Government Briefs
Government Briefs
Region
Taiwan has expressed its concern over Chinese plans to set up a China-Pacific Islands Economic Development and Cooperation Forum. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi says the planned forum would cover issues such as environment, tourism, legislation, education, agriculture and fisheries, and health, according to the Xinhua news agency. Taiwan's Foreign Ministry spokesman Michel Lu said this kind of move by China could cause "all kinds of damage" and that it was merely an attempt to squeeze Taiwan's international space. -- GN
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Samoa
A Commission of Inquiry report into the country's doctors' six week long strike has been made public. There has been no comment from government yet on how it will resolve the impasse with the doctors. With local doctors on strike, overseas physicians have been brought in to maintain essential public health services. -- AT
American Samoa
The possibility of stationing a unit of the Hawaii Army National Guard in American Samoa is part of ongoing discussions between Governor Togiola Tulafono and Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle and Major General Robert Lee, the Hawaii state Adjutant General. Togiola said Lee was "very receptive to the idea." -- FS
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation is now looking at opening a field office in American Samoa early next year. FBI spokesman Brandon Simpson declined to comment on any ongoing investigation by FBI agents in Pago Pago. But he did say that the agents were in the territory in mid-October looking for office space. -- FS
Fiji
U.S. President George W. Bush praised Fiji for striving for "true reconciliation," saying it was a "noble and necessary goal for Fiji." He made the comments in a statement to new Fiji ambassador to the U.S. Jesoni Vitusagavulu when he presented his credentials at the White House. In reply, Vitusagavulu said the Fiji government was pursuing legislative reforms to "bring peace, unity and reconciliation" among ethnic groups. -- RM
Papua New Guinea
The government has slammed the Bougainville Autonomous Government (BAG) for attempts to forcefully include its representatives in the PNG delegation to the recently concluded 36th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) summit in Port Moresby. Inter-Government Relations Minister Sir Peter Barter said BAG did not advise the PNG government of its wish as the PNG Cabinet needed to be consulted before it made a decision. BAG president Joseph Kabui had asked for a Bougainville representative to be part of the PNG delegation. -- AR
A further 771,451 hectares (2.3 million acres) of land in Papua New Guinea will be added to 1.6 million hectares (4.8 million acres) already declared protected by the PNG government. The latest additions are 12 new protected areas in Madang, along the Sepik River, Mt. Bosavi in Southern Highlands and Western provinces, and Transfly in Western province. The promotion of the areas as sites for conservation of animals, flora, and fauna, are part of a project coordinated by the Environment and Conservation Department and WWF Papua New Guinea. -- AR
Guam
The U.S. Department of Defense has announced that approximately 7,000 U.S. Marines would be moved off Okinawa, with the bulk going to Guam. And on Oct. 31, Guam Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo announced that the USS Buffalo, a Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine, will be home-ported in Guam in September 2006, bringing to three subs based in Guam. -- FW
Contributors: Graham Norris, Afamasaga Toleafoa, Fili Sagapolutele, Frank Whitman, Ricardo Morris and Alex Rheeney.
