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GOVERNOR'S SALARIES

By Fili Sagapolutele

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa (January 31, 2001 - PIDP/CPIS)---The governor and lieutenant governor of American Samoa will be awarded $30,000 increases to their annual salaries if legislation now in the territorial Senate is passed and becomes law.

The bill provides for the raising of the governor's base salary of $50,000 to $80,000 a year while the lieutenant governor's annual base salary would be raised from $45,000 to $75,000 a year.

Added to the salary increase amendments for both executive officials is a provision of vehicles "for executive, ceremonial duties and family use." Current law does not include the provision of vehicles for family use by either office holder.

The governor and lieutenant governor's salaries have not changed since the people of American Samoa first elected their own governor in 1977.

Separate legislation was also introduced in the Senate that calls for each elected former...

EDITORIAL

Honolulu Advertiser Honolulu, Hawaii

February 1, 2001

We welcome the leaders from the sprawling and diverse Pacific Island community now meeting at a two-day conference at the East-West Center.

Along with lingering problems with lack of resources, aid dependency, vulnerability to natural disasters, population, political and literacy problems, globalization is much on the minds of the 22 regional leaders attending the Sixth Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders. It’s not so much a matter of 8 million scattered islanders trying to hitch their wagons to this rising economic star, but rather of trying not to let it leave them behind at an ever-accelerating pace.

American interest in the Pacific community – money as well as attention – waned sharply with the fall of the Berlin Wall. Washington’s strategy was to deny this sweeping area to the Soviets, so once the threat was gone, so was the concern.

That vacuum is being filled in...

30–31 January 2001 Ala Moana Hotel Honolulu, Hawai‘i

COMMUNIQUÉ

The Sixth Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders was held at the Ala Moana Hotel, Honolulu, Hawai‘i, from 30–31 January 2001.

The following Leaders from the Pacific Island countries and territories attended the Conference: The Right Honorable Ratu Sir Kamisese K. T. Mara of Fiji; the Honorable Tauese P. F. Sunia, Governor of American Samoa; The Honorable Dr. Terepai Maoate, Prime Minister of the Cook Islands; His Excellency Leo A. Falcam, President of the Federated States of Micronesia; the Honorable Laisenia Qarase, Prime Minister of the Republic of Fiji; the Honorable Benjamin J. Cayetano, Governor of the State of Hawai‘i; Dr. Tetaua Taitai, Secretary to the Cabinet of the Republic of Kiribati; His Excellency Kessai H. Note, President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands; the Honorable Vinci Clodumar, Ambassador to the United Nations, Republic of Nauru; the Honorable Leopold Joredie, Vice-...

HONIARA, Solomon Islands (February 2, 2001 – Radio Australia)---In the Solomon Islands, a Fijian woman is in the hospital with gun shot wounds following a raid on a hotel in Honiara last night.

Police have confirmed that the woman was injured during an exchange of gunfire between police and criminals who took refuge in the hotel.

Radio Australia correspondent Dorothy Wickham reports from Honiara that the raid is the beginning of a police crackdown on crime, which resulted in all commercial banks closing their doors today.

"The beginning of a police crackdown on crime in the capital has left residents uneasy about a backlash. The main center of the town was empty early in the day but slowly shoppers ventured into the shops for their weekend groceries.

"Three commercial banks and the Central Bank of Solomon Islands closed today. A statement from the Central Bank urged everyone to respect banks, their staff and property. It said the banks will remain closed...