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Marshall Islands acting on passport sales
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Posted on Jan 28 2000
MAJURO, Marshall Islands – New Foreign Minister Alvin Jacklick said the previous government’s sale of passports damaged the Marshall Islands’ reputation and action is needed to resolve the matter, especially with the United States.
The government began selling hundreds of passports to Asians — primarily in China – in the mid-1990s, earning the country tens of millions of dollars.
The U.S. government lodged numerous complaints with Majuro, after many of those who bought passports tried to use them to enter the United States.
Announcements were made in 1996 that passport sales were halted, but Mr. Jacklick believes passport sales continued after that date.
India resumes Fiji scholarship program
SUVA, Fiji Islands – After a lapse of more than 10 years, India has resumed a scholarship program for college age Fiji students, almost half of whom are ethnic Indians.
The program will permit students to study for both undergraduate and graduate degrees at universities throughout India.
The resumption of the project follows the restoration of diplomatic ties between the two countries last year. Relations were severed following the Fiji military coup of 1987 that deposed an Indo-Fijian led government.
Increased Taiwan visitors to Guam
HAGATNA, Guam – The Guam Tourism Bureau in Taiwan has reported that a total of 41,444 Taiwanese tourists visited the island in 1999, up over 100 percent from 20,500 in 1998.
The bureau has attributed the sharp increase to Guam’s excellent 1999 weather and expanded tourism resources.
Nun celebrates 100th birthday
SUVA, Fiji Islands – French nun Sister Marie Theodore has spent 75 years as a missionary in Fiji and this week celebrated her 100th birthday.
She was sent to the remote island of Makagai in 1925, where she spent 16 years caring for babies at a leper colony.
She later went on to perform missionary work throughout the Fiji Islands. (Pacific Islands Report)
