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Administration looking for ways to address pension bond

By Haidee V. Eugenio

SAIPAN, CNMI (Saipan Tribune, July 3, 2013) – Northern Marianas Gov. Eloy S. Inos proposed to lawmakers yesterday the creation of a "government-run, limited video lottery gaming on Saipan" that could be used for debt service for an up to $300 million pension obligation bond (POB), the authorization bill for which was signed by the governor also yesterday morning.

The initial effort involves placement of 200 video lottery terminals in selected hotels on Saipan.

The governor held a joint leadership meeting with members of the Senate and House of Representatives, along with Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP).

In the presence of lawmakers and the delegate, Inos signed the POB authorization bill, House Bill 18-50, House Draft 1 into Public Law 18-12.

The new law authorizes the Commonwealth Development Authority (CDA) to issue pension obligation bonds of up to $...

Government acquiring facilities for 2015 Pacific games

By Moua Omoa

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (The National, July 2, 2013) – The Motu Koita Assembly (MKA) will lose its home under the Papua New Guinea Government’s plan for the 2015 South Pacific Games.

The assembly is to lose its headquarters at the Sir Hubert Murray Stadium which is targeted for complete upgrading.

An eviction notice was served on the MKA and yesterday Prime Minister Peter O’Neill confirmed the facility would revert to the state.

The Government has offered K25 million [US$49,647] to MKA to relocate and build new offices for itself and O’Neill said the offer was still on the table.

MKA chairman Miria Ikupu would not have any of it.

"After sacrificing the majority of our land in the name of development for the country, we are now forced to give to the state the only asset we have left," Ikupu said yesterday.

"This is an unthinkable, unacceptable and...

Port Vila’s Olul says chiefs and youths now want seats, too

By Godwin Ligo

PORT VILA, Vanuatu (Vanuatu Daily Post, July 2, 2013) – Port Vila Mayor Reuben Olul, has strongly objected to the decision by Vanuatu’s national government to have certain reserved seats for women in the Port Vila Municipal Council.

Speaking to Daily Post, Olul said he understands that the Electoral Office has already prepared and presented the legal instruments to the State Law Office to be gazetted.

The mayor raised the concern because he said the chiefs and the youths have become aware of this and called on him to ask that they too (chiefs and youths) be granted reserved seats in the Port Vila Municipal Council.

"My understanding is that the legal instruments prepared by the Electoral Office for reserved seats for women are now with the State Law Office to be gazetted. Now the chiefs in Port Vila and the youths have been to see me and asking for the same favor.

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

News Release

Secretariat of the Pacific Community Suva, Fiji

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), in collaboration with the University of the South Pacific’s Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development (PACE-SD), organized a workshop on addressing and sustaining adaptation to climate change in rural communities through gender inclusive sustainable development on 24–28 June in Daku Village, Fiji.

The workshop brought together 12 local communities that are project sites for the PACE-SD Enhancing Climate Change Adaptation (ECCA) project funded by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID). Workshop participants shared ideas, experiences and best practices in climate change adaptation and worked to incorporate a gender perspective into ongoing adaptation...