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By Moneth G. Deposa

SAIPAN, CNMI (Marianas Variety, Jan. 7) –The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) House of Representatives has passed the fiscal year 2008 budget bill, which now heads to the Senate.

The House version amounts to $168.7 million and it was passed by a 14-2 vote on Saturday.

According to the CNMI Constitution, an appropriation bill cannot be enacted between a regular general election and the second Monday of January of the following year unless passed by the affirmative vote of three-fourths of the members of each house of the Legislature.

At least 14 of the 18 House members and seven of the nine senators have to vote for the passage of the budget bill before it can reach the governor.

The Senate is scheduled to hold a session today.

On Saturday, outgoing Reps. Cinta M. Kaipat, Covenant-Saipan, and Absalon Waki, Covenant-Saipan, were the only members who voted against the budget bill’s passage.

Rep....

KOROR, Palau (Palau Horizon, Jan. 7) — Tourists request to have a nice white sand beach where they can swim and relax during their stay at Palau Royal Resort [PRR] will finally become a reality as the construction of the hotel’s beach expansion will already start today (January 2).

Socio Micronesia Inc. to which the project has been awarded to will start its marine works tomorrow for the construction of beach and breakwater including the improvement of boat channel fronting the hotel.

PRR management believed that the construction of a nice white sand beach would enhance the hotel¡_s attraction to tourists.

Jesse Tsai, PRR financial comptroller said the expansion of their beach which could be over 100 meters of incomparable powdery fine white sand would soon be the hotel¡_s main attraction that would provide recreation for their guests.

PRR being at the heart of Koror has been tagged as city hotel thus the management is doing its best to provide all the...

Editorial

Fiji Times

SUVA. Fiji (Jan. 6) – Never before in the history of this nation has the Fiji Attorney-General held a portfolio dealing with matters other than the law and the judiciary.

Ever since the first elected government, led by the late Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, the Attorney-General has been a distinguished lawyer.

In a number of cases, the person chosen to assume that mantle was also given the title, Minister for Justice.

The Cabinet reshuffle announced by interim Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama on Friday has set a dangerous precedent.

Interim Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum is responsible for Public Enterprise, Electoral Reform and Anti-Corruption.

While we applaud the downsizing of the interim administration, it is pertinent to point out that consolidating the portfolios of electoral reform, public enterprise and anti-corruption is an unwise move.

We do not, at this stage, wish to discuss the capabilities...

By Elizabeth Vuvu

SUVA, Fiji (Fiji Times, Jan. 7) - Food is running out at the Manus police cells, which is overcrowded and described as very unhygienic.

The cells are overcrowded with more than 40 inmates, most of whom are prisoners convicted in last November’s National Court circuit but have not been transferred to the Kerevat jail in East New Britain as ordered by the court.

Since the closure of the Manus jail last year, prisoners that are sentenced and convicted by the National Court in Manus are transferred to Kerevat.

Provincial police commander Senior Inspector Alex N’drasal told The National yesterday that the situation had been prolonged, and were frustrating police, who now have to deal with both remandees and convicted prisoners.

N’drasal said that only six dedicated Correctional Service officers were helping police officers while the rest were doing their own things while still being on the payroll.

"We have been told by the...