Neu: 2002-04-08

Contents of this issue:

1. Three Charged With Killing

2. Filariasis

3. Come Home Priority

4. Island Kids Absent

5. Tahiti By-Pass

6. Super Seaweed



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April 8th, 2002


1. Three Charged With Killing:

A Fijian and three Tongans have been charged with shooting and killing a
27-year-old Australian police officer, New South Wales police said. A
police spokesperson said Constable Glen McEnallay was in an unmarked
police car when he spotted the Fijian and Tongans in a stolen car. He
radioed for support and began tailing the stolen car. The police
spokesperson said: "The others realised something was wrong when he
stopped responding on the radio. "The four islanders had turned a corner
and waited for him. They all had guns. He was shot five times."

The killing has caused outrage in New South Wales, with Australian Prime
Minister John Howard calling the killing an attack on the moral fabric
of the nation. New South Wales Premier Bob Carr said Constable McEnallay
was a decent person who lost his life to indecent people.( The Fiji
Times/PINA Nius Online).


2. Filariasis:

French Polynesia health officials launched a new round of mass drug
administration to fight lymphatic filariasis, commonly known as
elephantiasis. It is the third round of a program which started back in
2000 and follows in the wake of Niue's campaign to wipe out the
filariasis.. On "Filariasis Day", Friday, a distribution of albendazole
tablets was carried out. Stands were put up in the streets of the main
towns while public health workers were visiting all inhabited islands.
According to French Polynesia health officials, the program covers 95%
of the population.

About 215,000 tablets (140,000 tablets for adults and 75,000 tablets for
children) were distributed last year. Filariasis is caused by a worm
like parasite transferred by a number of mosquito species. The worms
live in the lymphatic system or the tissues and

cause inflammation and swelling.

"We use notezine to fight microfilaraemia and zentel to fight adult
worms. We know these two products are very effective", said Murielle
Berges, who heads the health department. After an incubation period,
microfilaraemia could lead to severe elephantiasis cases. Of the 11
species of mosquitoes in Tahiti and her islands, two can carry the
disease. Last year 15 cases of acute lymphatic filariasis were
registered in French Polynesia. ( Tahitipresse/PINA Nius Online).


3. Come Home Priority:

Niue's Premier Sani Lakatani (a member of the Niue Peoples Party) who is
seeking re-election on a common roll seat in the April 20 general
election says population development, information technology, renewal
energy projects and eco-tourism are top of the agenda for future
survivial of the island which has a population of 1400 Niueans and 300
expatriates.

He publicly announced that he has asked the UNDP Population Development
Committee for funding to set up a database for information about Niueans
living overseas and their skills so they can be recruited for resettling
on their 265sq km raised coral atoll homeland, 500 kms east of Tonga. Mr
Lakatani said on Radio NZ International that information technology was
getting EU assistance and $5m had already been allocated for the period
2000/2005. He is also looking at foreign investment into information
technology. Previously the Premier said he was developing the island as
the IT hub of

the Pacific and investigations were underway to fund a $US300m
satellite. In addition said the Premier, Niue needs to establish
renewable energy projects such as power from solar, wind and wave
generation. The Premier who in the past three years has been Minister of
Tourism said he was trying to get Air NZ to fly a direct service from
Auckland to Niue but if that failed he would look at setting up a
national airline. "I also have other plans with other people ," he said
but did not want to reveal those until Air NZ has responded to his
request. Mr Lakatani said Niue would have to concentrate on eco tourism
which seems to be a major drawcard with today's travellers. In the Niue
Peoples Party manifesto released last week it promised cash grants to
church, village councils, community and sports bodies.


4. Island Kids Absent:

NZ Ministry of Education statistics show overall participation in
preschool education is high for 3- and 4-year-olds, but attendance by
Maori and Pacific Island children is much lower. Around 32 per cent of
Maori and 20 per cent of Pacific Island 4-year-olds do not take part in
preschool at all. This week the Government has pledged $10 million to
promote early childhood education to families who do not send their
preschoolers to class Last year, the Government received a Strategic
Plan on Early Childhood Education, which it is still considering. But
the plan calls for much more

Government involvement in the sector. As promised in last year's Budget,
another $30 million for community-based early childhood education
services, targeted at low socio-economic areas, will also be available
over the next four years through an "equity funding" system. One
controversial suggestion - that preschool teachers be awarded pay parity
with primary and secondary teachers - will be phased in by the
Government in July. The idea of a compulsory preschool system has been
floated, but there were

"questions around desirability and availability" that made the prospect
unlikely, said Education Minister Trevor Mallard.. (NZ Herald)


5. Tahiti By-Pass:

The Chilean airline Lan Chile plans to stop flying to Tahiti by July
said the French Polynesia Minister for Tourism Nicole Bouteau. A
code-share agreement signed in March between Lan Chile and Australia's
Qantas opens up direct services from Santiago (Chile) to Auckland (New
Zealand) and Sydney (Australia) without any stops in Tahiti. "Lan Chile
representatives complain about the cost of a stop-over in Tahiti," said
Ms. Bouteau. She added that she met earlier this year with Lan Chile
representatives, in Chile, and discussed the issue. "We do not want Lan
Chile to stop coming to Tahiti. The crisis in Argentina affects the
airline, but we know that in the future South America could be an
important market for us," said Ms. Bouteau. Lan Chile currently has two
weekly flights from Chile to Tahiti, via Easter Island.
(PIR/Tahitipresse)


6. Super Seaweed:

Tonga's Ministry of Fisheries is getting expert advice on waysto develop
its seaweed industry A Japanese advisor is in Nuku'alofa to oversee
preparation of seaweed for export to Japan.

The assistance is being made under a Food and Agricultural Organisation-
funded project, with technical advice from Japan. Secretary of Fisheries
'Akau'ola said the seaweed industry is becoming an important source of
income for the nation, and should be further developed. About 20 people
are busy working for cash at the Fisheries Headquarters at Sopu. Seaweed
grows on certain sea areas depending on the weather, mostly on the
eastern side of the island of Tongatapu. Local exporters are Sea Star
Fishing and Nano, who employ mostly women and youths on a short-term
basis. ( Radio and TV Tonga/PINA Nius Online).

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