Government Briefs
Government Briefs
Northern Mariana Islands
Four prominent political leaders are running for governor in what promises to be one of the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas’ most hotly contested elections ever. At least 109 independent and partisan candidates from four political parties — Republican, Democratic, Reform and Covenant — have officially filed petitions to run in the November 4 elections. Those who are running for the governor’s seat and their respective running mates are: incumbent Speaker Benigno R. Fitial and Education Commissioner Rita Inos (Covenant); incumbent Washington Representative Juan Babauta and Rep. Diego Benavente (Republican); former Governor Jesse Borja and Rep. Brigida Ichihara (Democratic); and former Governor Froilan Tenorio and businessman Dave Sablan (Reform).
Palau
At Palau’s recent Constitution Day celebrations, President Tommy Remengesau, Jr. proposed three key revisions to Palau’s constitution: establishing the Olbiil era Kelulau (OEK) as a single house body with one senator for each state and nine senators elected at-large, an effort to speed legislation and reduce bureaucracy; electing the President and Vice-President on the same ticket to unify the executive branch; and allowing dual citizenship for Palauans. This would allow many Palauans to retain their rights within Palau’s traditional system.
- ADVERTISEMENT -
Hundreds of Palau residents stood by in mid-July to watch as the Kajima construction crew linked the two sections of the Koror-Babeldaob bridge jutting out from the two islands with a 500-ton steel center section. The bridge won’t be officially opened until January, but is nearly completed after more than two years of work. The original bridge collapsed in 1996, killing two people. The Japanese government provided the $25 million needed to fund the new bridge. For nearly a year after the collapse, Palauans used ferry service to travel to and from Koror until late 1997 when a temporary bridge was installed that remains in use today.
Palau is not listed in the Financial Action Task Force’s list of “uncooperative” countries in the fight against money laundering. FATF had put Palau on notice earlier this year that it was being reviewed for non-compliance with international efforts to combat money laundering. In response, the administration of President Tommy R. Remengesau, Jr. drafted banking legislation that was passed by the National Congress.
Marshall Islands
The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is investing $179,000 in a six-atoll pilot seaweed-growing project in the Marshall Islands. The project, developed by the Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority (MIMRA), will target six atolls — Majuro, Arno, Jaluit, Ailinglaplap, Wotje and either Rongelap or Enewetak — for seaweed development in an effort to diversify the economies of these remote and sparsely populated islands that depend almost exclusively on the low-paying copra industry.
Kiribati
“Waking Up Kiribati” is the motto of the Kiribati Atoll Seaweed Company’s new project, which aims to show the country that they can “grow their own money,” reported the Kiribati Newstar. At Fanning Island, seaweed growing has become a major source of income and there’s hope that with the aggressive new program it will be possible to extend Fanning’s success to other parts of Kiribati.
A Kiribati senator criticized the U.S. government for refusing to grant him a visa to travel through Guam that prevented him from attending a regional legislators’ meeting that was held in Yap in early August. MP Patrick Tatireta was not eligible for a U.S. visa because of a felony conviction about 15 years ago in Hawaii, according to the U.S. Embassy in Majuro. Tatireta attempted to obtain a U.S. visa to travel to Yap to attend a meeting of the Association of Pacific Islands Legislatures (APIL). After he was turned down, Tatireta said, “all I wanted to do was transit through Guam,” he said. “I’m representing my government now. I was going to the APIL meeting in Yap, not trying to get into the U.S.” But deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy Jennifer Brush said that she had no flexibility in the matter. U.S. immigration law specifically declares people ineligible for U.S. visas who have been convicted in the courts and who served time for felony convictions, she said.
American Samoa
American Samoa will be able to face future droughts with two new water treatment plants that will be open before the end of the year. The two plants are expected to generate more than one million gallons of purified water daily. The American Samoa Power Authority (ASPA) received a $2.2 million grant/loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utility Service to establish the two surface water purification facilities at upper Fagatogo and Pago Pago.
American Samoa has escaped the wrath of the U.S. Congress because a bill to federalize immigration laws targets only the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, despite U.S. Rep. George Miller’s original intention to include the territory because of the problems surrounding the now-closed Daewoosa garment plant. American Samoa Congressman Faleomavaega Eni said that after continued consultations with Miller during June and July, the CNMI bill was introduced and American Samoa was excluded. Faleomavaega, however, warned local leaders that unless American Samoa enforces its local immigration laws, the Congress will consider similar legislation.
