Archive _{- April 2001}

JAKARTA, Indonesia (April 26, 2001 – Indonesian Observer/Antara/Kabar-Irian)---Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) researchers have discovered the existence of the endangered red ear slider (Trachemya Seripta Elegans) in the Borarsi area of Manokwari district in Indonesia's Irian Jaya province.

The freshwater turtle belongs to the world's biggest "Emydidae" family, besides those of "Geoemydae, Trynychidae, Kinosternidae" found in Central and South America, WWF researcher, Jhon Maturbongs, pointed out yesterday in Manokwari, Irian Jaya, as reported by Antara.

"Researchers have so far found two species of sliders in Indonesia - the 'trachemy scripta elegans' and the 'trachemy terrapen'," he said.

"They have also discovered startling new evidence that indeed the female slider has a higher shield than the male slider," he added with obvious enthusiasm. Jhon said the researchers have scored a second victory in this discovery, after their first when they found a slider,...

DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENT BOARD Cook Islands

April 27, 2001

The Cook Islands is flourishing as a tourist destination.  The industry is buoyant and the forecasts are very promising.

Demand for accommodation however is not being satisfied and there is an urgent need for more investment particularly at the high end of the market.

Escapa Developments Limited is a wholly locally owned company.  It is currently bringing to completion the construction phase of a 32 room four star hotel complex on Rarotonga’s premier site on Muri Beach.  This site has room for further development.  There is also a matching (2 ¼ acres) vacant property contiguous to it, which is on the market.

The demand for more accommodation combined with the outstanding location, land availability and quality of the current development are compelling reasons for canvassing the market, at this time, to determine whether there is investor interest in structuring an enterprise to embark...

MARSHALL ISLANDS’ JACKLICK HELD HONOLULU MEETING WITH U.S. MILITARY

HONOLULU, Hawai‘i (April 27, 2001 – Marshall Islands Journal)---The Marshall Islands and U.S. governments convened at U.S. Pacific Command Headquarters, Camp Smith, earlier this month for the annual High Level Joint Committee Meeting (JKCM). The JCM meetings are one of the mechanisms in the Compact (of Free Association) to address defense issues.

RMI delegation head, Minister Alvin Jacklick, conveyed the government’s openness to the U.S. government in addressing defense and security issues of mutual interest for both governments. The discussions on the key issues generally revolved around the RMI-US military relationship and the infrastructure and social well-being of the Ebeye community, a Foreign Ministry release said.

A positive outcome of the JCM meeting was a cooperation commitment made by the U.S. Departments of State, Defense and Interior to work with the RMI government toward addressing...

CHEMICAL WEAPONS DISPOSAL FACILITY

JOHNSTON ISLAND, Pacific Ocean (April 25, 2001 – U.S. Army)---The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region IX has granted the U.S. Army conditional approval of its plan for closing the Johnston Atoll Chemical Agent Disposal System (JACADS), the nation’s first facility designed for chemical weapons disposal.

The Army completed disposal operations at JACADS in November 2000 and has since been preparing to close the facility in accordance with environmental regulations.

To obtain full EPA approval, the Army will submit health and ecological risk assessment plans and sampling and analysis plans by mid-October to ensure that environmental standards are met.

Closure activities involve disposing of the facility‘s hazardous waste, cleaning the facility, sampling waste, and assessing risks for future use of the surrounding land areas.

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, which governs the management and...