Letters
Letters
Kiribati Coverage
Dear sir:
I have noted that in all reports from Kiribati regarding the election it is written that the president is elected by the newly-elected parliamentarians in January. Since I have been living in Kiribati for almost six years, and have lived trough two presidential elections, I am wondering about this. As far as I remember, the new president is NOMINATED by the parliamentarians. All in all it should be FOUR nominees according to the constitution.
Then the people decide in an open election between the four candidates. If this is not so anymore, the constitution must have been changed. One can question how democratic such a system is. The right thing must be for the people to nominate, not the Parliament, but that’s the way it is in Kiribati.
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This incorrectness in reporting has also occurred in Pacific Islands Report and Radio Australia.
Otherwise, allow me to congratulate you on your news reporting which is always correct, up-to-date, and unmissable for a person interested in news from the Pacific.
Sincerely yours
Helge Kongshaug
News editor for Sydhav på nettet
(Norway)
Editor’s note: Ms Kongshaug is correct, partially. The I-Kiribati constitution, according to Bill Paupe, the country’s consul in Honolulu, allows for up to four candidates. The Parliament does not have to select four, but usually does.
Islanders In Media
Dear Editor:
Thank you very much for the December article on Pacific Islanders in Communications’ Digital Media Initiative. You did a terrific job of capturing the enthusiastic new talent arising in Hawaii. In the meantime, I did want to clarify a few of the article’s details: Hawaii Filmmakers’ Initiative on Maui was a key partner to the effort and should be acknowledged; the name of the Hawaii participant was Christina Ludewig; and James Gurr’s completed work, “Ma’ata’ifefe,” centered on the legend surrounding the traditional Samoan octopus lure.
Once again, thank you for featuring this inspiring story. We hope our Digital Media Initiative can create the foundation for expanded opportunities in digital media for Pacific Islanders.
Sincerely,
Carlyn L. Tani
Executive Director
Shipping That Works
Dear Editor:
I read the article in your July 2002-North Edition, “Shipping Economics, Big and Small” with great interest. Having worked in the shipping industry in this region for over 20 years I think that Mr. Whitney identified most of the problems, but he did not offer any solutions.
The Micronesia Region might be a good example as we have had stable shipping services for the past 20 years because of the establishment of an entity called the Micronesian Shipping Commission. The MSC is a treaty signed by the Republic of Palau, Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshalls. The MSC monitors and regulates the carriers that are allowed to operate between the three nations. The MSC, the representatives of the three countries, meet once a year to issue "entry assurance" and to evaluate the service the carriers are providing. One of their main goals is to ensure that all the islands in the region, big or small, are provided with timely service. It is not a perfect solution but seems to be working for us.
Bill Keldermans
GM, Palau Shipping Co.,Inc.
Via email
