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04
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NEW ZEALAND WORK RECRUITER SHOT DEAD IN

Submitted by admin on Wed, 01/04/2012 - 00:00

VANUATU
Dick Eade allegedly died from a land dispute matter

By Len Garae PORT VILA, Vanuatu (Vanuatu Daily Post, Jan. 2, 2012) – In Vanuatu, destiny seems to always dictate the fate of all good men and women and just when they have achieved or are about to achieve something big then something fatal happens. This is exactly what happened to New Zealander Champion of the Recognised Seasonal Employment (RSE) Scheme for workers from Vanuatu, Dick Eade.

The country’s first ever recruiter of workers for the RSE Scheme under his company called Man Power, was shot dead by a suspect who was one of his clients in a suspected land dispute outside the man’s house at Etas two days ago. His death marks him as the first expatriate to be shot and killed with a gun over a land dispute since independence 31 years ago.

Police Deputy Commissioner Arthur Caulton said the ni Vanuatu suspect who is from Aneityum appeared in court on a charge of intentional homicide yesterday...

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Wed
04
Jan
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CNMI FACES $370 MILLION CUMULATIVE DEFICIT

Submitted by admin on Wed, 01/04/2012 - 00:00

BUDGET
Total is 3x more than government’s current budget

By Haidee V. Eugenio SAIPAN, CNMI (Saipan Tribune, Jan. 4, 2012) – In the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), the US$25.8 million budget deficit in fiscal year 2011 brings the "estimated" total cumulative deficit to US$370 million-more than triple the government's current budget of US$102 million.

Press secretary Angel Demapan said yesterday that the US$370 million cumulative deficit includes the government's unpaid employer contributions to the NMI Retirement Fund.

Budget deficit is a combination of overspending and revenue shortfall.

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial told the Legislature that the government overspent by over US$25.2 million and had a revenue shortfall of US$565,456 in fiscal year 2011, at a time when the budget was US$122 million and despite the biweekly 16-hour work cuts, unpaid holidays for most government employees, and other austerity measures.

Demapan...

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Wed
04
Jan
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SOLOMONS PM ACCEPTS BRITISH ROYALS’ VISIT

Submitted by admin on Wed, 01/04/2012 - 00:00

REQUEST
As part of Queen Elizabeth’s 60th anniversary to the
throne

HONIARA, Solomon Islands (Solomon Times, Jan. 3, 2012) - Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo has formally accepted a request from Buckingham Palace for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to undertake a royal visit to Solomon Islands middle of this year.

In a letter to Buckingham Palace Mr Lilo acknowledged the request made in a letter dated 28th October 2011 from the Queen's Private Secretary Sir Christopher Geidvit.

The visit would be part of celebrations in the United Kingdom and throughout the world to mark the 60th anniversary of the ascension to the British Throne by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second.

The Prime Minister says that he welcomes the proposal for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to make a Royal visit to the Solomon Islands to represent the Queen and bring Her Majesty's good wishes to Solomon Islands during the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

The...

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Wed
04
Jan
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CNMI GOVERNOR FITIAL RUSHED TO EMERGENCY ROOM

Submitted by admin on Wed, 01/04/2012 - 00:00

‘Dizziness’ for 66 year-old official prompts trip to hospital

By Emmanuel T. Erediano SAIPAN, CNMI (Marianas Variety, Jan. 3, 2012) – In the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Governor Benigno R. Fitial was brought to the Commonwealth Health Center’s emergency room yesterday morning due to dizziness.

Although his blood pressure turned out to be normal, he had to stay in ER for a few hours of observation, Variety learned.

Two persons accompanied the governor — his security aide Jermaine Nekaifes and Lt. Gov. Eloy S. Inos.

Inos did not leave Fitial until he was assured that the governor was "okay."

The governor, who is known for his sense of humor, chatted with medical personnel while he was under observation.

Fitial was sent home a few minutes after Inos left.

Press Secretary Angel A. Demapan in an email late in the afternoon, said "the governor is doing fine now."

Demapan said Fitial "opted" to go to the...

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Wed
04
Jan
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PNG CORRUPTION TASK FORCE INVESTIGATES SOMARE

Submitted by admin on Wed, 01/04/2012 - 00:00

Sir Michael, retinue scrutinized for Singapore trip expenses

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PNG Post-Courier, Jan. 3, 2012) – Sir Michael Somare and Lady Veronica are among more than 30 public servants who are now under the Task Force Sweep Team investigations for money allegedly used in Singapore while the Grand Chief was undergoing medical treatment last year.

The investigation focuses on the use of almost K4 million [US$1,848,760] when Grand Chief Sir Michael was bed ridden in a Singapore hospital for three months. Among them is Chris Haiveta, who is now an executive in the O’Neill-Namah Government.

National Planning Minister Sam Basil announced on the eve of the New Year that the Task Force sweep team has been handed the confidential list which details the millions of kina money used. He said those on the list will soon be called upon to be questioned in the New Year.

Details of the expenses, according to a report by the Department of Prime Minister...

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Wed
04
Jan

BAN ON ALCOHOL DURING FESTIVE SEASONS IN PNG

Submitted by piradmin on Wed, 01/04/2012 - 00:00

Editorial

IS A MUST

The National

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (Jan. 3, 2012) – In Papua New Guinea (PNG), the decisions by some provinces to ban alcohol during the festive season are commendable.

Now the fever is catching on and others want to impose the ban in their communities, districts and provinces, after its relative success in the highlands during the past fortnight.

Southern Highlands Governor Anderson Agiru and Western Highlands’ Tom Olga have taken the lead to ban the sale and consumption of alcohol through the festive season and leading up to the 2012 general election campaigning and, hopefully, beyond.

Even the Baimanekane clan, in the Kunabau area of Chimbu’s Kerowagi district, has passed a New Year’s resolution to ban the production and drinking of home-brew in the area. Home-brew is equally as bad as other forms of alcohol.

While it will take some time to properly gauge the effect of the ban on the maintenance of law...

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Wed
04
Jan

GUAM’S PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION NEEDS IMPROVEMENTS

Submitted by piradmin on Wed, 01/04/2012 - 00:00

Editorial

GUAM’S PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION NEEDS IMPROVEMENTS

Pacific Daily News

HAGÅTÑA, Guam (Jan. 3, 2012) - If elected officials really want to help out the island's disadvantaged and people with disabilities, they need to make 2012 the year in which significant improvements are finally made to Guam's public transportation system.

The mass transit system has never been good. It's been plagued by limited routes, long waits for those needing a ride and other inefficiencies. But last year, things got even worse as the government of Guam financial crisis hit the Guam Regional Transit Authority hard.

The agency reduced its bus fleet from 15 to 10, and the buses providing services specifically for people with disabilities were cut from seven to just five. Bus services on Sundays and holidays were slashed, and the hours in which buses operate were reduced, as were the number of routes serviced.

These service reductions came at a time when the...

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Wed
04
Jan

GUAM GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO PROPERLY MAINTAIN

Submitted by piradmin on Wed, 01/04/2012 - 00:00

Editorial

SCHOOLS

Pacific Daily News

HAGÅTÑA, Guam (Jan. 4, 2012) – In Guam, the administration of Gov. Eddie Calvo is considering moving students from Untalan Middle School to a Tiyan campus owned by CoreTech International and once used as a temporary site for John F. Kennedy High School because of the middle school's poor condition.

Untalan Middle is a classic example of the government of Guam's inability to properly maintain its schools and other property. Moving students to a temporary campus while repairs are made at Untalan Middle is a temporary solution at best.

What's truly needed is for elected officials to ensure that the Guam Department of Education has the resources needed to properly maintain schools, and a commitment by the agency and the Guam Education Board to ensure maintenance is performed regularly.

Untalan Middle has a host of problems -- rotting and moldy wood shelter walkways; drainage issues that leave huge, deep...

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Thu
05
Jan
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SOMARE CAMP DEMANDS NO-CONFIDENCE VOTE

Submitted by admin on Thu, 01/05/2012 - 00:00

Move would pave way for early elections

MELBOURNE, Australia (Radio Australia, Jan. 3, 2012) – Supporters of veteran Papua New Guinea leader Sir Michael Somare have challenged current Prime Minister Peter O'Neill to resolve the country's constitutional crisis.

PNG still effectively has two governments.

One has the backing of the Supreme Court and is led by Sir Michael, while Mr. O'Neill's government has the support of Parliament and the Governor-General.

The Attorney-General in the Somare cabinet, Sir Arnold Amet, has urged Mr. O'Neill to allow Sir Michael to take his place as prime minister when Parliament resumes in two weeks.

"We are willing to go on the floor and you can move the motion of no confidence. But you must accede the ruling of the Supreme Court judgment, that Sir Michael is the prime minister – we are the executive government," Sir Arnold said.

"Then you have the numerical ability if that remains the same, to move the motion...

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Thu
05
Jan
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CNMI FOOD STAMP RECIPIENTS VICTIMS OF IMMIGRATION CHANGE

Submitted by admin on Thu, 01/05/2012 - 00:00

100 beneficiaries see delay in receiving vouchers

By Moneth Deposa SAIPAN, CNMI (Saipan Tribune, Jan. 5, 2012) – In the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), over 100 food stamp beneficiaries are experiencing a delay in the issuance of their vouchers due to a new policy that requires foreign parents to show proof that they are legally on island.

Saipan Tribune learned that since December, the local food stamp office has been requiring nonresident parents of U.S. citizen children who receive food stamp benefits to present their CW receipts from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service as proof that they have been petitioned for a CW permit by their employers.

Some of those affected by this new policy told Saipan Tribune yesterday that a large number of recipients have been denied their vouchers because of their inability to show a receipt from USCIS.

Swingly Ringlen, a case worker at the Nutrition Assistance Program office, confirmed this...

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