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RAROTONGA, Cook Islands (Cook Islands News, May 27) - Many non-governmental organizations are expected to benefit from new European Union funding in the next financial year.

A total of $1.6 million has been pledged by the EU towards the Outer Island Development Program.

The money is not listed as aid in the new budget, as it is destined for specific causes, according to Don Beer Jr., chairman of the budget committee.

"It is separated from the aid schedule for reasons of transparency," he explained. "The EU has to agree exactly what the money will be spent on before it is appropriated and it is all part of a dedicated program for the outer islands."

Some $700,000 will go to the Ministry Of Health for medical equipment in the outer islands.

A further $500,000 will go towards educational developments and $200,000 has been earmarked for human resources.

$67,800 will go to CIANGO, while other specific causes in the outer islands will receive a...

RAROTONGA, Cook Islands (Cook Islands News, May 27) - The prime minister's advisor, Member of Parliament Norman George, says the public should not be misled into thinking that by donating money to an appeal to help a group of people in a defamation case, one is helping the group's democratic rights "to question and expose corruption."

George and Prime Minister Dr Robert Woonton are pursuing defamation claims of $5.5 million against several people, including Temu Okotai, Nick Henry, June Baudinet, George Pitt, Norm Allan, and entities within the Pitt Media Group, relating to controversial millionaire Mark Lyon being granted permission late last year to live in the Cook Islands.

"I'm not against their right to protest or having free speech," says George in response to a media release, which appeared in yesterday's paper, stating that the Concerned Citizens Group had been set up to raise funds to help cover legal costs for the accused. "But we are accusing them [the...

PAPE'ETE, Tahiti (Oceania Flash, June 2) - Wallis and Futuna's representative in the French Senate, Robert Laufoaulu, has sent a message of support to French Polynesia's member of the French Upper House, Gaston Flosse, following the outcome of recent general elections on May 23.

The election results came as a surprise as Flosse's party, the Tahoreraa Huiraatira, which was tipped to retain its large majority in the 57-seat Assembly, can only rely on 28 seats, one short of a majority.

Flosse's major opponent, Oscar Temaru's pro-independence Tavini Huiraatira, now has 27 seats and two minor parties have last week announced they would support him to form French Polynesia's next government.

The two key seats holders who chose to support Temaru are Nicole Bouteau (a former minister in Flosse's governments) for the No Oe E Te Nunaa party and Philippe Schyle for the Fetia Api (pro-autonomy).

French Polynesia's incumbent President Gaston Flosse's office, on...

By Gene Park

HAGATNA, Guam (Pacific Daily News, June 4) - A former elected official was awarded a $28,254 government contract in 2002 to develop a Chamorro-English dictionary, but a draft of the dictionary has not been submitted, an audit report released yesterday states.

The Office of the Public Auditor released its report on the first audit of the 4-year-old Department of Chamorro Affairs, which also found that:

· The then-administrator of the Chamorro Language and Cultural Division had been moonlighting at a local gym on government time before he was terminated last month in light of the discovery.

· A 50-percent advance of $6,270 for a financial-services-related contract was paid to a vendor whose business nature was repairing copy machines and cash registers and installation of computer software. An official of the business said yesterday he was unaware of any contract with Chamorro Affairs.

· $25,000 that was meant for cleaning restrooms...