Neu: 2001-08-17
Contents of this issue:
1. Rough Time
2. Brotherhood Ban
3. Prickly Issue
4. Calling George
5. Water Worries
6. The Hub?
7. WEATHER
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August 17th, 2001
1. Rough Time:
High winds and rough seas are preventing the Reef Shipping Company
vessel Southern Express from unloading at Niue.The ship, which anchors
in the roadstead while cargo is barged ashore, has been sheltering on
the eastern side of the island for two days. Traders, who are low on
supplies, are hoping the ship will be able to unload today. Three
containers of taro are scheduled to be shipped to Auckland markets.
2. Brotherhood Ban:
Pacific brotherhood prompted the banning of Agence France Presse
journalist Michael Field from this week's Pacific Island forum on Nauru,
reports Pacific correspondent John Andrews from Nauru.
Nauru's President Rene Harris revealed last night "we believe we should
be consistent with our brothers in the Pacific, Tonga and Tarawa
[Kiribati]."
President Harris, who chaired the forum leaders retreat, said New
Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark raised the issue, the outcome
of which was forum leaders' respect for countries refusing Field
from entry.
The Nauru leader denied the ban had anything to do with his reports on
money laundering.
Would President Harris like Field banned from every forum summit? "No,"
said President Harris. "It is up to respective members."
He believed the ban was not a blanket one because Field would still
receive information from the forum.
Helen Clark said later that New Zealanders believed in the right of
free speech, regardless of what journalists wrote about them. She said
the Samoan Prime Minister pointed out that while he was not
particularly happy with what Field had written, he had not been banned
from that country.
While countries such as Kiribati found what Field had written about them
offensive, she did not believe that was a good enough reason to ban him.
The forum could not organise visa arrangements for individual member
countries.
While the leaders' debate on the issue had been interesting, Helen Clark
believes countries should accept a free press.
3. Prickly Issue:
Pacific Islands Forum leaders decided today to take a conciliatory
approach to the thorny question of Irian Jaya rports John Andrews
from Nauru..
Nauru's President Rene Harris, the forum chairman, said leaders at their
retreat on Nauru spoke of their continued concern at the violence and
loss of life in the Indonesian province.
The Indonesian government as the sovereign authority was being
encouraged to ensure the voices of all parties in Irian Jaya were heard
to achieve peaceful resolution of their differences.
Agreeing the adoption and implementation of comprehensive autonomy for
the province would contribute to the outcome, the forum leaders welcomed
the recent presentation of autonomy proposals to Indonesia's parliament.
"They also urged all parties to protect and help uphold the human rights
of all residents of Irian Jaya," said President Harris.
"We feel this is a problem that can be best handled by Indonesia, as we
have said," he said.
4. Calling George:
Small Pacific Island states want to meet United States President George
Bush to explain their worries about rising sea levels.
John Andrews in Nauru reports the leaders of six smaller nations
attending the Pacific Islands Forum on Nauru decided yesterday to form a
group to take their concerns to the United Nations General Assembly and
meet Mr Bush too.
Nauru President Rene Harris, who chaired the SIS meeting, said
later: "We certainly believe that it is worth every effort on our
part to convince the rest of the world and George Bush the harmful
effects of rising sea levels. "We in the Pacific have very low lying
islands and I myself classify it as a modern Holocaust if we do not
attend to the problem."
Of the OECD's approach to some Pacific countries regarding harmful tax
measures, President Harris said SIS members believed they should not be
pushed around but should be respected, making sure that such a message
got out to the world at large.
5. Water Worries:
Niue, a raised coral atoll has a reliable, plentiful, clean supply
of water from an underground lense about 190 sq km in area and 40
metres deep.
To Samoa in the north its capital city Apia, is suffering an acute water
shortage with supplies to some parts of the city reduced to a trickle.
With the dry season already under way, the Samoa Water Authority has
appealed to the population to reduce consumption and curb wastage.
It also has warned that without such conservation measures, other parts
of the capital will soon experience severe cuts in supply.
Light rainfall last weekend is said to have had little impact on
improving water levels ( Radio Australia).
6. The Hub?
French Polynesia's Office des Postes et Télécommunications (OPT) is
planning to link with neighbouring US territory of Hawaii by an optic
fibre cable.
The project would allow high-speed telecommunications between the two
territories, especially in terms of Internet connections.
Currently, French Polynesia connects to the outside world through the
Intelsat satellite.
For the past three years, French Polynesia's local government has
embarked on an ambitious so-called "metu@" project aimed at developing
information technology and improving telecommunication facilities within
the French territory, which spreads over a huge area of a size
equivalent to that of Europe.
The "metu@" project includes public access points to the Internet
technologies in the main island of Tahiti and in French Polynesia's
outer islands.
7. WEATHER
THIS WEEK as if by crystal ball, "The Low" did develop on Tuesday,
though W of Fiji instead of central Tonga as suggested in initial medium
range computer forecasts. The SPCZ drifted S over Niue with light rain
from Monday and winds gradually taking on a northerly component and
strengthening through the week. "Boat day" on Thursday failed to
eventuate as NNW winds above 20kts and rough seas kept the cargo ship
holding a safe distance out to sea. The synopsis on Thursday was a
significant winter disturbance
(7aa) centered just E of Suva with a developing cold front running NW-SE
from the Low. With gale force southeasterlies W of the cold front
and a moist low-level northerly flow to the E, conditions were
favorable for several smaller Lows to form along the front and
convection to develop from just W of Niue by early Friday morning.
Hi temperatures eased upward from the mid 20's on Monday to 30
under humid mostly sunny skies by 2pm on Thursday.
THE WEEKEND may begin with fireworks as rain and scattered embedded
thunderstorms are likely Friday with strong NW winds gusting to 30kts.
The Low should elongate over Tongatapu during daylight hours with the
associated cold front accelerating eastward toward us. Lakepa Show Day
probably will have to endure rain as the broad band of precipitation
about 300 miles wide finally clears Niue to the east Saturday afternoon.
A distinct wind shift may not happen with winds forecast to slowly go
around to SW and diminish to 15 kts by sunrise on Sunday according to
WAFS charts.
NEXT WEEK models strongly suggest a return to cool, fine and dry. A
ridge of High pressure builds east out of Brisbane along 25S. SE trades
prevail according to NOGAPS. Breezy, mostly fine afternoons are likely.
Temperatures seasonal with a few "cold" mornings. By next weekend
another chance of rain as a new trough may develop west of Fiji and move
eastward.( Forecast supplied by Darrell Spatz, Niue)
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