Pacific Region News

Gov’t sued over golf course purchase

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa—A lawsuit has been filed by three ranking lawmakers over the territorial government’s purchase of a nightclub.

The Country Club at the Tafuna Golf Course was purchased by the government earlier this year for $272,722 using public funds without legislative approval. The purchase agreement includes paying interest over nine years, raising the total purchase price to close to one million dollars.

House Speaker Aina Nua said the government can make purchases without legislative approval but in this case a lawsuit has been filed because the nightclub and the financing arrangement do not serve the public interest.

British army recruits Fijians

SUVA, Fiji Islands—New British Army recruits could find themselves in combat by mid-next year, said the head of the selection team in Fiji, Major Michael Whistler.

“After recruits have gone through about six months of training, there is every chance that they can be sent to combat areas like Bosnia or Kosovo,” Whistler said.

A total of 423 applicants, 12 of whom are women, made it through the Fiji tests. The youngest successful applicant is 17 years old. The oldest is 30.

School reopens in Aitape

VANIMO, Papua New Guinea—Corpus Christi Community School is the first permanent school to reopen in the Aitape, West Sepik province area, which was devastated by a tsunami last year that killed over 2,000 persons.

More than 400 people attended a ceremonial opening last week, including diplomatic representatives from Australia and New Zealand.

Since the July 17, 1998 disaster, children who survived the tragedy have been attending classes in temporary buildings.

Poor tourist arrivals worry New Caledonia

NOUMEA, New Caledonia—The tourism industry is concerned that fewer tourists are choosing the French territory as a destination to celebrate the millennium than originally expected.

New Caledonia Hotel Association President Henri Morini said hotel bookings are expected to be lower than during a normal holiday season and “even residents have largely booked overseas to celebrate.”

He blamed the results on a lack of effective promotion and ongoing labor troubles at Tontouta International Airport, resulting in flight delays and cancellations.

“We really have to convince the unions that they have to stop these kind of actions,” he said. (Pacific Islands Report)

A. Samoa’s naval guns in national historic register

HONOLULU, Hawaii —Ten-ton guns emplaced at Breakers Point, American Samoa in 1941 as the threat of war with Japan grew closer, have been added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

American Samoa’s delegate in Washington, Congressman Eni Faleomavaega, made the announcement last week.

He said the Breakers Point Naval Guns are the 16th listing of a National Historic Site for American Samoa and that it “reminds us all of our long relationship with the United States.”

Other listings include Government House, Blunts Point Naval Gun and the Fagatogo Courthouse. (Hulsen)