Grim killings in PNG; Marape government urged to tackle major issues; and female workers suffer covid-related mental health issues
Mother accused of killing her own children
Police in Mt Hagen, Papua New Guinea, have arrested a mother who allegedly killed her three children and dumped their bodies in a river.
A Papua New Guinea police vehicle Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades
The National reports the children as one eight-year-old boy and two girls aged five and three.
Western Highlands police commander Superintendent John Sagom confirmed the mother, aged 29, has been charged with wilful murder.
Sagom said a similar incident happened about 10 years ago, in which a mother allegedly killed her four children and dumped them in a river.
That mother told police she drowned her children because her husband never looked after her and them.
Superintendent Sagom urged women facing domestic problems to seek help.
PNG govt urged to address multiple challenges
The head of a think tank in Papua New Guinea says the government must develop a blueprint to deliver economic transformation to address multiple challenges faced by the country.
PNG Think Tank Group chief executive, Samson Komati, said Papua New Guineans have yet to see the government's economic recovery plan.
Komati said all people hear about is a budget repair strategy.
He said while trying to repair a broken budget Prime Minister James Marape's government received billions of dollars in loans from national and international lenders.
He said Marape's government does not have any tangible achievements to show from all the money it received.
Komati is urging PNG Think Group members not to accept the government's poor performance.
"We need this government or next new one to perform beyond our expectations so PNG changes for the better after last 47 years.
"Lacklustre and mediocrity must not be celebrated by learned and professional men and women in this forum or elsewhere in Papua New Guinea." he said.
Half of female workers suffered pandemic mental health issues says report
A report by the Pacific's regional university on remote-working challenges faced by its female staff during the covid-19 pandemic has found that over half of its female employees had their mental health impacted.
Only 267 of 766 female employees participated in the survey.
The survey, initiated by the women's wings of the Association of the University of the South Pacific Staff, also found that for more than 40 percent of female employees working from home was "an extremely stressful time."
Association chair Rosalia Fatiaki said the report's findings confirm that while many of USP's women employees had support from their families when working remotely, "others were left feeling very isolated."
Dozens of police officers in Fiji's crime stats
Police officers continue to feature prominently in Fiji's serious crime statistics.
The latest figures released by the country's public prosecutor show that nine policemen were among the 49 people charged with serious criminal offences.
In the past six months, 45 police officers have appeared in the high court with charges including murder, assault, domestic violence, financial fraud, and dangerous driving.
According to the Office of the Director Of Public Prosecutions, in October six police officers were charged with the murder of a 27-year-old man in Suva.
It is alleged the police officers assaulted the victim over several hours resulting in his death.
RNZ Pacific has contacted the Fiji Police for comment.
Samoa's amended Land and Titles Act described as 'poorly drafted'
The new President of Samoa's Land and Titles Court has described recent changes to the Land and Titles Act as ill-conceived and poorly drafted.
The Samoa Observer reports Lesatele Rapi Va'ai was speaking after he was sworn in by the Head of State.
He noted that Samoans believe the Land and Titles Court is the most important court in the country because it reviews and determines matters concerning family treasures and villages.
He pointed out that the Court, which was established under the Act in 1981, only had its legislation revisited 39 years later, through the Constitution Amendment Act 2020 and the Land and Titles Act 2020.
He said the laws were ill conceived and badly drafted.
By-election will elect three new Tonga MPs
Tonga will have three new People's Representatives following Thursday's by-election.
There are 41 polling stations for the by-elections with a total of 13 candidates contesting.
The previous representatives - Tatafu Toma Moeaki, Poasi Mataele Tei, and Sione Sangster Saulala - all lost their seats after unsuccessful appeals against bribery convictions.
Company taking money without providing services
The Consumer Council of Fiji has warned Fijians about using a decoration company which has taken money but failed to deliver services.
The trader operates via social media and offers services such as mandap decorations for Hindu weddings, birthday and party decorations and mehndi temporary body art services.
In one of the cases lodged at the Council a consumer paid $FJ350 for the decoration of the wedding venue but the trader failed to turn up on the wedding day, and attempts made by the consumer to contact the trader proved futile.
Council CEO Seema Shandil has called on consumers to be vigilant as the holiday season approaches.
Tourist body's new initiative
South Pacific Tourism Organisation is focusing on sustainability and digitalisation as the future of Pacific tourism.
In light of this, the organisation has launched its Information Portal at the its board meeting in the Cook Islands.
Chief executive Chris Cocker said the portal aims to provide a platform for Pacific stockholders to strengthen communications, researching and operations, and increase collaboration.
This initiative is funded under the New Zealand government's Pacific Digital Tourism Transformation Project.
