MSG membership criteria discussed

VANUATU – The chair of the Melanesian Spearhead Group has arrived in Port Vila for discussions that cover membership guidelines.

Manasseh Sogavare, who is the Solomon Islands prime minister, is in the Vanuatu capital as part of his second MSG capitals’ visit in his capacity as chair.

Sogavare’s office said that revised criteria for observer status and associate membership guidelines within the MSG will be discussed and endorsed.

This comes as the MSG considers a full membership application by the United Liberation Movement for West Papua which currently has observer status in the MSG.

Indonesia, which has associate member status, is opposed to elevating the West Papuans’ status and the issue has proved difficult for MSG full members to settle on.

The full members are Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New Caledonia’s FLNKS Kanaks Movement.

Also on the cards for discussions is the matter of operations of the MSG’s Port Vila-based secretariat which has struggled for funding and resources in the last couple of years.

While in Vila, the MSG Chair will be meeting with both the Vanuatu Prime Minister and FLNKS spokesperson.

Sogavare and delegation will be departing on Wednesday for Suva, Fiji. - RNZI Air marshals for Air Niugini suggested

PAPUA NEW GUINEA – The police in PNG have suggested putting air marshals on international flights after a midair incident on an Air Niugini flight a week ago.

Police said during the flight from Port Moresby to Singapore a man was accosted and detained by passengers after he reportedly put on a life jacket, inflated it and began walking down the aisle towards one of the emergency exits.

A police spokesperson, Dominic Kakas, said the police want a meeting with government agencies and airline representatives to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

He said PNG is hosting major international events and it must demonstrate to the travelling public that it is serious about air safety.

“From what we understand following the 9/11 incident in the US that I think was supposed to be compulsory for all airlines, international airlines to have a air marshall onboard but as I said this is something for all the agencies to meet and sit down and discuss this,” Dominic Kakas said.

- RNZI