Taipei fears Solomon Islands would become too demanding if the aid request was approved - and has yet to reply to the request.

Leo Smith