Pac Notes
'People First' On Majuro
Chiefs Take Control And Move Quickly
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But anyone thinking traditional chiefs are conservative, stay-the-course individuals might be surprised by the first days in office of the new government. The Cabinet led by political veterans Tony deBrum in Foreign Affairs and Christopher Loeak, also a chief, was quick to begin delivering on Tomeing's January 14 inauguration speech promising cut backs in government spending and improvement in services under the slogan, "people first." Tomeing called for reducing travel—costs for which more than doubled under Note's administration—and government payroll, starting with Parliament.
Loeak says Tomeing's message is "to deliver services to the people. If there are bottlenecks (to those goals) they need to be remove"—a reference to the need to shakeup a lackluster public service.
After years of being ignored by policy makers, national planner Carl Hacker may finally have receptive ears. "There's a tsunami of evidence from reports saying that we have to try to change the way we are doing things, "Hacker told government and opposition senators at a briefing shortly after Tomein's election. The Marshall Islands is "not getting the results from the amount of money that is being spent—over $20 million each—at Education and Health," he says.
The "people first" motto angered UDP opposition senators in the first days of the Parliament meeting for its apparent criticism of the previous administration's shortcomings, but struck a chord with rank-and-file Marshall Islanders. In January, Loeak announced that government funds will no longer be used to buy alcohol at government functions, that use of government vehicles is being tightened up, and that improvement in government services is at the top of government's agenda. Resources and Development Minister Frederick Muller also announced a price hike for copra makers on remote outer islands.
The big issues are still ahead: solving the impasse between the U.S. government and Kwajalein landowners over long-term use of the missile range and the question of Tomeing's expressed preference for relations with China despite Taiwan being the country's second largest aid donor. But the new government was off to a quick start.
CHARTING FIJI'S FUTURE
Listen to any speech of media conference from Fiji's interim Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama over the past year and the People's Charter for Change, Peace and Progress invariably rates a mention. Here is a quick guide to the Charter.
What is it?
An attempt by Fiji's military-led interim regime to end what it sees as more than three decades of politics and governance "dominated and deeply mired in divisive, race-based politics, policies and institutions." It is being drawn up by a body called the National Council for Building a Better Fiji consisting of 35 people. The council is co-chaired by Bainimarama and Catholic Archbishop Petero Mataca.
Why is it important?
Fiji's military-led regime believes the People's Charter will help heal the racial divisions that have wracked Fiji for years—and manifested itself in what's been dubbed a "coup culture" -as well as answer the question of the meaning of Fiji's nationhood. The army says the charter development process should put an end to the military"s flair for staging putsches and ensure good governance and equality for all. Bainimarama wants the charter to be included in Fiji's Constitution although he later said the Constitution would remain supreme.
Who's for it?
The military-regime says the charter has received wide support but not all of the 14 provincial councils – the representatives of the indigenous Fijian population – have supported it. Some leaders have expressed qualified support for the initiative.
Who's against it?
Activists, some NGOs, and members of the ousted government have criticized the initiative which they say is being carried out by a regime without a democratic mandate. The ousted SDL party, the National Federation Party, the powerful Methodist Church and some prominent NGOs have suggested that if the same initiative was carried out by an elected government, they would support it.
Remittances
The World Bank has released its Migration and Remittances Factbook 2008, with expanded data on the Pacific Islands region. The Bank uses the data in a range of activities including its work on labor mobility and the cost of sending remittances through financial institutions.
No data for American Samoa, CNMI, Cook Islands, Guam, Marshall Islands, FSM, Palau. Top remittance recipients in East Asia and the Pacific in 2007 in descending order: China, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Mongolia, Fiji, Myanmar. Top recipients as a proportion of GDP in 2006: Tonga, Philippines, Kiribati, Vietnam, Mongolia, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Cambodia, Vanuatu, Indonesia Tertiary educated emigration rate in 2000 ranged from Tonga 74.2%, Samoa 66.6%, Fiji 58.7%, Marshall Islands 41%, Vietnam 39%, FSM 36.4% , Palau 30%, Papua New Guinea 28.2%, Kiribati 24.9%.
PHOTO CALL
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Australian government customs officials pull alongside the Japanese whaling fleet’s factory ship Nisshin Maru as she transfers whale meat and refuels in Antarctic waters. Pacific Islands’ reaction to ongoing controversy over whaling has been muted, although Australia’s more vocal opposition will up the ante for both island supporters and opponents of Japan’s program.
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A tiny possum and a giant rat have been recorded by scientists as probable new species on a recent expedition to the wilderness of western New Guinea’s Foja Mountains. The giant rat pictured here with biologist Martua Singaga, is about five times the size of a normal city rat.
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The Marshall Islands may not yet be on the map for surfing, but tourist Anthony Phillips and local resident Ben Graham enjoyed the waves at Arno Atoll in January.
