Archive _{- April 2003}

PALAU WON’T CLOSE DOORS ON SARS "HOT SPOTS"

KOROR, Palau (Palau Horizon, April 30) — Palau will not close
its borders to visitors from high-risk SARS areas.

Dr. Caleb Otto, Palau’s public health director, said the
country has already implemented measures to prevent the entry of SARS.

Michael O’Leary, a physician from the Centers for Disease
Control, has said that closing borders is not the most important prevention and
control strategy, according to Otto.

He said President Tommy Remengesau, lawmakers and doctors have
discussed the issue and agreed that imposing a travel ban on the entry of people
from high-risk areas "is not the best thing to do at this time."

Although the people’s health is more important than economic
benefits, it is not necessary to close the borders as the government continues
to conduct "strict surveillance," Otto said.

Airlines, hotels and tour operators are cooperating...

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (RNZI, April 30) - The Fiji Labor Party
has threatened to launch a High Court challenge if the Qarase government
overturns a Commerce Commission decision and gives Fiji Television a monopoly
license.

The Labor leader, former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, says
Fiji TV has benefited immensely from its monopoly over the years and therefore
should stand on its own feet and welcome opposition.

Chaudhry says there have been expressions of interest from
overseas companies to set up competitive television services in Fiji, which
would be the basis for a legal challenge.

The Commerce Commission had given Fiji TV 14 days to respond to
its initial determination that the monopoly license should be rejected based on
overwhelming public opposition.

Fiji TV did not respond but has sought until the end of May to
make further submissions.

Meanwhile, the company’s chief...

SAIPAN, CNMI (Saipan Tribune, April 29) - The Marianas Public
Lands Authority Board of Directors has granted the U.S. Navy's request to use a
portion of an inactive volcano crater on the remote island of Anatahan for
personnel combat, search, and rescue training for one year.

Anatahan is a small island – six miles long and two miles wide
– in the Norther Marianas chain. Located 75 miles north of Saipan, the
mountainous island is believed to have fewer than 30 residents.

MPLA Commissioner Henry S. Hofschneider said the board made the
decision during its regular meeting last Thursday following an assurance that
such an activity would not harm the public and the environment.

"The board decided to give them temporary revocable permit
for one year. We're working on the authorization now," Hofschneider said.

The military exercises may take place as soon as the permit is
released. "This is part of their...

SAIPAN, CNMI (Saipan Tribune, ) - With the plight of tourism
still bleak at April's end, the Marianas Visitors Authority yesterday disclosed
plans to strengthen markets on the U.S. mainland and Europe as Chinese arrivals
continue to be seriously affected by the suspension of flights from China to the
CNMI.

MVA chairman Dave Sablan said that arrivals from China, which
used to be the Commonwealth's surging market before the outbreak of SARS, has
practically zero arrivals this month.

"We have no one coming from China except for U.S.
citizens," Sablan said. "There is nothing we can do but comply with
our government."

The CNMI government has decided to indefinitely suspend China
Southern Air's flights from China to Tinian as a precautionary measure to
prevent the entry of SARS into the Commonwealth.

Sablan also said the impact on international travel by the
U.S.-led war against Iraq is expected...