Members of Parliament 's fare-welled with $10m

As the nation’s 49 MPs fare-welled each other in a marathon debate on the sine die motion last Friday, the Republic of China [Taiwan] also bid fare-well in style, releasing $10 million in constituency and rural development [RCDF] funding earlier that day.

The money was the second tranche of the $50 million Taiwan taxpayers contribute each year to community projects in the nation’s 50 constituencies.

Prime Minister, Derek Sikua, received a cheque for $10 million on behalf of MPs in a brief ceremony at his Office on Friday morning.

Each Constituency will receive $200, 000 out of this tranche, the second for this year.

The first, also totaling $10 million was paid to the Government in February.

In a brief statement released at the handing over ceremony, ROC [Taiwan] Ambassador, George Chan, “strongly urged those responsible officials and MPs to manage the funds properly and fairly in order to help rural people in their communities.”

Ambassador Chan said the $10 million reflected the full support by the Government of Taiwan for the Coalition for National Unity and Rural Advancement [CNURA] government “to implement the rural policy to help the rural advancement in the Solomon Islands.”

“The government of ROC [Taiwan] has committed itself to cooperate with CNURA government to enhance the livelihood of rural people of Solomon Islands. The fund has been initiated to help rural villagers and has been one of the projects which go right down to the core of rural areas,” he said.

“With proper administration, the fund will be contributing enormously to alleviate poverty of rural area and improve the quality of life for rural villagers,” Ambassador Chan said.

Although the timing for the release of the funding was problematic for the Government, insiders said there was no ulterior motive.

The insiders said Taiwan preprogrammed the release of its $50 million funding support in five equal tranches each year, beginning with the first $10 million in February.

The second tranche is released in April, the third in June with the fourth and fifth in August and October respectively.

“We have now released a total $20 million since February this year. The new government will get the remaining $30 million, which again will be released in three equal installments,” Ambassador Chan said.

Taiwan’s $50 million grant comprises the Rural Constituency Development Fund [$400, 000 a year], Micro Special Project [$200, 000 a year] and the Millennium Fund [$400, 000 a year].

It is not clear whether former MPs have collected their Constituency’s share of the fund or will have access to it, now that their tenure as elected MPs had ended at midnight on Saturday.

MPs concluded their debate on the sine die motion at about 3:30am on Saturday. A big bash followed on the grounds of Parliament House on Saturday evening.

Source: Alfred Sasako

USP Journalism Bags Top Awards

The University of the South Pacific Journalism has added more awards to its collection.

All four winners of a recent regional award in Environmental Journalism are USP Journalism alumni. The award is part of the media outreach by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). It encourages partnerships with Pacific media to help strengthen their role in raising awareness in sustainable environment concerns.

The winners of the first ‘Vision Pasifika: Climate Change Media Awards’ are:

Ms Rachna Lal and Ms Kalpana Prasad – Winners, Student Category
Story: "Coral reef destruction continues unabated”, published in ‘Wansolwara’ USP’s journalism newspaper.

Kalpana Prasad, 22, graduated with a BA in Journalism and Tourism Studies in April this year. She works as the Community Media officer at FemLINKPACIFIC. Kalpana has received numerous awards for articles published in ‘Wansolwara’.

Rachna Lal, 22, graduated with a BA in Journalism and Literature also in April this year. She works with Fijilive. She represented USP journalism at the AIBDS Conference in Denarau Fiji. She was also selected to take part in the SPREP Climate Change Media Training in September 2009, and was part of the Pacific Communications team at COP 15 in Denmark last December.

Anish Chand (Fiji) – Winner, Television and the Best Overall Category:
Story: "Pacific Politics and Climate Change”.

Anish was the Team Leader News at Fiji Television Limited, with 13 Journalists working under his supervision. He has been associated with Fiji TV since 2003. He holds a Diploma in Journalism from USP.

Moffat Mamu (Solomon Islands) – Winner, Print Category:
Story: “Chance” printed in the Solomon Star News.

Moffat is a business reporter with the Solomon Star newspaper. He has been a full time reporter since graduating in 2004 with a BA in Journalism and History/Politics. His work was recognized by the Asian Development Bank Institute, a sister organization of the Asian Development Bank, which saw him win an award on ‘Climate Change’.

Over 30 news items were entered for judging before a panel consisting of a member from the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA), WWF South Pacific Programme and SPREP. Winning entries received US$500 each.


Espen Ronneberg, SPREP’s Climate Change Adviser says, “I think all the entries were good in their own rights but since it was a competition, we needed to pick the best entries”.

Nanette Woonton, SPREP’s Associate Media and Publications Officer revealed that they were really pleased with both the caliber of submissions, as well as the amount of entries received.

The Divisional head of USP Journalism Shailendra Singh commended the award winners for their service to society through their reporting. He also praised the organisers of the award saying, “This is a good incentive for journalists, including those who are still in school”. He added, “It is also a go example of collaboration between regional agencies to promote youth and the environment ay the same time”.

Recently two USP student journalists received a high commendation from the Journalism Education Association of Australia (JEAA).

Second year Journalism students Arin Kumar and Fenton Lutunatabua, received the runner-up prize for their investigative story published in ‘Wansolwara’, in April 2009.

‘Wansolwara’ also has won the most ‘Ossie’ awards of any publication in Australia, NZ or the Pacific (10, plus it scooped the pool in 2000 with the online and print coverage of the George Speight coup).

Source:USP meadia

The Solomon Islands Council of Trade Union, SICTU, plans nation-wide strike

The Solomon Islands Council of Trade Union, SICTU, the country's trade union umbrella body, will be meeting today to decide on a nation-wide strike in protest of the 11 percent salary increase to members of Parliament.

National Secretary of the Solomon Islands Council of Trade Union, Tony Kagovai says SICTU members rejected outright, the increase to MPs salaries at a meeting last Friday.

He says the increase and other awards in the 2010 PER are "unjustified, selfish and is a mockery of the country's government system."

Mr Kagovai says the 2010 PER is no different from the 2009 PER which the High Court had quashed last year. He says individual MPs should not have accepted the PER 2010 increases.

"Why we say it is selfish because our motto says, to lead is to serve. Serve who? Of course the nation," said Mr Kagovai.

"If you look at the salaries of MPs in comparison to public servants, most government employees only get three hundred dollars a fortnight whilst MPs are making a fortune of their salaries."

Mr Kagovai says the quality of social services to rural areas in the country reflect a government that does not care about its people.

Members of SICTU include all public sector unions and the Solomon Islands National Union of Workers and its affiliates.

Source:SIBC online

Cameroon’s conjoined twins help spread Islam

Cameroonian conjoined twins Pheinbom and Shevoboh were seen as a bad omen when born, but their successful separation by Saudi surgeons has changed their lives - and the faith of some in their village.

They were joined at the chest, abdomen and pelvis when born and some of the delivery nurses in Babanki Tungo, a village in north-west Cameroon, were so shocked by the "strange birth" that they ran out of the small clinic.

The basic medical services in Babanki Tungo were ill-equipped to care for the girls and, following an internet appeal, the Saudi king agreed to pay for them to be flown to Saudi Arabia for surgery in 2007.

The 16-hour operation succeeded in separating the twins and now they each have their own stomach.

However, nearly three years on from the surgery, serious physical challenges remain.

After the separation, the girls were left with one leg each, and they are now waiting to return to Saudi Arabia to be fitted with artificial limbs and begin the arduous task of learning how to walk.

At the moment, they can only crawl. Even so, the twins are playful, talkative and mischievous - typical four-year-old girls, in fact.

But when they were born, they were anything but typical.

Islamic conversions

Some people in Babanki Tungo - a farming village known for producing many of Cameroon's vegetables - thought they were "satanic gifts" sent to punish their father, who already had 13 other children by two different wives.

Others believed that Pheinbom and Shevoboh were sent to punish the whole village, after a traditional leader in the region was burnt alive by his angry subjects.

"It was very difficult when the babies were still joined together," the girls' mother Emerencia Nyumale remembers.

"People used to see me carrying them and run away and I felt so guilty and alone," she says.

"Thank God all that has ended now since their separation."

The girls' story has had another importance consequence for the people of Babanki Tungo.

The Saudi government is funding an Islamic centre in the village consisting of a mosque, nursery, primary school and health centre.

This has led some village elders to predict that the largely Christian Babanki Tungo will be slowly Islamised.

The twins' parents have taken the lead.

As a mark of appreciation to their daughters' Saudi benefactors, they have converted to Islam.

The girl's father, Ngong James Akumbu, now calls himself "Abdallah", Emerencia goes by "Aisha", and five or their children attend the Islamic primary school.

Blessing or curse?

Kum Edwin, a teacher at the school, has also converted.

"Before the school was opened, I was unemployed, had many girlfriends and drank a lot," says Mr Edwin, who has changed his name to "Abdallah Wagf".

"When I heard an Islamic school will be opened here, I did a three-month Islamic studies [course]… I no longer drink a lot and I am now searching for a wife because having lots of girlfriends is not good."

Many people in Babanki Tungo now see the birth of Pheinbom and Shevoboh as a blessing rather than a curse.

The sight of the twins crawling around the village no longer attracts mistrustful looks, as once it did.

"I always tell every parent to be patient because God always tempts people by showing them bad things which are good things in the future," muses the girls' father.

Indeed, the twins have seen a remarkable change in their fortunes.

From outcasts at birth, they now have their own, separate lives and have played an important part in changing the lives of the people around them.

After all that, learning to walk may prove to be easy.

PIMRIS Launches Portal at USP

The Pacific Islands ‘Marine Portal’ was launched at the University of the South Pacific (USP), on Thursday 25 March 2010.

The portal is a result of successful collaboration between the Pacific Islands Marine Resources Information Network (PIMRIS), USP and the International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange Programme (IODE) of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, to improve access to Pacific marine information in the Pacific Island community.

The portal contains news, articles and directories of websites relevant to Pacific fisheries and to the coastal and marine environment of the Pacific Islands. It offers marine information for the general public, USP students and staff, decision makers and professionals who need information for their work, and is categorised as follows:

• Virtual libraries and E-Repositories
• Global Marine Databases and Resource Centers
• Pacific Organisations and Institutions
• Pacific Country Profiles
• Pacific Marine Protected Areas
• Pacific Marine Conventions, Treaties, and Legislation
• Maps, GIS Data and Ocean Observing Systems
• Training and Educational Resources
• Online Journals
• Regional Initiatives and Projects
• Key Contacts

In his address at the launch, Associate Professor Dr Joeli Veitayaki, reminisced on how things were done manually, by using cards to visit the shelves to confirm if the source that was being sought was there or not. He assured that the provision of information is becoming even more accessible and easy. Dr Veitayaki stated that our marine resources continue to dwindle as our numbers continue to explode and the ecological services provided by our ecosystems increasingly are compromised by the effects of our activities.

He said, “As humanity, we need to act fast to secure and provide our people with the resources and development activities that will allow them to have dignified and successful lives while protecting the integrity and health of the natural systems that support our lives. The best way to do that is to learn the lessons from the past and then use our best science and technology to formulate and implement sustainable development activities and resource management arrangements for use in all of our communities and countries. For that challenge, we need to have access to the best information we can get, which is what the PIMRIS PORTAL offers”.

Also present at the Portal Launch were representatives of key organisations such as the Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC), the South Pacific Commission (SPC), and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

Tokyo's Future University President Visits USP

Tokyo’s Future University President, Professor Takashi Sakamoto paid a courtesy visit to the University of the South Pacific.

Welcoming him were the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Rajesh Chandra and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Dr Esther Williams.

Professor Sakamoto graduated from the University of Tokyo in 1955 and received his M.A. in 1957 and Doctor of Literature in 1967 from the University of Tokyo. After his retirement as a professor of Educational Systems Technology in the Graduate School at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, he became Vice President of the National Center for University Entrance Examinations from 1992 to 1996. After then in 1979 and 1980, he was a Visiting Professor in the North East London Polytechnic and the University of Surrey. He has taught educational psychology, psychology of learning, and educational technology at the Tokyo Institute of Technology and several other universities including the University of Tokyo, University of Kyoto, Osaka University, Nagoya University, Kyushu University, Hokkaido University, Ochanomizu University, and Okayama University. He became the Director General of the National Institute of Multimedia Education (NIME) from 1996-2004. He belongs to several academic societies as ex Presidents and vice -Presidents. He was a member of Science Council of Japan. He is also a professor emeritus of the Tokyo Institute of Technology, a professor emeritus of the National Center for University Entrance Examinations, and a professor emeritus of the National Institute of Multimedia Education.

The Future University provides programmes that includes Distance Education course, a division for Nursery and Kindergarten Teacher’s Education and a division for Child Psychology. Professor Sakamoto was optimistic about learning the activities and accomplishments achieved through distance education at USP and planned to visit a nursery and kindergarten for conducting the development psychology experiments in Fiji with two assistant professors; Assistant Professor Etsuko Togo and Dr and Assistant Professor Yukiko Iso.

His schedule also involved visitations to, the Faculty of Arts and Law Acting Dean, Dr Akanisi Kedrayate, the Acting Director for Graduate School of Business, Professor R.D. Pathak and the USP Educare Centre.

Source: USP media

April 2010 - Chancellor's Visit to USP

The Chancellor of the University of the South Pacific, His Excellency the President of the Republic of Nauru, the Honorable Marcus Stephen, visited Fiji last week to officiate at the April 2010 Graduation Ceremony for Laucala Campus.

The Chancellor called on the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Rajesh Chandra at Laucala Campus on Thursday 8 April 2010. The Vice- Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Dr Esther Williams and the Pro Vice-Chancellor Learning and Teaching, Dr Eci Nabalarua, briefed the Chancellor on the graduation and other important developments, including the Strategic Plan 2010-2012 implementation.

The Vice-Chancellor hosted His Excellency to a cocktail in the evening, at the Suva Holiday Inn, which was attended by dignitaries and members of the diplomatic corps, Ministers and senior Fiji government representatives and the Senior Management of USP and other staff members. In his speech at the cocktail, Professor Chandra welcomed the Chancellor and highlighted that apart from being a Head of State for his Country and a member of the Pacific Islands Forum, the Chancellor had a very colorful sporting career as a professional weight lifter, who had won several gold medals at past International meets like the Olympics, Commonwealth and South Pacific games.

The Vice-Chancellor also said that to balance the Chancellor’s success in the sporting arena, his political career was equally impressive. After rising through the ranks of the Bank of Nauru to becoming General Manager, His Excellency launched his political career by running for office, first becoming a member of Nauru’s parliament and then becoming Minister of Finance right up to the point where he ran for the highest office in the land, and has been elected President of the Republic of Nauru, twice consecutively.

On Friday 9 April 2010, in the presence of dignitaries, members of the diplomatic corps and other invited guests, the University staff and parents and families, the Chancellor conferred
certificates, diplomas and degrees to over 1200 graduates at the Vodafone Arena. The graduation ceremony was a success and was the second that the Chancellor has officiated. His Excellency’s ‘first’ USP graduation as Chancellor of the University was last September’s Laucala Campus graduation, where he was also installed or ‘robed’ as Chancellor of USP.

The position of Chancellor of the University of the South Pacific is held for a one year term, by the Head of State of one of the USP 12 member countries, and the position rotates alphabetically by name of the country.

Source:USP media

New Japan-Pacific ICT Building Handed Over to USP

The Japanese Ambassador, His Excellency Mr Yutaka Yoshizawa, and the representatives of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), officially witnessed the handing over of keys to the new Japan-Pacific ICT building on Laucala Campus, from the Japanese Building Contractors to the University of the South Pacific on Monday 12 April 2010.

The Project will strengthen USP’s ability to provide cutting-edge ICT services to the Pacific region through the introduction of new Computer and Information Science degree programs, enhancing the utilization of USPNet for the delivery of distance learning, and supporting maximum utilization of the new Japan-Pacific ICT Centre as a regional centre of excellence.

Construction of the new Japan-Pacific ICT Centre, a $US 21.5 million (F$43 million), Japanese Grant Aid Project, was completed last month on schedule.

The Japanese Ambassador also announced, “Japan is now in the process of awarding another tender, to the tune of 857 million yen which is equivalent to FJD$16.1 million, for phase II works on the construction of a multi-purpose Lecture Theatre, and work on this should commence as early as June this year”.

In her address, the Pro-Chancellor of USP, the Honorable Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, who was in attendance along with the Vice-Chancellor Professor Rajesh Chandra, said that the Japan-Pacific ICT Centre is a shining example of the strong and strengthening relationship between Japan and USP. She said that this investment must surely reflect Japan’s confidence in USP’s role as a quality provider of higher education in the region, especially its ability to increase access to higher education through its Distance and Flexible Learning programmes.

“Let me say that we feel very strongly that our relationship with Japan is deepening and strengthening and we are fully committed to demonstrating to Japan, that we will use its assistance to the fullest advantage of our students and especially our regional member countries, while strongly supporting Fiji’s aspirations to develop ICT related industries” the Pro Chancellor said.

The ‘soft’ opening was also attended by other dignitaries, and the Education Minister of Vanuatu. The Fiji government was represented by the Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and the Acting Permanent Secretary for Education.

All 12 USP member countries are expected to benefit from the project, which is being implemented under JICA’s Pacific Regional Programme to utilize ICT for advancing human development and ensuring human security in the Pacific Region.

The official opening of the new Japan-Pacific ICT building will be held in a few month’s time.

East Are'Are MP Edward Huniehu dies

Honiara: East Are'Are Member of Parliament Edward Huniehu died at the National Referral Hospital in Honiara last night.

Mr Huniehu, a veteran politician and former government minister, has been suffering for high blood pressure for a long time.

He has been admitted at the hospital prior to his passing.

Mr Huniehu was an influential politician who was instrumental in a number of national projects.

He was known for his long association with hydro electricity in the country.

In his constituency, he had initiated two major hydro projects, which were funded by overseas sources.

In the early days of the current government, he was the Minister for Energy and Rural Electrification.

But he was forced to quit due to his ill health.

The Government is expected to announce details of his funeral today.

Mr Huniehu became the fourth serving MP to die in the current house.

Others are former East Malaita MP Joses Sanga, former Lau/Mbaelelea MP Bently Rogosomani and former Aoke/Langalanga MP Bartholomew Ulufa'alu.

President Lech Kaczynski's body returns to Poland

The body of Polish President Lech Kaczynski - who died along with 95 others when their plane crashed in Russia - has arrived back in Warsaw.

It was driven through crowd-lined streets to the presidential palace, where it will lie in state for a week.

The president, military chiefs and MPs were due to attend a memorial for a World War II massacre when their plane crashed near Smolensk on Saturday.

Russian officials say the pilots were warned that they were flying too low.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin earlier attended a memorial service for the victims at the crash site, near the city of Smolensk.

He has said he would personally oversee the investigation into the disaster, promising to find out what happened as soon as possible.

Week of mourning

No-one survived Saturday's crash, and acting Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski has called for a week's mourning for the dead.

He, Prime Minister Donald Tusk and the president's twin brother, Jaroslaw, were among the dignitaries to receive Mr Kaczynski's coffin at a military airport in Warsaw after its repatriation from Smolensk.

The casket, draped in the red-and-white Polish flag, was carried across the tarmac by soldiers and placed before Catholic clerics who led a short prayer service before mourners took turns to kneel before the coffin and pay their respects.

Crowds of Poles lined the streets of the city, standing silently as the president's body was driven under military escort to the presidential palace, where it will be available for public viewing.

Thousands had gathered in front of the building, carrying flowers, candles, Polish flags and portraits of the deceased.

Some wept, others stood in silent reflection. As the president's body arrived, they softly began to sing the Polish national anthem.

Church services to honour their memory were earlier held across the country, as was a two-minute tribute, with church bells and police sirens.

'A great patriot'

Jaroslaw Kaczynski, Poland's former prime minister, had earlier travelled to Russia to help identify his twin's body.

Lech Kaczynski's brother, Jaroslaw, was among the mourners at the airport,picture on the right
The brothers' strong nationalist, conservative agenda divided opinion in Poland, but the BBC's Adam Easton in Warsaw says the president's supporters and opponents have joined together in paying tribute to him.

Boguslaw Staron, a 70-year-old from Warsaw, described Mr Kaczynski as "a great patriot".

"He taught Poles how to respect our traditions, how to fight for our dignity, and he made his sacrifice there at that tragic place," he said.

Poles gathered in town squares and in the streets at midday (1000 GMT) and stood silently to mark the tragedy, as church bells rang and emergency sirens wailed around them.

The president had been flying to Russia along with his wife, the heads of the army and navy, MPs and senior historians to mark 70 years since Soviet forces massacred more than 20,000 Poles near Katyn.

Controversial figure

Russia has declared Monday a day of mourning and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who visited the crash site with Polish counterpart Donald Tusk, said he would oversee the inquiry.

Russian and Polish investigators have recovered the flight-data recorders and are carrying out a joint inquiry.

They are looking into the possibility that pilots ignored warnings that they were approaching Smolensk too low.

Experts have also suggested that the age and condition of the Polish president's Soviet-era Tupolev 154 plane could have played a part in the accident.

Correspondents say the plane was flying too low and clipped some trees as it approached the runway in thick fog, before it came down in a forest.

A Russian general said air traffic controllers had repeatedly urged the pilots to pull up.
Investigators from the Russian emergencies ministry are sifting through the debris but say there was no evidence of mechanical failure.

Mr Kaczynski was a controversial figure in Polish politics.

He was active in the Solidarity movement that helped bring an end to Communist rule, but later fell out with Solidarity leader Lech Walesa.

He advocated traditional Catholic values, opposed rapid free-market reforms and favoured retaining social welfare programmes.

As president, he held fewer powers than the prime minister but retained a significant say in foreign policy. He could veto new laws and frequently blocked government reforms.

Suva - Tensions high, as youth fronts court

Tension was high at the Magistrates Court in Suva today when Petero Bai, 21 appeared for his second court hearing.

Bai is accused of raping a class three student of a Suva school early last month.

Tempers flew resulting in a man punching an accused person of another crime, mistaking him for Bai.

State prosecutor Paulini Madanavosa’s application for the matter to be transferred to the High Court was granted by Magistrate Ramila Ratnayyaki.

Madanavosa told the court they wanted the case transferred as the accused is charged with one count of rape and the maximum penalty according to the Crimes Decree is life imprisonment.

Magistrate Ratnayyaki refused bail application by Legal Aid Duty Solicitor Nilesh Sharma.

“The accused cannot be granted bail due to the transfer of the case,” he said.

The case will now be called in the High court on April 23.

World leaders pay tribute to Polish leader who have dies in a plane crash

World leaders, agencies and officials mourned the death of Polish president Lech Kaczynski who was killed in a plane crash early Saturday.

U.S. President Barack Obama: "Today, I called Polish Prime Minister Tusk to express Michelle's and my deepest condolences to the people of Poland on the tragic deaths this morning of President Lech Kaczynski, First Lady Maria Kaczynski, and all who were traveling with them to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Katyn massacre.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the Kaczynski family, the loved ones of those killed in this tragic plane crash, and the Polish nation. Today's loss is devastating to Poland, to the United States, and to the world. President Kaczynski was a distinguished statesman who played a key role in the Solidarity movement, and he was widely admired in the United States as a leader dedicated to advancing freedom and human dignity."

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev: The Russian president offered his condolences to Polish Parliament Speaker Bronislaw Komorowski during a telephone conversation with him, Interfax reported.

The U.S. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley: "This is a horrible tragedy for Poland. We extend to the people of Poland our deepest condolences."

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown: "I was shocked and saddened at the death of Polish President Lech Kaczynski and his wife Maria. President Kaczynski was one of the defining actors in Poland's modern political history.

"From his role in the Solidarity movement to his long and distinguished career in public service -- including as Justice Minister, Mayor of Warsaw, and most recently as President of Poland -- he will mourned across the world and remembered as a passionate patriot and democrat. My thoughts are with his family and countrymen at this most difficult of times."

French President Nicolas Sarkozy: The president said he learned of Kaczynski's death with "great emotion and a deep sadness" and expressed his sympathy to the families of the president and other victims.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton: "Like the country he led, President Kaczynski was one of America's most valued and trusted allies. He was well known in the United States as a champion for democracy against an oppressive regime, a man whose journey took him from the Gdansk Shipyards to the presidency of a free people.

"President Kaczynski was an unstinting advocate for freedom and human rights not just in Poland, but around the world."

Former President George W. Bush: "President Kaczynski was a strong defender of freedom and a friend to the United States. Laura and I have fond memories of our visits with the President and Maria. On this sad day, we send our heartfelt condolences to people of Poland, and especially to the families of all those lost in this tragic accident."

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: "We share in the profound grief of the Polish people over the loss of President Kaczynski, his wife and all of the members of the Polish delegation. I knew President Kaczynski as a Polish patriot, as a great friend of Israel and as a leader who was very active on behalf of his people and for advancing peace and prosperity in the world."

Kanat Saudabayev, chairman of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe: "I offer my deepest condolences to the Polish people and to the families of those killed in this tragic accident. Our hearts go out to you in this difficult time."

Afghan President Hamid Karzai: "The Polish president was a good ally and friend of Afghanistan in fighting against terrorists. The president expressed condolences on behalf of the Afghan people to the friend, families, soldiers and the Polish people."

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle: "We are deeply affected by the death of the Polish President and his wife, and probably members of the government. We are in deep compassion with the family members and all victims of this catastrophe. We are shocked by this news and full of sorrow. We mourn with the Polish people, our neighbours. We are losing personalities on which Europe could build, when it needed to.

British Queen Elizabeth II: "It is with the deepest sorrow that I have learnt of the death of President Lech Kaczynski and First Lady Madame Kaczynska. On this sad occasion.

"I recall President Kaczynski's long and distinguished public service and his role in the Solidarity movement. The deaths of many other of Poland's leading figures, including former President in Exile Kaczorowski, only serve to deepen this tragedy."

Clarence House (Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla): "The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall are shocked and deeply upset by the tragic death of Polish President Lech Kaczynski, Madame Kaczynski and many others at Smolensk airport this morning. As guests of The President and his wife only a few weeks ago, Their Royal Highnesses experienced at first hand their generous hospitality during what was a very memorable and enjoyable visit to Poland."

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon: "On behalf of the United Nations, the Secretary-General expresses his deep and heartfelt condolences to the people and Government of Poland and to the families of those who perished. The Secretary-General said President Kaczynski had served his country and people with distinction and conviction, and was deservedly respected internationally. That he died en route to an event marking a new level of reconciliation between Poland and Russia is particularly poignant."

Polish President Lech Kaczynski dies in plane crash

President Lech Kaczynski and scores of other senior Polish figures have been killed in a plane crash in Russia.

Polish and Russian officials said no-one survived after the plane apparently hit trees as it approached Smolensk airport in thick fog.

Russian media reports said the pilots ignored advice from air traffic control to divert to another airport.

Poland's army chief, central bank governor, MPs and leading historians were among more than 80 passengers.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the crash was the most tragic event of the country's post-World War II history.

The Polish delegation was flying in from Warsaw to mark the 70th anniversary of the Katyn massacre of thousands of Poles by Soviet forces during WWII.

The BBC's Adam Easton, in Warsaw, says the crash is a catastrophe for the Polish people.

He says Prime Minister Tusk was reportedly in tears when he was told.

After an emergency meeting of ministers, Mr Tusk, who runs the day-to-day business of government, said a week of national mourning had been declared with two minutes of silence on Sunday at midday.

Mr Tusk added: "The Polish state must function and will function".

Thousands have gathered outside the presidential palace in Warsaw
A government spokesman said that according to the constitution there would be an early presidential election, and the speaker of the lower house of parliament, Bronislaw Komorowski, would be acting president.

In Warsaw, people gathered outside the presidential palace to lay flowers and light candles.

"I'm all broken up... it cannot be expressed in words," Ewa Robaczewska told Reuters news agency.

Pilot error?

The Russian emergencies ministry told Itar-Tass news agency the plane crashed at 1056Moscow time (0656 GMT) as it was coming in to land.

Smolensk regional governor Sergei Antufiev told Russian TV that no-one had survived.

Adam Easton, BBC News, Warsaw
Thousands of people have gathered outside the presidential palace to pay their respects.

There has been a spontaneous outpouring of grief, no matter what people thought of Lech Kaczynski. He was a divisive figure in Polish society, especially among younger Poles.

People are just stunned, visibly moved and in tears, whether they agreed with the president's political views or not.

The largest church bell in Poland, at Krakow Cathedral, has been rung.

It never tolls generally, only for very, very solemn occasions. The last time it did so was for the death of the Polish pope, John Paul II, five years ago.

"According to preliminary reports, it got caught up in the tops of trees, fell to the ground and broke up into pieces," he said. "There are no survivors in that crash."

Polish TV worker Slawomir Wisniewski said he had seen the crash from his hotel near the airport.

"I saw through the fog, the aeroplane flying very low with the left wing pointing to the ground," he said.

"I heard something being broken and then that thudding sound. Two flashes of fire next to each other."

Russian media carried claims that the plane's crew were at fault for the crash.

"Flight controllers... suggested that the plane be forwarded to Minsk but as far as we know the crew took an independent decision to land the plane in Smolensk," Smolensk regional government spokesman Andrei Yevseyenkov told Russian TV.

Russian officials said 97 people were killed in the crash, including eight crew.

Polish officials said that 89 people had been scheduled to fly in the delegation to the Katyn commemoration, but one person missed the flight.

Mr Putin visited the crash site, after saying he would personally oversee the investigation into the crash.

"Everything must be done to establish the reasons for this tragedy in the shortest possible time," he said.

He was to meet his Polish counterpart, Mr Tusk, in Smolensk.

Russian officials said all the bodies had been recovered from the scene and were being taken to Moscow for identification.

Russia's Emergency Minister Sergei Shoigu said both of the plane's flight information recorders had been found and were being examined.

Controversial figure

The president was flying in a Tupolev 154, a Soviet-designed plane that was more than 20 years old.


SENIOR FIGURES KILLED

National leader:President Lech Kaczynski and wife Maria

Other politicians:Wladyslaw Stasiak chief of the president's chancellery; Aleksander Szczyglo chief of the National Security Office; Slawomir Skrzypek National Bank of Poland chairman; Jerzy Szmajdzinski deputy speaker of the lower house; Andrzej Kremer Foreign Ministry's undersecretary of state;
Stanislaw Komorowski deputy minister of national defence; Przemyslaw Gosiewski Law and Justice party deputy chair;

Military chief:Franciszek Gagor chief of the General

Staff Cultural figures:Andrzej Przewoznik head of Poland's Council for the Protection of Struggle and Martyrdom Sites; Tomasz Merta chief historical conservator


World reaction to crash Focus on ageing plane
Our correspondent says there had been calls for Polish leaders to upgrade their planes.

Mr Kaczynski himself had suffered scares while using the plane in late 2008, when problems with the aircraft's steering mechanism delayed his departure from Mongolia.

"Any flight brings with it a certain risk, but a very serious risk attaches to the responsibilities of a president, because it is necessary to fly constantly," he was quoted as saying at the time.

But the head of Russia's Aviakor aviation maintenance company told Russian TV the plane was airworthy, after his plant fully overhauled it in December.

As well as the president and his wife, Maria, a number of senior officials were on the passenger list.

They included the army chief of staff Gen Franciszek Gagor, central bank governor Slawomir Skrzypek and deputy Foreign Minister Andrzej Kremer.

World leaders including Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, US President Barack Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown offered their condolences to Poland.

Mr Kaczynski's twin brother, Jaroslaw, a former prime minister and now head of the main opposition party, was said to be "devastated", an aide told AFP news agency.

Lech Kaczynski, who had fewer powers than the prime minister but had a significant say in foreign policy, was a controversial figure in Polish politics.

He had advocated a right-wing Catholic agenda, opposed rapid free-market reforms and favoured retaining social welfare programmes.

Fiji to expect more rain, lightning

According to Nadi Weather Office, they advised members of the public to be wary of lightning strikes in the midst of the current spell of bad weather.

Director Meteorology, Rajendra Prasad said there had been cases in the past where people were hit by lightning.

He made the comment after concerns were raised over yesterday's several hours of lightning and thunderstorm in the Central Division.

Mr Prasad said lightning strikes were common during heavy rainfall but people should still be cautious while working outside during such weather.

He said a flash flood warning for low-lying areas was still in place and people should take precautions and move to higher ground if there was any sign of flooding.

He said the trough of low pressure was still in the west of Fiji and the rainy weather would continue for the rest of the week.

Mr Prasad said the low pressure system would bring occasional heavy rain which meant that the atmosphere was quite unstable and very moist resulting in excessive rain and thunderstorms.

He said there was no development of a tropical depression.

Fiji economy to do better: World Bank

The World Bank expects Fiji’s economy to do better in 2010 than it did last year.The forecast is part of the World Bank's latest assessment released in Tokyo today.
Radio Australia reports the bank's half-yearly East Asia and Pacific Economic Update said the Pacific is set to benefit from the strong resurgence in East Asian economies and predicts growth for the region of 8.7 per cent in 2010 - almost a full percentage point higher than the forecast in its most recent assessment in November 2009.
The Bank’s chief economist Vikram Nehru said East Asia will grow strongly despite the weakened world economy.
The World Bank rated Fiji’s economic performance last year as the worst in a decade.
Nehru told Radio Australia that while it is difficult to say how much better Fiji would do this year, its economy would improve.
“They have obviously been hit by natural disasters, there are strained relations with the aid and the international community, so things are likely to be difficult, but we still expect that 2010 is going to be better than 2009,” Nehru said.
He also explained why economies like Vanuatu are doing well.
“Vanuatu has had very good macro-economic management, political stability. It's done well in things like agriculture, construction, tourism and so forth and actually it has been an indirect beneficiary of what's happening in Fiji, because many tourists from Australia and New Zealand rather than going to Fiji are ending up in Vanuatu,” Nehru said.
“So it goes to show that if countries do get their acts together, even though they are disadvantaged by distance and size, they can still do well by attracting investment and by attracting tourists and by being able to export.”

USP - Faculty of Business and Economics amongst world ranked institutions

The Faculty of Business and Economics (FBE) of the University of the South Pacific received an award at the EdUniversal World Convention, which was held at the Old Mutual Park in Cape Town, South Africa towards the end of last year.
The award, which is called the Three EdUniversal Palmes,is awarded to business
schools that have a strong influence and reputable history in providing the best training ground for students wishing to take up a career in the business/economics field.
The selections are made from thousands of major institutions around the world and,according to the FBE newsletter, this award was made on the basis of research carried out by the International Scientific Committee which compiles the list of criteria with assessment by peers.
FBE Dean, Professor Biman Prasad said, “The faculty has been trying to benchmark itself against similar institutions and EdUniversal is one such global organisation which ranks business schools around the world”. He added,“We are pleased to have received the Three Palms Award, for it reflects our regional and international influence as a business school,based on our publications, student records
and the nature of staffing that we have in the faculty. This also proves that we measure up in comparison to many Australian and New Zealand universities”.
The Cape Town EdUniversal Convention was attended by Senior Lecturer Management, Dr
Gurmeet Singh.

USP LAUCALA - GRADUATION APRIL 2010 GOLD MEDALISTS

Yesterday, the University of the South Pacific awarded the gold medalists for the graduation april 2010. This was the dreams come true for the recipients who received their awards with huge smiles. The award presentation was held at the Oceania center for art in Suva>

No election date set yet

THE Electoral Commission Office is tightlipped over the date for the upcoming National Election.

With Parliament dissolving on 24 April, no date has yet be floated.

Ministry of Home Affairs Permanent Secretary, Fred Fakari'i told the media under the constitution, election takes place four months after dissolution of Parliament.

He said the voter registration process will complete by 9th June.

Currently, Mr Fakari'i said 80% of forms have been returned to the Electoral Commission and data entering is continuing.

In meantime, the Electoral Provisions (Amendment) Bill 2010 is before the Parliament.

The Bill aims to strengthen voter registration, polling and counting during election process.

However, many MPs who spoke on the bill last Thursday said it will not address multiple registration and discrepancies during election.

Some suggested the Electoral Commission should introduce Identification Cards (ID) for voters.

The Bill is set down for debate and committee of whole house in the next sitting date.

Meanwhile, on the outset, political parties’ presences are continued to be felt.

After the launching of Our Party led by Opposition Leader Manasseh Sogavare, Autonomous Solomon Islanders Party (ASIP) and People’s Power Party, the People’s Federation Party was launched last Sunday in Honiara.

It was a party founded by Rudolf Dora, former Foreign Service officer turned businessman, and Minister for Health and Medical Services, Clay Forau.

Speaking at the launching, Mr Dora said his party is looking to align the traditional system with the national system of governance.

He said this is the only way people can feel the delivery of services by the National Government.

Mr Dora said if his party comes into power by way of coalition, his Government is looking at promoting our root crops and their economic potential.

He said this is to remove the aid dependency mentality towards Government.

Mr Dora said his party wants the Government to remove the aid from hands of MPs to an established body so that MPs can concentrate on their role as law makers.

He said his party will carry out a nationwide campaign to educate people about their manifestos.

Like Our Party and ASIP, PFP was also using media to grab public attention.

Islands Business reported earlier that Our Party and ASIP may be the first parties off the block but there are plenty more political parties that can be expected to emerge or be resurrected as we move closer to the election date.

Former Prime Minister Sir Allan Kemakeza’s Peoples Alliance Party is still around — although small in numbers and inactive on the political front in recent years, Sir Allan’s influence on the political scene can never be really discounted.

Two parties — the Christian Democrats and the Rural Advancement Party — which feature some of the current government power brokers have yet to launch themselves.

After the last elections, there were seven political parties listed by parliament — one of those parties — Manasseh Sogavare’s Social Credit Party is dead and the status of six others is uncertain.

The political party culture in the Solomon Islands is relatively weak and at the end of the day, voters are more likely to choose their candidates on what they have done for their community rather than their political allegiance.

New Party Launched, Promises Change

Secretary General of the newly formed political party, People's Federation Party, Ruddolf Dorah, says the 2010 national general election provides an opportunity "for a fresh start for Solomon Islands."
Mr Dorah said this during the launch of the Party's manifesto in Honiara yesterday.

He said the Party believes this year's election should be treated as "a referendum on the future of our nation."

Mr Dorah said since the country gained political independence from Great Britain in July of 1978, the people of Solomon Islands, especially the rural village communities have been denied access to real development.

He said the majority of the village people are still living poor lives as a direct result of lack of leadership foresight, ill-conceived and designed development policies and sheer greed by few people at the cost of many.

Mr Dorah said despite Solomon Islands being endowed with rich natural resources, it is still among the poorest performing economies in the Pacific region.

He said the poor performance is characterized by poor national infrastructures, poor education infrastructures, poor health and medical services, and unstable political culture.

Solomons to Feature Strongly at World Expo

A Solomon Islands group will today leave for Shanghai, China to help organize an exhibition for Solomon Islands at the upcoming World Expo 2010 later this month.
The Chairman of the Organizing Committee and Commissioner General of Solomon Islands Section at the Pacific Pavilion, Michael Tokuru is leading the group.

About 400 cultural items, handicrafts, artworks, tourism promotional materials, trade products and information, investment guides, and philatelic products will be put up for display at the Solomon Islands booth.

The advance team will be in Shanghai for two weeks and will prepare the Solomon Islands booth before the opening of the World Expo is held from 20-26th April 2010.

A second team, the Solomon Islands Expo Staff will leave the country next week to take up their expo duties during the opening.

USP Laucala Campus - Tuesday 6th April - Normal Tuesday Timetable

From the office of the Vice chancellor,6th april tuesday's time table will follows the normal tuesday time table.

The Resurrection Day

Around the world today, Billions of christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The day has alot meaning to them.
Jesus was crucified. He died. He was buried. And he rose again. The resurrection is an essential part of Christianity. There is no Christianity without the resurrection (see 1 Corinthians 15).

Mary Magdalene discovers Jesus' tomb was empty
(see John 20:1-10)The morning after Jesus had been placed in the tomb, Mary Magdalene went to visit the tomb. It was very early in the morning and it was still dark outside.

She saw that the stone had been removed from the front of the tomb and that the tomb was empty.

She ran to Peter to inform him what she had seen. Then, Peter and another Apostle, John, ran to the tomb to see for themselves. The body of Jesus was gone and the only thing left behind was the cloth that was used to wrap his body for the burial. The Apostles were confused, they did not understand what was happening. How could the tomb be empty? Where was the body of Jesus?

Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene
(see John 20:10-18)
The Apostles returned to their homes. But Mary Magdalene remained by the tomb, crying. Then she turned and saw a man who asked her why she was crying. Mary Magdalene soon realized that the man who was talking to her was Jesus Christ. Jesus had risen from death. Mary Magdalene was the first person to see the resurrected Jesus.

Resurrection appearances
The resurrection of Jesus Christ was the beginning of Christianity. If Christ had not been resurrected and seen by many people (more than 500), Christianity would not exist today. Jesus made twelve appearances after his resurrection:

1. His first appearance was to Mary Magdalene, on that early Sunday morning. (Mark 16:9; John 20:10-18).
2. Jesus appeared to the women returning from the tomb. (Matthew 28:9-10).
3. Jesus appeared to two disciples on the road to Emmaus. (Luke 24:13-32; Mark 16:12-13).
4. He appeared to Peter in Jerusalem. (Luke 24:34; 1 Corinthians 15:5).
5. He appeared to his disciples and other followers, and also a second time to the two men from Emmaus, in a locked room in Jerusalem. The apostle Thomas wasn't there at that time. (Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-23).
6. A week later, Jesus again appeared to his disciples behind locked doors, and this time Thomas was present. (John 20:24-29).
7. Jesus appeared to seven of his disciples on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. (John 21:1-24).
8. Jesus was seen by 500 believers at one time. (1 Corinthians 15:6).
9. He appeared to James. (1 Corinthians 15:7).
10. He appeared to eleven disciples on a mountain in Galilee. (Matt. 28:18-20).
11. He walked with his disciples along the road to Bethany, on the Mount of Olives, and then ascended into Heaven. (Luke 24:50-53).
12. He was seen by Paul on the road to Damascus. (Acts 9:3-6; 1 Corinthians 15:8).

Jesus appears before Thomas
(see John 20:24-29)
Some people had doubts that Jesus had risen from death, that he had been resurrected. After all, the Romans drove nails through Jesus' hands and feet and later pierced his side with a spear to make sure he was dead. And now there were people claiming to have seen Jesus alive again. Even the Apostle named Thomas had doubts, as explained in John 20:24-29 (NIV translation):

Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."

A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."

Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

The significance of the resurrection
(see 1 Corinthians 15)
In the New Testament of the Bible, there is a book called 1 Corinthians, which was written by a disciple named Paul. The 15th chapter of this book explains the significance of the resurrection of Jesus. It says that Jesus died for our sins. (see 1 Corinthians 15:3). It also says that our faith would be meaningless if there had been no resurrection (see 1 Corinthians 15:17). And it proclaims that Jesus was resurrected. (see 1 Corinthians 15:20). Paul is one of the people who saw Jesus after the resurrection.


The Great Commission
(see Matthew 28:18-20)
After the resurrection, Jesus met with his disciples on a mountain in Galilee and gave them a command to go out and evangelize to all people:

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:16-20 NIV).

In Matthew 28:19, Jesus mentions the triune nature of God when he speaks of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This is referred to as the "holy trinity" and also as the "triune nature of God," meaning that God is three-in-one. Christians believe in one God - one God who is God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Athanasian Creed and the Nicene Creed do a good job of explaining the triune nature of God. These creeds were written by Christians as a way to summarize and explain Christianity.

Jesus ascends into Heaven
(see Mark 16:19-20)After he had told his disciples to go out into the world and preach the word of God, Jesus ascended into Heaven:

After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it. (Mark 16:19-20 NIV).


The return of Jesus
(see Matthew 24)
The New Testament explains that Jesus will return in the future to judge the living and the dead and to establish eternal peace.

There are several verses that refer to Jesus' return, including Matthew 16:24-28, Matthew 24, Matthew 25:31-46, Mark 8:34-9:1, Mark 13, Luke 9:23-27, Luke 17:20-37, Luke 21:5-38; John 6:39-40, and John 14:3.

In Matthew 16:27, Jesus is quoted as saying that the "Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done."

The book of Matthew, chapter 24, describes a series of signs that will occur before his return. We are told that all of these signs will manifest themselves during the span of a single generation: "This generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place" (Matthew 24:34).

But we don't know which generation that will be.

In Mark 13:32, we are told that "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."

There has been a great deal of speculation as to whether we are presently living in the generation that will witness all of the signs described in Matthew 24. Many people have tried to predict when Jesus will return only to be proven wrong. The Bible warns us not to worry and reminds us to be prepared, spiritually. For believers, Jesus' return will be a glorious event.

Australia Still Not Listening: Haomae

Solomon Islands' Foreign Minister William Haomae says Australia is still not listening to Pacific Island countries when it comes to talks on PACER plus.
Mr Haomae is the lead negotiator representing the 13 Pacific Island nations that are involved in PACER Plus.

His comments come after the Pacific's Chief Trade Advisor (CTA), Chris Noonan, finally took up his post in Vanuatu this week, five months after his appointment was announced.

The chief trade advisor's role is crucial because of its role to give independent advice to Pacific nations as they face up their powerful neighbours Australia and New Zealand in negotiations for the proposed free trade agreement.

Mr Haomae says it is a positive step.

"We have waited for some time for the appointment of the Chief Trade Advisor. It should have been the priority of the Pacific Island's Forum, the Secretariat, and the Pacific Island countries."

"It is a priority issue as decided by the leaders in Cairns and also the trade ministers meeting in Brisbane."

Earlier this year, Mr Haomae, wrote a stinging letter to the Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum secretariat.

In the letter, he accused the secretariat, an organisation which represents Australia and New Zealand as well as the Island nations, of delaying the appointment of the Pacific's chief trade advisor and trying to undermine the independence of his office.

But Mr Haomae says he's now happy with the current arrangements.

"On the onset I think the independence of the CTA was the very reason why the office was conceptualized, so that it would become independent from the Pacific Islands Forum. I think I'm happy with the independence of the OCTA," he said.

But the Solomon Islands Foreign Minister is not so happy about suggestions that the Chief Trade Advisors Office does not have the budget to travel to all the Island nations that need his advice.

And he says the Office's governing Board should meet as soon as possible to deal with the problem.

The region's trade officials are due to get together in mid-April for their next PACER plus talks and that will be followed at the end of the month by a full Trade Ministers Meeting.

Mr Haomae is one of a number of Pacific Trade Ministers concerned that Australia and New Zealand are pushing the pace of the talks too fast.

"Solomon Islands have a concern that we are not being listened to in terms of our suggestions on the scheduling of meetings and also what agenda should be on those meetings."

Before Pacific governments can begin negotiations on PACER Plus they need to hold national consultations with the private sector and community groups to find out what the benefits and dangers of the new trade agreement might be and what they need to do to get the best deal.

Solomon Islands is one of the bigger Pacific countries and it has not yet finalized the structure for its national consultations - once those consultation get under way it is likely to take 12 months to come up with a formal negotiating position.

But Mr Haomae has concerns about his country's ability to hold those consultations.

"We have capacity constraint problems. I have only five trade officers and if most of the them are out of the country, then I would have problems putting into place the structure for the PACER plus national consultations."