4 Sep 2023

Pacific news in brief for September 4

10:46 am on 4 September 2023

Photo: RNZ

Tonga - language

New Zealand's Tongan community are coming together to promote language sustainability as part of Tongan Language Week.

Pacific Peoples Minister Barbara Edmonds said language is more than a means of communication.

She said it's an important way to link generations and maintain connections to ancestral roots.

There are more than 82,000 Tongans in Aotearoa.

South Korea - Fukushima

A poll shows a majority of South Koreans are worried about Japan's discharge of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea.

Japan says the water from the wrecked nuclear power plant is safe and it began releasing it into the Pacific on August 24.

China, Japan's biggest trade partner, has comtinued a ban of Japanese seafood.

The South Korean government, however, has said it sees no scientific problem with the water release, though stressing it does not approve of it.

On Thursday, President Yoon-Suk Yeol visited a major fisheries market to shop and have lunch to encourage consumption of seafood.

More than seven in 10 respondents in a poll said they were concerned about the impact on seafood and 60 percent said they were reluctant to eat seafood.

Fiji - cannabis

Fiji's Cabinet has agreed for a feasibility study to be undertaken for the emerging market in medicinal cannabis.

The study will be overseen by a taskforce to be chaired by one of the three deputy prime ministers.

Currently there is no specific legislation for the cultivation and production of medicinal cannabis in Fiji.

The findings of the study and any subsequent amendments to the law - and the drafting of a new law in consultation with the Office of the Solicitor-General - will be brought back to Cabinet for decision, the government said.

American Samoa - health

American Samoa's Department of Health distributed lymphatic filariasis pills after several church services on Sunday local time.

The Department of Health has been running a mass drug administration campaign supplying medication across the territory.

Lymphatic filariasis is caused by worms that are spread by mosquitoes, and can cause abnormal swelling of the arms, legs, and other body parts.

The campaign runs until September 22.

Samoa - crime

Samoa Police are targeting the parents of child street vendors.

Acting Police Commissioner, Papalii Monalisa Tiai-Keti told the Samoa Observer they have started bringing parents in and warning them.

Her comments came on the back of a social media video of street vendors fighting and stopping traffic.

Pastor Aumua Eric Poe of Christian City Church has urged authorities to address the increase in young child street vendors, adding there is a strong connection between street vending and begging.

Samoa - court

In Samoa, a woman who shot a rifle and injured a man in defence of her husband has been jailed for 10 months.

Justice Leiataualesa Daryl Michael Clarke said the defendant pleaded guilty to assault causing grievous bodily harm, armed with a dangerous weapon, discharging a firearm, and possessing an unregistered firearm.

According to the police report, the woman's husband had struck the victim with a pipe and the victim then punched her husband.