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LNG PROJECT OPERATORS DENY FAULT IN PNG LANDSLIDE
Esso Highlands calls allegations 'pure speculation'
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, Feb. 2, 2012) – The operator of Papua New Guinea's Liquefied Natural Gas project, Esso Highlands, has dismissed speculation that its activities were the cause of last week's landslide in Southern Highlands province.
Four bodies have been recovered but at least 25 people are confirmed to have been buried in the landslide.
Many locals claim that a nearby quarry used for the project involved explosives which unsettled the earth and caused the landslide.
Esso's media spokeswoman Rebecca Arnold says the project's contractors stopped working at the quarry six months ago and never used explosives.
"That's pure speculation at this stage. At this stage the cause of the landslide is unclear. The government is undertaking an investigation and I understand has commenced that assessment. We continue to provide support to the government in any way,...
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MOST PASSENGERS SAVED AFTER PNG FERRY SINKING
Rough seas, high winds may have sunk MV Rabaul Queen
PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (The National, Feb. 2, 2012) – Rescuers have plucked more than 230 people out of the sea but many more remain missing after a ferry sank yesterday morning in waters off Finschhafen, Morobe province.
Eight foreign vessels and a number of aircraft scoured the search area (6 degrees 31.5 minutes south, 147 degrees 54.7 minutes east) about 16km north-east of Finschhafen, on Papua New Guinea's north coast, after the MV Rabaul Queen went down in heavy weather.
It reportedly had 350 passengers on board while travelling from Kimbe, New Britain Island, to Lae on the mainland.
The rescue was halted at about 7pm with authorities saying 238 people had been rescued. The search would resume this morning. No deaths have been reported so far.
Earlier, Australia's Maritime Safety Authority said 219 people had been rescued 12 hours after eight vessels and three helicopters were...
SPC CALLS FOR CHANGES TO BECHE-DE-MER HARVESTING
Scuba ban to relieve pressure on sea cucumber populations
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, Feb. 2, 2012) – The Secretariat of the Pacific Community says a series of new information sheets include a plea for island communities to ban scuba gear when harvesting sea cucumber, also known as beche-de-mer.
The 16 sheets are funded by the European Union and are designed to help community groups and NGOs to better protect and manage their coastal fisheries in the face of climate change and population growth.
A coastal fisheries advisor for the SPC, Ian Bertram says a high demand from Asian markets for sea cucumber is putting pressure on the Pacific Ocean.
"They're generally slow growing, quite vulnerable because they sit on the seabed. Now some countries fishermen are using scuba, they use scuba gear to harvest these vulnerable animals. So our advice is if they want to protect the species or ensure sustainability to prohibit the use of...
CNMI DIALYSIS PATIENTS RECEIVE EXTRA ASSISTANCE
Bottled water donations given when hospital stopped providing it
By Emmanuel T. Erediano Rota, CNMI (Marianas Variety, Feb. 2, 2012) – Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas dialysis patients on Rota who no longer get free meals and drinking water from the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. were provided yesterday with 200 bottles of drinking water by the Rota Resort Hotel management.
Sen. Juan M. Ayuyu, Ind.-Rota, also delivered 10 cases of bottled water to the patients at the guesthouse on Navy Hill.
The families of the dialysis patients from Tinian and Rota also went to guesthouse to make sure their loved ones would not skip lunch and dinner yesterday.
Ayuyu in an interview said he was touched by the kindhearted people who responded right away upon learning of the patients' dire situation.
On behalf of his ailing constituents, he thanked the owners of Rota Resort Hotel for such its generous help.
Tinian dialysis patient Edward Pangelinan, who...
AFTER RECENT SUICIDES, COOK ISLANDS YOUTH TAKE ACTION
Council looks to establish task force to address problem
By Rachel Reeves
RAROTONGA, Cook Islands (Cook Islands News, Jan. 31, 2012) – The youth of the Cook Islands consider suicide an urgent concern, and are taking steps to address it in whatever way they can.
Cook Islands National Youth Council (CINYC) president Nukutau Pokura says council members started discussing suicide as a priority before Christmas, but in light of recent tragedies have shifted it to the top of their list.
[PIR editor's note: Prime Minister Henry Puna stated that he is "heartbroken" after 2 teenagers recently committed suicide and seeks ways to ensure that troubled youth have someone to turn to for help. The Cook Islands News reported that 5 young people on Rarotonga have taken their own lives in the past 6 months.]
Pokura says the council has a view to establishing a suicide...
PALAU'S OTV NETWORK CELEBRATES 5TH ANNIVERSARY
Submitted by piradmin on Fri, 02/03/2012 - 00:00
Oceania Television Network Koror, Republic of Palau
PALAU'S OTV NETWORK CELEBRATES 5TH ANNIVERSARY
Today marks the fifth year OTV has been on air providing quality Pacific programming. Launched on February 2nd, 2007, OTV has grown from a few hours a night of local programming to a full 24-hour Pacific content station across the North Pacific.
In a region that has previously only received retransmitted Western and Asian television content, OTV's mission has been to create a home-grown Pacific regional station that can help preserve culture, foster pride and create a venue for sharing ideas and issues. OTV provides a platform for Pacific Islanders to develop their own voice in media. OTV was able to truly become a network with the assistance and recognition of UNESCO International Programme Development of Communication.
OTV's vision is to eventually have a presence in all the islands of the Pacific and to gather content from...
STRENGTHENING TROPICAL CYCLONE BEARS DOWN ON VANUATU
Submitted by admin on Mon, 02/06/2012 - 00:00
Jasmine could be category three storm when hits land
MELBOURNE, Australia (Radio Australia, Feb. 5, 2012) – A tropical cyclone is strengthening as it makes its way towards Port Vila in Vanuatu.
The Vanuatu Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre says Cyclone Jasmine which is currently a category two cyclone is moving in an easterly direction.
Suva-based Nadraki weather expert, Neville Koop, has told Radio Australia it's currently due north of north western tip on New Caledonia.
"It's probably another 12 to 18 hours away from affecting Vanuatu yet, but it is intensifying as it moves almost due east out of the Coral Sea and into Vanuatu," Mr Koop said.
"It has developed quite nicely overnight and is starting to show, all indications of becoming a stronger cyclone, perhaps a category three by later today."
PENTAGON, JAPAN DISMISS RUMORS OF GUAM BUILDUP CHANGES
Reports say Marine move may even pick up speed
By Florence Stair
HAGÅTÑA, Guam (Pacific Daily News, Feb. 6, 2012) – Within a few days of a Bloomberg news report saying the Obama administration was considering reducing the number of Marines being relocated to Guam by about half, another news agency reported out of Washington that Japan and the United Stated both denied the Bloomberg article.
The United States and Japan both are committed to moving the same number that has been discussed for years -- 8,000 Marines -- from Okinawa to Guam, according Reuters news agency, quoting Pentagon officials.
Not only is the Guam move likely to stay intact, it also could speed up, according to wire reports.
Japan Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba said in Tokyo Friday that the United States and Japan are in discussions to speed up the move of Marines to Guam.
"We are in talks with the U.S. side, with flexibility...
SEARCH FOR PNG FERRY SURVIVORS SCALED BACK
More than 100 passengers yet to be accounted for
MELBOURNE, Australia (Radio Australia, Feb. 5, 2012) – Papua New Guinea authorities have scaled back their search for survivors from the sinking of a passenger ferry, as hopes of finding more survivors fade.
PNG's National Maritime Safety Authority has moved from search to recovery mode after failing to find a survivor for 56 hours.
Several bodies were found in the water over the weekend, and have been brought to Lae.
Those who were plucked to safety also remain in Lae.
Lae Chamber of Commerce President Alan McClay has told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat they are doing what they can for the survivors.
"Very miserable and of course they've lost all their possessions and we've managed to put together a few clothes and blankets for them. There's a desperate need now for the supply of clothes," he said.
The passenger ferry, MV Rabaul Queen, sank on Thursday after being hit by what its...
OPPOSITION CRITICAL OF VANUATU'S STANCE ON PAPUA
Natapei: Government appeases Indonesia, forgets Melanesians
PORT VILA, Vanuatu (Vanuatu Daily Post, Feb. 3, 2012) – The Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Edward Natapei, has told a visiting West Papuan delegation that any future government that the Vanua'aku Pati (VP) is a part of would review the Development Co-operation Agreement signed by Prime Minister Sato Kilman and Foreign Minister Carlot with the Indonesian Government in Jakarta.
This is because that agreement prohibits Vanuatu from taking up the issue of West Papua locally and internationally and the agreement itself recognizes Indonesian sovereignty over West Papua and specifically states that each signatory country must not interfere in each other's internal affairs.
The President of Vanua'aku Pati said this yesterday as he and the Member of Parliament for Tanna, Joe Natuman who is also the Vice-President of...
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