Government Briefs

Residents of Rabi Island in Fiji, where British colonial administrators moved the people of Banaba (in what is now Kiribati) in the 1940s, want to cut their ties with the Kiribati government over a pension dispute. Teitirake Corrie of the Rabi Council of Leaders says they want to cede their original home to Fiji. In December, Corrie asked the Kiribati Parliament to pay the original inhabitants of Banaba-fewer than 100-F$40 (US$23) a month in pensions but this was rejected. Corrie says they are owed royalties from phosphate mining on Banaba. -- RM

New Zealand Immigration has announced major changes to its Pacific services. Following an internal review, customer service and border security was placed at the top of the priority list. The review found that customer services, border security and information sharing in the region needed to improve; and more should be done to help new migrants settle in New Zealand. Decisions on residence applications will now be made in Auckland rather than branches in the Pacific.-- PR

Samoa

The date set earlier for Samoa's general elections had to be changed because it turned out to be illegal under the country's Electoral Act. The original date of Feb. 24 would have made the election results invalid. The polls are now set for March 31. A record number of candidates have registered for the general election. -- AT

A number of the country's public health doctors who had been on strike for more than 13 weeks to press claims for better conditions of work have gone back to work in the public health service. They had all resigned rather than face dismissal after defying a government ultimatum to return to work or lose their jobs. Most of the doctors who resigned have either gone into private practice or moved overseas. - AT

American Samoa

Governor Togiola Tulafono signed into law Dec. 27 a measure creating a $10 million credit facility in order to pay debts at the government-owned LBJ Medical Center. Prior to signing the bill into law, the governor vetoed several changes made by the Fono (Legislature) to the original legislation. Togiola said this was done in order to give the hospital flexibility to, among other things, negotiate the amounts of the debts LBJ Medical Center owes to vendors. The loan is from the American Samoa Government Employee's Retirement Fund and will be paid for by the government-owned American Samoa Telecommunications Authority over a 10-year period. But in January the Fono's Senate questioned the governor's veto, saying it plans to take the matter to court if the governor does not accept the Senate's view. -- FS

An "Island Business Opportunities Mission" to American Samoa is set for May 8-11, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Interior in conjunction with the American Samoa government and the local private sector. The visit by American business investors is a follow up to the Interior-sponsored Conference on Business Opportunities held in Los Angeles, in September 2004. -- FS

CNMI

Governor Benigno R. Fitial and Lieutenant Governor Tim P. Villagomez of the Covenant Party were the top spenders during last year's four-way gubernatorial race, spending $336,721.99, according to the Commonwealth Election Commission. Incumbent Republican Governor Juan N. Babauta and Lieutenant Governor Diego T. Benavente, spent $313,273.14. Independent candidate Heinz S. Hofschneider and Rep. David M. Apatang spent $247,689.89. Democrats Froilan C. Tenorio and running mate Antonio Santos asked for an extension to file their expenses as Pacific Magazine went to press. Candidates are required by law to file their spending expenses after the elections, which were held Nov. 5, 2005. -- FSR

The Fitial-Villagomez administration has implemented a dress code for its Cabinet secretaries and department directors. Effective immediately, secretaries of departments and directors must wear long-sleeve shirts and ties four times a week, with Fridays being the only day they can wear Hawaiian-print shirts and long pants. Women are also required to wear appropriate business-like attire. The new administration says upper-echelon employees must look professional in their dealings with visitors and local people alike. -- FSR

Fiji

An ongoing trade war over Fiji's export of biscuits to Vanuatu took a new twist when Vanuatu lifted its ban on the staple but slapped a 15 percent duty on it in late December. The two countries were engaged in a standoff over the ban for much of 2005 and Fiji retaliated with a short-term ban on Vanuatu kava. Hari Punja, whose company Flour Mills of Fiji is the exporter, accused Vanuatu of breaching regional and world trade rules. -- RM

Chinese Premier Wen Jinbiao will make a state visit to Fiji in April when the Conference of Economic and Trade Ministers of China and Pacific Island Forum countries will take place in Nadi. The conference will be the first to inaugurate a proposal by China to hold regular meetings with Pacific Island countries at ministerial level to discuss trade and economic development.-- RM

Guam

The Guam Waterworks Authority secured $104 million through bond sales that will enable it to begin revamping its water and wastewater treatment systems. GWA has been under order from the U.S. District Court to make improvements to the systems. The authority will first repair the Hagatna, Agat and Tanguisson sewage treatment plants and outfalls. It will also address chronic water distribution problems in several villages and the Ugum River reservoir in southern Guam. The bond is the first of two that GWA officials say are needed to comply with the court order. -- FW

A grand jury of the Superior Court of Guam indicted five former officials on charges related to funds that were deducted from employees' paychecks as contributions to the Government of Guam Employees Retirement Fund, but used for other agency expenses. Among those indicted are former Governor Carl Gutierrez, in his capacity as acting hospital administrator from June to November 2000; former hospital administrator William McMillan; and former Department of Education (DOE) superintendent Rosie Tainatongo. A former Guam Memorial Hospital comptroller and former DOE controller were also indicted. The agencies owe the retirement fund in excess of $10 million each, which has prevented otherwise eligible employees from retiring and compounded the problems confronting the fund's future. -- FW

Solomon Islands

The Solomon Islands government has lost an estimated US$8 million from poorly managed fishing agreements. A recent audit of the fisheries department for several years up to 2003 found that the fisheries department failed to follow provisions of its bilateral fisheries agreements with other countries by under-charging for access fees. The audit also found bilateral agreements were negotiated on the basis of a small access up-front fee payment. This fee was calculated on a 5 percent formula, based on the catch and its sales value. The Auditor General says this method attaches importance to keeping correct and accurate records of the catch and sale prices. But the audit found the department failed to monitor the process and instead relied on records provided by the fishing companies. -- AO

Papua New Guinea

The government has given approval for an Australian game hunter to track down and kill six crocodiles that have been killing and terrorizing villagers in the country's East Sepik and Gulf provinces. The Department of Environment and Conservation says crocodiles have already killed about six people in these areas and continue to stalk the isolated communities, striking fear among the villagers. The department will meet Queensland-based hunter Mick Pittman soon to discuss how he will remove the reptiles. -- AR

More than 9,000 students graduated from Papua New Guinea secondary schools last year after completing year 12. This will add to the country's unemployment woes as only 3,000 of them will continue at the six church and government-run universities. But government-owned PNG University of Technology told The National newspaper that students who missed out on university studies should enroll in their distance education courses which were as good as courses offered at universities. -- AR

Government-owned airline Air Niugini has come under fire for condoning discriminatory practices against flight attendants who were members of the Air Niugini Flight Attendants Association. A labor arbitration tribunal ordered the reinstatement of sacked association president James Anjo and directed that the semi-corporate organization stop discriminatory work place practices targeting members of the association. The union and the airline management were at loggerheads over long hours cabin crews clocked on international flights, paying of higher salaries to non-association members, and docking of meal allowances while serving on international flights. -- AR

Marshall Islands

The Marshall Islands and Republic of China (Taiwan) governments signed a deal in early January that will see Taiwan provide $800,000 to launch a "micro credit" scheme in the Marshall Islands. Foreign Affairs Minister Gerald Zackios and ROC Ambassador Lien-gene Chen signed the agreement. The Marshall Islands Development Bank and the private Bank of Marshall Islands will both be involved in administering loans under the scheme that is being established primarily for outer islanders to have access to small loans for economic development. This is the first micro credit scheme funded by Taiwan among the six Pacific nations with which it has diplomatic ties. -- GJ

The Marshall Islands government agreed in early January to a five-year, $25 million funding plan to totally rebuild the campus of the College of the Marshall Islands (CMI) in Majuro. Improving the old and deteriorating facilities at the CMI are a major eligibility issue for its continued U.S. accreditation. The college has been on the brink of losing its accreditation with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges for the past year, after WASC put the local college into a "show cause" status, the final stage before a school loses its accreditation. "This (the agreement) is an enormously powerful statement for CMI and its future," said CMI President Wilson Hess in recognizing President Kessai Note and the government for stepping to the plate at a crucial time for the college. -- GJ

Contributors: Ricardo Morris, Peter Rees, Afamasaga Toleafoa, Fili Sagapolutele, Frank S. Rosario, Frank Whitman, Alison Ofotalau, Alex Rheeney and Giff Johnson.