pacific BRIEFS Fiji Assures Tongan PM of Support

FIJI – Fiji’s Foreign Affairs Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola has assured Tongan Prime Minister Samiuela Pohiva of the Fijian government’s full support and commitment towards strengthening relations between the two countries.

A Department of Information statement said Ratu Inoke met Pohiva in Nukualofa, Tonga, and conveyed the government’s congratulations to him and his government on their successful elections. The statement said Ratu Inoke also shared concerns regarding the Pacific regional architecture and expressed the Fijian government’s position on its reconfiguration. Pohiva said with his recent election, he was committed to transforming national and regional issues.

Vanuatu parties plan unification

VANUATU – Four of Vanuatu’s political parties say they will run as a coalition in next year’s election and will reform as a single party by 2020. After years of destabilisation, some of the countries’ veteran politicians say they are burying the hatchet for the sake of unity. The Vanua’aku Pati, established as the first political party in the country, split in the 1990s and the resulting minor parties have contributed to Vanuatu’s political instability and minority governments since. At a meeting late last week, the leaders of the Vanua’aku Party, the National United Party, the People’s Progressive Party and the Melanesian Progressive Party set up working committees to start looking at a new structure and constitution. They will also have to agree which of their candidates they will stand in the 2016 elections, under a united banner.

POLICE SHOOT DEAD ESCAPEE’S BROTHER

PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Villagers from East Sepik in Papua New Guinea are planning to protest the killing of a 28-year-old man who was shot dead by police during the hunt for a prison escapee. The newspaper, The National, reports the provincial police commander, Joe Poma, saying a police mobile squad was pursuing the escapee when they shot dead his younger brother. A Sima village elder, Lesley Uragune, says a truckload of policemen arrived on Wednesday, but the escapee wasn’t there. He says the police met with the man’s father and brother and shot the brother in the arm, before shooting him dead as he tried to run down a hill saying he was “Jonah, not Jim”. Uragune says the villagers and surrounding communities have decided to hold a peaceful demonstration at the Yangoru police station to show their disapproval of the police action. Poma has appealed for relatives to remain calm until an investigation is complete.

GOVERNOR FACES FRAUD CHARGES

PAPUA NEW GUINEA – The Governor of Papua New Guinea’s Western Province, Ati Wobiro, has been arrested and charged with the misappropriation of US$2.6 million. PNG Loop reports police Criminal Investigation Division Director Peter Guinness saying that the 55-year old South Fly leader was arrested and charged at the Boroko Police Station on Monday. He is currently detained at the holding cells awaiting bail. A bail fee of US$7400 has been imposed. Wobiro has been charged with a total of 12 offences: four for abuse of office, four of conspiracy to defraud and four of misappropriation of public funds. An initial misappropriation charge was struck out by the District Court mid last year after the police failed to prosecute the matter on time.

Fiji workers selected for nz scheme

FIJI – Fiji and New Zealand have today formally launched Fiji’s participation in the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme. Under the scheme Pacific islanders are brought to New Zealand on limited visas to work in the horticultural and agricultural sectors. Fiji had been excluded from the seasonal worker scheme because the country was under military rule until the elections in September last year. Now an initial group of 30 workers has been selected with the first expected in New Zealand before the end of this month. The Fiji minister of employment, Jioji Konrote, says they had 5000 applications which were whittled down to 278. He says that group underwent testing, including medical tests to ensure they were fit, before the final 30 were chosen.