Northern Marianas court ruling clears the way for auction of casino assets; Vanuatu mourns an independence leader; report says Kiribati is over-reliant on fishing income.
The assets of the Imperial Palace Saipan casino can now be auctioned off, after the Northern Marianas District Court lifted a stay on the limited receivership previously granted to its owner, Imperial Pacific International. August 2022 Photo: RNZ Pacific/ Mark Rabago
Vanuatu mourns independence leader
Vanuatu is mourning the loss of one of its fathers of independence, Sela Molisa.
Molisa passed away in Port Vila at the weekend and his funeral was held yesterday.
He was an MP from 1982 to 2012, and served four terms as Minister for Finance before taking up the post of Vanuatu's Ambassador to China.
US launches plan to strengthen its Pacific engagement
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has launched a five-year, multi-country strategy to strengthen its engagement in the Pacific.
Known as the Pacific Islands Strategic Framework, it runs from 2022 to 2027, directing foreign aid work in 12 Pacific Island countries.
The plan will enable the US's principal aid agency to partner with governments and civil society to carry out activities designed to advance a more democratic, prosperous, and resilient Pacific Islands region.
Acting mission director for USAID Philippines, Pacific Islands and Mongolia, Betty Chung, said USAID looked forward to continuing its close collaboration with Pacific Island countries in addressing unique and shared development challenges.
Casino assets to be auctioned off
Time is running out for Imperial Pacific International (IPI) after the Northern Marianas District Court lifted the stay on the limited receivership it had previously granted to the Hong Kong-based company.
That means Clear Management can proceed with its auction of the Saipan casino's assets from later this month.
Chief Judge Ramona Magalona said in her order that if IPI had any objections to items on the list of assets that would be sold, it must lodge them no later than 30 August.
In addition, IPI was ordered to pay the plaintiffs' legal fees.
Report says Kiribati needs to explore alternative revenue sources
A new study suggests Kiribati is over-reliant on income from access payments by distant water fishing fleets.
The country earns around 80 percent of its revenue from fees charged to tuna companies accessing its 3.5 million square kilometer exclusive economic zone.
The report - a joint Stimson Center and Kiribati government effort - says the island nation needs to open up to alternative revenue sources like tourism, while also urgently dealing with environmental woes and waste management.
The writers say efforts to diversify Kiribati's economy should include "developing sustainable coastal tourism and harnessing human capital by investing in green innovation".
FSM negotiating details of assistance agreement with US
The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is expecting to finalise the details of a new compact agreement with the United States by the end of the year.
Senior officials of both governments met in Washington last week to negotiate an agreement that would extend America's economic and other assistance to the nation.
The current annual assistance by the US Government to FSM under the Compact of Free Association is scheduled to expire in 2023.
FSM's chief negotiator, Leo Falcam said the two governments were "optimistic" an agreement would be reached later this year.