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PAPE‘ETE, French Polynesia (March 1, 2001 - Oceania Flash/SPC)---The first black pearls auction of the year in French Polynesia was deemed a disappointment due to low attendance by international buyers, the daily newspaper La Dépêche de Tahiti reports.

Tahiti Pearl Producers (TPP) President Franck Tehaamatai said that of 169 lots auctioned earlier this week, only 132 were sold. He also said the lots were sold at lower than expected prices.

The two-day sale at Pape'ete's Sheraton Hotel netted 608 million French Pacific Francs (US$ 4,735,619). Producers had anticipated netting 750 million CFP (US$ 5,841,636).

International buyers attending the auction came from Japan, Hong Kong, France, Spain, Australia, and Hawai‘i.

TPP embarked on a "clean-up" operation last year aimed at preserving high quality standards to deter the sale of cheaper, lower quality pearls.

Producers are now wondering whether they should lower their prices.

"Maybe we are...

KWAJALEIN, Marshall Islands (February 16, 2001 – Marshall Islands Journal)---Kwajalein is a "first class" scuba diving location with an unequaled combination of underwater sites with excellent visibility and related potential tourism infrastructure.

But an RMI Bistone Preservation Office report on underwater resources at Kwajalein by Matt Holly says that unregulated and unrestrained diving on historical sites by American residents of Kwajalein has stripped the numerous World War II vessels and planes of virtually everything of value.

The report says if the RMI government wants to develop Kwajalein as a major international dive center – which it could easily do – "it must first find a way to control Kwajalein divers, monitor and protect the sites, and prosecute the offenders."

"Since 1965, the start of sport diving on Kwajalein, these wrecks and sites have been methodically sought and found out, explored, culled, sifted, and stripped of the best. Then stripped...

HONIARA, Solomon Islands (March 1, 2001 - Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation/PINA Nius Online)---The former Isatabu Freedom Movement yesterday denied allegations that two former leaders went to the Western Provincial capital, Gizo, to buy guns and ammunition.

Peace Monitoring Council Chairman Sir Peter Kenilorea said Joe Sangu and George Gray told a meeting at the council’s headquarters that they traveled to Gizo on the request of the Solomon Islands government. But Kenilorea said the two did not travel to Gizo to buy guns.

The two said they attended a reconciliation ceremony with groups from Bougainville who were involved in an incident in Gizo last year.

Former Malaita Eagle Force commanders and representatives of the Police Field Force said the allegations have no basis.

Sergeant Manasseh Maelanga said the police force was completely satisfied that the visits were for reconciliation purposes.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitments to the...

NOTICE

SCHOLARSHIP FOR 2001-2002

The Heyum Endowment Fund was established by the late R. Renée Heyum, former Curator of the Pacific Collection, Hamilton Library, to assist Pacific Islanders receive education and/or training in Hawai'i. Qualified individuals are invited to apply for a scholarship in the amount of $3,000 for the 2001-2002 academic year. The first payment of $1,500 will be made at the beginning of the fall semester 2001. Contingent upon satisfactory academic performance, the second payment of $1,500 will be made at the beginning of the spring semester 2002.

Applicants must be indigenous to the islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, or Polynesia, enrolled for academic credit as graduate or undergraduate students at a campus of the University of Hawai'i. Pacific Island students enrolled in non-credit education and/or training programs may also be considered for assistance. The selection committee will review each applicant's academic performance,...