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Inos: financial situation improving, but still risks federal funds

By Alexie Villegas Zotomayor

SAIPAN, CNMI (Marianas Variety, August 1, 2013) – Saying that extending the emergency declaration for the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. (CHC) will allow it to continue delivering critical services, Northern Marianas Gov. Eloy S. Inos signed Executive Order 2013-15 on Monday.

In signing the declaration, Inos stated that he intends "to enable CHC to continue to provide necessary services to the people of the commonwealth."

He said the declaration was necessary to protect the health and safety of all CNMI residents and visitors.

He noted that any disruption in services would pose a direct threat to the health and safety of the people.

The hospital, he said, is in arrears in payments to the vendors of equipment and supplies as well as utilities.

He recognized that CHC’s financial condition is improving; however, he said that its finances are...

Corporation’s refusal to negotiate unlawful: FTUC

By Reginald Chandar

SUVA, Fiji (Fijilive, July 31, 2013) – The Fiji Trades Union Congress (FTUC) says it fully supports the call of sugar workers and the Fiji Sugar and General Workers Union (FSGWU) for just wage increases.

FTUC president Daniel Urai said the action taken by the workers is legitimate and is within the confines of the laws of Fiji.

He said the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) has not acted within the law or the intent of the law in its blatant refusal to negotiate with the Union.

"It is time that the government takes some responsibility for the current impasse. The people of Fiji are aware and are not so gullible to chastise workers in their just struggle for a decent living."

"These workers have not received benefits in overtime payments and allowances due to them under their...

Education minister says district schools ‘equipped’ for students

By Sophie Budvietas

APIA, Samoa (Samoa Observer, July 30, 2013) – The Opposition Party has dismissed claims by Samoa’s Government that schools in rural areas are on par with their counterparts in town.

Speaking to the Samoa Observer, Palusalue Fa’apo II says that when you compare the schools in town to those out in the districts – the reality is they are not the same.

"I am talking from experience," says Palusalue. "When you talk to the families in the villages, all they want is to send their kids to the best school available.

"So I don’t take what the Chief Executive has been saying."

The "chief executive" in question is the CEO of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture, Matafeo Falanaipupu Aiafi.

Asked about transportation problems for students who live in rural villages, in relation to the new finishing times for government schools, Matafeo said the time has...

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

Analysis

By Professor Wendy Bacon

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (Pacific Scoop, July 31, 2013) – There was once a time when, if credible allegations were made to an Australian Labor minister of torture and abuse at a detention centre unfit to be a "dog kennel," he would not have vowed to send thousands more potential victims to the very same situation before conducting a "proper investigation of the facts."

But this weekend, as thousands of protesters called for a halt to the Rudd Government’s promise to send asylum seekers coming by boat to Papua New Guinea, denying them any chance to settle in Australia, the Minister for Immigration Tony Burke did just that.

Over two days the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) paid private company Toll Logistics to fly four planeloads laden with 40 containers of tents to Port...