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CONGRESSMAN ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD Delegate from Guam U.S. House of Representatives Washington, D.C.

NEWS RELEASE April 3, 2001

CONGRESSMAN UNDERWOOD TAKES UP GUAM ISSUES WITH PRESIDENT BUSH

As part of an 11-member Congressional Hispanic Caucus delegation, Congressman Robert A. Underwood today met with President George W. Bush and used the opportunity to talk about several Guam issues.

"We had a one-hour meeting with the President in the Cabinet room and most of us got a chance to reference our individual concerns, although the main subject of the meeting was immigration and education," Congressman Underwood said, adding that the President started the meeting by saying he was a little distracted and very much concerned about the Hainan island incident.

"So I reminded him that Guam is the most forward deployed U.S. area and that we stand ready to be of assistance in any way we can," the Congressman said. "I asked him not to forget how important...

By Gemma Q. Casas

SAIPAN, Northern Mariana Islands (April 3, 2001 - Marianas Variety/PINA Nius Online)---Alien workers who have to go back to their countries as the three-year-limit law takes effect will be given a grace period to leave the Northern Marianas, acting Labor and Immigration Secretary Antonio P. Sablan said.

Sablan said they will not require alien workers to leave immediately after the expiration of their contracts since other labor laws, particularly the Hiring Moratorium Act, must also be considered.

"If your contract expires, we don't expect you to leave tomorrow. That's not the law. The law says we either give 45 days or 15 days, depending on the situation," he said.

Practically all major industries in the Northern Marianas are against the new three-year-limit law for alien workers. They worry about its possible adverse effect to their businesses and the economy. The tourism and garment industries are especially dependent on workers...

NOUMÉA, New Caledonia (April 1, 2000 - Oceania Flash/SPC)---New Caledonia authorities announced the opening Sunday of the hunting season for the wild, fruit-eating pigeon. Locally, it is known as "notu."

The season will last only for the four weekends in April, the daily newspaper Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes reports, with each hunter allowed only five birds per day.

New Caledonia's notu (scientifically named "Ducula goliath"), which dwells in the main island's mountainous interior, is the largest pigeon species in the Pacific French territory.

It can reach 50 to 52 centimeters (about 20 inches) high and weigh up to 850 grams (about 1.9 pounds).

Both notus and bats feed exclusively on fruits (typically papayas and mangoes).

Last year, it was estimated that 1.5 notu would have been taken by the average hunter.

The hunt is also on for bats ("flying foxes"). The season is longer, from April 1 to June 30.

The limit is ten bats per day per...

LABASA, Fiji Islands (April 4, 2001 – Fiji’s Daily Post)---Condom sales have increased in Labasa after recent revelations of an increase in sexually transmitted diseases.

Kamal Nadan, the senior sales representative of the Labasa Drug Store, said a record number of condom sales was recorded in the past three weeks.

"We used to make very little sales on condoms every week. However, we are amused at the sudden increase in the demand on condoms."

According to a doctor at Labasa Hospital, the increase can be attributed to the increase in the number of HIV patients recorded at the hospital.

"It's encouraging to see more people using condoms nowadays, especially those in Labasa who used to think that HIV only existed in Viti Levu and not in Vanua Levu," the doctor said.

For additional reports from Fiji’s Daily Post, go to PACIFIC ISLANDS REPORT News/Information Links: Other News Resources/FijiLive....