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Alleges $2.5 million improperly paid to Utilities Corp.

By Aurea Gerundio-Dizon KOROR, Palau (Island Times, Jan. 31, 2012) – Palau Senators Tommy Remengesau Jr., Surangel Whipps Jr., Raynold Oilouch, Hokkons Baules and Camsek Chin requested documents from the minister of Finance with regard to the Republic’s US$16 million loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

In a letter to Vice President and Finance Min. Kerai Mariur dated January 27, the senators said they are aware that President Toribiong has decided to write off approximately $2.5 million in debt to Palau Public Utilities Corporation when the company was temporarily under the control of the executive branch.

Additionally, the senators said they are also aware that the president has publicly stated that he intends to utilize portion of the $16 million ADB loan to pay back the rest of the debt to PPUC, which was publicly stated to be approximately $3.2 million.The senators said that the ADB loan was...

Proposed 1 megawatt system could save $330,000 yearly

By Giff Johnson SAIPAN, CNMI (Marianas Variety, Feb. 1, 2012) – The government power utility in the Marshall Islands and Taiwan’s International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF) are in the initial stages of discussing a grant for installing a one-megawatt solar system for the capital, Majuro, to reduce reliance on diesel-fueled electricity.

This would be the largest urban solar project for the Marshall Islands, which has over the past 10 years focused donor-supported solar installations at the household level on remote outer islands.

Japan is mid-way through installing large solar panels on the roof of a portion of Majuro Hospital that when completed will provide about 300 kilowatts of power directly into the power grid.

The new plan with Taiwan is to install a solar panel array over the airport water reservoir pools and feed the power generated into the Majuro electricity grid.

"There...

‘Surplus’ should be passed on to customers: Lawmakers

By Fili Sagapolutele PAGO PAGO, American Samoa (The Samoa News, Jan. 30, 2012) – Lawmakers have reaffirmed their stand that any savings the American Samoa Power Authority gets from being a fuel supplier should be passed on to customers — not to pay down the line of credit for the fuel division. The fuel division appears to have profited during the first quarter of fiscal year 2012.

According to the ASPA first quarter performance report, the authority’s FY 2012 budget is $118.47 million (which was not approved by the Fono) with $34.41 million allocated to the fuel division.

For the first quarter — covering the period of Oct. 1-Dec. 31, 2011 — for the fuel division, total operating revenues (with no grants) were $10.53 million while operating expenditures were $9.75 million, leaving a surplus of $772,147.

And this so-called surplus was questioned by lawmakers when ASPA management team, headed by chief...

Asks that teachers do more to earn the increase

By Oyaol Ngirairikl HAGÅTÑA, Guam (Pacific Daily News, Feb. 1, 2012) – The governor is offering to increase teachers’ salaries in return for their help in supervising students in hallways and school cafeterias, cleaning classrooms, and other jobs that "the union forbids you from performing... that teachers across the country perform."

"I’d like to make a deal with you," he said in last night’s State of the Island Address at the Legislature. "If you take on (these) duties ... your pay will increase collectively by the amount saved within (the Department of Education’s) budget."

The comments about changing public school teachers’ duties and working conditions, classroom sizes, and other issues typically addressed by the teachers’ union contract roused some of the loudest applause from principals, administration personnel and others who attended the address held at the legislative Session Hall.

But those...