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By Johnson Honimae, Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation. Pacific Islands Leaders have been strongly urged to attend the World Summit for the Information Society (WSIS) to be held in Geneva, Switzerland, 10 - 12 December 2003 "because this is where the islands special problems would be addressed." In an interview with PACNEWS and PINA Nius Online in Geneva after the opening of the third meeting of the Preparatory Committee for WSIS, President of the Committee, Adama Samassekou said, "its very important, its very crucial that Pacific Islands leaders attend the Summit." "It is very important that they attend because the Summit will try to put the benefits of the digital age to the developmental aspirations of the Pacific Islands."

"It is at the Summit that the special needs of the Pacific Islands will be addressed with the use of Information and Communication Technologies,"said Mr Samassekou. Swiss Government officials have indicated that only two Pacific Islands, Cook Islands and Tonga have confirmed that their Government leaders will attend the Geneva Summit. Pacific Islands participation has been lacking during the preparatory process with only two countries, Fiji and Samoa consistent in their attendance of the Preparatory Committee meetings so far. Earlier, the United Nations Secretary General's Special Representative to the WSIS, Nitin Desai told a press conference that island countries were the first to be considered for ICTs because of their isolation.

When asked what is it in the WSIS for Pacific Islands countries some of which are struggling to provide basic drugs or educational materials, Mr Desai said: "For ICT's to appeal there is a need to connect them to health, education and other developmental areas." "Let us not think of ICT's as a science but how can we use them in better connectivity in our societies."

Visiting Guyanese President Bharat Jagdeo said on Monday he was 'touched' by the warm reception the people of his ancestral village in Uttar Pradesh accorded him on Sunday, August 23rd. A trip to Thakurian village in Chhatrapati Sahuji Maharaj Nagar, from where his ancestors migrated to Guyana to work in the sugarcane fields nearly 100 years ago, while on a six-day state visit to India. "It was an emotional moment for me," the 39-year-old leader said responding to questions from reporters after Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam ceremonially received him with gun salute and guard of honour in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan where Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and senior ministers were also present. About 50 per cent of the 700,000 population of Guyana, situated on the northern coast of South America, is of Indian descent, taken there as indentured labour. Jagdeo's grandfather was among them. Referring to the warmth and affection with which he was received by the villagers, Jagdeo said he could understand their feelings because he was equally touched by their gesture.

His official engagements in the capital included delegation-level talks with the Prime Minister Vajpayee and meetings with External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha, Commerce and Industry Minister Arun Jaitley, Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi. India has offered a $25 million line of credit to Guyana, which plans to use it for modernization of its sugar mills. Speaking on the sidelines of an interactive meeting jointly organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Jagdeo said, "Besides the line of credit being extended by India, we are looking for another $100 million credit for modernisation of the sugar mills, including setting up cogeneration facility for production of power utilising the sugarcane waste," the president said. Leading a high-level ministerial delegation to discuss ways of enhancing economic and cultural cooperation, Jagdeo is accompanied by five representatives of the Guyanese chamber of commerce. Guyana chamber representatives Monday signed a memorandum of understanding with the FICCI for the establishment of a joint business council. President Jagdeo also visited Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu), Bangalore and Mumbai before winding up his visit.

The emperor of bhajans Anup Jalota will arrive in the country next month with five of India’s top spiritual leaders as part of their Spiritual Journey in the Australasian Zone. The mission includes the world-renowned devotional bhajan singer, Mr Jalota who will be accompanied by master tabla player Ashok Pandey Mr Jalota, will first visit the country early next month in the company of five holy men as part of a Spiritual Journey under the auspices of the United Nations. Soon after he will return to conduct three concerts for the benefit of the Save the Children Fiji, says organiser Joel Sahai. No, they are not related. The first is a purely spiritual exercise and the second is a charity/cultural event, with a spiritual back-drop, he said. The Jalota concerts are slotted for the Fiji Day weekend. University student Sumeet Satyam Tappoo will accompany Mr Jalota on stage. Sumeet is a student of Mr Jalota and is fondly known as Fiji’s child artist of yesteryears who made his debut on the music scene and won hearts through style and distinction. From the soulful strains of poignant Mukesh repertoire such as Saranga Teri Yaad Mein, Sumeet has turned to light semi-classical mode of the devotional; and seriousness of Ghazal singing. From Mukesh to Mr Jalota, it has has been a journey for young Sumeet.

The sensitivity and soul stirring simplicity of the child artist of eight years is still there but along with that has come maturity and depth that is equally captivating in the young university student. The Fiji concerts are on the leg-end of Jalota’s Australasia tour where the first concert was held in Sydney on August 9. The Fiji tour is a charitable gesture on part of the great bhajan and ghazal singer. Net proceeds from the maestro’s concert will go towards the Save The Children Fiji. The promoters of the Fiji tour, a committee of concerned citizens, are working closely with the Fund to ensure the tour is a financially successful one. Expenses for the Fiji tour are being met by corporate sponsors. Mr Sahai said Mr Jalota is an artiste of such renown that Fiji must think itself fortunate to once again have him render the classics. Mr Sahai said he believed Fiji has been too long without the uplifting music and song of Jalota. For Mr Sahai, organising the concert with like-minded people has been a labour of love. The response from corporate sponsors has been stupendous, he says. Mr Jalota will be accompanied on stage by well-known Fiji singer Sumeet Tappoo who is a disciple of Mr Jalota and has toured and sung with the master on many occasions. Mr Jalota has invited Sumeet to accompany him on stage in his Australia, New Zealand and Fiji tours. Mr Jalota still remembers the love and affection showered on him by Fiji music lovers during his tour of Fiji in 1984 when he held concerts in every major town. “I am very much looking forward to performing in Fiji again,” says Jalota. What set Mr Jalota apart from others is the way he approaches his singing. His bhajan singing is contemporary, even spicy and fun, making the monotony associated with this type of singing a thing of the past.

His religious leanings are never in question (recently he rendered the holy book Ramayan on a disc in his mellifluous voice). Yet, he sings lightly, even impishly, and with such devotion that even the young can easily identify with the bhajans. His bhajans are household favourites (he has recorded thousands of bhajans, ghazals and songs). Hindi film producers vie for his voice but Mr Jalota’s preference has always been the stage. He has performed over 4000 live concerts spread over 100 cities on all five continents. Jalota does do movie music but choose only what he considers to be within good taste and style. Mr Jalota performs incredible 12 or more concerts every month, travelling around the world five or six times a year. Presently he has over a100 silver, gold, platinum and multi-platinum discs. The charity concert organising committee members comprises of Mr Sahai, Rasik Jogia, Mahendra Tappoo, Irshad Ali, Narendra Bhagawan, Vishnu Deo, Bobby Raniga, and Kamlesh Tappoo.

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