Neu: 2002-01-16 Contents of this issue:
1. Crystal Ball Gazing? 2. Stress On Kava 3. Decoder Delays ======================================================================== January 16th, 2002 1. Crystal Ball Gazing?: Niue's Premier Sani Lakatani will be struggling to maintain his seat in the upcoming general election, reports Michael Field AFP's Pacific correspondent. He writes there is "great bitterness" directed at Lakatani, a former New Zealand Army sergeant. He has turned the country into a Panamanian controlled tax haven, according to Field. "He is expected to struggle to hold his job in the election and Niue could well provide the first Pacific woman premier, cabinet minister O'Love Jacobsen," writes Field in a feature highlighting upcoming elections facing Niue, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. Field reports that Niue with just 1,600 people and sliding its future as a nation is uncertain. With a 20-seat assembly, Niue has the highest concentration of politician on Earth; it does not help the quality of governance.Politics is the only show in town on the single raised 260 square kilometre island, says Field. Its voting system is bewildering with each voter required to vote on two separate ballot papers and cast seven votes. Note:[Niue electors vote for one village representative and six common roll members - the Premier is elected by the Legislative Assembly members]. (PIR) 2. Stress On Kava: New Zealand health authorities have joined investigations into claims kava-based products have caused widespread liver damage. Reports from Europe say consumption of kava products has been linked to hepatitis and caused a need for liver transplants in some people. A New Zealand Ministry of Health spokeswoman said that as well as their own investigation inquiries are also being made with public health officials, reports the New Zealand Herald. It comes amidst mounting worries for such Pacific Islands as Fiji, Hawai'i, and Vanuatu over the future of their lucrative kava export trade to pharmaceutical companies. Niue is at present growing trial plots of kava supervised by the Agriculture Department but none has been exported. Two private backers are known to support commercial farming of the plant. On New Year's Eve, the United States Food and Drug Administration also announced an inquiry into the use of kava as a herbal remedy to promote sleep and stress relief. Britain's Medicines Control Agency has already negotiated with herbal food industry organisations a "voluntary" withdrawal of kava products from store shelves. In France, products containing kava have been suspended from sale and a recommendation made that patients stop taking these. The New Zealand Herald says kava products are sold in health food shops, on the Internet and even in supermarkets. They are advertised as a "natural" remedy that is supposed to relieve stress and anxiety while promoting relaxation, mental clarity and mild euphoria.(PINA Nius Online). 3. Decoder Delays: Chinese technicians are due back on Niue in February to check out plans to boost the transmission signal of TV Niue in an on going saga over the installation of decoders. The decoders were donated by the Peoples Republic of China in a bid to ensure all tv viewers paid their $65 quarterly licence fee. If the decoders, donated by the Chinese government, are installed the Broadcasting Corporation will be able to scramble the signal to those who have not paid their fee. But technicians have discovered the tv reception is so poor in many parts of the island decoders would be inappropriate. So the Chinese government has agreed to fund a new transmitter and Niue officials have confirmed that a site for a new 75m high tower is being investigated. The project has taken over 18 months and the present plan is reported to have set the installation of decoders back another 12 months. __END__
