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SUVA, Fiji (Radio Fiji/PINA, Jan. 6) - Nine of 11 prisoners now serving sentences in a special island prison off Suva for their involvement in the 2000 Fiji coup have applied to be let out.

They have sought compulsory supervision orders, a system where Fiji prisoners are allowed to finish their sentences staying at home under special rules.

Attorney-General Qoriniasi Bale said the applications would go through the Prisons Department system for assessment.

The department will assess each individual application first before it is submitted to the Minister for Justice for consideration and a decision on the issue.

Bale said as the Minister for Justice he has the power to release prisoners under Compulsory Supervision Orders.

Bale said certain conditions apply and these include the prisoners having to report to the local police station several times a week or to involve themselves in community work.

The nine who have applied are known to...

SAIPAN, CNMI (Marianas Variety, Jan. 7) - Representative Stanley T. Torres, R-Saipan and chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, says that as commonwealth government employees face hourly wage cuts and the Babauta administration has finally called for a cut in the size of government, the local garment industry should face the music and get ready to pay an increased user fee.

"For all the talk about generating additional revenues, there aren’t many examples so far," Torres said. "I have no doubt the community supports this and it’s time for everyone else to get in line."

That opportunity may arise soon, since the House is expected to take up the 1.3 percent proposed increase in the garment user’s fee as soon as today.

Torres said previous efforts to institute the increase have been beaten back by fierce lobbying by industry representatives as well as behind the scenes opposition by the Babauta administration.

"I hope that (Babauta) will be solidly...

MELBOURNE, Australia (Radio Australia, Jan. 6) - The United Nations has deployed a disaster assistance and coordination team to two cyclone-hit islands in the Solomon Islands.

The two-person team will liaise with national and international agencies to help determine the requirements of the 1,200 people affected by Cyclone Zoe.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has already provided a $US10,000 emergency grant for relief supplies and will continue to provide updates on the situation.

Australia has announced it will fund a third relief shipment to the area, after recently sending two boats laden with medical and food supplies.

The cyclone struck the island nation ten days ago, causing widespread damage on the islands of Tikopia and Anuta.

Radio Australia also reports that World Vision has launched an appeal hotline in Australia for the cyclone ravaged Solomans.

The aid organization says the latest assessment from...

MAJURO, Marshall Islands (Marianas Variety, Jan. 7) -Local business leaders predict that without government intervention, some of the largest locally owned retail firms in the Marshall Islands will be out of business within the year, victims of an increasing number of Asian-owned companies.

The pressure of dozens of recently opened businesses, a slow economy, the money drain out of the country, and unsupportive government policies are combining to put even the biggest Marshall Islands retail stores in jeopardy.

While most local businesspeople are reluctant to publicly discuss details, they say that in the next six months, changes among some of Majuro’s biggest retail operations are expected that would have been unthinkable just a handful of years ago.

And whether some of these large locally owned retail businesses survive another year in their present form may depend on the national government taking a proactive role and offering a financial bailout, say...