To pray or not to pray? Prayers are part of Pacific life. It is said everywhere and whatever time. Even at meetings, a prayer is normally said before the meeting proper begins and when a meeting ends. It is nothing unusual in this part of the world. Even expats to this part of the world have come to accept that. But not so for the European Union (EU). A EU Suva rep to the PACREIP steering committee meeting was quite annoyed recently, when the PACREIP meeting began with a prayer. She was so annoyed that she sent an email to all the members of that steering committee. A copy of that email obtained by Whispers said: “I took note that the meeting had again started with a prayer despite my earlier guidance otherwise. I think the custom is in breach of the UN general convention on Human Rights (freedom of religion) and on that note I strongly advocate that prayers belong to respective sacramental buildings and not to a work place where representatives of different denominations are present. No one has the right to impose his or her beliefs and rituals on anybody else. Coming from this position, I will join future steering committee meetings after the prayers, provided the programme has not understood to comply with international conventions.”
A break from work: The Chinese Year of the Ox started badly for New Zealand’s new Prime Minister John Key, who broke his arm in an off-stage slip during a Chinese New Year celebration in Auckland. Coverage by worldwide news networks such as CNN and BBC even rivaled their focus on Key’s election victory last year. Key remained upbeat: it meant an end to his volleyball playing, he claimed, and would not curb the government’s workload. But the news came just one week after some accused Key’s new government of shirking the economic crisis over their four-week Christmas break. The New Zealand Herald, the country’s largest newspaper, pointed out that the government’s much-vaunted “100-day action plan,” instituted post-election, failed to mention politicians' 28 days of holiday. The Herald pointed out that the Prime Minister was holidaying in Hawaii for much of that time while other ministers had a minimal workload. A spokesperson initially defended the break, saying 2008 had been a big year for the National, and having a break was “very important”, the spokesperson added.
Flogging your ware: Christmas/New Year is a period when everyone is in a festive mood. For many, it is a time for giving. For businesses, it’s an opportunity to promote one’s ware in an effort to attract more patrons. It is no different in the Solomon Islands. But staff of one Asian businesshouse in Honiara went a bit too far with one of their giveaways. It’s the 2009 colour calendar of scantilly-clad ladies in different standing and sitting positions with little left for the imagination. One customer raised an eyebrow or two when he fronted at the counter to pay for his goods. He was dutifully given a copy of the calendar. As the gentleman flipped the first page, he flung the copy to the ground, saying he was not a fan of such display. Little did the staff know the customer was none other than the country’s deputy prime minister. The proprietor must be wondering whether he has lost the customer. Still in the same outfit, another senior minister strode in. Half an hour later, he was at the counter to pay for his goods. Pay, he did. When he was given a receipt (a strip of paper), his whole composure changed. He demanded “a big” receipt. “But sir, this is the same receipt we issue to customers all the time,” the staff tried unsuccessfully to explain. “No, I want a big receipt,” the minister retorted. Not knowing what to do and who the person was, the girl said (in Pidgin): “Man, ating you karange man ia.” In English: “Man, you must be mentally imbalanced.” Fuming, the minister retorted: “Do you know who I am? I am a Minister of the Crown.” Whether the minister’s anger was soothed with a 2009 colour calendar, no one knows. All we know is that the staff of this Honiara hardware outlet learnt the hard way in their first encounter with some of their customers.
Rascals' new hobby: Rascals in Papua New Guinea have a new way of making fun…big boat teasing. Using fast motored canoe or boat, these rascals—young men mostly—get their adrenaline pumping by chasing large cruise boats around, cutting the paths of these bigger boats at the bow! It turned almost tragic recently when a group of young men who obviously had one too many started pelting a cruise boat with their empty bottles. They certainly were having fun but the only problem this time around was the VIP on board the cruise boat was none other than PNG’s Grand Chief, the country’s prime minister. Thanks to digital cameras held by quite a few passengers on the cruise boat, the pictures were shown to the Madang police who apprehended the culprits in no time!
Wantok out the window: In their glee to host Pacific leaders in Port Moresby, Melanesia’s wantok or friendship went out the window it seems. Some Fiji-based journalists who were sent to cover the one day summit had to fEork out F$216 for their visas. One media agency paid in Kina, some 500 in total! The Melanesian Spearhead Group—that comprises PNG, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Fiji—under their friendship agreement are suppose to travel freely within each other’s country without having to pay for their visas. However, this particular clause turned unfriendly when it comes to the news media, it seems.
Speak out and be damned: What has become of Fiji of late is sad to say the least. Anyone who dares to speak up against those in power run the risk of being shown the door; the latest victim has been the foreign secretary who has just in that position for only four months after he was brought out of retirement. Fiji’s top envoy in Papua New Guinea seems to be the next in line. Asked by the Grand Chief for help to persuade his own PM not to stay away from last month’s special Forum meeting in PNG, Fiji’s high commissioner took a flight to Suva with a whale’s tooth, a prized procession in Fijian culture—a decision which might just cost him his job, it is now being whispered.
What say you Hon Sikua? Solomon Islands PM’s seat was glaringly empty when leaders sat down to have their official portrait taken at last month’s special Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ summit in Port Moresby. Leaders had taken their positions, the photographers held their cameras ready only for an alert Forum official to note the absence of Dr Derek Sikua. There was a flurry of communications on the walkie talkies and mobile phones only for someone to decide that the photo session should go ahead without the Solomons’ representative. Leaders had already gone a few minutes into their closed door session when aides and bodyguards attempted to rush a red-eyed Sikua into the room! Whispers has been reliably told the Solomons PM had a very bad eye problem that a doctor had to be called in to the hotel to take a look. Whispers' informers revealed the PM's eyes were so bad that he had to miss lunch with the leaders before the retreat began.
Return to Raro: Air Rarotonga, long target of complaints over fares and flights, could soon face competition from one of its former pilots. Mark Lusby, after going on to a career as an international jet captain, is said to be preparing to return to take on his former employer. Word from the Cooks is Lusby is close to launching his own local airline and ending Air Raro’s domestic monopoly.
Games, games: September’s Pacific Mini Games in Rarotonga continue to stir storms. Chief executive Bruce Lobb was abruptly sacked by a local games organisation board stacked with Cook Islands government ministers. Lobb had publicly questioned, surprise, the government’s games efforts. Weightlifting, tennis and athletics officials are whispered to be demanding improved facilities. Or their sports might not be there on opening day.
Samoan silence: Will anyone in Samoa ever be charged? That’s now asked as a case involving scores of Samoan children adopted by American couples ends with convictions in USA courts. No Samoans involved in the once thriving business run by Utah-headquartered “Focus on Children” have faced justice. That includes over the 2005 death from malnutrition of a one-year-old who spent time in a so-called “nanny house” in Ululoloa, Apia, while waiting adoption. American prosecutors said recruiters in Samoa told parents their children would live with American families and get a good education before returning home at 18. American couples, who Focus on Children charged fees, were told the children were orphans or abandoned. The scandal was exposed in a joint investigation by the Samoa Observer newspaper and Television New Zealand.
Corrupt medicines: Some Solomon Islands shops have another business line. They’re selling medicine, according to what Whispershears from Honiara. These are general stores not chemists. Seems this medicine has also been found to have similar serial numbers to medicine dispensed by the government’s health services. Could there be a racket here? Could this be the reason government medicine supplies are sometimes short? Is corruption still a problem in the Solomons?
Influential Samoa: Steadily, steadily the Samoan influence grows as Fiji, once the region’s pivotal nation, is distracted by coups. Samoa’s Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi is now one of the two main islands leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum. His influence is matched only by veteran Sir Michael Somare. Another respected Samoan, Tuiloma Neroni Slade, heads the Forum Secretariat. Whisper is the Samoans are now ready to host the Forum Secretariat in growing Apia if the regional bureaucracy has to move from Fiji.
Goodbye George: Yes, Australian diplomat Tim George got plenty of praise in Honiara when he finished his term running RAMSI. But it wasn’t unanimous. Amongst those who did not join the George cheer squad were some ex-expats running local Solomons businesses. Amongst criticism: the George-led RAMSI (Regional Assistance Mission) strongly preferred getting goods and services from Aussie companies rather than spending money locally.
Media watch (1): Kalafi Moala, who built a reputation as a Tongan pro-democracy newspaper publisher, might have recently won new friends in the kingdom. But not in New Zealand. Moala’s once busy publishing base in Auckland was shut by New Zealand’s Inland Revenue Department over long overdue taxes. No worries for Moala. He continues operations from America, where he is a citizen, and Tonga, where he spends more time. He is, apparently, closer to those now governing in Nuku’alofa than those in the past.
Media watch (2): Remember, you read it here first. As predicted by Whispers, successful Cook Islands media entrepreneur, church pastor and Pitt clan leader, George Pitt is expanding into the region. He’s pushing TV and radio developments in Samoa and has been talking with the Tongans. Pitt, his wife Jeane, brother Trevor and sister Shona resurrected Cook Islands Television and Radio Cook Islands and launched Rarotonga newspapers and websites. Don’t be surprised if Pitt’s Samoan plans include a newspaper too.
Media watch (3): Regional broadcasting types who like to spend time at conferences will be in their local element this year. Coming up in the months ahead are the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association Pacific conference in Tonga, Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development conference in Fiji, and Pacific Islands News Association conference in Vanuatu.
Apia warning: If you’re visiting Samoa and going out at night, take care along Apia’s popular Beach Road. Letters and a report in the Samoa Observer newspaper tell of recent bag snatching and other questionable conduct near the busy nightclub area there.
* If you have any Whispers, please contact the Editor-in-Chief on editor@ibi.com.fj
