Breaking News 6

Social and Economic Progress in Hawaii
An indigenous Hawaiian advocacy group has accused the main proponents of a proposed bill of legislation in planning, to profit from it, if it were to be approved by the US Senate. If enacted, the Akaka Bill would allow indigenous Hawaiians to establish their own government and to negotiate with federal and state governments over land and other resources. This status would put them on a par with indigenous Americans and Alaskans.
Pacific Beat
Akaka

The Akaka Bill, which was originally proposed in 2000, has met opposition from several, including an Hawaiian advocacy, which is concerned lest Hawaii become a socially divided state. Another group that has opposed the legislation is the Native American Indians, who fear the Akaka Bill could have an impact on federal programs for Indians. This fear stems from the status of Federal funding for Indians which is considered to be insufficient to cover claims of existing beneficiaries.
Honolulu Advertiser

Getting Coffee to Market
In Papua New Guinea, hundreds of coffee farmers in the country's Eastern Highlands Province have again raised concerns about the on-going loss of coffee, due to lack of proper roads. Coffee is one of PNG's most important agricultural exports. However, the industry is continuing to experience major problems, and transport in and out of coffee-producing regions is just one of them. It means that often coffee is left to rot in farms across the Eastern Highlands, prompting producers to urge the government to address the issue immediately.
Pacific Beat
Road Conditions

Scroll down, Road Conditions and you will come across an indication of the difficulties that coffee bean farmers in prime producing areas face when they endeavour to get their crop to market.

Guilty Verdict
Solomon Star News

Three Solomon Islanders, Harold Keke, Ronnie Cawa and Francis Lela, have been found guilty of murdering Father Augustine Geve, a Catholic priest and Member of Parliament. The murder took place on August 20, 2002 on a beach on the island of Guadalcanal. The guilty party were involved with the Guadalcanal Liberation Front.

Meanwhile, Solomon Islanders are reflecting on what the verdict means to them. The four years of ethnic tension took its toll, and the consensus seems to be that the country's progress was set back by at least 20 years - socially, politically and especially economically. At the height of the conflict, Peter Soqoilo, Finance Manager for Solomon Islands Tobacco Ltd, lost his job, and three of his colleagues died. And today, he thinks he's pretty lucky to have a job at all.

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