Pacific Region News

Pacific churches urged to talk more about AIDS

MELBOURNE, Australia—An official of UNAIDS, a United Nations program on HIV/AIDS education, has accused Christian churches in the Pacific of being too conservative when it comes to dealing with AIDS.

UNAIDS coordinator Steven Vete said churches are “hiding behind tradition” in dealing with the disease.

He said church officials need to talk more honestly and openly about AIDS and unplanned pregnancies.

Vete cited a 1987 World Council of Churches publication that alerted its members in the Pacific about the dangers of keeping silent about the disease.

Kiribati grants license to Spanish fishing boat

TARAWA, Kiribati—The government has developed an agreement to allow Spanish fishing vessels to fish in Kiribati waters.

The Spanish has been interested in fishing in the Pacific because of depleting tuna stocks in the Atlantic.

The Forum Fisheries Agency as well as leaders at the South Pacific Forum in Palau last year expressed fears that the Spanish plan would be larger than anything previously attempted in the region and could threaten fish stocks.

But President Teburoro Tito said only three or four boats have been issued licenses valid for one year, and the vessels are not large factory ships.

PNG goes online in U.S.

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea—A new Web site launched by PNG’s embassy in the United States provides the world with a window to the country.

The website, http://www.pngembassy.org, provides comprehensive information on the people, culture, economy, geography, environment and political structure of PNG, said Foreign Affairs Minister Sir John Kaputin.

Since its launch, the site has registered over 5,000 hits from North America, Europe, Asia and Papua New Guinea.

The site allows people to download visa and work permit forms and migration-related documents.

Fiji officials tighten security

SUVA, Fiji Islands—Immigration officials said they will begin upgrading efforts in screening people entering the country.

Recently there have been cases of outsiders coming into the country and attempting to obtain local passports from the government.

Principal Immigration Officer Joe Nalewabau said officials have to be more vigilant in profiling and screening travelers.

Tuvalu recommended for UN membership

UNITED NATIONS, New York—The Security Council has recommended to the General Assembly that Tuvalu be admitted to membership in the United Nations.

By a 14-0 vote with China abstaining, the Council decided to approve Tuvalu’s application to become the Organization’s 189th member.

The final decision on the granting of U.N. membership rests with the General Assembly.

Tuvalu became independent in 1978 and has a population of 10,000.

Micronesians join Japan fisheries training

PALIKIR, Federated States of Micronesia—The Micronesian Maritime Authority will send 10 more young Micronesians to Japan in April to be trained for work as fishermen.

Since 1990, more than 100 Micronesians have undergone the training, which includes three months of study and work on land and nine months of on-the-job training at sea, said MMA Deputy Director Eugene Pangelinan.

Once training is completed, most usually are hired to work on Japanese fishing boats in FSM waters.

Nauru parliamanet dissolves for polls

YARN, Nauru—The 18-seat national parliament has been dissolved to prepare for a general election April 8.

The notice of election was issued earlier this week, informing those interested in running for office to register their candidacies.

Rotumans assured of dev’t by Fiji gov’t

SUVA, Fiji Islands—The government has assured the people of Rotuma that the island’s infrastructure will be given top priority from now on.

Last month, American David Korem caused a stir when he went to Rotuma to draft a constitution that could have resulted in the island seceding from

Fiji and becoming an independent nation.

A delegation of senior Fiji government ministers, which has returned from an emergency mission to the remote island this week, pledged to improve hospitals, education and infrastructure on the tiny island of 3,000 people located between the main Fiji islands and Tuvalu.