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HAGATNA, Guam (Pacific Daily News, April 1) - The Guam airport
agency's fee increases will cost Continental Micronesia $5 million in additional
expenses this year and may prod the airline to review the viability of
marginally profitable flights, an airline official said yesterday.

Airlines serving Guam already are struggling, in part because
wartime jitters and Japan's economic woes have dampened demand for travels to
the island. Japan Airlines and Continental Airlines have announced flight
reductions in some visitor markets.

The airlines encountered another economic turbulence last week
when the Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport Authority approved increases
in passenger fee and aircraft landing fee charges.

Airport Executive Manager William Thompson said Friday the
agency will implement the following fee changes beginning this month:

Wally Dias, staff vice president of sales and promotions at...

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (RNZI, April 1) - Australia says it has
offered voluntary repatriation to 95 Iraqis it is holding in its detention
center on Nauru after rejecting their application for refugee status.

The Australian Immigration Department says another 11 Iraqis,
who Australia classified as refugees, will be resettled when the United Nations
High Commissioner for Human Rights can find resettlement countries.

The offers come as the Australian military is fighting a
U.S.-led war in Iraq.

For about 18 months, Australia has been holding a 455 asylum
seekers on Nauru.

A department spokesperson says those who turn down voluntary
repatriation will remain on Nauru under the supervision of the International
Organization of Migration. The IOM is currently investigating options for those
who will not voluntarily return to Iraq.

Meanwhile, seven asylum seekers remain at the Australian
...

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa (PINA, March 31) - The United States
government will provide American Samoa $1.15 million this year to help the U.S.
territory prepare against terrorism or other public health emergencies.

The funding is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services’ $1.4 billion bioterrorism aid to states, territories and freely
associated states.

Department Secretary Tommy Thompson announced the distribution
of the funding in a statement from Washington, D.C.

Additionally, Thompson announced special provisions that would
allow participants to obtain up to 20 percent of their funding immediately to
support current activities. This includes smallpox vaccinations for selected
health workers.

Total funding to be provided for American Samoa is $1,154,824
with $553,313 for public health systems preparedness and $601,511 for hospital
preparedness.

Thompson said the agency...

HAGATNA, Guam (Pacific Daily News, April 1) - Bronze, life-size
statues of 11 former Guam governors and a former congressman were ordered by the
previous airport agency management at a price tag of $2.1 million, which has
been partially paid.

The statues were meant for a museum that was to be incorporated
into a VIP passenger lounge at the airport terminal, said Rolenda Lujan
Faasuamalie, a marketing official for the agency.

The statues and the VIP lounge were part of an estimated $5
million project that is now on hold primarily because of the cost, Faasuamalie
said.

Slightly more than $2 million has been spent on the statues and
the design for the VIP lounge, she said.

A breakdown of the money already spent on the statues was
unavailable as of press time but Faasuamalie said the total cost of the statues
will be $2.1 million when completed.

The bronze statues, made in South Korea, are in...