Briefs

Support for British monarch system The President of Fiji Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara says he supports the view that the British monarch should return as Fiji’s Head of State for the benefit of indigenous

Fijians.

The President spoke in support of the monarchy returning while opening a provincial council meeting in Suva last month.

He said the monarchy as Head of State works in favour of Fijians as the Queen understands the lives of indigenous people and native land custody issues.

Need for a mining code of conduct Solomon Islands needs a mining code of conduct in places to cater for the emerg ing mining industry in the country.

This view was expressed by environ mental campaigner, Lawrence Makili, after

attending a non-govemmental organisation

conference on a Mining Code of Conduct in Madang, Papua New Guinea.

Mr Makili says with a code of conduct, the mining industry will be more account able for its actions in relation to social, cul tural and environmental impact.

Fear of diarrhoea in Fiji Medical authorities in Fiji last month issued warnings to residents in the coun

try’s western division to boil drinking water fearing an outbreak of diarrhoea.

They said the outbreak was likely to affect children under five years old.

Precautions are being taken by hospi tals in the west to combat the epidemic should it strike.

Lautoka hospital administrator Salote Waqanisau said they were expecting the worst after several diarrhoea cases were reported at the hospital.

Ailing leader of Samoa steps down Samoan prime minister, Tofilau Eti, suffering from cancer, stepped down on November 23 and was replaced by his

deputy.

Parliament confirmed deputy prime minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi as the new prime minister. Tuilaepa also was minister of finance and tourism.

Tofilau, who held power for 16 years, said he would remain a member of parlia ment representing his home district.

Tofilau announced his resignation in Apia, the capital of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa, located about 120 kilometres from American Samoa.

Tofilau appeared in public for the first time in three weeks to announce his resig nation - after returning from cancer treat ment in New Zealand.

He resigned while addressing a session in parliament which is broadcast live by government-owned Radio 2AP. He spoke for about five minutes but was too weak to continue.

Tofilau has also had major heart surgery and been hospitalised in New Zealand sev eral times in recent years. He is the uncle of American Samoan Governor Tausese Sunia.

Samoa, which gained independence from New Zealand in 1962, is regarded by the United Nations as one of the world’s least developed countries.

75 per cent of Fiji affected hy drought A report by the United Nations Disaster Management Programme (UN-DAC) says about 75 per cent of Fiji is now drought affected though the figure was growing.

The independent report, prepared after a UN team toured affected areas in October, will form the basis of Fiji’s appeal for international aid to assist with the drought relief programme. The report was prepared after Cabinet requested help from

the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

It says Western Viti Levu and the Yasawa group have suffered longest.

The region was the worst hit with 90 per cent of the population receiving food and water rations, a devastated agriculture crop, depleted water supplies and rising health problems.

The impact of the drought is seen as so severe that there was a need to continue to prioritise relief assistance for water and food into the first quarter of 1999. About F 53.3 million (US$l.6 million) is needed for relief work each month. The Disaster Management Council is considering the report before making recommendations to Cabinet.

Hawaiian Air to operate charter flights to Tahiti Honolulu-based Hawaiian Airlines has signed an agreement with Renaissance Cruises, an American cruise line, to oper ate charter flights next year between the United States west coast and Tahiti.

The two-year agreement, worth more than SUS7O million, will see the airline fly ing 18 to 20 round-trip charters a month between Los Angeles and Tahiti on DC-10- 30 aircraft.

Hawaiian Air says the new service will create about 130 new positions for pilots and flight attendants.

The airline’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Paul Casey, says the new contract, which is expected to double their annual charter revenue, is consistent with the company’s strategy to expand their services.

Administration changes in Micronesian Institute The Micronesian Institute, a 15-year old non-profit organisation established in Washington DC to build American aware ness of the Micronesian region and to assist Micronesians and their governments, is undergoing reorganisation.

Earlier this year, Ambassadors Jesse Marehalau of the Federated States of Micronesia and Banny de Brum of the Republic of the Marshall Islands were elected interim President and Vice President respectively. Discussions are now underway to make the Micronesian Institute a component of the Council of Micronesian Chief Executives. ■

The Queen ... support for a return as Head