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Wed
26
Jun
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Cooks Government Accused Of Avoiding Investigation

Submitted by admin on Wed, 06/26/2013 - 00:00

Trader, Customs department implicated in import scheme

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, June 25, 2013) –Cook Islands MP Norman George has accused the government of not being fully committed to investigating a system which saved the country’s biggest company millions of dollars in import duty fees.

He says the scheme between the Cook Islands Trading Company and Customs from the mid 1980s until 2009 meant other companies suffered because they couldn’t compete.

An Audit Office investigation uncovered the arrangement and a report was tabled in parliament in 2011 but the government has only recently approved a review of the scheme by the Public Accounts Committee.

Mr. George tabled a motion last year asking for a Royal Commission of inquiry which would look into the recovery of funds, possible political corruption and the role of the company, but says it still hasn’t been addressed.

"The government of the day have been dodging...

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Wed
12
Jun
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Tonga To See Improved Internet Access In August

Submitted by admin on Wed, 06/12/2013 - 00:00

PM: affordable connectivity will lead to economic opportunities

NUKUALOFA, Tonga (Matangi Tonga, June 11, 2013) – Tonga's high speed internet is expected to be launched on August 5, after a multi-million dollar submarine fiber optic cable network goes live. The landing of the first cable in Tonga was celebrated this morning in Sopu after the arrival of the 'Ile de Re' French cable ship from Fiji, on June 10.

About 200 people attended a ceremony in front of the cable landing station at Sopu. The French Cable Ship Ile de Re, laid the fiber optic cable over 827 kilometers from Fiji to Tonga in 10 days. As the ship steered closer to shore, the Cable was delivered to its undersea position by a computerized led buoy. The symbolic buoy, illustrating the names "Tonga Cable Limited" and "Alcatel-Lucent" was cut under sea by divers and presented to the Prime Minister.

Alcatel-Lucent is a French submarine fiber-optics company who last year won the contract to lay the...

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Thu
20
Jun
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Tourism Authority Expecting More Visitors To Niue

Submitted by admin on Thu, 06/20/2013 - 00:00

Air New Zealand has added additional flight to island

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, June 19, 2013) – The chair of the Niue Tourism Board, Teresa Scott, says it is forecasting a 30 percent increase in passenger arrivals this year thanks to the additional flight to the island, introduced two months ago.

Air New Zealand agreed to make an extra trip each fortnight during the high season from April to October, on top of its weekly flight.

Teresa Scott says while some of the new flights had low bookings in April and May, it was still classified as the shoulder season and forward bookings from now to December are healthy.

"We always expected that it’s going to take a while for people to pick and know that we have the additional flights so a marketing trend has to happen there as well so that wasn’t entirely unexpected but certainly the bookings for the winter period for even the additional flights are looking quite good at this point...

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Wed
05
Jun
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Chinese Nationals Attempt To Enter Guam

Submitted by admin on Wed, 06/05/2013 - 00:00

Pacific Islands Development Program, East-West Center With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies, University of Hawai‘i

Illegally
2 minors, three adults allegedly crossed waters from CNMI

By Gaynor Dumat-ol Daleno

HAGÅTÑA, Guam (Pacific Daily News, June 5, 2013) – A Guam National Wildlife Refuge park ranger foiled an attempt by a group of five Chinese nationals to enter Guam illegally through Ritidian beach yesterday morning.

A 2-year-old and a 14-year-old, the children's parents, and a second man survived their journey from the Northern Mariana Islands amid yesterday's rough seas.

All five appeared to be in good health, although the two men were suffering from minor sunburn, stated Virginia Kice, western regional communications director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The group was suspected of using a small inflatable boat powered by an outboard motor to enter Guam. The boat came from the Northern...

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Fri
07
Jun
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Concurrent Elections Suggested For Solomon

Submitted by admin on Fri, 06/07/2013 - 00:00

Pacific Islands Development Program, East-West Center With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies, University of Hawai‘i

Islands
Combined national, provincial polls would cut costs: premier

By Charley Piringi

HONIARA, Solomon Islands (Solomon Star, June 6, 2013) – A prominent provincial premier says national and provincial elections in the Solomon Islands should be held concurrently to save costs.

Choiseul premier Jackson Kiloe offered the suggestion as his province prepares to go to the polls in September.

"Would it make a lot of sense and save a lot of dollars if all the provincial elections (including Honiara city elections) and the national general elections are harmonized and held all at once?" he asked.

"Currently elections for these different levels of governments are governed under varying legislations and under different ministries and commissions. Why not make them all come under the Electoral Commission?

"...

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Wed
12
Jun
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Defense Department Employees Face Furloughs On Guam

Submitted by admin on Wed, 06/12/2013 - 00:00

Some Joint Region Marianas workers may be exempted

By Frank Whitman

HAGÅTÑA, Guam (Marianas Variety Guam, June 12, 2013) – Of the 2,200 Department of Defense (DOD) civilian employees on Guam, about 1,800 are expected to be impacted by the furlough policy announced by Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel on May 14, according to Cmdr. Leslie Hull-Ryde, Defense Department spokesperson for personnel and readiness. Civilian employees who are not exempt will be furloughed one day a week for up to 11 weeks beginning July 8.

"[Hagel’s] furlough memo referenced the very dynamic environment," Hull-Ryde said. "I do expect the exceptions numbers may change as employees just received their proposed notices."

Furlough proposal notices were delivered to individual employees subject to furloughs from May 28 to June 5. Employees are given at least seven calendar days from when the proposal was received to answer orally and/or in writing the proposal notice and furnish...

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Thu
27
Jun
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Leveling Of Administrative Salaries Discussed In CNMI

Submitted by admin on Thu, 06/27/2013 - 00:00

House committee chairman calls for uniformity in compensation

By Emmanuel T. Erediano

SAIPAN, CNMI (Marianas Variety, June 27, 2013) – The House Ways and Means Committee wants to work with the Northern Marianas’ Inos administration in closing the gap between the salaries of autonomous agency heads and those of central government department leaders.

On its third day of reviewing the governor’s fiscal year 2014 budget proposal, the committee noted the higher salaries of those heading the autonomous agencies compared to the department secretaries and other officials of the executive branch.

The proposed FY ‘14 salaries of the Commonwealth Ports Authority (CPA) executive director is $90,000; the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. (CHC) chief executive officer, $96,000; the Public School System (PSS) commissioner, $90,000; the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. (CUC) executive director, $120,000; and the Retirement Fund administrator, $70,000.

Committee Chairman...

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Mon
24
Jun
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Solomons’ Premiers Told RAMSI Police To Remain

Submitted by admin on Mon, 06/24/2013 - 00:00

Solomons’ Premiers Told RAMSI Police To Remain Police to stay for 4 more years to assist local counterparts

By Elliot Dawea

HONIARA, Solomon Islands (Solomon Star, June 24, 2013) – RAMSI’s Participating Police Force will remain to help their local counterparts when the regional assistance mission winds down next month, provincial premiers were told.

Special coordinator Nicholas Coppel highlighted this when he addressed the premiers’ conference in Gizo, last Wednesday.

Coppel said RAMSI’s military component will leave around July-August 2013, but the police will remain for another four years.

"The Participating Police Force will retain its armed capability to back up the RSIPF where needed and as requested," the RAMSI chief added.

He said over the next four years RAMSI will continue to provide training and support to the RSIPF especially in leadership development, public order management, logistics, human resources and administration....

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Thu
27
Jun
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New Police Maritime Facility Opened In Vanuatu

Submitted by admin on Thu, 06/27/2013 - 00:00

Australia thanked for providing 25 years of support

By Glenda Shing

PORT VILA, Vanuatu (Vanuatu Daily Post, June 26, 2013) – The new Vt45 million [US$461,538] Police Maritime Wing workshop facility was officially opened by the Commissioner of Police, Arthur Caulton Friday.

It is the Australian Defence Cooperation Program’s (DCP) latest aid project to the Vanuatu Police Force and the purpose built facility will be a great asset to the Police Maritime Wing as it incorporates an open plan engineering workshop area, safety workshop equipment, electrical workshop, storage areas, a classroom, a kitchen and a change room.

In his speech, Commissioner Caulton acknowledged DCP which has been working alongside the Police Maritime Wing to build capacity and to improve maritime security for over 25 years.

"Starting with the donation of RVS Tukoro in 1985, DCP has continuously provided training, equipment and advice to the Police Maritime Wing to enhance...

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Tue
25
Jun
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Acting Vanuatu PM Orders State Vehicles Be Seized

Submitted by admin on Tue, 06/25/2013 - 00:00

Chinese-donated vehicles to be reallocated by authorities

By Jonas Cullwick

PORT VILA, Vanuatu (Vanuatu Daily Post, June 24, 2013) –Acting Prime Minister Ralph Regenvanu has instructed the Commissioner of Police to arrest all official black vehicles donated by the People’s Republic of China that are being driven by various officials except those driven by the ministers.

The instruction follows the Acting Prime Minister’s earlier instruction to all Ministers, Director Generals (DGs), and First Political Advisers (1st PAs) that all such vehicles were to be returned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by 4:30pm yesterday for re-allocation.

And it was aimed to implement a Council of Ministers decision made recently.

At the same time, Regenvanu has ordered the Commissioner of Police to repossess a Pajero G1 black official vehicle that was shipped to Malekula by the former Prime Minister, Sato Kilman and which continues to remain at his residence to date...

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