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130 could lose jobs amidst U.S. federal sequestration

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, March 25, 2013) – Workers at a missile testing range in the Marshall Islands are facing job losses as the United States government budget ’sequestration’ cut backs begin hitting home.

The U.S. ambassador to the Marshall Islands has briefed President Christopher Loeak and other elected leaders on the possibility that 15 percent of the Marshall Islands workforce at the Reagan Test Site at Kwajalein Atoll could lose their jobs.

The Foreign Minister Phillip Muller says 130 of the 900 Marshall Islands workers at the range could lose their jobs.

Mr. Muller also says they have been advised that some U.S. federal grants that support education and health programs in the Marshall Islands could be cutback in the wake of the sequestration that took effect from March the 1st when American lawmakers could not agree on a budget plan.

The U.S....

Three-quarter decision by voters can push bills through

By Indrani Krishna

SUVA, Fiji (Fijilive, March 25, 2013) – Fijians will have the right to change the country's Constitution via a referendum if there are no amendments made to the Draft Constitution which was made public last Thursday.

Moreover, a Bill for the amendment of the Constitution must be passed by Parliament in accordance with the following procedure that it read three times in Parliament, during the second and third reading it must be supported by at least three-quarters of the members of Parliament.

Furthermore, an interval of at least 30 days elapses between the second and third readings as each reading will be fully debated upon and the third reading of the Bill in Parliament does not take place until after the relevant standing committee has reported on the Bill to Parliament.

After...

Girls found more vulnerable to trafficking than boys

By Armstrong Saiyama

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (The National, March 25, 2013) – The domestic and transnational trafficking of adults and children is occurring at a high rate in Papua New Guinea for forced labor, sexual exploitation and domestic servitude, according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

IOM chief of mission Giuseppe Crocetti said this last Friday in Port Moresby during the launch of the country’s first report of human trafficking.

Titled "Trafficking in Persons and People Smuggling Baseline Data Assessment Report," it establishes a baseline assessment of current trafficking statistics in the National Capital District, the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, West Sepik and Western.

The report’s research was a partnership between the IOM, the Department of Justice and Attorney General and was funded by the United States government to combat human trafficking in...

Only $100,000 remaining to maintain current buses

By Moneth Deposa

SAIPAN, CNMI (Saipan Tribune, March 26, 2013) – Even as the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands’ Public School System (PSS) has been admitting a greater number of students, school buses that ferry public school students to and from schools will not increase following reports that PSS will not take delivery of any new vehicles this year.

PSS program manager for Federal Transit Authority (FTA) grants Jack Diaz disclosed yesterday that the system has only about $100,000 left for fleet maintenance, which came from American Reinvestment and Recovery Act grants in fiscal year 2012.

The remaining funds are barely enough for the school bus fleet's upkeep, which makes the acquisition of new schools buses totally out of the question.

Since the establishment of the Commonwealth Office of Public Transit Authority, PSS is no longer permitted to directly apply for grants from the...