Construction of new Apia hotel to start soon
APIA (Samoa Observer/PINA) — Construction of a S$30 million hotel on Taumeasina Island near Apia is expected to start soon, representatives of its main developer said.
The 86-room upmarket hotel development is backed by New Zealand developer Gordon Taylor. Taylor is reportedly arriving in Apia on Friday to finalize the lease agreement with the government.
According to Taylor’s lawyer, Trevor Stevenson, his client has “shown good faith” by having already banked NZ$1 million (S$1.62 million) in “the Samoan banks.”
The groundbreaking ceremony that was to take place two months ago was delayed by prolonged negotiations with the Samoa Land Board, Stevenson said.
The hotel would be a major boost to efforts to develop tourism and the international meetings market. It would become the third largest in the country after the 154-room Aggie Grey’s Hotel and the 92-room Kitano Tusitala.
PAPEETE (Tahitipresse/PINA) — Bruno Gain, the new French ambassador in charge of Pacific issues, has been on an official visit in French Polynesia.
“During his stay in French Polynesia, CIRAD cooperation programs with Tonga, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu on vanilla protection will be discussed,” said the French high commissioner’s office, in a statement.
Proc fish, the regional program for a complete survey of fishing stocks, will also be on the agenda.
Gain’s office is in Paris and he specializes in research matters.
He is also France’s representative at the Pacific Community and South Pacific Regional Environment Program meetings.
SUVA (The Fiji Times/PINA) — Labor Minister Kenneth Zinck has referred the Air Pacific dispute to compulsory arbitration. He urged the Fiji Aviation Workers Association and Air Pacific to put aside their differences for the good of the nation.
The threatened strike by the union is due to begin on the eve of the big July 16-19 African, Caribbean, Pacific Summit in Nadi.
An estimated 1,000 people are expected to attend this key meeting of heads of state and government from the 78-nation ACP group.
But union secretary Attar Singh told members that strike action would continue as planned to coincide with the arrival of delegates for the ACP summit.
Arbitration would be for two issues only, excluding one that has been outstanding for the last four years, he said.
The union claims cover salary and work issues as well as disputed redundancies by the airline.
PORT MORESBY (NAUFM/PINA) — Papua New Guinea election candidate and former high-flying Privatization Commission Chairman Ben Micah was arrested by Kavieng police as counting continued.
The arrest of Micah is not related to elections but is over an unsettled maintenance claim.
Micah was arrested in front of his supporters while speaking with police.
The situation is tense but quiet and police are in full gear for any trouble that may arise.
In the counting for the Kavieng Open seat, Micah, or the Pan Melanesian Congress, is in second place but well behind front runner Martin Aini of the Papua and Niugini Union Pati.
SUVA (Sun/PINA) — Fiji Education Minister Teimumu Kepa was unanimously elected vice chairwoman of the National Commissions for UNESCO of Asia and the Pacific during a five-day consultative meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Kepa’s appointment has added status and visibility to the Pacific contingent among bigger, larger and more influential countries in Asia.
The meeting was attended by more than 100 delegates representing 42 member states of UNESCO.
