Poor shipping services, a lack of communications and water problems were some of the issues discussed at the Lau Provincial Council meeting yesterday.

Development in the Lau Group apparently is being held up by problems in the shipping franchise.

The only vessels currently serving the islands are the MV Sandy, the Lau Trader and Westerland.

Digicel is the only mobile network in the area, but reception can be poor at times, prompting islanders to ask for a new transmitter as soon as possible.