Pacific Briefs

Major Cabinet reshuffle in PNG

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea – Prime Minister Sir Mekere Morauta has fired his deputy and five Cabinet ministers, accusing them of leading a revolt within the government against a bill calling for political and economic reforms.

Those who lost their jobs are Deputy Prime Minister Mao Zeming, Works Minister Alfred Pogo, Petroleum and Energy Minister Fabian Pok, Police Minister Mathias Karani, Communications Minister Andrew Waieng, and Trade Minister Michael Nali, who led the revolt.

Morauta said that most of those against the reforms came from within his own party, the Peoples Democratic Movement.

A. Samoa sets harsh fines for tax evaders

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa – Anyone caught not paying the cigarette excise tax will be fined $1,000 per cigarette or $20,000 a pack, according to legislation signed into law by Governor Tauese Sunia.

“By imposing stiff penalties for failure to pay excise taxes on tobacco products, I believe (we are sending) a strong message to those seeking to circumvent our tax laws,” said Governor Tauese.

The new law results from several recent cases of cigarette smuggling into American Samoa by ship from neighboring Samoa.

The law also applies to cigars and smoking tobacco.

Canoe finally makes it to arts festival

NOUMEA, New Caledonia – New Zealand’s “Te au rere” canoe, which experienced bad weather across the Pacific, finally made it to New Caledonia but too late to participate in the now concluded 8th Festival of Pacific Arts.

The canoe, with nine aboard, left Auckland on October 22 and arrived Thursday, more than week behind schedule.

The crew, after landing at the Isle of Pines, was given a traditional Melanesian welcome.

Delay in pulling down separatist flags

JAKARTA, Indonesia – Police in Irian Jaya have postponed implementing an order to pull down all separatist flags until next week, to allow talks to be held with pro-independence leaders.

President Abdurrahman Wahid had ordered the lowering of all “Morning Star” flags by November 1, but Irian Jaya police chief Silvanus Wenas said he wanted to avoid further conflict. He said he would discuss the issue with independence leaders on November 9.

When police cut down a separatist flag in the highlands town of Wamena October 6, rampages resulted in the deaths of dozens of people. (Pacific Islands Report)