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USP VC Post --what's happening? Money no worry for Digicel; Clark on her way out?
USP VC? So what’s happening on that front? Sources from the tertiary institution say since the application closed on October 31, 2007, nothing much has surfaced.
“All we know is that there’s a lot of interest for the post and we’ve been told that one of those that applied for the position of vice-chancellor included a VC of a local tertiary institution,” one source said. Whether there has been a shortlist, no one knows, but a May USP Council meeting is expected to discuss the VC position.
By the way, it is interesting to hear USP academics speak about their 2008 budget. There’s a lot of belt tightening going on and some fear they might have to can some of their programmes. Late last year, USP revealed its financial position was a worry and the council was moving fast to address the issue.
Money no worry: Digicel seems to have no problems when it comes to money. In Fiji, when the remaining two mobile licences were auctioned off amongst four applicants, they did not have a problem of forking out what was required to get a licence—first they need to fork out upfront a F$2 million non-refundable fee and US$5 million minimum fee to bid. WHISPERS has been reliably told that Digicel was the only company that complied with the requirements. And that’s not all, once they get the nod, they will be required to pay F$1 million for their mobile licence.
Catching on: Honiara-based Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency is getting the strong support of prime ministers as it beats off efforts to absorb it into another of the regional bodies. Cook Islands Prime Minister Jim Marurai and Solomons Prime Minister Derek Sikua backed the agency during a recent meeting. Niue’s Young Vivian was the next visitor to the FFA Secretariat on Honiara’s East Kolaridge. “I am greatly impressed with the amount of work the Forum Fisheries Agency is producing under trying conditions,” he said.
Unlike other regional outfits, FFA has not employed media specialists to promote itself. That’s about to change. The recent threats to its existence put getting one high on the agenda.
WHISPERS has heard that three people have been interviewed for the job—one is a local and two are Australians. All apparently flew from Brisbane for the interview. They arrived in Honiara minus their bags.
Wantokism: One of the difficulties in running an airline in an island country is how the “wantoks” sometimes think it is a family business. This sign is pasted on the walls of the Solomon Airlines Auki office in Malaita.
Workers say they have been forced to put up the notice since most relatives bring their phones to the office to be charged while they do their business in town.
Trouble cooking: More problems in the Cooks ahead of the Mini Pacific Games next year. The politicians appear to have ended their wrangling over how facilities will be financed and built. By the Chinese, no surprise. But now sports officials say they have been left out of the discussion loop. They want facilities which will be of proper standard for the games and provide a lasting legacy for sports development. They question whether what the politicians plan will do that. Meanwhile, the clock continues to tick and work has still not begun.
Tuned out: That latest talkfest on public broadcasting, this one organised by New Zealand’s Pacific Cooperation Foundation, seems to have ended up in the wrong town. By the time all the British funded travellers arrive in Apia for it, Samoa’s government/public broadcaster is likely to be history. Samoa Broadcasting Corporation TV and radio will be privatised as soon as the buyers put their money in the government’s bank.
Tuned in: While we’re talking about broadcasting, changes of government in the Solomon Islands and in management at the government broadcaster SIBC saw the Aussies come swooping in. This is with what they call their Solomon Islands media strengthening programme.
The hostile Sogavare Government and SIBC general manager Dykes Angiki, who questioned the Aussies role, have gone. Now the Aussies are on track to add SIBC to Papua New Guinea’s NBC and Vanuatu’s VBTC as a Pacific Islands broadcaster where they have big influence. Is it a coincidence that these are the three independent Pacific Islands nations closest to Aussie shores? Could their next target be PINA (Pacific Islands News Association)?
He’s back: Anyone who knows the politics of French Polynesia will know Gaston Flosse was the great survivor. Now call him the comeback king. A new found rapport with his former rival Oscar Temaru has seen him unexpectedly back in the position he held for so long, French Polynesia’s president. Behind the scenes, we can report, there were negotiations that outfoxed pre-vote favourite Gaston Tong Sang.
By George: Cook Islands Opposition MP Norman George is stirring again. He’s launched a no-confidence motion to be put when Parliament next meets in Rarotonga, probably next month. The governing Demo party once looked impregnable. But George, like many in Raro, knows internal tensions in cabinet are just below the surface. Power conscious Demo leader, Deputy PM and Finance Minister Sir Terepai Maoate has been pressuring amiable PM Jim Marurai. Amongst the latest rounds of the rift were efforts to remove from cabinet one of Marurai’s main allies, Foreign Minister Wilkie Rasmussen.
Gun country: Where in the South Pacific are guns most often likely to be used in a violent crime? OK, Papua New Guinea’s a given. But next to PNG, how about outwardly peaceful Samoa? The Samoa Observer newspaper provides regular reports of incidents involving guns. One of the most recent involved Fagai’i Leulua’i Tafea, apparently shot in a dispute over land he was clearing near the popular Papase’ea Sliding Rocks in Apia. And the Friendly Isles, in which a high profile businesswoman was shot allegedly by a man who used to work for her as a security man/gardener.
Move aside Bollywood: You’ve heard of Hollywood. You’ve heard of Bollywood. Now, welcome to Kiri-wood. Nei Tabera Ni Kai Video in Tarawa is pleased to bring to you Te Ribana—a professionally crafted five-part mini series based on the lives of an extended family. All stories were filmed on location in Kiribati. Each episode is 85 minutes long.
PM Clark on her way out? There’s speculation New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark’s hold on the highest office could be under threat after another damning poll showed her party 23 points behind the opposition—the widest gap in the history of Clark’s three term government. The latest February poll for this election year put the National Party at 44% approval while Labour had just 23%. Clark was also 15 points behind National leader John Key in the preferred prime minister stakes. Clark’s heir apparent Phil Goff, who has held ministerial trade and foreign affairs portfolios, said Clark is the best asset for the party and ruled out a leadership challenge.
He might be better to hold on until post-election. Other senior Labour figures point out that dumping leaders in election year has never saved a government.
But they also say they need to win through voters—and recognise they might need to do something dramatic, since most voters now appear to only have eyes for the opposition party.
Who’s the next FNPF boss? So, who is going to head Fiji’s richest company, keeper of some $3 billion worth of funds from over 300,000 workers? WHISPERS has been told that three people have been shortlisted to take up the top post and the name of the current acting chief executive is not one of them. The former finance deputy secretary, we have been told, was to have been given the marching orders two weeks ago if it was not for the intervention of the men in green.
Apparently, someone from the fund had approached the men in green who then approached the Finance Minister to reconsider his order.
Anyway, two of the three in contention for the top job are Pramod Archary, who once acted in the position and Dr Rohit Kishore, the current permanent secretary for lands.
GP jokes
It interesting what you find in a GP magazine. One would have thought that since GPs (general practitioners) are believed to be a serious lot, everything that goes into their magazine is also serious. But a latest issue of a general practitioners’ magazine in Fiji had these jokes:
Joke 1: A recent excursion to Nadi proved fruitful when some aviation professionals got around to discussing their favourite general practitioner’s attributes. Laughingly, we were told of a certain doctor who requested that all his male patients strip into a gown even when the site of an injury/pain was very peripheral. Maybe the holistic approach to examination was being utilised? The term “voyeurism” was also floated that evening. We backed off doing a house visit when we noted the GP’s exuberant home with an entertainment bure, spa pool and beautifully manicured gardens.
Joke 2: Selective fee structures for locals, local-urbanites, local and international travellers/air crew were also on the menu at the Nadi meet. One prominent practitioner had a rolling rate of $18, $25, $40, $60-80 for the mentioned groups for basic consultation. A drip (one litre of normal saline) recently cost a budget airline crew member $460. No wonder the poor lass ended up pole dancing at a reputed bar in Martintar, Nadi, in a state of depression. So who says GPs don’t joke?
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