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SUVA, Fiji (PINA, Dec. 24) - Australia is bailing out the Nauru government by paying its public servants in the lead-up to Christmas.

Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer revealed the Christmas gift of A$1.2 million (US$890,000) to Nauru at a news conference during a visit to Fiji.

He made the announcement after being questioned about his request officials to prepare an options paper on what Australia can do to ensure the future of Nauru’s 10,000 people.

"Look, I’d be the first to admit it’s an ad-hoc decision, there is no question of that," he said.

While describing the suggestion of automatic Australian citizenship as fanciful, Downer said Nauru was in real financial difficulties.

"We do need to find medium-to-long-term solutions to the difficulties that Nauru is facing," he added.

December 26, 2003

By Liberty Dones

SAIPAN, CNMI (Saipan Tribune, Dec. 26) - The Public School System is asking the Legislature for a $44.8-milion budget for fiscal year 2005.

"That's the figure that we're discussing for the next school year," said Board of Education chairman Herman T. Guerrero.

The amount is $7 million more than the School System's present budget of $37.2 million.

The PSS currently operates on a continuing resolution due to the administration's veto of the Legislature- approved $213-million budget for 2004.

This, even as the BOE asked House Speaker Heinz Hofschneider to keep its funding level at $39.7 million for the current fiscal year. This level excludes a $1 million additional appropriation for the purchase of 10 school buses for PSS.

Hofschneider earlier said that the House leadership plans to redo the 2004 vetoed budget in consideration of two major items-money to...

By Giff Johnson

MAJURO, Marshall Islands (Marianas Variety, Dec. 26) — Six petitions for vote recounts were filed with the Marshall Islands chief electoral officer on Monday and Tuesday this week, with two presenting detailed allegations of voting improprieties.

Candidates have up to next week Monday to challenge this year’s national election results before final results are approved and winners can be sworn in.

Requests for recounts in four parliament races, one mayor and one council race were filed with Chief Electoral Officer Hemly Benjamin.

Assistant Attorney General Posesi Bloomfield, who has been advising Benjamin on election legalities, said Tuesday that he expected a decision to be issued later this week as to whether the electoral office will agree to any of the recount petitions.

He said although virtually every request for recounts in past Marshall Islands elections was...

By Giff Johnson

MAJURO, Marshall Islands (Marianas Variety, Dec. 26) — The Marshall Islands High Court on Thursday rejected Majuro Mayor Mudge Samuel’s attempt to halt certification of the local government election results.

"Any confusion that may occur resulting from the certification of the election results is far outweighed by the right of the constituents to have an operating local government," said Australian Judge Richard Hickson in his ruling that denied Samuel’s motion asking the High Court to order Chief Electoral Officer Hemly Benjamin to refrain from declaring final election results for mayor and council races in Majuro, the nation’s capital city.

Samuel had argued that Benjamin abused his discretion in disqualifying Samuel to run for reelection, adding "it would be against the public interest and the rights of the voters to allow the results of the council and mayoral elections...