Pacific Region News

Oil refinery approved for Lae

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea –The government cabinet has approved the construction of a $30 million oil refinery at Lae.

Prime Minister Sir Mekere Morauta said the project will be built and operated by Paradise International Oil, the PNG subsidiary of the Singapore-based Brian Chang group.

Construction will take up to 20 months and create up to 500 jobs.

Morauta said more than 100 permanent jobs will be created for PNG nationals when the refinery begins operation in 2002.

Singer Mariah Carey tackles Guam’s snakes

WASHINGTON –American pop singer Mariah Carey has told Guam Congressman Robert A. Underwood that she wants to help dispel the bad publicity the territory is getting over its problems with brown tree snakes.

In a February 17 Rolling Stone article, Carey said she wants to do a concert in Guam, where brown tree snakes have killed off native birds, injured people and have caused major power outages.

Carey has written to Underwood, offering to assist in controlling the brown tree snake problem and help fund hatcheries to reintroduce the bird population.

NZ tougher on human rights in Pacific

New Zealand ––New Zealand’s new government has signaled it will take a tougher stand on human rights issues with Pacific Islands governments.

Associate Foreign Minister Matt Robson, who is responsible for New Zealand’s aid program, said the former National Party-led government concentrated on economic matters when dealing with the Pacific.

He said it’s time New Zealand used its aid program to support human rights in the region.

U.S., Fiji sign military training pact

SUVA, Fiji Islands—The United States and Fiji have signed an agreement to formalize military training for Fiji personnel.

The training will include U.S. Navy Special Warfare personnel preparing Fiji counterparts for conventional warfare.

The U.S. Embassy’s Defense Attaché, Lieutenant Colonel Cletis Davis, said 10 Fiji personnel will be sent to the U.S. for warfare training.

The U.S. Coast Guard also will provide training in search and rescue operations. (Pacific Islands Report)