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Unable to raise full $2 million

By Raymond A. Martinez

SAIPAN, CNMI (Marianas Variety, April 7, 2008) – Commonwealth Utilities Corp. Executive Director Anthony C. Guerrero says they still don’t have enough money to pay for the 25,000 barrels of fuel CUC ordered from Mobil.

Guerrero said CUC was only able to pay Mobil $1.5 million, and they were still waiting for the administration to provide the remaining balance of $2 million.

"As of Friday, CUC still wasn’t able to gather assistance from the administration," he stated. "Right now, it doesn’t have the cash."

According to Guerrero, the $1.5 million payment to Mobil was able to purchase 11,000 barrels of fuel which are "roughly enough fuel for two weeks" for CUC’s power plant facilities.

The fuel, he added, is for Power Plant 1 but this will leave Power Plant 4, Tinian and Rota without fuel supply.

Guerrero said CUC has already "exhausted every thing for Mobil," and has not enough...

Air New Zealand cuts flight from L.A. to Rarotonga

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, April 6, 2008) – The Cook Islands Government says it has been left out in the cold by Air New Zealand’s decision to discontinue a second weekly flight from Los Angeles to Rarotonga in the peak December/March period.

The Tourism Minister, Wilkie Rasmussen, says the flights, for which his Government helps cover revenue shortfalls, are worth millions to the industry.

Mr Rasmussen says they have decided to ask Air New Zealand to entertain the idea of other routes.

"We now wish to speak with Air New Zealand for a flight to come through Australia to here, to the Cook Islands, and we have got West Jet which is a smaller company in Canada, North America, which has shown some interest in flying through to the Cook Islands. So we have got several options that we have to talk about. Basically we want to address the fact that our tourism revenue will be...

Infrastructure needed for health, education and more

By Therese Hart

SAIPAN, CNMI (Marianas Variety, April 7, 2008) – Guam Governor Felix Camacho and Lt. Gov. Mike Cruz, last Friday held a meeting of the Civilian/Military Task Force regarding preparations to submit Guam's funding needs to the federal government's fiscal year 2010 budget.

Members of the 12 sub-committees of the C/MTF are preparing a consolidated Guam budget that the governor will submit to Congress by the end of April, according Carlotta Leon Guerrero.

The budget includes funding requirements to make infrastructure improvements and fund growth needs for education, health care, and safety, administrative and indigent programs.

"The federal government has a duty to ensure this buildup benefits our entire community. We will make our case before Congress to fund the improvements our community needs in order to sustain economic growth and provide a better quality of life for our people...

Charges unlawful changes within Indigenous agency

SUVA, Fiji (Fijilive, April 6, 2008) – The two lawyers representing suspended Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) members will file its proposed judicial review in the High Court Monday legally challenging "unlawful" changes within the Department of Indigenous and Multi-Ethnic Affairs.

These changes include the various changes made to the Fijian Affairs Regulation and in particular, interim Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama’s self-appointment as chairman of the GCC.

The judicial review was scheduled to be filed February-end by Ratu Savenaca Komaisavai and Lautoka-based lawyer Kitione Vuataki.

Suva-based Komaisavai told Fijilive there were other issues that needed to be ironed out, which had been completed and would be filed on Monday April 7.

"We are ready to file the JR now so that will make up three legal cases against the interim Government," he said.