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 ======================================================================== 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). __END__
