Pacific

Food, commodities shortage on Rota finally ends

15:00 pm on 18 March 2014

People on the Northern Marianas island of Rota are set to replenish their supplies after improved sea conditions allowed a barge into port.

The last sea shipment of food and commodities was four months ago and supplies via air freight have caused price rises of up to 50 percent.

Stores are expected to be able to fill their shelves today or tomorrow after the arrival of the vessel in Rota's West Harbour.

It is carrying more than thirty containers of merchandise including rice, cooking oil, fuel and chlorine.

Rota's mayor Melchor Mendiola says the crisis is not really over until the island has a proper port.