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By Nazario Rodriguez Jr.

SAIPAN, CNMI (Mariana Variety, Mar. 1) - A high-ranking official from the Asian Development Bank has extended full support for Palau’s economic development initiative as he spoke before participants of the just-concluded Economic Symposium at the Ngarachmayong Cultural Center.

Philip Erquiaga, Director General of ADB’s Pacific Department, said that such symposium incorporates a fully participatory approach to prepare the new National Master Development Plan and that ADB welcomes Palau’s commitment to self-reliance.

Erquiaga identified ADB’s vision of making Asia and Pacific free of poverty with the emphasis on ADB’s Strategy in the Pacific entitled "Responding to the Priorities of the Poor."

This strategy includes improving the environment for private sector development, improving people’s access to basic social services, improving the effectiveness of development processes, and improving governance.

Palau became a...

By Gemma Q. Casas

SAIPAN, CNMI (Mariana Variety, Mar. 1) - Governor Benigno R. Fitial has named Lieutenant Governor Timothy P. Villagomez head of the six-member special military task force that will negotiate with the U.S. Department of Defense.

The task force members are Representative Absalon Waki Jr., Covenant-Saipan; Microl Corporal’s general manager Michael Brennan; Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands chairwoman Lynn Knight; Strategic Economic Development Council co-chairman Bob Jones; and SEDC co-chairwoman Marian Aldan-Pierce.

Fitial said the task force will help his administration "meet the needs of the U.S. military’s expansion into our region."

He forwarded the names of the six to Rear Adm. Charles Leidig Jr., commander of the Naval Forces Marianas, who is also the U.S. military’s representative to Guam, the Northern Marianas, the Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau.

"Most of the members of this group are in the CNMI’...

SUVA, Fiji (Fiji Daily Post, Mar. 2) – The Pacific Concerns Resource Centre has labelled the human rights abuse by the military as bullying and total intimidation.

PCRC Director Tupou Vere said these were totally uncalled for and put the military in a negative light in the eyes of the public.

"Since the Interim Government is still ope­ra­ting under the 1997 Constitution, all these matters must be investigated by the legal authorities," Vere said.

[PIR editor’s note: The Pacific Concerns Resource Centre serves as the secretariat for the Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific Movement. Based in Suva, Fiji Islands, it represents 100 affiliated non-government and community organisations from around the Pacific.]

Vere said by definition it is not right for soldiers to do what they are doing under the Constitution, but we leave the final judgment to a court of law.

"Unfortunately, the public is fast losing confidence and faith in both the police and...

SUVA, Fiji (Fijilive, March 2) – Fiji's Interim Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry has announced a revised budget of FJ$1.379 billion [US$831 million] for 2007.

Chaudhry said the budget would be tough given the "extremely dire" state of the economy.

He said he was forced to stand before the nation and had the unenviable task of tackling the financial and economic challenges that have been with us for a long time.

According to Chaudhry, the challenges were neglected for six years because of poor financial management and governance.

He admitted that the revised budget would come as a bitter pill to swallow for many people but he was left with no choice.

"We are at a juncture where we either sink or swim as a nation. I intend to make sure that we swim.To do this we will have to make some sacrifices.We will need to address these challenges now," Chaudhry said.

He warned that if left to continue, these challenges would spell doom for the country...