Government Briefs

Australian Prime Minister John Howard Photo: Samantha Magick

Election fever is gripping several Pacific Islands nations, including Australia, where voters will go to the polls for national elections on October 9. Coalition leader Prime Minister John Howard is going for his fourth term as Australia's leader, although opinion polls put him neck and neck with Labor Party leader Mark Latham.

In American Samoa, there are only three candidates for the governor's race: incumbent governor Togiola Tulafono, lawyer and former attorney general Afoa Moega Lutu and senator Te'o J. Fuavai.

In the course of an August appreciation party for the Festival of Pacific Arts, Palau Vice-President Sandra Pierantozzi declared her intention to run again as vice-president in November, ending speculation that she would challenge incumbent president Tommy Remengesau, Jr. Pierantozzi says Remengesau asked her not to run for the presidency saying they made "a good team together." Elias Camsek Chin is the only other vice-presidential candidate (in Palau, candidates run independently for the president and vice president positions). Challenging Remengesau are Polycarp Basilius and Ben Roberto.

In the Northern Marianas, Republican governor Juan Babauta has announced that he will seek reelection in November 2005. House Republican Minority Leader Heinz S. Hofschneider is also expected to announce his candidacy soon. It is no secret that current house speaker Benigno R. Fitial is running again under the Covenant Party. Fitial came in second to Babauta in a four-way race for governor three years ago. Who the Democratic Party will field as its candidate is still up in the air, although former Governor Froilan C. Tenorio is said to be interested in being the nominee. Former senator Juan T. Guerrero has indicated his interest in running for the Democratic Party.

In a related development, the CNMI's Republican Party was recently formally approved by the U.S. Republican Party, thus opening the door for possible campaign and financial assistance. How this will play out in the 2005 gubernatorial election remains to be seen.

-SM, FS, NC and FR

The United Kingdom has pulled out of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC). In a letter to SPC Director General Lourdes Pangelinan, British MP Gareth Thomas wrote that due to a shift in resources to low income countries, the final contribution to the SPC was in January 2004. The UK was a founding member of the-then South Pacific Commission. Pangelinan says the UK withdrawal will "have (a) significant financial impact on the other members of the Pacific Community and our work program."

-SM

SAMOA

Nine Samoan government officials have been charged with the disappearance of T$400,000 (about US$130,000) of World Health Organization money intended for health department projects. According to the Secretary of the Public Service Commission Faamausili Dr. Luaiufi Moli, the officers have been sent official letters notifying them of suspension from their positions, and detailing charges against them.

-AT

In what was described as a landmark decision, High Court Judge Lesatele R. Vaai awarded damages of T$164,900 (US$50,000) against the chiefs of Lotofaga village for wrongful banishment of a village family. Banishment is an age-old method employed by village authorities to punish people who offend against village dictates. The court found that not only was the banishment illegal, but it was carried out without due process, and without regard to the suffering and distress it caused members of the family.

-AT

COOK ISLANDS

The Cook Islands Investment Corporation, a government statutory body, is set to carry out roadwork worth NZ$1.6 million in the capital Avarua. The project will include the rerouting of the existing two-way road to a reclaimed foreshore.

-UKM

The newly revived Cook Islands Broadcasting Corporation (CIBC) is already creating waves with its proposal to set up a state-funded radio station. The corporation's proposal was endorsed by the cabinet on the eve of general elections. Freelance journalist Florence Syme-Buchanan, who is a member of the CIBC, has been appointed the acting general manager until the radio station is fully operational. The Cook Islands currently has two commercial radio stations, Radio Cook Islands (an AM station) and KC FM.

-UKM

SOLOMON ISLANDS

The Solomon Islands government has finally managed to reach agreement with the country's financial institutions, including its three commercial banks, over restructuring of an S$220 million domestic bond debt. After months of intensive negotiations, its domestic bondholders, the National Bank of the Solomon Islands, the Solomon Islands National Provident Fund, ANZ, Westpac and QBE Insurance agreed to restructure the debts on extremely favorable terms, eliminating a default situation. Interest rates have been reduced from as much as 9 percent to an average of 2.25 percent.

-MLC

FSM

The four states of the Federated States of Micronesia have been awarded $9.45 million by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration for airport improvement projects. Yap will receive $4.5 million; Pohnpei $2.7 million; Chuuk $1.5 million; and Kosrae $750,000. The FAA's airport improvement fund provides a 95 to five percent match.

-GJ

GUAM

Another indictment against former Guam Governor Carl T. C. Gutierrez in the Superior Court of Guam was unsealed on August 24. Gutierrez and John Rios, former director of the Government of Guam Employees Retirement Fund, were charged with improperly recalculating Gutierrez's retirement benefits so that the former governor received an additional $30,000 per year. The indictment wasn't opened until the "Urunao trial" ended July 20 when Gutierrez and two codefendants were found not guilty. Charges were dismissed "with prejudice" (meaning they cannot be refiled) in another case involving Gutierrez and three other former administration officials. Although Guam Attorney General Douglas Moylan had filed the case, he later moved, in the wake of the Urunao acquittal, to have the charges in the other case dismissed because his office lacked resources to prosecute the case.

-FW

Both Houses of the Palau National Congress in August approved creation of a Palau National Energy Authority to pursue oil drilling north of Kayangel Atoll. Studies indicate that the ocean floor northwest of Kayangel is a potential oil site. But Palau President Tommy Remengesau Jr. returned the law to the congress for further review in late August, voicing concern that drilling will harm Palau's pristine diving areas, the major draw for Palau's thriving tourism industry.

-GJ

The Kiribati government has helped to ease a "rice crisis" in the capital, Tarawa. During August, all outlets were dry of rice and people started ordering from Fiji. The situation was so critical that government had to fly in a cargo airplane from Australia with the needed rice. Even when the Kiribati Chief container ship arrived with the commodity it proved inadequate. The main importers of rice, such as Abam'akoro Company, Bobootin Kiribati Ltd. and Moel, had to ration their supply on a daily basis, resulting in long cues of people waiting for their chance to buy rice.

-BB

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Australia will negotiate with the Papua New Guinea government to encourage it not to use 20 percent of its prawn catch as agreed to under the 1985 ratified Torres Strait Treaty. Australia gives up 20 percent of its fishing effort in the strait to PNG under the treaty. The Australian government is hoping PNG will leave its entitlement to be used by Australian fishing companies. An Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics report recently stated that Australia's prawn fishery was being over-exploited and in danger of long term decline.

-AR

CNMI

The Marianas Public Lands Authority (MPLA) voted to grant Azmar International a conditional two-year permit to mine pozzolan on Pagan Island it if can prove to the board within 60 days that it has the financial capability to carry out its plans. Pozzolan comes from volcanic eruption and can be used as an additive in manufacturing cement to make it stronger. The decision by MPLA board caught a lot of people by surprise, as a week earlier, the staff had recommended that the mining operation be opened for bids after studies are done about its feasibility.

-FR

Contributors: Samantha Magick, Fili Sagapolutele, Afamasaga Toleafoa, Ulamila Kurai-Marrie, Mary Louise O'Callaghan, Giff Johnson, Frank Whitman, Batiri Bataua, Alex Rheeney and Frank Rosario.