Neu: 2001-08-15 Contents of this issue: 1. Formally Charged 2. Squeeze On 3. Close Call? ======================================================================== August 15th, 2001 1. Formally Charged: Niue police say a prison warder who is being held in custody on a firearms charge following the death of a 41 year old inmate yesterday will be formally charged with several more serious offences tomorrow before the island's Chief Justice who lives in New Zealand. The formal court procedure will take place by teleconference because Niue does not have a resident High Court Judge. The inmate, who has a wife and four children on the island, was fatally shot after an early morning altercation at the prison. 2. Squeeze On: Prices of goods in Niue's neighbour Tonga have climbed rapidly this year, but incomes remain the same. The pa'anga's value is weak and families are wondering how they can keep up with their everyday needs. In an opinion poll carried out by Tonga Television during the week, 98 percent of those who participated in the survey agreed that the increase is a too much and too fast. Others think that some of the goods are expensive, and the increase is too fast -and there haven't been any salary increased. One single mother said, "The prices are fast climbing while income is stalling, and the pa'anga is weakening." Another persons said, "Fast or slow what is known as fact and alarming as well is that prices in Tonga are rising quickly and something definitely needs to be done about it." (PIDP/PIS). 1. Close Call? Leaders of South Pacific nations attending the Forum meeting in Nauru could be left in the dark if emergency supplies of diesel fuel don't reach the island by today. A tanker is reported to be on its way from the Marshall Islands in an effort to ease a severe power shortage in the central Pacific nation. But the government announced that a tanker from Majuro is expected to dock in Nauru today. The power supply crisis comes as Nauru prepares to host the 16-nation Pacific Island Forum leaders' summit Thursday and Friday. The shortage of diesel has been so severe, Radio Australia reported, that the fuel tanks of machinery owned by government agencies have been drained and the fuel taken to the power station to generate electricity. __END__
