Demonstrators seek president's ouster
PAPEETE, French Polynesia –– Several thousand people took part in a Tahiti demonstration Sunday demanding that President Gaston Flosse resign.
Flosse was convicted last month by a Paris court of taking bribes from the operator of an illegal casino near the capital.
The protest, organized by the pro-independence Tavini Huira’atira party, took place as delegates arrived for the official opening of the regional Pacific Community’s annual meeting.
PNG’S ex-PM arrested for theft
PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea -– Opposition leader and former Prime Minister Bill Skate was arrested Friday and charged with stealing from the National Capital District Commission.
Deputy Police Commissioner Sam Inguba said Skate arranged to have a private vehicle repaired belonging to a company owned by an adopted son.
Skate was released on his own recognition and scheduled to appear in court later this week.
Peace group’s time in the Solomons extended
HONIARA, Solomon Islands -–The multi-national Commonwealth-backed peace monitoring group will remain longer than originally planned on Guadalcanal Island, the scene of ethnic civil unrest for more than a year.
Indigenous islanders have driven thousands of Malaitans to their neighboring home islands following clashes over jobs and land rights, but there have been threats of reprisals.
Monday the Commonwealth Secretariat said the security situation was improving “although much still needs to be done.” The police group’s role has been extended until at least the end of next month.
Concern over WTO’s treatment of Vanuatu
SEATTLE, Washington –- Pacific Island member countries of the World Trade Organization have raised concerns about the way Vanuatu, which applied for WTO membership in 1995, is being treated in its WTO accession process.
At the now ended four-day WTO ministerial meeting, no decision was made on Vanuatu’s application.
Fiji Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry questioned the pace and rigidity with which small developing countries seeking membership are being treated.
Papua New Guinea’s Trade and Industry Secretary, Michael Maue, said the WTO needs to make a complete review of the accession process.