Pacific Region News

Port Moresby police chief backs death penalty

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea—Police chief Raphael Huafolo has called for implementation of capital punishment after a series of recent violent crimes in the capital.

They include a family being held up by armed criminals, the gang rape of three women inside their home and the accidental killing of a 15-year-old boy by criminals escaping in a stolen car.

Huafolo said, “We have seen a lot of atrocities being committed by criminals and we believe that only harsh punishment like capital punishment will deter violent crime in our society.”

Gov’t $7.4-M behind in payments

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa—The government is $7.4-million behind in payroll deductions to banks, insurance firms, the territorial retirement fund and other organizations, according to a report prepared by the Legislative Financial Office.

The $7.4 million figure does not include penalties and interest on the late payments.

Senate President Pro Tempore Tuilefano M. Vaelaa said that Governor Tauese Sunia has not responded to Senate resolutions asking for detailed information about the government’s financial situation and the status of payroll deductions.

Tuilefano told the Samoa News that people have been calling his office constantly to complain about being penalized by banks and insurance firms for non-payment.

He said he expects a class action suit against the government if the matter is not resolved immediately.

Noumea to host 8th Pacific Arts Festival

NOUMEA, New Caledonia—More than 2,000 artists from 27 Pacific states and territories are expected to participate in the next Festival of Pacific Arts, October 23 – November 3.

Committee chairman Dewe Gorodey, a Kanak writer and member of New Caledonia’s Department of Youth, Sports and Culture, said New Caledonia was to have hosted the festival in 1984, but it was canceled then due to
political unrest.

The theme of the 2000 festival will be “Yesterday Words, Today Words, Tomorrow Words.”

The opening ceremony will take place at Noumea’s Magenta Stadium and will be conducted by Aborigine choreographer Raymond Blanco.

Fiji gold mine proposal criticized

SUVA, Fiji Islands—The Worldwide Fund for Nature has criticized the proposed development of a second Fiji gold mine.

The organization said more information is needed about the environmental impact of the proposed mine, at Tuvatu near Nadi International Airport.

It said the company involved, Emperor Mines, has not publicly released information about how it will deal with mine tailings or discharges.