PACIFIC BRIEFS 13/2/2017

Dengue claims life in New Caledonia NEW CALEDONIA – This year’s dengue epidemic in New Caledonia has claimed its first life A 25-year-old woman in the Noumea area died of dengue type 1 and authorities said she was not considered to be at special risk.

They said she had not travelled in the three weeks before her death. Hundreds of people have been infected this year and an epidemic was declared in the first week of January as about 20 people a day were being infected with the mosquito-borne disease. Another two dozen patients have contracted dengue type 2 which was brought into the territory through Vanuatu.

REMOVAL OF ASBESTOS GETS UNDERWAY

TONGA – From this week a number of key buildings around Tonga are being closed to allow the removal of asbestos. The Tongan government’s environmental officer Mafile’o Masi said the removal, being done through the European Union-funded Pacwaste programme by a European company, Polyeco, was expected to take about three months to complete. She said about 6000 square metres of asbestos needed to be removed and about two-thirds of that was in the Prince Ngu Hospital on Vava’u. Several buildings in Nuku’alofa are affected, including the main hospital, Vaiola, but there the presence of asbestos is confined to a short covered walkway and its removal will not interfere with the hospital’s operations. The asbestos waste is to be sealed and isolated in landfills on Tongatapu and on Vava’u.

FIJI TIMES EDITOR APPEALS BAIL TERMS

FIJI – Lawyers for the Fiji Times publisher, Hank Arts, have appealed against a bail variation handed down by the High Court last month. In August, Arts was charged with inciting communal antagonism for an article that was published in his company’s i-Taukei language newspaper, Nai Lalakai. Arts had applied for a change to his bail conditions so that he country travel to his daughter’s wedding in New Zealand. However, this was dismissed by the High Court in January. On Friday, lawyers for Arts filed a notice of appeal, which will be heard next Thursday.

Strong wind, rain expected to ease

FIJI – Strong winds and heavy rain associated with two weather systems that caused havoc in Fiji over the past week should clear later today but flood alerts remain in place. Fiji Meteorological Service director Ravind Kumar said an associated trough with cloud and rain would continue to affect the country until early next week, A flood warning remains in force for low-lying areas and areas adjacent to Rakiraki Town. A flood alert remains in force for low-lying areas and small streams adjacent to major rivers for the whole of Fiji.

A heavy rain warning and strong wind warning remains in force for the whole of Fiji.

BANK WARNS OF ATM ‘SKIMMING’

Northern Marianas – Banks in the Northern Marianas are warning customers that skimming devices have been discovered at some automated teller machines or ATMs. First Hawaiian Bank said it is aware of ongoing police investigation of some ATM skimming devices again found on Saipan. Its management is advising their clients and customers of other financial institutions in the CNMI to remain vigilant and immediately report any incidents. The Bank said the alleged skimming incident did not compromise its system. Last April, skimming devices were found in two ATM terminals of First Hawaiian Bank on Saipan.