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Last Updated: Feb 19th, 2008 - 18:09:42 |
News
Fiji's Great Council of Chiefs order is flawed : Chiefs
20 FEBRUARY 2008 SUVA (Pacnews) ------ The taskforce commissioned by Fiji’s interim Government to review the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) has admitted that the gazette which prescribes the role of the new-look council is flawed, reports The Fiji Times .
Taskforce head Ratu Tu'uakitau Cokanauto yesterday said what was stated in the gazette was a “deviation” from the recommendation they made following widespread consultation with chiefs and provinces around the country.
The gazette, dated earlier this month under interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama's name, stipulates that as interim Minister for Indigenous Affairs, not only does he appoint himself as chairman of the council but is also the appointing authority of the future members of the council.
This, Ratu Tu'uakitau, said failed to reflect the apolitical stance of the new-look council which the team had recommended.
“It's not vakaturaga ( chiefly) of us to go back and present something contrary to discussions we had,” he said.
Ratu Tu'uakitau said he would seek an audience with Commodore Bainimarama, who returns from Indian this week, to iron out issues raised in the gazette with the view to improving it. He said he only dealt with his line minister Commodore Bainimarama over the matter and would not hold an audience with the Attorney-General's chambers to discuss misfits in the gazette.
He said the aim of the review was to remove political influence from the institution and admitted he did not know why or how the inclusion of the minister was introduced in the gazette.
Ratu Tu'uakitau said he had cited the draft gazette before it was published and was dumbfounded when news broke earlier this week that the gazette failed to fully reflect the team's recommendation to Commodore Bainimarama.
He said the prime minister, president and vice president were to be removed as council members in a bid to maintain the sanctity of the institution leaving the president as the appointing authority of the council.
Meanwwhile, Rewa high chief and head of the Burebasaga confederacy Ro Teimumu Kepa has questioned the Fiji military council’s silence on matters of paramount interest to indigenous Fijians.
Ro Teimumu said this should be of utmost concern to Fijians in the military council. She said these are the very people who should be protecting the Fijian structure for this generation and the generations to come.
“After all what is the military there for? Why aren’t they talking? Are they afraid of him (Bainimarama)?” she questioned. “Bainimarama doesn’t move from point A to B without the approval of the military council.
“Aren’t they supposed to be protecting our land, our heritage? Why are they dismantling the Fijian structure?” questioned the former Education minister in the ousted Laisenia Qarase-government.
She asked how they can just sit back when Fijian institutions and the very heart of the Fijian structure is being targeted
Feb 20, 2008, 18:05
News
Coalition talks in French Polynesia break down
20 FEBRUARY 2008 PAPE’ETE (Pacnews) ------ Talks in French Polynesia to form a majority for the next five years have collapsed, reports Radio New Zealand International..
The leader of the To Tatou Aia coalition, Gaston Tong Sang, has rejected the demands put to it by the Tahoeraa Huiraatira during last week’s three day meeting to form a pro-autonomy majority.
The chief negotiator for the Tahoeraa, Edouard Fritch, has announced the failure to reach an agreement as three days remain before the newly elected assembly is to meet to choose an assembly president.
The Tahoeraa demands five ministerial positions as well as the presidency of the assembly, which To Tatou Aia considers to be excessive.
A To Tatou Aia leader said the demands were aimed at forging closer links between the Tahoeraa leader, Gaston Flosse, and Oscar Temaru of the Union For Democracy. Last year the two leaders jointly ousted the first government led by Mr Tong Sang.
The early election of an assembly was called by France in a bid to increase political stability but no party won an absolute majority
Feb 20, 2008, 18:04
News
Pacific allies' leaders visiting Taiwan in March
20 FEBRUARY 2008 TAIPEI (Pacnews) ------ The diplomatic ties between Taiwan and its three allies in the South Pacific remain solid, reports Radio Taiwan International.
That's despite recent power transitions in those countries, according to the Taiwanese foreign ministry on Tuesday.
A ministry official Donald Lee said that the new heads of state of the Solomon Islands, Marshall Islands and Nauru all plan to visit Taiwan in March.
China and Taiwan have been engaging in a long-running diplomatic tug-of-war to attract allies in the Pacific region, offering aid packages in economic, agricultural and educational development
Feb 20, 2008, 18:03
News
Australia's PM to visit PNG, Solomons next month
20 FEBRUARY 2008 CANBERRA (Pacnews) -------Australia's Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, is to visit Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Solomon Islands next month.
The Rudd government, elected in November, said it needs to repair relations with the South Pacific, after what it calls “the bullying” of the previous Howard government.
Radio Australia reports in Port Moresby, Mr Rudd would build on the talks he had with the PNG prime minister, Sir Michael Somare, at the UN Climate Conference in Bali.
The prime minister's trip will be part of the push to warm relations with the Somare government, after the year-long official freeze imposed by the Howard government over the Julian Moti affair, which strained Australia's relations with both PNG and Solomon Islands.
As well as Mr Rudd's visit to PNG, planning is under way to hold the deferred ministerial council between Australia and PNG.
Australia's foreign minister, Stephen Smith, is also due to visit Solomon Islands on Friday
Feb 20, 2008, 18:02
News
Strict controls on Tuna
20 FEBRUARY 2008 HONIARA (Pacnews) ----- Pacific island countries, including Papua New Guinea, have agreed to enforce strict controls to conserve the fast depleting tuna stocks in their oceans, Post Courier reports.
At a special meeting at Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) headquarters in Honiara, Solomon Islands last week, it was agreed under the Palau Arrangement Vessel Day Scheme (VDS) strict limits would be enforced to conserve the tuna stocks.
The countries attending the meeting were the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and PNG who are parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA).
“The parties considered the implementation of the Vessel Day Scheme which came into effect on 1 December 2007, and discussed compliance issues pertaining to the reporting by purse seine vessels on the FFA Vessel Monitoring System.” A FFA statement stated
It added the parties noticed that there were improvements in VMS reporting by vessels on the VDS register and it was noted progress was made
“The parties also noted that the Vessel Day Scheme allows them to exert greater control over the skipjack fisheries and agreed to strictly enforce the effort limits under the Palau Arrangement Vessel Day Scheme (VDS) as a fisheries management scheme to conserve the tuna stocks in the region,”
The three-day meeting, also saw the tabling of a report on the Purse Seine Strategy for the PNA countries. The report reviews models implemented to ensure greater economic benefits from the region’s purse seine fisheries.
“In this regard, the parties considered a number of options and agreed to ensure that they will pursue avenues to secure greater rights to the resources and control of the fisheries. “These include among other things, seeking greater direct foreign investment in return for access and a phased reduction of foreign fishing allocations under access arrangements,” FFA stated
Feb 20, 2008, 18:01
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