Articles Search

Announcement made after meetings between US, Japanese officials

By Steve Limtiaco

HAGÅTÑA, Guam (Pacific Daily News, Oct. 4, 2013) – The Associated Press yesterday reported that Japan will pay about $3.1 billion of the cost to relocate U.S. Marines from bases in Okinawa to Guam.

The announcement, which came yesterday at the close of high-level meetings between U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, and their Japanese counterparts, is consistent with the amount cited by officials last year.

When the military realignment and Guam buildup first was announced in 2006, it had an estimated price tag of $10.3 billion, with Japan footing $6.1 billion of the cost.

But the agreement between Japan and the United States changed, and last year officials announced Japan would contribute only $3.1 billion to the Guam move.

The U.S. military's most recent price estimate for the Japan and regional realignment is $12.1...

Way cleared for competition regulation in territory

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, Oct. 3, 2013) – The French National Assembly has unanimously approved an updated organic law for New Caledonia, allowing the territory to set up independent administrative authorities.

The law, which had already been approved by the Senate, clears the way for the establishment of a competition regulator, which has been awaited to help fight the high cost of living.

The overseas territories minister, Victorin Lurel, has hailed the tenth law revision, saying it comes at a crucial time as the territory will hold provincial elections next year.

The text also gives the president of the government additional powers in term of civil security and confers to the territory more control over mining.

Researchers find less sharks, large schools of fish than expected

NUKUALOFA, Tonga (Matangi Tonga, Oct. 3, 2013) – Tonga has some phenomenally beautiful reefs but there is a new concern about overfishing, which is evident in some areas, according to the findings of a reef expedition undertaken over the last month.

Tonga’s coral reefs in most parts are healthy but there are places where they are damaged, said a Chief Scientist who was concerned with the low number of large fish due to overfishing and recommended more marine protected areas with tougher fishing regulations to ensure the recovery of damaged reefs and to bring back more fish.

Andrew Brukner led the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation Global Reef Expedition in Ha‘apai, Vava‘u and Niuatoputapu for 28-days and carried out research on the health and resilience of coral reefs, including habitat mapping. They will make recommendations on how Tonga can preserve the resources.

At a...

DOE to review report, create master facilities plan

By Louella Losinio

HAGÅTÑA, Guam (Marianas Variety Guam, Oct. 4, 2013) – A Department of Interior (DOI)-funded assessment report by the Army Corps of Engineers has identified approximately $90 million in deferred maintenance costs throughout the Guam Department of Education (GDOE) school system.

The assessment report, which also included an energy audit, was completed during the last quarter of 2012. As part of the process, the Army Corps of Engineers visited and evaluated 35 GDOE schools, excluding the five leased schools under the public school education system.

According to GDOE Superintendent Jon Fernandez, because of the department's recent roof investment, the maintenance cost is probably closer to $80 million.

"But that is still a significant amount," he emphasized.

The report noted that deferred maintenance (DM) work refers to maintenance and repair activities that should have...