Tagata o te Moana is a weekly Pacific programme, broadcast on Radio New Zealand National (Saturdays at 5.30pm). It features news, interviews, and discussion of issues. Presented by Don Wiseman.
The programme for 10 February 2007 includes the following:
- AIDs could kill a million people in Papua New Guinea (a third of the adult population) within twenty years, if the government does not tackle the problem head-on. The warning comes from the conservative Australian think-tank, The Centre for Independent Studies, in a report released this week. The report’s author, Miranda Darling-Tobias says the epidemic is partly due to the country’s health system, which is in a state of collapse. A high rate of unemployment, disruption of social structures, a young population, a lack of security, and the low status of women also contribute to the problem. Janine Sudbury reports.
- The Fiji Human Rights Commission is processing 19 complaints of human rights abuses by the military, with a 20th complaint likely to come from a photographer for the Fiji Times. Walter Zweifel reports that the photographer, Sitiveni Moce, had been sent to get pictures of a raid on a Methodist Church last Friday, when he was seized by a group of around ten armed soldiers. He was allegedly hit around the head several times, then taken to the Queen Elizabeth military barracks in Suva. A spokesperson for the Fiji Times is interviewed, and says that Moce was questioned and assaulted.
- The government of Niue says it has no intention of cutting its programmes rather than go through with a plan to temporarily reduce the hours of work of its public servants. Premier Young Vivian says the salaries of parliamentarians will also be cut, as the country faces a budgeting crisis. With nearly half the financial year to run, Niue is facing a shortfall of around a million US dollars. There is a proposal for public servants to work a four-day week, and an increase in charges for some services. Premier Young Vivian and opposition MP Terry Coe comment.
- Business leaders in the Marshall Islands are unhappy about what they say are harsh new laws against foreign workers, which they want amended. Linda Skates reports.
- Papua New Guinea’s Labour and Industrial Relations Secretary, David Tibu, says he is prepared to shut down the construction of the Ramu nickel mine if the developers fail to meet proper safety guidelines. Mr Tibu has issued the directive to the Chinese Metallurgical Construction Corporation and its contractor, EFNI. He says working conditions are far below what is acceptable. Johnny Blades reports.
- James Pillay, a Fijian mechanic who says he was hit by a stray bullet in the November 2000 army mutiny is continuing his fight for compensation in the Suva High Court. He says he was shot in the stomach during the firefight between rebel and loyalist soldiers. The 2000 mutiny aimed to assassinate the military commander Frank Bainimarama, and free the coup frontman George Speight. It ended in eight deaths and more than 30 injuries, including some civilians. James Pillay is interviewed by Margot Staunton.
- The interim Minister for Fijian Affairs, Ratu Epeli Ganilau, has joined the military-installed administration despite being a strong critic of the previous coup. He was the former Chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs, and the former Commander of the military throughout most of the 1990s, before he entered politics. Linda Skates speaks to Ganilau about why he has joined the administration.
- As the Pacific Community (or SPC) marks its 60th birthday, the organisation says that one of its main aims for the next few years is to link the region through information and communications technology. The SPC, based in New Caledonia, was founded in 1947 by countries wanting to coordinate their regional aid. Elma Maua interviews the Director-General, Jimmie Rodgers.