Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades
Treatment suspended after mass health strike in PNG
More than 400 allied health professionals across Papua New Guinea started striking this week over non-compliance claims.
The Post Courier reports this meant no surgeries, cancer treatments, X-rays or dental services and no medical drugs given to patients, until the dispute is resolved.
A memorandum of agreement was signed in 2012 which allowed for benefits such as housing and clinical allowances, but no payment was made between then and 2020.
At present there is no new agreement as the Allied Health Workers Association is still waiting for Non Compliance Implementation Claims, applied for in 2019, worth 12.5 million kina ($US3.4 million).
The Association president says this is the last resort the professionals wanted to take, but they have been forced to by years of frustration and suffering.
Exceptions will be made from the strike action for emergency cases.
Rabuka will 'reunite' the Pacific
Fiji's prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka has declared he intends to "reunite" the Pacific region as he prepares for his first official state visit to Kiribati this week.
Rabuka is scheduled to head to Tarawa on Friday to meet with President Taneti Maamau for bilateral discussions.
According to the Fijian government, Rabuka wants to "find a way to bring Kiribati back" to the Pacific Islands Forum and "nurture regional solidarity".
Kiribati withdrew its membership from the regional body in July last year over concerns the Forum was not meeting the needs of the Micronesian subregion.
Nickel company hasn't received emergency payment
New Caledonia's SLN nickel company says it is yet to be officially notified of a French government rescue package to stave off insolvency.
It had been reported an urgent boost of $US63 million would be provided to try to save the company, which is expected to run out of funds by the end of the month.
SLN says the injection can only be obtained if the company regains a sustainable economic model and the ability to generate cash.
Unions have been advised of a proposed restructure which involves cutting 80 jobs and aims to save $US90 million this year.
In 2016, SLN had been given a $US600 million loan from its parent company Eramet and the French state, with the last instalment now drawn down.
Fiji police plea to parents after tragedies
Fiji police are calling on parents to prioritise their children's safety after two recent incidents.
Earlier this week, a two-year-old child died in Lautoka after allegedly being hit by a vehicle.
In another case, a child was admitted to Lautoka Hospital having suffered 13 percent burns, after allegedly being left home alone and a jug of hot water falling on her.
The Fiji Police Force is reiterating the need for parents and guardians to prioritise the supervision of their children, as tragic accidents can occur in a matter of seconds.
Meanwhile at the weekend, a one-year-old child is believed to have drowned.
Customs staff in Fiji must re-apply for old jobs
Staff let go from Fiji's Revenue and Customs Service due to covid-19 restructuring will need to reapply if they want their old jobs back.
The CEO Mark Dixon said the former staffers left the company in late 2021.
Fiji's Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad says the matter is before the courts and he is leaving it to the new board and the CEO of the Revenue and Customs Service.
Occupying families to be rehoused
A group of 14 families inhabiting the Pic Aux Mort area of Dumbea, New Caledonia will be rehoused after a court ruling.
This comes after years of legal battles between the real estate group Salec and the families holding ground they say is sacred to their ancestors.
Salec holds the land title and plans to build an apartment complex with 160 units.
The tribunal of first instance or trial court has previously ruled that 26 people from the group GDPL Taku occupying the site had to leave.
However, the real estate group says it has met with the families and proposed a way to rehouse them on the site for a year.
According to La premiere, it would be a temporary tenancy for the families until a long-term housing plan can be agreed on.