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Signed several years ago, Compact languishing in Congress

By Giff Johnson

MAJURO, Marshall Islands (Marianas Variety, May 10, 2013) – Palau President Tommy Remengesau Jr. is meeting with federal officials this week in Washington, D.C. to push for passage of the U.S.-Palau Compact of Free Association.

Remengesau, who visited Majuro before departing for the United States, said the priority of his administration "is to work with the U.S. Congress to see that it gets passed."

The Compact was approved several years ago by U.S. State Department and Palauan negotiators, but it has languished in Congress because of ongoing U.S. deficit issues.

"The Compact has been a great success for Palau, and for a relationship between a big and powerful country with a small island developing nation," he said.

Remengesau said the lack of action in the U.S. Congress on the Compact is not because the U.S. government has lost faith in the Compact. "It’s a question...

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

Collaborate
Private hospital could keep specialists on-hand: Rodriguez

By Gaynor Dumat-ol Daleno

HAGÅTÑA, Guam (Pacific Daily News, June 6, 2013) – Officials involved in public-health policy on Guam had some suggestions on how the future private hospital could gain community support for the developer's proposed tax breaks.

Sen. Dennis Rodriguez Jr., chairman of the legislative health committee, suggested the Guam Regional Medical City's developer offer a guarantee that it will always have doctors who specialize in diseases that are some of the leading causes of death on the island.

Specialists in cancer care, cardiology, diabetes, neurology and autoimmune diseases are some of the people the hospital must guarantee to have on staff, Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said, in general, he supports the $219 million...

Former Fiji PM’s Abuse Of Office Charge Dropped Fiji anti-corruption body decides not to proceed further

By Mere Naleba

SUVA, Fiji (Fiji Times, June 27, 2013) – Former Fiji prime minister Laisenia Qarase can now live a normal life after the High Court in Suva yesterday discharged him from a charge of abuse of office.

This transpired after the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) filed a nolle prosequi for Mr. Qarase. A nolle prosequi is filed when the prosecution does not wish to proceed with the case any further.

Mr. Qarase was jointly charged with former Native Land Trust Board (NLTB) general manager Kalivati Bakani on one count of abuse of office while both Mr. Bakani and former NLTB director and chairman of the Vanua Development Corporation, Keni Dakuidreketi, were charged with four counts of fraudulent conversion.

The three men appeared before High Court judge Justice Janaka Bandara when FICAC lawyer Vincent Perera informed...

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

CNMI Government’s 2011 Deficit Recorded At $369.4 Million Government says recovery from decreasing revenues unlikely

By Haidee V. Eugenio

SAIPAN, CNMI (Saipan Tribune, June 7, 2013) – Despite the work hour cuts and other austerity measures in place at the time, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands government's total fund deficit climbed to almost $369.4 million in fiscal year 2011, from $316.7 million in 2010, newly released financial statement findings of independent auditing firm Deloitte & Touche LLC show.

The total fund deficit is triple the amount of the governor's proposed budget of $123.4 million for fiscal year 2014, which begins on Oct. 1.

In 2007, the total fund deficit was still below $200 million, Deloitte data shows.

The Deloitte report is addressed to Gov. Eloy S. Inos.

With...