Page 9 - IB March 2018 Edition

WHISPERS

No to law practice in jail
Plans by a former cabinet minister soccer. There is hope that with the country
who is serving time in jail on corruption hosting the Pacific Games in 2023, the Front Page Limited
to be given time to study law at the local stadium at Lawson Tama will undergo a 117 Amy Street
university has met a roadblock – people long overdue transformation. PO Box 12718, Suva, Fiji Islands.
with a criminal conviction are barred from Tel: +679 330 3108. Fax: +679 330 1423.
practising law. The clarification had been Email: advertising@islandsbusiness.com
issued by PNG’s deputy chief justice and it t Circulation & Distribution
Sara Vafoou
Floating island idea ‘sinks’ svafoou@islandsbusiness.com
Local opposition has forced the cancel- subs@islandsbusiness.com
lation of plans to construct the world’s
Accounts
first floating island in French Polynesia. accounts@islandsbusiness.com
A California-based NGO had signed a deal
with the French Polynesian government to Regional magazine sales agents
build a floating island platform in Atima- Pacific Cosmos – 89 Brisbane Street,
ono lagoon to the south of the archipelago. Oxley Park, NSW, Australia
However locals in the area didn’t want to Pacific Supplies – Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Yap Cooperative Association – Colonia, YAP,
followed an application from the country’s Federated States of Micronesia
jail administration for ‘leave of absence’ Paper Power Bookshop – Town Council Bldg,
for one Paul Tiensten. He was a cabinet Main Street, Nadi, Fiji
minister in the former government of Mi- Suva Bookshop – Downtown Boulevard, Suva, Fiji
Fatiaki Enterprises Limited – Vakabalea St,
chael Somare but was jailed for nine years Lautoka, Fiji
in 2014. “Many people will regard this as Sanatan Bookshop - Nasinu, Tebara Shopping
unfair as the little people are serving time Complex
and the big people are being allowed to do Nausori Airport Bookshop – Nausori
this,” the deputy chief justice was reported Ba Book Centre – Ba (opposite Ba Bus Station, Fiji
as telling gaol administrators. have anything to do with this seemingly Lami Pharmacy – Main Street, Lami
pie in the sky concept and with the sup- Kays Kona Shop – Dolphin Plaza, Suva, Fiji
port of an opposition MP, urged the central USP Bookcentre – USP, Laucala Campus, Suva, Fiji
t Samabula Drugstore – Samabula, Suva, Fiji
government to scrap the deal. Not too long Kundan Singh Supermarket – Tamavua, Suva, Fiji
The Pacific’s ‘worst’ ago, government in Papeete announced MH Superfresh – Tamavua, Suva, Fiji
Honiara’s poor road conditions and that the deal with the US NGO expired Methodist Bookstore – Stewart Street, Suva, Fiji
traffic congestion may not be the only last year and the concept has now lapsed. Textbook Wholesalers – BSP Centre Suva, Fiji
issues that need urgent fixing with the MHCC – Suva, Fiji
observation by a local football adminis- t 786 Supermarket – Toorak ,Suva, Fiji
trator that the capital city’s main sports TOTAL Hibiscus – Victoria Parade, Suva, Fiji
stadium needs an extreme makeover. The Million dollar tourism blunder Tappoo outlets – Fijiwide
A US$180,000 blunder is what it Kundan Singh Supermarket – Arts Village,
amounted to when the board of the tour- Pacific Harbour, Fiji
ism office in Vanuatu decided to dismiss Gulabdas & Sons – Beach Road, Levuka, Fiji
its boss and appoint a replacement. Hachette Pacifique – Papeete, French Polynesia
Kiribati Newstar – Bairiki, Kiribati
Former general manager of Vanuatu One Stop Stores – Bairiki, Kiribati
Tourism Office won her court case and Robert Reimers Enterprises – Majuro, Marshall Islands
with it an award of 19 million Vatu, Pacific & Occidental – Yaren, Nauru
some USD183,000 in compensation. The South Seas Traders – Alofi, Niue
former boss has been paid six million Nouvelle Messageries Caledoniennes de Presse
senior official is quoted in the local daily Vatu already, so the tourism office would – Noumea, New Caledonia
as rating Lawson Tama sports stadium as have to fork out the balance of 12.9 Wewak Christian Bookshop – Wewak, PNG
“the worst in the Pacific.” Yet this is the million. No whisper yet on whether the Boroko Foodworld – Boroko, PNG
country that is a powerhouse in football’s tourism board is appealing or whether UPNG Bookshop – Waigani, PNG
3 codes of 11-a side, Futsal and beach it is just going to make the pay-out. Wesley Bookshop – Apia, Samoa
Panatina Chemist Ltd – Honiara, Solomon Islands
Officeworks Ltd – Honiara, Solomon Islands
National Stationery Supplies – Honiara,
Like us on facebook Solomon Islands
https://www.facebook.com/pages/islands-business/ Friendly Islands Bookshop – Nuku’alofa, Tonga
Tuvalu Air Travel, Shipping – Funafuti, Tuvalu
Trade and Consultancies – Funafuti, Tuvalu
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Islands Business, March 2018 9