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By Aldwin R. Fajardo

SAIPAN, Northern Mariana Islands (June 18, 1999 - Mariana Variety/Edited)---The CNMI government is preparing to release a complete and comprehensive study of Micronesian migration into the Northern Marianas under the provisions of the Compacts of Free Association, signed between the governments of the United States and the Freely Associated States (the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Palau).

Commerce Secretary Frank Villanueva has been named chairman of the committee that will review the impact of the Compacts on the Commonwealth government’s depleting coffers.

A complete report is expected to pave the way for the eventual reimbursement by the U.S. government of the expenses incurred by the CNMI in hosting thousands of Micronesian residents.

Villanueva said his department will work closely with the committee created by Governor Pedro P. Tenorio to complete, within the year, a comprehensive Compact impact...

U.S. Senator from Hawai‘i
Washington, D.C.

U.S. SENATOR FROM HAWAII INOUYE INTRODUCES CORAL REEF PROTECTION ACT OF 1999

NEWS RELEASE

June 28, 1999

United States Senator Daniel K. Inouye is pleased to announce the introduction of the Coral Reef Protection Act of 1999, a measure that would authorize appropriations totaling $100 million over a period of five years to preserve, sustain and restore the health of U.S. coral reef ecosystems and assist in the conservation and protection of coral reefs by supporting conservation programs. Additionally, this legislation would leverage the federal dollars appropriated for these purposes by establishing a formal mechanism for collecting and allocating matching monetary donations from the private sector to be used for coral reef conservation projects. This authorization would support the President's Lands Legacy Initiative; the Coral Reef Task Force, established last year by Presidential Executive Order; the...

APIA, Samoa (July 4, 1999 - PACNEWS)---Economic Ministers from South Pacific Forum countries met in Apia last week to review the implementation of the Forum Economic Action Plan and economic reforms.

This third meeting of economic ministers provided for a detailed sharing of practical experiences.

The Action Plan recognizes that private sector development is central to ensuring sustained economic growth, and that governments should focus on providing a policy environment to encourage commercial activity.

Ministers discussed a range of issues relating to good governance and public sector reform as well as the social and political impacts of reform.

There was strong support to further boost private sector development, especially in terms of education and training to enhance the quality and range of skills in the labor force.

In order to best implement economic reform programs, the Ministers adopted guidelines that included the need to focus on a...

SUVA, Fiji Islands (July 2, 1999 - PACNEWS)---A recent Fiji survey shows that more students are dropping out of school for a variety of reasons.

Save the Children’s Fund (SCF) recorded its findings in a book titled "Keeping Children in School," which was released in the Fiji capital, Suva, Thursday.

The book said more parental support is needed to stop young children from becoming school dropouts.

The yearlong research described in the book found that students stopped going to school primarily because of financial pressure, physical abuse and restricted access to senior classes.

In 1996, just over 6,400 students secondary school level students dropped out of school.

SCF administrator Irshad Ali said urgent steps must be taken to curb the increasing number of school dropouts and those involved in truancy during school hours.

In launching the book, Education Secretary Emitai Boladuadua said his Ministry would work with schools to impress on...