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 5 May 2007 includes the following:
- Freedom of movement and other fundamental rights continue to be compromised in Fiji after the interim government decided to extend the emergency regulations until the end of the month. It announced an extension on Tuesday – the fifth such move since the coup in December last year. The interim government says the extension is necessary because of the dangers to national security and public order, due to missing weapons and anti-interim-government sentiments. Dubravka Voloder reports, and there are comments from Major Neumi Leweni, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, and Laisenia Qarase.
- The authorities in French Polynesia are being challenged to refute, in public, claims that the judiciary has been undermined by powerful politicians. An open letter has been sent to the public prosecutor after a spat in the Assembly, during which politician Gaston Flosse told a colleague that his Tahoera'a Huiraatira party had saved him from serving months in jail. The case has highlighted misgivings about the way justice is being administered in French Polynesia. Walter Zweifel reports.
- Papua New Guinea’s parliament has passed a gaming law, allowing casinos and internet gambling. The Gaming Control Bill 2007, introduced by Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare, got sixty-one votes with none against in the last session of parliament before the general election in June. But there’s widespread opposition from different groups. The Prime Minister told parliament last Tuesday that the new law contains provisions to keep out criminal exploitation, and to impose strict entry requirements which include hefty refundable casino entry fees. Casino operators will be required to pay a duty of 20 per cent of the gross profit, and a community benefit gaming levy of five per cent of the gross profit. Each of Papua New Guinea’s provinces can have one casino licence for up to ten years.
The gaming law now paves the way for a Korean consortium to build a 35 million US dollar five-star hotel and casino in Port Moresby – a project which has already been approved by the Cabinet. There are comments from Alexia Riini, Bart Philomin, and Community Development Minister, Dame Carol Anne Kidu.
- Leaders from the Pacific Islands are heading to Washington next week, where they’ll meet with Condoleezza Rice and other senior US officials at the eighth Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders. Linda Skates reports.
- The Solomon Islands government has launched its first Agriculture Rural Development Strategy, with the aim of providing better services and infrastructure, and more ways to earn an income locally. The strategy is significant, because more than eighty per cent of the population live in rural areas. Leilani Momoisea talked to some of the Provincial Premiers (including Johnson Levela and Alex Lokopio), who say agricultural development will help them sustain their communities.
- The Melanesian Spearhead Group comprised of the Melanesian countries – Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji, and New Caledonia – is on the move. The profile of the one-time trade organisation has risen markedly in recent months; and includes the establishment of a constitution, while a fund has been found to pay for the construction of a headquarters in Port Vila. Long-time Pacific observer Dr John Henderson, who heads the political science department of the University of Canterbury, says these are significant developments. He speaks to Don Wiseman.