Briefs

PNG signs border treaty with AustraEa Papua New Guinea has agreed to make it easier for the entry and exit of Australian officials on cross-border patrols. This is an agreement that Australia already has in place for PNG officials. This was one of the important decisions reached at the PNG/Australia Torres Strait Joint Advisory Council meeting held in Port Moresby in November. Two other important matters that arose from the meeting were an agreement by PNG and Australia to work together on responses to cross border emergencies and the start of negotiations on a bilateral

expedition treaty.

Australian High Commissioner, Nick Warner described the treaty as unique in character. “I can’t think of any other treaty between two countries that is as flexible as

this treaty. It is open and willing in its provisions to allow cross- border movements by traditional inhabitants,” he said. He said the treaty shows the special relationship between Australia and PNG. 67 fishermen granted licences The French Polynesian cabinet has approved some 67 deep sea fishing licences, the government’s press office announced. The licences were granted to seven large-size tuna fishing boats, and sixty smaller-sized fishing vessels. Sixty-four per cent of these are fishing in the Wayward group of islands (East of Tahiti), 19 per cent in the Leeward group (West of Tahiti), 10 per cent in the Tuamotu archipelago (East of Tahiti) and six per cent in the Marquesas group (East of Tahiti). Fifteen of the 67 are renewals.

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The licencing move is also aimed at making it easier for small fishing businesses to justify some sort of government approval when asking for loans with financial institutions.

New Caledonia forecasts a record 1,600

tonnes farm shrimp production

New Caledonia’s farm shrimp producing group Sopac forecasts a record figure of 1,600 tonnes of shrimps by the end of the year, daily newspaper Les Nouvelles Caledoniennes reported.

The expected quantity is 28 per cent higher than last year and twice as much as the production of three years ago. Sopac is packaging about 80 per cent of the shrimps

for export. The group explains this year was good for shrimp production, because of the

frequent rains, which are boosting shrimp

growth in a farming environment. Latest figures show some 1,434 tonnes were already produced as at June 30 this year.

Court closed to pubic, media The public and the media were not allowed to “further mentions” in the Supreme Court of the murder charges against the former Samoan cabinet ministers, Leafa Vitale and Toi Aokuso.

Leafa and Toi are charged jointly with the murder of the late Samoan minister of public works, Luagalau Levaula Kamu, on the night of July 16 this year. Toi is also charged with incite to murder and incite to murder the PM in connection with

Levaula's assassination.

Leafa and Toi themselves were ddenied bail and have been detained in PPolice custody since charges were filed aggainst them in late July. The trials will begpn on January 17, 2000, and unless an ordder is made otherwise, they will be in open court and the public and the media will have access to the courtroom.

Frenchman to cross the Pacific on

floating skis

Frenchman Remi Brica intends tov start a walk across the Pacific ocean this month on his floating skis, RFO-radio reported.

Once known as a one-man band singer making regular appearances on French television in the late seventies, Brica has since devoted his time to his real passion: challenging the sea.

“I will cross the Pacific from Los Angeles to Sydney on my floating skis,” he said at a press conference held in Paris. The distance is estimated to be about 14,000 kilometres. Brica would start his trans pacific floating marathon on December 15 from Los Angeles.

Way paved for anti-trust protection for

US territories US Congressman Robert Underwood said Guam and the territories may soon

have equal protection against monopolistic

business practices with passage in the House of H.R. 1801, a bill that clarifies that US anti-trust laws fully apply to the territories.

“This is very important corrective legislation,” the Congressman said. “We wanted to make sure that the businesses that conduct their affairs in Guam and the other territories, whether they are corporations from the outside or are locally owned, do not engage in monopolistic practices.”

“This legislation is necessary because of the fact that many of the anti-trust laws are discussed only in terms of the states.

When attempts were made to thwart those corporations which tried to establish monopolies in the territories, the issues were sometimes clouded by the political status of the territories and by questions of the applicability of the laws,” Underwood said. H.R. 1801 will now go to the Senate, where it is expected to pass and become law sometime next year. ■