Dumping of mining waste in Bismarck sea would be a threat to PNG coastal communities
An environmental campaigner in Papua New Guinea says the dumping of mining waste in the Bismarck sea would be a threat to the welfare of the coastal communities.
Peter Bosip of the Centre for Environmental Law and Community Rights was speaking after Morobe Province's new Governor Luther Wenge said the provincial government would drop all legal challenges to the Wafi-Golpu mine going ahead appeared to give the green light for the new mine to dump its tailings at sea.
Wenge said the income generated will allow him to pay for the free education of the province's young people.
But Bosip said what the local communities have sought is for the company and the national government to come up with an alternate solution to dumping the waste - one which doesn't undermine the livelihoods of coastal communities.
"OK say let the sea be polluted and let those communities that are dependent on that marine resource and environment find their own ways of survival.
The government is going to think about the national revenue - that's not the way forward. People's lives are very important. They have to find an alternate solution and that is up to the government and the developers," he said.
Getting the copper and gold mine up and running is one of the goals of the national government as it looks at ways to kick start the economy.
France's Junior Overseas Minister Jean-Francois Carenco begins a five-day official visit to New Caledonia
France's Junior Overseas Minister Jean-Francois Carenco begins a five-day official visit to New Caledonia today - the first ministerial visit since the formation of a new French Government after the presidential election in May.
Carenco is scheduled to meet a cross-section of political leaders to discuss the way forward after last December's controversial referendum on independence from France which saw another no-vote.
Overseas Minister Jean-Francois Carenco Photo: BERTRAND GUAY
He is expected to help restore a dialogue between the rival camps while the pro-independence parties have said they will only discuss the territory's accession to full sovereignty.
Paris wants a fresh vote in June on a new statute for New Caledonia within France, but the pro-independence parties refuse to recognise the referendum outcome as the legitimate expression of the will of the people to be decolonised.
A key point of contention is the make-up of the electoral roll for local elections, which the 1998 Noumea Accord restricted to indigenous Kanaks and long-term residents.
The anti-independence side has demanded the opening of the roll to more recent arrivals from France while the pro-independence side has ruled out agreeing to any change.
New Caledonia's Customary Senate elects new President
New Caledonia's Customary Senate has elected a new president for a one-year term.
At a congress in Canala, Hugues Vhemavhe was chosen to replace Yvon Kona.
The Senate brings together traditional representatives of Kanak councils from 16 areas and has jurisdiction over the law proposals concerning the Kanak identity.
It was created by the 1998 Noumea Accord, which was meant to be the roadmap to New Caledonia's independence.
After last December's third referendum on independence from France, which was boycotted by the Kanak side, the Senate unsuccessfully lobbied Paris to annul the outcome.
Samoa's Head of State has paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II.
Tuimaleali'ifano Va'aletoa Sualauvi II said her Majesty's selfless service was a constant point of wisdom and courage for the people of Samoa.
He said the Queen will be warmly remembered for her dedication, unwavering support, and immeasurable contribution to the development and advancement of the people of Samoa, the Pacific region, and the Commonwealth family.
He also extended prayers of comfort to the Royal Family and the people and Government of the UK.
French Civil Aviation Authority announces company to run international airport in Tahiti
The French Civil Aviation Authority has announced the contract to run French Polynesia's international airport in Tahiti has been given to Vinci Airports.
This has been confirmed by the French Polynesian government, which said the territory will hold 49 percent of the shares, with Vinci Airports agreeing to keep on the existing workforce.
The contract is for 40 years.
However, the decision is already being challenged by an unsuccessful bidder, CCISM, which is confident a court will annul the attribution of the contract.
Vinci Airports, which runs 53 airports globally, is based near Paris.
The airport in Tahiti has been facing capacity constraints as more US carriers line up to fly to French Polynesia.
SPC releases Pacific Islands Literacy and Numeracy Assessment report
The Pacific Islands Literacy and Numeracy Assessment report for 2021, which shows a need for improvements in both categories, was released last Thursday.
Run by the Pacific Community or SPC this long-term assessment has been running for ten years.
The SPC said 40,000 children in Year Four and Year Six, from across the region were assessed last year.
The regional body said the literacy and numeracy performance data, as well as the broader information from the students, allows for a deeper understanding of learners' needs in the South Pacific.
Student performance dropped across most areas in the 2021 assessment compared with the previous exercise in 2018.
The SPC said the exception was year four writing performance, which increased.
It said the decreases may be due to external or regional factors in the years between 2019 and 2021 affecting students' performance.
The average performance in numeracy dropped more than the performance in reading and writing and this was the case for both year four and year six students.