Pacific Notes
Pacific Notes
Guam
November Election Slate Set
In the Sept. 7 primary election, Guam Congressional Delegate Robert Underwood and running mate Sen. Tom Ada handily defeated a bid by First Lady Geri Gutierrez and former National Guard Gen. Benny Paulino to succeed her husband, Gov. Carl Gutierrez. Underwood-Ada tallied 14,412 votes to Gutierrez-Paulino’s 8,051 to claim the Democratic Party’s nomination.
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Winning the Republican gubernatorial nomination were Sen. Felix Camacho and Sen. Kaleo Moylan. The two are the sons of the late former Gov. Carlos G. Camacho and former Lt. Gov. Kurt Moylan, who were in the Guam chief executive office 30 years ago.
The 2002 Camacho-Moylan ticket triumphed over Speaker Antonio R. Unpingco and his running mate Sen. Eddie Calvo, who is the son of former Gov. Paul M. Calvo. Camacho-Moylan gathered 8,494 votes to Unpingco-Calvo’s 7,181.
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In the Democratic Party’s congressional delegate primary, former Lt. Gov. Madeleine Bordallo turned back Sen. Judith Won Pat, the daughter of the late Antonio B. Won Pat, who held the delegate seat from 1970-1984. Bordallo, the widow of the late Gov. Ricardo J. Bordallo, was victorious by garnering 17,837 votes to Won Pat’s 12,298.
Bordallo will face former Republican Gov. Joseph F. Ada for the delegate’s post. Ada was unopposed and received 8,230 votes. Ada defeated Bordallo in 1990 when the two ran for governor. Also up for grabs in November are the Guam Legislature’s 15 seats, the island’s Attorney General’s post and seats on a public utilities commission and a board of education.
—Paul Borja
French Polynesia
“Special Relationship” with France Redefined
French Polynesia is to receive a new statute of autonomy and a new range of tax exemptions, in order to advance its political system and simplify its economy. So said Brigitte Girardin, France’s minister for overseas territories, during a recent visit. Girardin emphasised the special relationship between metropolitan France and its fragmented Pacific territory, particularly during the period of the nuclear tests, saying that “without French Polynesia, France would not be a great power.” France, in turn, had provided generous financial support when the territory required it, she said, US$920 million in 2001.
However, it was time for the revision of French Polynesia’s statute of autonomy and the economic restructuring fund, both acquired in 1996, when nuclear tests ceased. With an updated statute no new French law could infringe on the authority granted to the territorial government, although the constitution of France and the powers of European courts must be respected, said Girardin. Modifying the terms of the economic restructuring fund would benefit investment, particularly in high profile areas such as tourism. The minister also announced new incentives for students from French territories to attend universities in France.
In response, territory President Gaston Flosse said that both the statute of autonomy and economic restructuring had been hampered by administrative controls from France and evolution was essential. Nonetheless, he said, an autonomous status must be retained, as full independence would lead to “dictatorship and misery.”
—Norman Douglas
Papua New Guinea
Earthquake Spawns Tsunami
On September 9, an earthquake off the north coast of the Papua New Guinea mainland, near Wewak, killed at least six people and injured 24 others.
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The earthquake, which measured 7.5 magnitude on the Richter scale, caused a tsunami that hit islands off Wewak, East Sepik. The small tsunami hit in the same general area as the deadly 1998 Aitape tsunami, which destroyed villages and killed around 3,000 people. But reports said the latest earthquake was centered in shallower water and its tsunami was only about a meter high when it reached the mainland. There were reports of seaside homes on stilts being damaged and boats washed away.
All schools in Wewak town were ordered closed and children sent home following the earthquake that rocked much of northern Papua New Guinea. East Sepik provincial police commander Leo Kabilo said the earthquake destroyed much of the infrastructure in and around the town, including the water supply. “Boram hospital is also on the verge of being closed due to water shortage,” Chief Superintendent Kabilo said. He said police are keeping a close watch on property to prevent theft.
The provincial disaster office is still carrying out inspections of the outlying islands and the hinterland to asses what these areas suffered.
—PINA Nius
The Region
EU Diplomat tours the Pacific
The European Commissioner who heads the huge development assistance programs of the European Union is to visit five Pacific Islands countries this month.
The head of the Delegation of the European Commission for the Pacific, Frans Baan, confirmed Europe’s Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Poul Nielson, is due to begin his visit to the region October 1 in Apia, the Samoan capital. He will visit Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Papua New Guinea (including Bougainville), and the Federated States of Micronesia. Baan, speaking in Suva, said Nielson will visit EU-funded development projects and launch new ones. He will also meet with representatives of governments, regional bodies and “non-state actors,” such as Non Government Organizations and the private sector.
Nielson, a Dane, has been involved in politics and policymaking since the mid-1960s. He has served as Denmark’s Minister of Energy and Minister for Development Cooperation.
His visit to the region follows closely that of Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy, another key member of the European Commission. Lamy, who is French, came for the African, Caribbean, Pacific group summit in Nadi, Fiji, in July. In Suva, Nielson is expected to have discussions with Fiji Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, who is the president of the 78-nation ACP group and chairperson of the 16-nation Pacific Islands Forum.
Nielson suggested the EU would like to actively support Pacific Islands in the ACP group in the development of renewable energy resources and the protection of the region’s rich tuna fisheries in the West and Central Pacific.
Last year, total disbursement of EU program aid to the Pacific ACP countries totaled EUR 15.5 million, according to the annual EU report.
—PINA Nius
Kiribati
Construction boom on Kiritimati
A $25 million jetty has been commissioned by Kiribati Transport Minister Willie Tokataake. The Christmas Island (Kiritimati) project is funded by the Japanese and Kiribati governments under bilateral arrangements. The jetty currently services inter-island ships and overseas vessels.
The increased construction activity on Kiritimati includes a $500,000 medical operating theater, which was opened in early September by Minister of Health Baraniko Moa. The project, which took more than a year to complete, was undertaken by the Public Works Department. The new building is an extension to the old hospital, which had been running without surgery facilities. Previous cases had to be sent to Honolulu. The operating room is fully equipped and will cater to all those patients needing surgery in the Line and Phoenix Island groups. Two medical doctors from Tarawa, the nation’s capital, flew in with the health minister to start putting the new facility to use.
—Rubetake Taburuea
American Samoa
Congressional Race Heats Up
Incumbent Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin and challengers Aumua Amata Coleman and Fagafaga Daniel Langkilde have qualified as candidates for the U.S. Congressional delegate’s seat in this year’s general election.
American Samoa’s election is set for Nov. 5th, 2002 for the Congressional seat and the local House of Representatives. Faleomavaega is currently serving his 7th two-year consecutive term in office and will be seeking his 8th term in the November election.
Fagafaga is a new challenger in the Congressional race, and some observers think he is the first challenger in years to have a chance of unseating Faleomavaega.
He is a former Territorial House member and a former running mate for gubernatorial candidate Tufele Li’a during the 1996 election. Fagafaga is a well known figure in the community for his many public and private sector services in the past years. During his political campaign kick-off in August, veteran Senator Tuanaitau Tuia and Lt. Governor Togiola Tulafono publicly declared their support for Fagafaga, a move rarely seen in the territory at political season.
Using his campaign of “Putting American Samoa first,” Fagafaga said that he can take “us to a level where the interests of American Samoa will once again be put at the top of our political agenda.” Faleomavaega has been accused by his opponents for many years for not working together with the Legislature and Governor Tauese Sunia’s Administration.
Congressional candidate Aumua, who currently serves on the U.S. House Leadership staff under Congressman J.C. Watts Jr., chairman of the House Republican Conference, is not new to the congressional race. She ran unsuccessfully for Delegate in both the 2000 and 1996 general election. She is the Republican Party’s candidate this year.
—Fili Sagapolutele
Solomon Islands
Rebel Leader On The Run
People on South Guadalcanal have called for the police to send officers to reinforce people now pursuing Solomon Islands rebel leader Harold Keke. A SIBC News radio report said that the area is now free after Keke fled further west on the Weathercoast with his followers.
Keke leads a Guadalcanal Liberation Front group which did not join a peace agreement ending more than two years of ethnic conflict. Police have been unable to go into the area. Keke reportedly fled his stronghold after civilians and a number of his followers turned against him on September 7. The breakaway faction—and a number of civilians—are still pursuing their former leader. Keke has in recent months claimed responsibility for the assassination of Cabinet minister Father Augustine Geve and the massacre of a group of Malaitan men who tried to catch him and claim a bounty.
— SIBC News/PINA
