Pacific Notes
Pacific Notes
October 2005
Guam Abramoff Grand Jury Setback CNMI Indigenous Registration Begins The commonwealth's constitution-Article 12, section four-describes a person of Northern Marianas descent as a person who is "a citizen or national of the United States and who is of at least one-quarter Northern Marianas Chamorro or Northern Marianas Carolinian blood or a combination thereof or an adopted child of a person of Northern Marianas descent if adopted while under the age of eighteen." On Aug. 11, Gov. Juan N. Babauta proclaimed September as "Northern Marianas Descent Registry Month" at a special ceremony at Coral Ocean Point resort and golf course. The venue sits on public land being leased by a foreign company for commercial purposes. Public land leases are paid annually to MPLA, which turns the money over to Marianas Public Land Trust (MPLT) after deducting administrative costs. The money is then invested and the proceeds are set aside for "future generations" of indigenous residents. The registry "will ultimately strengthen the people of NMI descent by protecting their assets, preserving their culture and tradition, and honoring their heritage," according to the proclamation. Gov. Babauta says the list makes it easier for people applying for homesteads to receive public land. It will also enable the Election Commission to hold a list of people who can vote on issues involving Article 12 of the CNMI Constitution. MPLA Board Chairperson Ana D. Castro says since the inception of the Commonwealth in 1978, the dreams of local people for a better future and prosperity "appear to be off course and uncertain. Today, many of our local people are having second thoughts and are actually asking whether entering into this relationship with the United States was appropriate and well worth the effort, and whether the contract is actually producing the benefit it was designed to accomplish." She says the mission of the registry will be to protect the limited land resources in the CNMI and unite indigenous people. Castro says the agency will soon begin negotiations with businesses who are leasing public lands for discounts for indigenous people, similar to the "kama'aina" rates in Hawaii. The agency will support and lobby the Legislature to enact laws for scholarship or loan programs, retirement fund, and help for the disabled, the sick and needy. More than 3,000 homestead applications are pending at the agency which issued a moratorium on the program in 2002. That was just lifted at the request of the governor. MPLA again is receiving homestead applications while working to identify public lands to give out to local residents. Under the Covenant with the United States, which defines the relationship with the local government, only persons of Northern Marianas descent can own land. Non residents can lease public lands for businesses, which pay rent to MPLA. That section of the Covenant and Article 12 in the CNMI constitution is controversial and has been tested in local and federal courts. Many are blaming the lack of foreign investment on Article 12. --Frank S. Rosario Tonga Strike Ends, But The Battle Continues The strike began on July 22 when civil servants marched in Nuku'alofa after senior government officials were awarded pay raises of 57 percent. It was marred by violence, with vandalism of classrooms, the burning of one of the King's unoccupied homes, and arson attacks on government cars. On signing a Memorandum of Understanding with government, the Public Servants Association (PSA) says, "the victory today sends strong signals to the government of Tonga regarding the rising concerns of the people. The six week strike has provided significant progress towards the need for political reform in Tonga. Though the strikers return today to work, the PSA will continue to pursue all peaceful and lawful moves towards a more democratic form of government." The approved salary scale entails a 60 percent increase for levels 2-5, 70 percent increase for levels 6-10 and 80 percent increase for levels 11-14a. The strike was distinguished by some new alliances. The newly formed Tongan National Business Association joined calls for a change in the political structure of the kingdom "because the current system doesn't help the economy." But Minister of Finance Siosiua T.T 'Utoikamanu has expressed deep concern about the potential harmful impact of the salary adjustments. Before the agreement, 'Utoikamanu stated that salary increases "would cost T$36 million (US$18.4 million) each year. This amount will inflate the budget deficit by T$29 million (US$14.8 million), compelling the government to utilize its cash reserves of about T$7 million (US$3.58 million). The economic and financial implications of the proposal are very disturbing. "According to the ministry's estimates, the negative impact of the proposed expenditure will increase inflation by 6 percentage points to 14 percent by the end of June 2006, compared to the current inflation rate of 8 percent … because each dollar of additional income results in higher demand for imported goods and services, in the absence of higher foreign exchange inflows, foreign reserves are projected to decline rapidly by about T$20 million (US$10.24 million) each year, thereby putting pressure on the exchange rate." The Interim Public Servants Committee is also pushing for a fully democratically elected Parliament, and presented a petition to this effect to the King's representative on Sept. 5. In an extraordinary sitting of the Tongan assembly, pro-democracy MP Akilisi Pohiva called for the government to step down because of its slowness in tackling democratic reforms. The strike had a regional dimension. Negotiations between government and civil servants were facilitated by Dr. Sitiveni Halapua, director of the East-West Center's Pacific Islands Development Program, using the "Talanoa" process he has also used in post-coup Fiji. Expatriate Tongans also played a high profile role in the proceedings. In New Zealand, there were demonstrations outside the King's official residence, prompting the Tongan Women's Action for Change organization to release a statement calling on the strike's leaders to "encourage peaceful methods in trying to reach a common ground. Violent demonstrations throughout the country and in New Zealand reflect and paint a very bad picture of the lack of good leadership skills amongst civil society." A Web site, www.tongaonstrike.com,
was an influential connection between strike supporters in Tonga and internationally,
with its discussion board ranging from the issues at hand, to broader
debates about the future of Tonga. Wallis and Futuna Turmoil Continues, Airline Stalled Puluiuvea says they have also met with Fiji Foreign Minister Kaliopate Tavola and that he is seeking a meeting with UNESCO representatives. Puluiuvea claims one of the underlying causes of conflict between the King and rival chiefs-which is now into its ninth month-is the proposed operation and benefits of Air Wallis. "The airline is ready to start, and we have a five-year business plan. After that we plan to buy our own aircraft. We're interested in a partnership with Air Tahiti Nui initially …but we have to fix the political problems first," Puluiuvea says. The troubles have elsewhere been attributed to a drink driving incident involving the Lavelua's grandson, and his initial unwillingness to surrender to police. On Sept. 15 Oceania Flash reported the plans of rival group of high chiefs
to install a new King late September. French Prefect and Special Administrator
Xavier de Furst has officially granted recognition to an alternative chiefly
council, which is "mostly made up of members of the other two feuding
royal families of Futuna," according to Oceania Flash. This means there
are two recognized chiefly cabinets in the territory. Marshall Islands Hospital Pharmacy In Flames
Firemen were on the scene with a small fire truck within 10 minutes and reportedly did an efficient job as they waited for a larger fire truck, which carries a water cannon, to arrive from the airport, about seven miles away. Eyewitnesses also praised the efficiency with which patients were evacuated. Many of them were moved to a temporary ward in the lobby of the nearby capital building, although at least one patient attached to an IV received ongoing treatment from nurses as she lay on a bed under the verandah of a nearby house. Aid agencies and international diplomatic offices in Majuro assisted
local government authorities in recovery efforts.
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