Pacific Region News

French Polynesia posts 4.3 percent growth

PAPEETE, French Polynesia-–French Polynesia’s economy grew 4.3 percent in 1998, according to just-released statistics.

Minister for Economy Georges Puchon said, “Since 1996, we have started to see things getting better gradually.”

In 1995, Papeete was the scene of ongoing protests against nuclear testing at Moruroa and Fangataufa atolls and investments ground to a halt.

Puchon said for the past two years business investments have been growing, mainly made in the tourism and building sectors.

McKinnon is new Commonwealth head

DURBAN, South Africa-–New Zealand Foreign Minister Don McKinnon has been elected as the new Secretary General of the Commonwealth.

The announcement was made by South Africa’s President Thabo Mbeki at the current Commonwealth heads of government meeting.

Mr. McKinnon, who received unanimous support from Pacific Islands Commonwealth nations, will succeed Nigeria’s Chief Emeka Anyaokou next April.

Protest fizzles out

JAKARTA, Indonesia-–An independence rally in Irian Jaya, on the island of New Guinea, Friday failed to match the massive demonstration in Aceh earlier this week.

In the capital of former Dutch New Guinea, a crowd of up to 3,000 marched peacefully to commemorate the birthday of a pro-independence leader.

Indonesian police and military forces appeared to ignore the demonstration, which included the flying of an independent West Papua flag in other parts of the Indonesian province.

Fiji firecraker sales banned

SUVA, Fiji Islands-–The Ministry of Commerce has imposed a three-month ban on the sale of firecrackers while a regulatory proposal is developed.

The move was taken following the decapitation of a 14-year-old boy by a so-called “Dragon’s Egg” firework during the recent Hindu Diwali Festival.

The Trade Standard Board has begun consultations with the government and the public in developing formal controls on the sale of firecrackers.

Outrigger Marshall Islands’ profit drop

MAJURO, Marshall Islands-–The government-owned Outrigger Marshall Islands Hotel and Resort suffered a net loss of $265,459 in fiscal year 1998, but began operating at a profit beginning this past July, according to the Office of the Auditor General.

The report also shows that the government provided the resort with a 1998 subsidy of $1,119,664.

The Majuro property is managed by Hawaii-based Outrigger Hotels and Resorts.

East New Britain UFO probably satellite

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea—The unidentified flying object seen by thousands over East New Britain and New Ireland provinces this week is believed to have been a falling satellite.

John Mcleod, manager of the Malangan Beach Resort, said he watched the object from his motel. “I thought it was a meteorite at first but it looked more like a satellite falling out of orbit.”

He said the object appeared to be “bouncing off the sky and was burning red hot.”

Officials are investigating the incident.

WHO: 1 million Pacific HIV/AIDS cases in 2000

UNITED NATIONS, New York-The World Health Organization predicts one million people will be infected with HIV/AIDS in the Pacific Islands and eastern Asia by the end of next year, up from 700,000 in 1998.

Particularly rapid infection rates are being recorded in Papua New Guinea and the Asian nations of China, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

Figures show the virus has already infected almost four percent of Cambodia’s population between the ages of 15 and 49.

Qantas suspends port Moresby-Cairns flights

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea–-Australia’s Qantas Airways has suspended all flights between Port Moresby and Cairns for three months.

A spokesman at Qantas’ Sydney office said the decision was made to review the operations of the airline, not only in Papua New Guinea but worldwide, following a 13 percent drop in passengers during August.

He also said the Port Moresby flights are being cancelled as a precautionary measure against the impact of the Y2K millennium bug.

Senate confirms US envoy to Samoa

WASHINGTON, D.C-–The Senate has voted to confirm Carol Moseley-Braun as the next U.S. ambassador to Samoa and New Zealand.

Her nomination by President Bill Clinton was approved by an overwhelming Senate vote of 96-2, well over the required two-thirds majority.

Moseley-Braun becomes the seventh black woman currently serving as a U.S. ambassador.

Betel nut chewers face fines

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea—Betel nut chewers will be slapped with a $15 fine if they are caught spitting in public places, police chief Raphael Huafolo has warned.

A newly introduced capital district clean-up law targets litterbugs, street vendors and the chewing and spitting of betel nut.

“It is time we made Port Moresby look like the capital city of Papua New Guinea,” he said.