Pacific Region News

U.S. warns Marshalls on compact money

MAJURO, Marshall Islands –- U.S. Ambassador Joan Plaisted has urged government leaders to use remaining Compact of Free Association aid funding from Washington wisely because of increasingly close scrutiny by U.S. government officials.

She said both the U.S. and the Marshall Islands governments need to be prepared to answer “difficult questions” that will be asked by the U.S. Congress in upcoming hearings, the Marshall Islands Journal reported.

At the direction of the Congress, the General Accounting Office will conducting extensive audits in the Marshalls beginning later this month.

Congress is expected to ask what happened to the $1 billion U.S. taxpayers have provided since 1986, Plaisted said. “Why hasn’t it brought the people of the Marshall Islands more economic self-sufficiency?” she asked.

Compact funding assistance, which provides about $60 million annually to the Marshalls, will expire next year. Negotiations are in progress to conclude a new economic package

Palau senators to take drug tests

KOROR, Palau -– Because of a worsening national drug problem, senators say they will undergo drug testing to set an example for all government employees.

Senate President Seit Andres said the senators reached the consensus decision during a recent executive meeting.

“Despite severe penalties put in place, the problem has worsened, affecting mostly high school students,” Andres said.

The senators also are considering having staff participation in the drug testing, but only on a voluntary basis.

PNG projects $15-M tuna profits in 2000

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea –- Papua New Guinea expects to earn $15.1 million this year from South Korean and Taiwanese vessels that fish for skipjack and yellow fin tuna in PNG waters.

Fisheries and Marine Resources Minister Ron Ganarafo said the agreements were renewed last month following a protracted, two-year negotiating delay.

The new agreements allow 38 Taiwan fishing vessels and 26 from South Korea to fish in PNG waters.

French Polynesia pearl sale raises millions

PAPEETE, French Polynesia –- A French Polynesian black pearl producers’ auction sale has netted over $8 million.

About fifty of the world’s top international pearl marketing companies took part in the two-day sale. Japanese buyer Tasaki Shinju was the biggest bidder and purchased pearls worth over $2 million. (Pacific Islands Report)