Prasad arrested in Fiji; firefighters' concerns in American Samoa; and Malaita rejects communication towers
Fiji opposition party leader arrested
The leader of Fiji's National Federation Party, Professor Biman Prasad, has been charged with two counts of indecently insulting or annoying a person.
The Fiji Times reports the police commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho saying Prasad (below) was questioned by police on Wednesday at the CID Headquarters in Toorak and chose to remain silent.
Qiliho said he was subsequently charged.
Prasad has been bailed to appear in court in three weeks.
Photo: NFP
Uninhabited island re-elects representative
In American Samoa, Swains Island voters have selected Su'a Alexander Jennings to be their House representative for the next two years.
Jennings said the proposed constitutional amendment that would give the Swains Representative voting power in the House is a progressive step.
He told the election meeting of about 50 people that Swains has been ignored because it doesn't have a vote in the Fono in Pago Pago.
He said if all Swains Islanders stand together, the amendment to give Swains voting power would be approved.
When nominations were called, the only name that was put forward was Mr Jennings'.
There are no permanent inhabitants of the island, and all descendants now live elsewhere in American Samoa.
Worry about lack of fire hydrants in American Samoa
Firefighters in American Samoa are concerned at the lack of fire hydrants in residential areas.
The warning comes after a fire demolished a family home in Fogagogo on Tuesday morning.
Samoa News reports this was the second fire in two days.
The Director of Fire Services Sinauli Faamasino Upuese Galoia said though they are not in charge of fire hydrants, they will address it with the appropriate authority.
He said that at the fire in Fogagogo two fire trucks responded, but they needed to refill and they struggled as the hydrant was not close by
No one was injured in either that fire or at another one in Tafuna.
Province not keen on new communications towers
Malaita Province has rejected an offer by the Solomon Islands government to build 27 communication towers in the province.
The Government secured a loan of $US65 million from China for the building of 161 towers across the country to improve communication.
Huawei will construct the towers.
The Permanent Secretary of Communication and Aviation told SBM Online all the provinces have accepted the mounting of towers in their provinces, except for Malaita.
SBM Online reported Malaita's decision was based on the fact that it will not accept any projects funded by China or to be built by a Chinese company in the province.
PNG might not reach sustainability goals
Papua New Guinea is at risk of not reaching its 2030 Sustainable Development Goals Agenda, as statistics predict the global food production to decline.
The Post-Courier reports the Food Agricultural Organisation's country representative, Bir Mandal, saying the global effects and local conflict is setting the nation behind.
It's known as the F5 crises - which combines food, livestock feed, fuel, fertilizer and finance crises.
These, along with climate change effects and conflict, have led to structural weaknesses and low levels of resilience in the country's agrifood system.
Government officials say PNG is not exempt from the F5 crises.
As the country battles with the increased food prices, feed cost for livestock, fuel and fertilizer costs and the opportunity cost of financing development programmes - investment may be limited.
But Mandal said the fight is not lost, and that PNG is putting measures in place where possible.
Lalie going to Paris on his own accord
The only pro-independence politician from New Caledonia to go to a convention in Paris has said he will not represent either the Caledonian Union or the FLNKS parties.
Kanak politician Jacques Lalié is instead insisting he will be attending in his role as president of the Loyalty Islands.
Lalie said he gave his promise to the Junior Overseas Minister Jean Francois Carenco to go to Paris.
"I have 45 years of militancy so it is not today that I will betray the pro-independence cause. I've been clear with the vice-president and the general secretary of the Caledonian Union and the other people involved that I go as the president of an institution, not as the FLNKS spokesperson."
He will attend the Convention of Partners, an event led by the French prime minister, which includes representatives of sectors of society beyond the political leaders that made up the signatories to the Noumea Accords.
Solomon Islands takes on invasive pests through biosecurity surveillance and training
Biosecurity surveillance and trainings were recently held in Solomon Islands aimed at protecting the country against invasive pests and diseases.
Carried out by a biosecurity team from the Pacific Community science organisation, the training and surveillance addressed both pest and disease threats.
Biosecurity Officer Riten Gosai said Solomon Islands is an important hub of activity, with high traffic in foreign travellers and tourists.
He said it is important to be prepared ahead of the 2023 Pacific Games.
The training included border inspection, emerging threats, and surveillance and field sample collection.