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PALAU’S EDUCATIONAL SIGNS ENHANCE VISITOR EXPERIENCE

KOROR, Palau (Winter 2000 – Pacific Business Center News)---Visitors to natural and historical attractions can have their overall experience enhanced by the installation of interpretive signs.

Such signs provide historical and cultural information about the attraction and educate the visitor. Without such signage, visitors often leave a site without appreciating its significance or importance to local culture.

Recently the Palau Visitors Authority received 10 new interpretive signs from Imagineering, a local design firm in Palau. One of the signs is located in Koror at the Belau National Museum bai (clubhouse).

"Interpretive signs must integrate text, graphic elements and maps to communicate more, and communicate it in a dynamic and compelling way," said Imagineering’s Dave Mendoza.

"For these reasons, my partner Margie Mihlbauer and I based the design and product of the signs on the same...

HONIARA, Solomon Islands (January 31, 2000 – Radio Australia)---Solomons Islands Prime Minister Bartholomew Ulufa‘alu has warned Guadalcanal residents occupying property abandoned by Malaitans at the height of last year's ethnic tension on Guadalcanal, to leave.

Radio Australia correspondent George Atkin reports that the Prime Minister says the occupations are illegal, because the owners of the properties acquired them legally.

"Mr. Ulufa‘alu says the regional peace monitoring group has, as one of its new duties, a mandate to keep an eye on the properties.

"His announcement follows a demand by the Malaita Eagles Force that the government pay US$ 14 million within 90 days to compensate for lives and properties lost during the Guadalcanal ethnic battles last year.

"Mr. Ulufa‘alu says a committee has been formed to assess the value of the properties in question, but its work has been slowed because its members cannot travel freely on Guadalcanal, as true...

SUVA, Fiji Islands (January 31, 2000 – Radio Australia)---Fiji's national carrier, Air Pacific, reports that it could lose some $2 million as a result of the termination of an interline agreement with domestic carrier Air Fiji.

Radio Australia correspondent Ofa Kaukimoce reports from Suva.

"Until last week, Air Fiji was handling international bookings to all of Air Pacific routes.

"This is no longer the case as the interline agreement between the two airlines has been severed, reportedly because of tension over Air Fiji’s opening routes to Tuvalu and Tonga.

"This means that the national carrier will loose about $2 million in business from Air Fiji.

"In the meantime, Air Fiji is still handling the engineering work for Air Pacific at Suva's Nausori airport, which is bringing in about half a million dollars.

"Ofa Kaukimoce, Radio Australia, Suva."

For additional reports from Radio Australia, go to PACIFIC ISLANDS REPORT News/Information...

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (January 29, 2000 – Radio Australia)---The Papua New Guinea government says it expects to privatize its first state-owned enterprise early next year.

Pacific correspondent Kevin McQuillan reports that the government is planning to sell off telecommunications, electricity, harbors, water and aviation facilities.

"Prime Minister Sir Mekere Morauta says the first asset to be sold will be the majority shareholding in the finance and banking group, Finance Pacific. It will be sold by open competitive tender in the first half of 2001, with the remainder of shares to be sold a year later.

"This week, the Privatization Commission met with the International Advisory Group, consisting of Australia, New Zealand, the World Bank and the Friends of Papua New Guinea, which is advising the government on the way in which its assets will be sold.

"Sir Mekere says he'll be taking specific proposals to the Cabinet in the next two weeks, which...