14 Dec 2004

Nauru to shortly consider Forum reform plan

9:17 pm on 14 December 2004

Officials in Nauru expect the cabinet to decide this week on whether to implement reforms recommended by the Pacific Islands Forum.

The secretary in the foreign affairs department says ministers are looking at the report made by members of the regional organisation, who visited earlier this year to investigate the island's debt crisis.

Jesulenko Dowiyogo says the court system is trying to address the backlog in prosecutions.

Mr Dowiyogo says law and order issues highlighted by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General, Greg Urwin, have been already answered in part by Australian staff.

"They're trying their best I think to tackle those issues. We have just received a secondment from the Australian Federal Police to head up our Nauru Police Force; two Australian officers for the time being and another one to join them, and they'll be beginning reforms or necessary changes to strengthen the Nauru Police Force."

The secretary of the Nauru foreign affairs department, Jesulenko Dowiyogo.