Neu: 2002-03-13 Contents of this issue:
1. Taro Competition 2. Auditor Sues 3. Commission Inspection ======================================================================== March 13th, 2002 1. Taro Competition: Niue faces a new competitor in the Auckland market for taro.The first shipment of Samoan taro to New Zealand since the leaf blight in 1993 is being rated a big success. This was confirmed last week by shipper Agricultural Store's General Manager, Toomata Tuipe'a. "Of the 400 bags weighing 30 kg (about 66 pounds) each shipped, 600 samples were taken, and not a single pest was detected," he said. Toomata said some 90 percent of Fijian talo exports to New Zealand were fumigated, so their shipment was a good benchmark from Samoa's point of view. He said it was important that Samoan talo growers kept up this standard, since the New Zealand market, which consumes 6,000 tons of talo a month, is being supplied mainly by Fiji. This is around 25 containers a month. But he estimates that present supplies in Samoa were enough to fill about three containers a month.(PIR). 2. Auditor Sues: Samoa's former Controller and Chief Auditor Su'a Rimoni Ah Chong is suing former parliamentarian Leota Itua'u Ale and Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi for defamation. He is seeking ST$1.6 million from Leota, and ST$1.5 million from Tuilaepa. Su'a lost his job after questioning government financial dealings. He is suing over remarks allegedly made outside parliament saying he attended opposition meetings when he was chief auditor. - (PINA Nius Online). 3. Commission Inspection: Government witnesses called to give evidence in a commission of inquiry into internet and e mail services to Niue have completed their evidence before Judge David Ongley. Richard Hipa director of telecoms and University of the South Pacific Niue centre director Maru Talagi appeared yesterday.. The internet users society secretary Stafford Guest and chairperson of the advisory committee rounded off yesterday's sitting and today the society's technical manager Richard StClair will take the stand. Yesterday afternoon Judge Ongley with government and society lawyers visited the IUS-N building at Kaimiti which houses the servers and called at the society office in Alofi where the public has free access to e mail and internet services. Its understood two former Cabinet Ministers Mrs O'Love Jacobsen and Terry Coe will be the final witnesses. The Commission adjourns but expects to sit in New Zealand in June to hear evidence from other parties. __END__
