BOUGAINVILLE HARDLINERS GRAB POLICE VEHICLE Submitted by admin on Fri, 12/29/2000 - 00:00
By Jack Metta
PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (December 28, 2000 - The National/PINA Nius Online) -Bougainville police chief Joe Bemu has been directed by his superiors to seek help from Bougainvillean leaders to recover a police vehicle commandeered at gunpoint by rebel hardliners in Arawa during Christmas.
Islands Regional Police Commander Assistant Commissioner Matthew Minok said the vehicle was allegedly commandeered by a rebel commander in Arawa, known to police. The man is notorious for four other carjackings in the past, Mr. Minok said. His latest acquisition is Arawa s only police vehicle - a Toyota open back Land Cruiser driven by a lone policeman at the time of the hold-up.
DELAYS, COMPETITION THREATEN PAPUA NEW GUINEA GAS PROJECT Submitted by admin on Wed, 08/09/2000 - 00:00
PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (August 7, 2000 - Papua New Guinea Post-Courier/PINA Nius Online) -A failure by the State and the proponents of the K 1 billion (US$ 384,000,000) PNG Gas project to conclude the negotiations on gas agreements quickly could cost the project dearly, sources warned.
This, combined with the threat of the Timor pipeline, should be of concern to all parties, the sources said.
The Gas Agreement forms the basis for project proponents to make a decision whether to adopt the front-end engineering design (FEED) phase.
MELANESIAN TRADE OFFICIALS ACT ON QUARANTINE, SHIPPING, BUSINESS Submitted by admin on Fri, 12/01/2000 - 00:00
PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (November 30, 2000 - Post-Courier/PINA Nius Online) -A draft report being reviewed by Melanesian Spearhead Group economic and trade officials here includes formalizing a quarantine committee, holding a shipping conference, and establishing a business council.
The quarantine sub-committee, which until now has operated under a temporary arrangement, was formally endorsed by the meeting. The Solomon Islands was asked to find funding from various agencies to print a quarantine handbook for member countries.
The Solomon Islands will also host the second shipping conference at a date yet to be set.
FIJI POLICE THREATEN STRIKE OVER PAY Submitted by admin on Fri, 12/20/2002 - 00:00
SUVA, Fiji (Radio New Zealand International, Dec. 20) - Fiji will be in danger of becoming a Mecca for criminals if regular officers and special constables of the police force go ahead with their plans to stage a strike.
The Daily Post quotes an officer as saying the strike could start as early as Monday if no concrete action is taken to better their pay and working conditions.
He says police have been holding meetings and a strike is the best option they have come up with.
The officer says working without pay, especially while serving on special operations, and catching buses and taxis and paying from their own pockets while attending to calls for help were a common practice for police officers.
TAHITIAN HANDICRAFTS FAIR SALES HIT US$ 770,000 Submitted by admin on Tue, 07/30/2002 - 00:00
PAPE‘ETE, French Polynesia (July 29, 2002 - Tahitipresse/PINA Nius Online) -The handicrafts fair held in Pirae on Tahiti s east coast last week was very successful, said French Polynesia s Minister for Handicrafts Pascale Haiti.
Total sales reached US$ 770,000. The results are much better than last year, when they amounted to US$ 540,000.
However, there were more artisans taking part this year.
More than 25,000 people visited the fair.
Said Minister Haiti: I think prices have remained unchanged in recent years. I would not say that Tahitian handicrafts are expensive because they really are quality products.