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By Bernadette H. Carreon

KOROR, Palau (Palau Horizon, Dec. 28) – President Tommy Remengesau has been invited to make a presentation at the Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts and Islands in Paris, France in January next year.

The forum was created at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa in September 2002.

The global forum, according to its Web site, aims to advance the interests of oceans, incorporating 72 percent of the Earth; coasts — the home of 50 percent of the world’s population; and islands — 43 of the world’s nations are small island developing states especially dependent on the oceans.

The Paris forum is expected to bring together ocean leaders from governments, inter-government and international organizations, non-government organizations, and the private sector to achieve the sustainable development of oceans, coasts, and islands.

As an island nation that gives importance to its ocean resources, Palau is...

By Nazario Rodriguez, Jr.

KOROR, Palau (Palau Horizon, Dec. 28) – The government’s capital improvement project manager Ric Mangham says US$200,000 will be needed to repair the damage to the Airai road caused by a major landslide because of heavy rains some two weeks ago.

The landslide, which occurred on December 15 during a heavy downpour, destroyed a water pipeline and inundated a big area in Ordomel, Airai.

[PIR editor’s note: Ordomel is the easternmost village in Airai State, which is located in the southern part of Palau’s largest island of Babledaob. The Palau International Airport is located in Airai State, but the road damage in Ordomel is farther east on the Airai road. Ordomel village is the central, or principal, village of Airai state.]

The Bureau of Public Works, through contractor Surangel & Sons Co., immediately restored the area’s water supply.

The bureau said the cost of the temporary repair is US$18,000.

Motorists were...

By Veronic Manuk

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (The National, Dec. 28) – A tour company owned by a former East New Britain provincial politician has taken the name of World War II Japanese naval hero, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto..

And it has done so with the blessing of the Japanese government through its embassy in Port Moresby.

Former ENB Premier Ereman Tobaining, who owns Yamamoto Landing Port Tours, conveyed his gratitude to the Japanese government through its embassy for allowing the use of Admiral Yamamoto’s name in his tourism company.

Mr Tobaining, himself a Second World War veteran, said the approval given by the embassy last Thursday was like a Christmas present for his people.

Admiral Yamamoto was the commander of the Japanese Imperial forces in the Pacific region during World War II.

The officer, who was generally regarded as Japan’s greatest naval strategist in the Second World War, landed and planned the Pacific campaign in...

By Gemma Q. Cassas

SAIPAN, CNMI (Marianas Variety, Dec. 28) – The U.S. Census Bureau says the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands population is projected to maintain double-digit growth and will reach 91,000 within the next five years.

The commonwealth’s neighboring island of Guam is projected to have a 14 percent population growth over the same period or from 155,000 people in 2000 to 181,000 in 2010.

According to the 2000 Census, the population of the Northern Marianas was 69,221 — with more than half being non-resident workers.

Despite the economic slowdown and the hiring moratorium law, the CNMI population grew by at least 2,000 people every year from 2001 to 2003, when it reached 76,000.

By 2010, the CNMI’s population is projected to grow by 23 percent and will total 91,000.

Census Bureau records show that the Northern Marianas had the smallest population among U.S. jurisdictions in 1970.

During that period, the islands...