Pacific Briefs

PNG issues W. Papua warning

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea – The government has warned supporters of the Irian Jaya independence movement to stay out of PNG, following reports that West Papuans have begun crossing the border near the northern town of Vanimo following a crackdown on separatists by Indonesian police and military forces.

Prime Minister Sir Mekere Morauta, re-affirming PNG’s policy of supporting continued Indonesian control of Irian Jaya, said his government will do its best to make sure Papua New Guinea territory is not used as a base by West Papuan pro-independence forces.

Irian Jaya shares the island of New Guinea with independent Papua New Guinea.

Dengue no real concern for tourists, says official

KOROR, Palau – Tourists who visit Palau should not worry about catching dengue fever, said Dr. Caleb Otto, the island nation’s chief public health officer.

“There is really no real concern for tourists,” he said.

Palau has had 28 confirmed cases of mosquito-borne dengue fever since July, according to public health statistics. While 21 cases of the disease occurred between September and early this month, Otto said the incidence of the disease now seems to be dropping.

Otto said hotels and other firms catering to tourists are careful to take precautions to prevent the spread of dengue fever by mosquitoes.

A. Samoa releases $9-M in payments

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa – The government has started to release more than $9 million in payments to over 60 different vendors owed debts.

The funding comes from the U.S. Congress and was provided to the territory as a loan.

Gov. Tauese Sunia said the first vendors to be paid are mainly off-island health care providers and the government owned American Samoa Power Authority.

Major recipients of the funding include Hawaii’s Tripler Army Medical Center, Straub Medical Center, Children’s Hospital and Kapiolani Medical Center.

U.S. key provider of Marshalls education

MAJURO, Marshall Islands – The United States, under a 15-year Compact of Free Association aid program, has been – and continues to be – the major source of funding for the Marshall Islands’ schools.

In fiscal year 2000, U.S. funding accounted for 63 percent of the Ministry of Education’s total $13,793,562 budget, according to a recently released report by Honolulu-based Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL).

Nevertheless, the Marshall Islands Journal noted, annual per student spending is “extremely low” even when compared to other Pacific islands. The Marshalls figure of $1,385 compares with American Samoa’s $2,525 and Guam’s $5,027 per student.

Independent radio coming to Kiribati

TARAWA, Kiribati – Former President Ieremia Tabai said if everything goes as planned, his proposed independent FM radio station should be on the air by the beginning of next year.

Tabai, an opposition member of parliament, said the government has been stonewalling his two-year effort to get the necessary licenses to start the radio station.

He said the antenna for the radio station should arrive within days.

Tabai six months ago began a weekly newspaper, The Kiribati New Star, in an effort to establish an alternative voice independent of the government-owned media. (Pacific Islands Report)