Articles Search

HONIARA, Solomon Islands (Solomon Star, Sept. 27) - A fifteen-member Taiwan Mobile Medical Mission visited the Mini Hospital of Tulagi, Central Islands Province, Solomon Islands, on Monday to conduct medical examination of the locals.

The team includes doctors, nurses and experts.

Reports reaching Solomon Star said the team provided free medical services to the local people in the surrounding communities of Tulagi.

Medical services that have been rendered includes pediatrics, obstetrics, gynecology, internal medicine, dentistry, surgery, and orthopedics.

During the daylong visit the team also donated numerous kinds of medicine worth thousands of dollars to hundreds of local people.

It was highlighted that the local people were glad to see the coming of the medical mission because some of the sick patients who have suffered for a long time through some form of sickness had the chance to be treated or prescribed with medicine that are not normally...

SAIPAN, CNMI (Marianas Variety, October 2) – The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands will re-introduce a permanent residency program for individuals who invest at least US$200,000 in the commonwealth.

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial on Friday said the proposed residency program will be drafted by Oct. 15 and enacted through the legislative process.

He said the local residency program will target Japanese and Chinese investors.

At US$200,000 each, residency cards sold to 2,000 Chinese investors would yield US$400 million worth of investments, Fitial said.

"We should look into re-enacting the Residency Act and bring in investors. We will be selling residency only to investors…. We are looking at US$200,000 to US$250,000. This is not final yet," said Fitial.

"We want to make a condition that there should be a reinvestment. They cannot just run away (after making the investment)," he added.

Fitial said the CNMI’s first Residency Act was enacted...

By Moffat Mamu

HONIARA, Solomon Islands (Solomon Star, Sept. 28) - Work on the reconstruction of roads linking Solomon Islands’ Auki to some parts of Malaita is found to be progressing well.

This followed a visit to the road linking Auki and Fulisango yesterday by a RAMSI [Regional Assistance Mission Solomon Islands] and Community Sector Program delegation yesterday to Auki.

[PIR editor’s note: Auki, capital of the Solomon Islands province of Malaita, is on the island’s northwest coast.]

The delegation is led by RAMSI special coordinator James Batley. Work on the existing roads include re-leveling the road with solid gravel and rocks, and proper culvert.

The construction is part of a post conflict rehabilitation program carried out by the Australian government through the Community Sector Program (CSP).

The delegation included Mr. Batley, Stuart Schaeffer Deputy...

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, Oct. 1) – A New Zealand developer has secured the lease of government land near Apia for a seaside resort that includes a man-made island.

Developer Gordon Taylor has spent several years in difficult negotiations with government for lease of the land at Taumeasina. .

After the signing of the 80 year lease, Taylor promised to build a hotel better than the famous Aggie Grey’s or any other in the country,

The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Faumuina Liuga, signed for Government.

Mr Taylor said he was part Samoan and also has Tongan blood.

[PIR editor’s note: According to a July 2, 2004 story in the Samoa Observer, Taylor has spent several years in difficult negotiations with government for lease of the land at Taumeasina. .After the signing of the 80 year lease, Taylor promised to build a hotel better than the famous Aggie Grey’s or any other in the country.]

Story posted...