PAC - Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association articles from September 2006

PAC - Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association archives from September 2006

$1.6m for Forum leaders meeting.
September 1, 2006... 01 SEPTEMBER 2006 SUVA (Pacnews) - About $1.6million ( US$0.9 million) is needed to host the 37th Pacific Islands Forum meeting to be held in Fiji in October, says Foreign Affairs chief executive Isikeli Mataitoga, Fiji Times reports The...

K6million scam at Central Bank.
September 1, 2006... 01 SEPTEMBER 2006 PORT MORESBY(Pacnews) - The Bank of Papua New Guinea has suspended six very senior officers in managerial positions for allegedly embezzling about K6 million ( US$2 million) of state money. A reliable source close to the...

Tongans look at need for expanding human rights.
September 1, 2006... 01 SEPTEMBER 2006 NULUALOFA (Pacnews) - Although Tonga has basic human rights written into its constitution, there is still a need to include international human rights, delegates from civil society organisations learnt yesterday. Matangi...

NGOs plead for safer discipline methods.
September 1, 2006... 01 AUGUST 2006 SUVA (Pacnews) - Violence against children can be reduced in the region if a positive non-violence discipline method is used and adopted by parents, Director UNICEF Pacific Gillian Melsop, Fiji Live reports Speaking at the...

Amnesty for arms starts.
September 1, 2006... 01 SEPTEMBER 2006 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Security forces in Southern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea expect to collect a lot of illegal firearms during the state of emergency as the 30-day amnesty for firearms came into effect...

Why Forum Secretariat's woken up. And the new move to change the shape of regional organisations.
September 1, 2006... 01 SEPTEMBER 2006 SUVA (Pacnews) - You can't help but get the feeling that the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat goes to sleep after the annual leaders' summit. Then it awakes for a flurry of activity just a few months before another summit is...

Independence of judiciary questioned.
September 1, 2006... 01 SEPTEMBER 2006 HONIARA (Pacnews) - Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has described the courts proceedings on the commission of inquiry terms of reference, a "judicial farce". Mr Sogavare made the comments as he described the...

King receives political reform report.
September 1, 2006... 01 SEPTEMBER 2006 NUKUALOFA (Pacnews) - Tonga's National Committee for Political Reform (NCPR) has presented its 100 pages report to the King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV at Mercy Hospital in Auckland, last night, Matangi Tonga reports The new NCPR...

Samoan police probe damage to paper printing press.
September 1, 2006... 01 SEPTEMBER 2006 APIA (Pacnews) - Police are investigating a possible case of sabotage at the Samoa Observer newspaper, Radio Australia reports A vital hose on the printing press was cut through and several other bits of machinery were...

Refugees could pose many health risks.
September 1, 2006... 01 SEPTEMBER 2006 WELLINGTON (Pacnews) - New Zealanders could be at risk of syphilis, tuberculosis and other deadly diseases as well as HIV, after 1300 Zimbabweans entered the country without health checks, Stuff New Zealand reports ...

Police breaks up another drug trafficking ring.
September 1, 2006... 01 SEPTEMBER 2006 PAPEETE (Pacnews) - Another "ice" trafficking ring has been put to an end a few days ago by the Papeete Police, the French language daily "La Depeche de Tahiti" reported Tahiti Presse reports the main drug smuggler was a...

WCC questions role of member churches in the Pacific.
September 1, 2006... 01 SEPTEMBER 2006 GENEVA (Pacnews) - The World Council of Churches has again urged its 19 member churches in the Pacific region to revamp its role in fighting social injustices against its followers. The strong warning comes after a regional...

Youth body mooted at WCC.
September 1, 2006... 01 SEPTEMBER 2006 GENEVA (Pacnews) - A proposed youth body representing the membership of the World Council of Churches (WCC) has been recommended to the WCC's governing body, the central committee. The decision was taken at the WCC general...

Churches to learn climate change - Tevi.
September 1, 2006... 01 SEPTEMBER 2006 GENEVA (Pacnews) - A tool kit on climate change is being prepared for Pacific churches as part of an awareness programme on climate change. It's a joint initiative between the World Council of Churches (WCC Pacific office)...

Tahitian church stands up for the plight of poor people.
September 1, 2006... 01 SEPTEMBER 2006 GENEVA (Pacnews) - The head of one of French Polynesia's largest church denomination has exhorted other churches in the Pacific to remain committed to the fight against injustices against its members. "To try and align...

WCC central committee called to bring new life into the ecumenical movement.
September 1, 2006... 01 SEPTEMBER 2006 GENEVA (Pacnews) - A plea to "bring new life into the ecumenical movement" was issued by Rev. Dr Walter Altmann in his first report as World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee moderator. The central committee is...

SPC set to absorb other regional technical agencies under new proposal.
September 1, 2006... 01 SEPTEMBER 2006 NOUMEA(Pacnews) - The latest proposals for a new regional structure in the Pacific to help with the implementation of the Pacific Plan point to the Noumea headquartered Secretariat of the Pacific Community( SPC) becoming a...

Public servants must resign by October for poll.
September 1, 2006... 01 SEPTEMBER 2006 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews) - Public servants in Papua New Guinea intending to contest the 2007 general election have until next month to resign from the public service. Under the general orders of the Public services management...

French Polynesia and Fiji want to expand bilateral ties.
September 1, 2006... 01 SEPTEMBER 2006 PAPEETE (Pacnews) - French Polynesia and Fiji governments have sent strong signals towards strengthening bilateral ties. Fiji's Foreign Affairs and External Trade minister Kaliopate Tavola has met top officials from the...

Papuans ask for security for detained students.
September 1, 2006... 01 SEPTEMBER 2006 JAYAPURA (Pacnews) - Activists and church groups in Indonesia's Papua province are demanding security guarantees for nine West Papuan students being held in police custody in Jayapura, Radio New Zealand International reports....

Health workers continues to migrate.
September 1, 2006... 01 SEPTEMBER 2006 SUVA (Pacnews) - Bureaucracy and fatigue are the main reasons that skilled local health workers in Fiji are migrating overseas, a new study has revealed, Fiji Times reports. The study was carried out by Doctor Kimberley...

Samoa opposition leader says he's still running his party.
September 1, 2006... 01 SEPTEMBER 2006 APIA(Pacnews) - Samoa's opposition leader Le Mamea Ropati says he is still the elected leader of the Samoa Democratic United Party, despite the deputy leader claiming he has replaced him, Radio New Zealand International...

Mobile companies PCX and Digicel tussle continues.
September 4, 2006... 04 SEPTEMBER 2006 SUVA (Pacnews) - As Fiji's mobile telephony market shakes under the pressure of an imminent change and the two likely new operators-Digicel and PacificConnex-engaged in a possible legal face off, the chance of anyone winning...

French minister says Paris will stick to agreement over voter eligibility.
September 4, 2006... 04 SEPTEMBER 2006 NOUMEA (Pacnews) - The French agriculture and fisheries minister, Dominique Bussereau has told New Caledonia's anti-independence leaders that France will keep its word over restricting voter eligibility in line with the...

Offers from Malaysia gone begging: Envoy.
September 4, 2006... 04 SEPTEMBER 2006 PORT MORESBY(Pacnews) - Papua New Guinea misses out on far too many opportunities because its politicians and civil servants fail to respond to good offers, PNG's High Commissioner to Malaysia Peter Maginde said. Mr Maginde...

Protest against Taiwanese president to go ahead.
September 4, 2006... 04 SEPTEMBER 2006 TAIPEI(Pacnews) - The campaign to oust Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian gathered steam at the weekend with Taipei mayor Ma Ying- jeou conditionally approving a round- the-clock sit-in rally organised by the "one million...

Pacific Islanders lead saving Pacific Ocean expedition.
September 4, 2006... 04 SEPTEMBER 2006 MANILA(Pacnews) - Fiji islanders Lagi Toribau, Josephine Prasad and Nilesh Goundar are the frontliners in the Pacific leg of the Defending Our Oceans (DOO) tour. Mr Toribau is is the lead campaigner onboard the M. Y...

RMI and FSM asked to prepare for dwindling US financial aid.
September 4, 2006... 04 SEPTEMBER 2006 SAIPAN (Pacnews) - The United States Department of the Interior's Office of Insular Affairs is asking the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) and the Federated States of Micronesia ( FSM) to take advantage of the remaining...

Military submits proposal on Lebanon deployment.
September 4, 2006... 04 SEPTEMBER 2006 SUVA (Pacnews) - The Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) is now pursuing the possibility of sending a contingent for peacekeeping duties in Lebanon, Fiji Village reports. Fiji's foreign affairs chief executive officer Isikeli...

Three candidates for American Samoa's seat in US Congress.
September 4, 2006... 04 SEPTEMBER 2006 PAGOPAGO (Pacnews) - There are three candidates for American Samoa's seat in the US Congress. Nominations for the territory's elections in November closed on Friday (03 September) with few surprises in the list of...

Fijian man dies in battle.
September 4, 2006... 04 SEPTEMBER 2006 SUVA (Pacnews) - A Fijian serving in Afghanistan with the British Army was killed following clashes with insurgents, Fiji Times reports Ireland On Line website reported that Anare Draiva, a ranger with the Royal Irish...

New leader of Cook Islands Party looks forward to challenge.
September 4, 2006... 04 SEPTEMBER 2006 RARATONGA(Pacnews) - The opposition Cook Islands Party ( CIP) begins its election campaign for the first time in 40 years without Sir Geoffrey Henry after the veteran politician announced his resignation from politics last...

Samoa rugby player dies in training at sea.
September 4, 2006... 04 SEPTEMBER 2006 APIA (Pacnews) - Samoan police are investigating the death of rugby player. Foe Roma Finau, who was a member of the Manu Samoa Sevens rugby team was suspected to have drowned while the team was in training over the weekend,...

Pacific solidarity thrown into disarray.
September 4, 2006... 04 SEPTEMBER 2006 SUVA(Pacnews) - Concerns are growing that the key bargaining chip for the islands of the Pacific with the European Union (EU) is fast eroding. This follows a decision by the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Kiribati...

Pacific church leaders demand relocation of WCC Pacific desk.
September 4, 2006... 04 SEPTEMBER 2006 GENEVA (Pacnews) - Three years after its relocation to the Pacific, there are moves to return the World Council of Churches (WCC) Pacific office back to Geneva. At least that's what church leaders in the Pacific want,...

Solomons to raise interference with Australian counterpart.
September 4, 2006... 04 SEPTEMBER 2006 HONIARA(Pacnews) - Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare says he'll raise the issue of alleged Australian interference in his country's judicial system with Prime Minister John Howard, Australian Associated Press...

Samoa's deputy speaker rejects opposition leadership change.
September 4, 2006... 04 SEPTEMBER 2006 APIA (Pacnews) - Samoa's deputy speaker of parliament, La'auli Leuatea Polataivao, says he has rejected a letter from the Samoa Democratic United party( SDUP) deputy leader, Asiata Sale'imoa Va'ai, notifying his office of the...

Women may get right to register husband's land.
September 4, 2006... 04 SEPTEMBER 2006 NUKUALOFA (Pacnews) - The Tongan government is not about to give women land rights but they are looking at how to give women the right to register the land of the husband, the Prime Minister Dr Feleti Sevele said Matangi...

WCC focus on migration and its challenges to the church.
September 4, 2006... 04 SEPTEMBER 2006 GENEVA (Pacnews) - In the coming seven years, one of the main priority areas for the World Council of Churches (WCC) would be to deal with the impact of migration on its member churches world wide. In a report to the WCC...

WCC pursue compensation for nuclear test veterans in the Pacific.
September 4, 2006... 04 SEPTEMBER 2006 GENEVA (Pacnews) - One of the priority work for the World Council of Churches (WCC) in the Pacific in the next seven years is to further the compensation campaign for nuclear testing victims in three Pacific countries. WCC...

WCC still relevant - Reverend John Doom.
September 4, 2006... 04 SEPTEMBER 2006 GENEVA (Pacnews) - The work of the World Council of Churches is still relevant in the Pacific, argues Reverend John Doom, president of WCC Pacific. His comment comes in light of moves to relocate the Pacific office to...

Taiwan holds first summit with Pacific allies to consolidate ties.
September 5, 2006... 05 SEPTEMBER 2006 KOROR (Pacnews)-Taiwan held its first summit with its six Pacific allies on Monday (04 September) as Taipei struggles to prevent its remaining 24 allies from switching diplomatic recognition to China, The Rawstory reports....

PNG 'must own its failure'.
September 5, 2006... 05 SEPTEMBER 2006 PORT MORESBY(Pacnews)- Papua New Guinea can't blame its former "colonial master," Australia, for its failures since independence, former prime minister Mekere Morauta said yesterday, News. Com. Au reports. The country must...

NGO says many Pacific sex workers brought into region illegally and forced into prostitution.
September 5, 2006... 05 SEPTEMBER 2006 SUVA (Pacnews)-The Fiji-based Women's Crisis Centre says many women forced into the sex trade are in the region illegally, Radio New Zealand International reports. Officials say more and more women mostly of Chinese origin...

HIV/AIDS challenges for WCC.
September 5, 2006... 05 SEPTEMBER 2006 (Pacnews)-Pacific churches have the led the way in 'putting a face' to the fight against the deadly HIV/AIDS. One of the major recommendations of the World Council of Churches (WCC) public issues committee was the need for...

Pacific churches to go up one notch in care and support of HIV/AIDS.
September 5, 2006... 05 SEPTEMBER 2006 GENEVA (Pacnews)- Pacific churches will go up another level in the care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS. In the next seven years, the World Council of Churches (WCC) through its office in the Pacific will embark on...

Tuvalu pushes for climate change action.
September 5, 2006... 05 SEPTEMBER 2006 GENEVA (Pacnews)-Tuvalu's vulnerabilities to climate change has again been raised as a major concern for Pacific countries represented at the World Council of Churches central committee meeting now underway in Geneva. The...

Taiwan basks in South Pacific recognition.
September 5, 2006... 05 SEPTEMBER 2006 KOROR (Pacnews)- Taiwan has pledged more than $10 million in aid and promised other assistance to a group of Pacific nations that recognise it over China, in a bid to solidify ties with its dwindling pool of allies, Reuters...

Drug scam uncovered.
September 5, 2006... 05 SEPTEMBER 2006 BUKA (Pacnews)-Health workers in Bougainville and East New Britain province are alleged to be collaborating in illegal sales of government medical drugs in the provinces. Post Courier reports some of the prominent people in...

Forum to discuss labour mobility.
September 5, 2006... 05 SEPTEMBER 2006 SUVA (Pacnews)- The controversial debate on the labor mobility or seasonal work scheme for Pacific Islanders to Australia will be explored by Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting in Fiji next month., Fiji Broadcasting...

Samoa to introduce new policy on making birth certificates.
September 5, 2006... 05 SEPTEMBER 2006 APIA (Pacnews)- Samoa's Ministry of Finance in charge of the office for registration of births, marriages, and deaths, will soon introduce a new policy for making birth certificates The Registrar of the office, Levaopolo...

Air Vanuatu's financial woes not new.
September 5, 2006... 05 SEPTEMBER 2006 PORT VILLA (Pacnews)-The office of Vanuatu's Prime Minister has stated that Air Vanuatu's financial woes is not new and existed during previous governments., Radio New Zealand International reports This follows a call by...

Government callous to sufferings of women: Amnesty International.
September 5, 2006... 05 SEPTEMBER 2006 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews)- Violence against women is becoming so pervasive that it impedes national development and contributes to the spread of HIV/AIDS, National reports. This is because the Government has been unable to...

Make use of the unskilled: Dr Luthria.
September 5, 2006... 05 SEPTEMBER 2006 SUVA (Pacnews)- Proposed labour mobility schemes for the region should be extended to unskilled workers, says a senior World Bank economist, Fiji Times reports. Doctor Manjula Luthria of the World Bank's East Asia and...

Prime minister warns hoteliers to stop threats.
September 5, 2006... 05 SEPTEMBER 2006 SUVA(Pacnews)- Fiji's Prime minister Laisenia Qarase has warned Fiji Islands Hotel and Tourism Association to stop making threats and give landowners what is due them., Fiji Village reports He made the comments...

Solomon Islands creates Oceania soccer history.
September 5, 2006... 05 SEPTEMBER 2006 HONIARA(Pacnews)- Solomon Islands is the first Oceania team beside regional giants Australia and New Zealand to qualify for a FIFA world championship event, Radio Australia reports The 'Solo' beach soccer side defeated a...

Chuukese community in CNMI to file protest against new election law.
September 5, 2006... 05 SEPTEMBER 2006 PHONPEI (Pacnews)- The Chuukese community in the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands(CNMI)will file a formal complaint against its own government for failing to include the CNMI among the designated polling areas in next...

NZ and Japan urged to resolve whaling.
September 6, 2006... 06 SEPTEMBER 2006 APIA (Pacnews)- Samoa's Prime Minister believes New Zealand and Japan should resolve their differences over whaling., New Zealand Herald reports Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said the two countries had different...

Uniting Church in Australia take up Tuvalu cause.
September 6, 2006... 06 SEPTEMBER 2006 GENEVA (Pacnews)- Australia's Uniting Church (UC) will continue to give priority to the concerns of the people of Tuvalu on the impact of rising sea level. Church president, Reverend Gregor Henderson told PACNEWS in Geneva...

Nauru president denies loan repayment exemption request.
September 6, 2006... 06 SEPTEMBER 2006 YAREN(Pacnews)- Nauru's President Ludwig Scotty has confirmed that he stayed in Taiwan for four days in late August, but denied asking the Taiwanese Government to exempt Nauru from repaying a loan of US$4 million, China Post...

Power system needs to be completely replaced.
September 6, 2006... 06 SEPT 2006 ALOFI (Pacnews)-The head of the Niue Power Corporation says the country's entire power system needs to be replaced, Radio New Zealand International reports The corporation's general manager, Speedo Hetutu, was speaking after the...

Migrant churches from the Pacific welcomed by Australia.
September 6, 2006... 05 SEPTEMBER 2006 GENEVA (Pacnews)-The Uniting Church in Australia says migrant churches from the Pacific have brought a new dimension to worship and fellowship. "They have brought a great deal of enrichment to the church. They bring with...

Young Samoan pastor serves on WCC executive board.
September 6, 2006... 05 OCTOBER 2006 GENEVA (Pacnews)- It's an honour and a blessing from God to serve as an executive representing the Pacific at the World Council of Churches (WCC), said Reverend Sanele Lavatai of the Methodist Church of Samoa. He plays an...

Military for Lebanon.
September 6, 2006... 06 SEPTEMBER 2006 SUVA (Pacnews)-Fiji and other member countries of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon have been given less than three months to decide whether to join the deployment of 15,000 soldiers there, Fiji Times reports. ...

Review of structure of force a priority for new police commissioner.
September 6, 2006... 06 SEPTEMBER 2006 PORT VILLA (Pacnews)- Vanuatu's new Police Commissioner says one of his priorities in the role will be to review the structure of the Police Force. Lieutenant Colonel Patu Navoko Lui of the paramilitary Vanuatu Mobile Force...

Push for one land court.
September 6, 2006... 06 SEPTEMBER 2006 PORT MORESBY(Pacnews)- The Papua New Guinea's National Land Development Taskforce has made a strong suggestion for the setting up of a single court system for all land dispute matters., Post Courier reports This proposed...

One billion lack clean drinking water: UN.
September 6, 2006... 06 SEPTEMBER 2006 GENEVA(Pacnews)- More than 1 billion people still have no clean water to drink as the international community falls far behind in its plan to halve their number by 2015, two UN agencies say, ABC reports. UNICEF and the...

Investors buy $2 million Cook Islands property.
September 6, 2006... 06 SEPTEMBER 2006 RARATONGA (Pacnews)-The New Zealand hotel developer Tim Tepaki has bought his first resort in the Cook Islands with a group of investors under the Unit Titles Act with more purchases planned. Mr Tepaki said up until now...

Taiwan allies issue Palau Declaration.
September 6, 2006... 06 SEPTEMBER 2006 KOROR (Pacnews)-Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian and the heads of state or government of Taiwan's six Pacific allies on Monday (04 September) signed a "Palau Declaration" to conclude the First Taiwan-Pacific Allies Summit...

Study shows American Samoa fono bypassed in spending.
September 7, 2006... 07 SEPTEMBER 2006 APIA (Pacnews)-An analysis of the American Samoa government's budget for the last five years by Senate staff shows that the executive branch has been spending millions of dollars in windfall revenues without Fono...

President admits receiving coupons.
September 7, 2006... 07 SEPTEMBER 2006 TAIPEI (Pacnews)- Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian has for the first time admitted that he has used other people's receipts to write off his official expenses and that his family accepted free coupons from a local businessman to...

West Papuans seek damages.
September 7, 2006... 07 SEPTEMBER 2006 JAYAPURA (Pacnews)- Six West Papuan villages along the Fly River boarder area are seeking damages for environmental pollution since operations at the Ok Tedi mine started in 1984, Post Courier reports The villagers in a...

New company to manage Tonga airports.
September 7, 2006... 07 SEPTEMBER 2006 NUKUALOFA (Pacnews) - A government-owned company, the Tonga Airports Ltd (TAL) will take over the management of all airports in Tonga on 01 January 2007, Matangi Tonga reports The Ministry of Civil Aviation stated that TAL...

Judge dismisses AG's challenge.
September 7, 2006... 07 SEPTEMBER 2006 HONIARA (Pacnews)- Solomon's High court judge has refused to remove two controversial terms of reference of the April riot inquiry, Solomon Star reports Instead, Justice John Brown yesterday dismissed the challenge mounted...

Confusion in Fiji over claims on UN Secretary General nomination.
September 7, 2006... 08 SEPTEMBER 2006 NEWYORK (Pacnews) - There is confusion in Fiji over claims by a Sri Lanka-born British lawmaker that the Pacific island nation is backing his candidacy for the position of U. N. Secretary-General. Fiji's foreign minister...

Strife in Pacific a problem: Fiji PM.
September 7, 2006... 08 SEPTEMBER 2006 CANBERRA (Pacnews) - Fiji's prime minister says governments need to work together to tackle the causes of civil strife in Pacific Islands countries before it occurs, Sydney Morning Herald reports. Prime Minister Laisenia...

Church leader rejects report from ICG that no genocide in province.
September 7, 2006... 08 SEPTEMBER 2006 JAYAPURA (Pacnews)-A church leader in Indonesia's Papua province has dismissed a report from the International Crisis Group (ICG) which said allegations genocide was occurring in the troubled province are wrong. Radio New...

Importing bananas to Niue sign of continuing impact of cyclone Heta.
September 7, 2006... 08 SEPTEMBER 2006 ALOFI (Pacnews)-Niue which once made much of its income from exporting bananas, is now importing the fruit, Radio New Zealand International reports. It is also bringing in other tropical foods such as mangoes and shop...

Sir Michael assures Venezuelan president of PNG backing.
September 7, 2006... 08 SEPTEMBER 2006 PORT MOREBY(Pacnews)-Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare has assured Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez of PNG's support for his country's bid to become a member of the United Nations Security Council., Post...

Taiwanese President fulfills dream with historic visit to Nauru.
September 7, 2006... 08 SEPTEMBER 2006 YAREN(Pacnews)- Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian stated on Wednesday (06 Sept) that his arrival in the Republic of Nauru fulfilled a dream while stressing the common Austronesian heritage between Taiwan and the Pacific...

President Chen says Taiwan to open jobs for Pacific allies workers.
September 7, 2006... 08 SEPTEMBER 2006 KOROR (Pacnews)-Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian said his government is opening opportunities for workers from its Pacific allies to work in Taiwan, Mariana Variety reports. President Chen said the intention to hire workers...

Government aborts pipeline plan.
September 7, 2006... 08 SEPTEMBER 2006 PORT MORESBY (Pacnews)- Papua New Guinea has aborted the multi-billion kina gas pipeline to the Queensland state of Australia, Post Courier reports The National Executive Council yesterday agreed to drop the deal that has...

Shutdown of govt offices draws mixed reactions.
September 7, 2006... 08 SEPTEMBER 2006 SAIPAN(Pacnews)- For the first time in its history, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands(CNMI) is shutting down most of its government offices today in accordance with Public Law 15-24 which declares 26 Friday in...

Reform loan used to pay civil servants.
September 7, 2006... 08 SEPTEMBER 2006 NUKUALOFA (Pacnews)-Tonga's US$8.2 million loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in 2002, earmarked for the government's economic and public sector reform programme has been nearly all spent on paying civil servants, the...