Sugar mill petition refused

fiji – The Fiji government has refused to consider a petition from the National Federation Party calling for the Penang Sugar Mill to be repaired. The petition was compiled on behalf of more than 300 cane growers in the districts around Rakiraki.

The Penang Mill was wrecked by Cyclone Winston last year and the growers believe it should be restored. The petitioners say the economy of Rakiraki is taking a battering both from the impacts of the cyclone and the flooding last December.

They point out that the Prime Minister, Frank Bainimarama, had promised the Penang mill had a future, perhaps as a new syrup mill, but this has not eventuated.

The petitioners say if they transport their crop to a more distant mill, they lose up to 35 percent of its value.

But the petition did not make it to the floor of parliament with the government blocking it. In February last year the government changed the law on petitions and they now require the backing of 40 per cent of the MPs in order to be tabled.

Niue secures two flights

NIUE – Niue has signed a deal with Air New Zealand for two flights a week to carry on year round.

The airline has been operating a second flight only during the high season and was due to return to the twice weekly flights from the end of this month – but after negotiations between the airline and Niue officials this has now changed.

The Secretary to the Niue government Richard Hipa said Niue had signed an air services agreement with the airline for the second flight to continue through the low tourism season.

“It’s good news for us and we just hope there will be bums on seats to make it economical.”

“We really look at it as an investment with Air New Zealand. Our objective now is to market the low season and try to get events to Niue to happen in the early part of the year,” he said.

Hipa said there was high demand for the extra flight year round from the many Niueans living overseas returning for family and village functions.

Niue seeking UN seat

NIUE – Niue’s premier Sir Toke Talagi says he wants to seek another term as the country’s leader as he has unfinished business to see to – which includes securing a seat for Niue at the United Nations.

Sir Toke made the announcement he would stand in this year’s election and for a fourth term as premier after being conferred with his knighthood earlier this week by New Zealand’s Governor General Dame Patsy Reddy who flew to Niue for the occasion as part of a tour of New Zealand’s Realm countries.

Sir Toke said he had more to do to develop tourism and other businesses like the export of water – as well as continuing his quest for Niue to have a separate seat at the United Nations.

““You’ve got to allow us to be part of this group, otherwise we’re only there hanging on. This is not something that we say this year is going to happen, or next year. This is something that will continue to engage both the New Zealand government and the Niue government,” he said.