In Brief: Tonga air review awaited

The chief executive of Tonga’s domestic airline says he has not heard from the World Bank regarding the ongoing review of Tonga’s transport industry.

Tonga air review awaited

TONGA – The chief executive of Tonga’s domestic airline says he has not heard from the World Bank regarding the ongoing review of Tonga’s transport industry. Following the long-standing dispute between New Zealand and Tonga over a controversial aircraft gifted to Tonga by China, the New Zealand Foreign Minister, Murray McCully, and the Tongan Prime Minister, Lord Tu’ivakano, announced the industry-wide review in March. The MA-60 aircraft is operated by Real Tonga on the Tongatapu to Vava’u route. New Zealand has maintained a travel advisory on its website as it says the plane was not certified properly and there are wide concerns over its safety. The CEO of Real Tonga, Tevita Palu, says he has not heard anything from the World Bank, but is happy to work with it.

Appeal for Solomons

SOLOMON ISLANDS – The Red Cross has launched an emergency appeal for $US1.4 million to help Solomon Islanders recover from the flash flooding one month ago. The floods killed 22 people, destroyed homes and properties, and severely disrupted the lives of more than 50,000 people in the capital Honiara and Guadacanal Province. Red Cross Solomon Islands Deputy Secretary General Joanne Zoleveke, says more than 4000 people remain in emergency shelters and face months of recovery efforts. She says emergency support is needed to provide more clean water, sanitation, emergency shelter, and help victims re-build in the long term. Ms Zoleveke says the Red Cross has so far delivered non-food items such as tools, jerry cans, cooking equipment, hygiene materials and mosquito nets to 5000 people, and provided assistance in evacuation centres. She says the emergency appeal will enable the Red Cross to deliver safe drinking water, shelter kits and essential supplies to 21,000 people.

Vanuatu victims tired of delay

VANUATU – Victims of Cyclone Lusi in Vanuatu who urgently need food are frustrated at a delayed response from the government, one month after the storm. Affected populations were advised to use up left over crops damaged from the cyclone. But after the crops ran out in some areas nearly two weeks ago, many have been forced to eat unripe crops. Kensley Micah from the Provincial Disaster Committee in Sanma Province says locals are frustrated after assessments for food relief were done more than two weeks ago.The National Disaster Management Office says it cannot help the families until it gets funds from the government. Its director, Shadrack Welegtabit, who submitted the assessment for food relief over a week ago, initially expected to receive a response within a couple of days. He now says he hopes to get a response this week.

Party says AGS position untenable

FIJI–The Fiji Labour Party says Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum should resign as Minister for Elections now he has been appointed as secretary general of the proposed political party headed by the regime leader. Mr Sayed-Khaiyum, who is also the attorney general, was one of the officials revealed in the line-up on Monday when Rear Admiral Frank Bainimarama applied for registration of his Fiji First party. Earlier this year, the Minister for Elections bought the Fiji First internet domain name - months before the regime leader announced the party name. The Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry says Mr Sayed-Khaiyum should step down as Minister for Elections immediately. The Labour Party will meet later this week to discuss the party’s leadership following last week’s sentencing of Mr Chaudhry, which ruled him out of contention for this year’s election. Mr Chaudhry has lodged an appeal after being found guilty of breaching the Exchange Control Act.

Russian activity increases in Pacific

GUAM – The head of United States air forces in the Pacific says that Russia’s airforce has significantly increased its air activity in the Asia-Pacific region including a recent circumnavigation of Guam. General Herbert Carlisle said the increased aerial activity by Russia is about gathering intelligence and a show of strength to coincide with the country’s intervention in Ukraine. The activity, he said, included a Russian strategic bomber flying to the US territory of Guam, where it was intercepted by an American F-15 fighter jet. General Carlisle said the number of long-range Russian patrols around the Japanese islands and Korea had increased drastically, including observation of military exercises involving the US in the region. He said there had also been a lot more ship activity by the Russians as well.