Pacific Region News

Fiji’s tourism remains upbeat

SUVA, Fiji Islands—Tourist numbers have increased for the sixth consecutive month, according to a report released by the Fiji Visitors Bureau.

August arrivals, totaling 40,680, were up 7.6 percent compared to the same month last year, with Australians topping the list with a 32 percent increase. This was followed by Japanese visitors, up 17.9 percent, and tourists from North America, grew 14 percent.

A decline in New Zealand visitors prevented a higher growth figure.

Visitor arrivals for the first seven months of this year totaled 269,243, a 9.3 percent improvement over January-August 1998 numbers.

$24-M budget University of South Pacific

SUVA, Fiji Islands—The University of the South Pacific Council has approved a budget of $24.49 million for next academic year.

Vice Chancellor Esekia Solofa said this represents an 8 percent increase over the 1999 budget and is made possible by a 1.5 percent increase in grants from USP member governments.

Solofa also confirmed a 10 percent increase in fees for on-campus students next year.

American Samoa eyes $158-M spending package

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa—Lawmakers will return to work Tuesday to consider the remaining $112 million of the $158 million fiscal year 2000 budget proposed by Governor Tauese Sunia.

On September 30, Tauese slashed $46 million in expenditures to allow the government to operate during the October-December quarter, after the Legislature declined to approve the administration’s full budget proposal.

The only alternative then, he said, was to shut down government operations.

Corruption trial should be held in Tahiti

PAPEETE, French Polynesia—Opposition leader Oscar Temaru has called for all citizens, including politicians, to have their court cases heard in Tahiti, not in Paris.

The recommendation was made as the territory awaits the outcome of corruption charges against President Gaston Flosse. A Paris court has announced it will rule in the case within three weeks.

Flosse and two associates are accused of accepting half a million dollars in bribes from a Chinese businessman in 1988 to permit establishment of gambling facilities near Papeete.

Cook Islander is new Miss South Pacific

RAROTONGA, Cook Islands—Liana Scott is the new Miss South Pacific.

She was crowned in Nuku’alofa, Tonga recently after besting over 10 other contestants from around the Pacific to take the crown.

Scott is a member of the Rarotonga dance group Orama.

American Samoa will host next year’s Miss South Pacific pageant.