Pacific Region News
Little damage to Tuvalu after high tides
FUNAFUTI, Tuvalu —There was little weekend flooding from abnormally high spring tides, despite earlier predictions of widespread damage.
The weather bureau predicted last week that the weekend tides would flood the country’s only international airport, some government buildings and most low-lying areas of the main island.
However, the Director of Meteorological Services, Hillia VaVae, said Monday that damage had not been severe. A major problem, she said was contamination of drinking water by ocean water.
An earlier report said phone services had been cut off by the flooding and was not expected to return to normal until the end of the month.
U.S. delegation to visit the Marshalls and FSM
MAJURO, Marshall Islands—A U.S. government delegation is on a fact-finding mission in the Marshalls to prepare for a Congressional hearing on future American funding, beginning 2001.
The information the delegation obtains will supplement data obtained by the General Accounting Office, which is auditing four billion dollars of development aid provided the Marshalls and the neighboring Federated States of Micronesia since 1986.
The team’s next stop will be Micronesia’s capital, Palikir.
Chinese officials arrive in Tonga
NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga—A five-member delegation from the National People’s Congress in the People’s Republic of China has arrived in Nuku’alofa, for a two-day official visit.
A statement from the Chinese Embassy said that the purpose of the visit is to strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries.
Tonga severed diplomatic relations with the Republic of China, Taiwan, in 1998 in favor of recognition of the People’s Republic of China.
Concerns raised in Fiji over gay rights.
SUVA, Fiji Islands—The Fiji Human Rights Commission has urged the government to withdraw a proposed amendment to the 1997 Constitution, which provides for the prosecution of “unnatural offenses” and makes gay marriages illegal.
Commission chairperson Justice Sailosi Kepa said the proposed amendment is unconstitutional because, if enacted, it would breach the privacy rights of
individuals.
Controversy over gay rights emerged after churches objected to a clause on equal rights in the Constitution, which makes it an offense to discriminate against anyone on the grounds of “sexual orientation.”
PNG envoy elected to U.N. committee
PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea—Peter Donigi, Papua New Guinea’s UN representative has been re-elected chair of the Committee on Decolonization.
The committee’s purpose is to consider the political future of the world’s 17 remaining non-self-governing territories.
Officials say there is uncertainty regarding Donigi’s future as PNG’s UN representative. Last October, a court found that he owed more than half a million dollars to the PNG Banking Corporation.
Donigi said he will appeal the court’s decision.
