Neu: 2001-12-31 Contents of this issue:
1. Storm Warning 2. Party Pooper 3. Unique Experience 4. Getting Ready ======================================================================== December 31st, 2001 1. Storm Warning: The Solomon Islands Meteorological Service has issued a tropical disturbance watch advice, and warned of increasing winds. The advice is in force for exposed parts of Malaita, Guadalcanal, Makira and Temotu provinces. It came as a low pressure system continued to slowly intensify near the southern Solomon Islands. The Meteorological Service said the system was developing monsoon southwest to northwest winds to the north and west of the centre. Winds could reach 35 knots with maximum gusts to 50 knots, it said. (SBC/PINA Nius Online.) 2. Party Pooper: New Year's celebrations were cancelled in Tonga last night as thousands of islanders and holidaymakers braced for Cyclone Waka, bearing down on the kingdom with winds of up to 250 km/h, reports the NZ Herald newspaper today.. The Fiji-based Nadi Tropical Cyclone Centre said destructive winds and phenomenal seas would hit Tonga's northern islands as Waka blasted through the region. "These will be hurricane-force winds with the potential to cause severe damage," said centre director Rajendra Prasad. Waka was expected to hit Tonga's northern archipelago of Vava'u, the location of Tonga's popular tourist resorts, about 2 am with winds gusting up to 250 km/h and a 6m swell. Many of Tonga's islands are low-lying atolls the Herald reported. Tongan Beach Resort manager Natalie Harrison said last night from the tourist town of Neiafu, on Vava'u, that celebrations had been cancelled as hotels and homes prepared for a battering. "We're dealing with 120 km/h winds right now and they're telling us it's going to get worse, so it's a matter of battening down and hoping for the best," she said. 3. Unique Experience: Visitors to Niue are experiencing an unusual entry into the New Year. About 100 NZ resident Niueans are celebrating Christmas and New Year with friends and relatives on the island. A similar number of island residents are holidaying in New Zealand. As Cyclone Waka sideswipes the island today the high winds are likely to keep most folks indoors tonight - Niue's New Year's eve. Winds from the north-west are expected to reach gusts of 125 kmph later this morning ( Monday Niue time) with mountainous seas as Cyclone Waka moves south- east about 200 miles from Niue. The outlook is for thunderstorms and heavy rain with the wind turning to the west and seas swells from the south-west. Niue met office staff have been on duty all night and Niue's Radio Sunshine has remained on air bringing regular weather updates. 4. Getting Ready: Palau will be among the nations in the Pacific that will be assessed for electronic commerce preparedness. This could help the government in its bid for a $16 million grant from Japan to finance the installation of a modern telecommunication technology. Chief of Staff in the President's Office, Billy Kuartei, said the Asian Development Bank has $10 million to conduct a study on the Pacific region's readiness for e-commerce and determine the progress of each country's Internet access. Palau is seeking funding from Japan to establish a satellite communications network that will cover the Micronesian region. The new technology is expected to serve as a channel for developing education programs, health care services, and opportunities in Palau, Federates States of Micronesia and Marshall Islands. Niue is also pinning its hopes on developing an IT industry and its Premier Sani Lakatani is confident it will become the IT hub of the Pacific. His latest plan is to launch a satellite funded by overseas venture capitalists.(Various/PINA) __END__
