Pacific Islands Report

Guam GDP tops

HAGATNA, Guam — The territory’s per capita gross domestic product, $18,766, remains highest among the six main U.S. associated states and territories in the Pacific.

A Bank of Hawaii report also shows that Guam is followed by the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas with $8,367.

GDP is the broadest measure of economic activity and encompasses consumer spending, investment, and price (inflation) indexes.
The major sources of income for Guam and the Marianas are tourism, trade and services.

Pacific conflicts pose a risk

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Phil Goff said political tension in Indonesia’s West Papua region is at risk of escalating into open conflict.

In a speech to the Council of Trade Unions conference, Goff also said the Pacific’s tranquil and friendly image has been shattered by political unrest in Fiji and the Solomon Islands this year.

Goff said that governments, trade unions and non-governmental organizations need to promote democratic structures and governments in the South Pacific.

Marshall Islands cuts copra price

MAJURO, Marshall Islands — Copra prices have been cut 20 percent due to plunging world prices for coconut oil.

Tobolar Copra Processing Authority general manager Mike Slinger said bumper copra crops in the Philippines and Indonesia this year have resulted in a glut of coconut oil on the world market.

The world market price for coconut oil dropped from a high of 35 cents per pound a year ago to its current level of 16 cents per pound.

Copra is the main source of income for the 17,000 Marshall Islanders who live on remote outer atolls.

PNG to establish award system

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea — The government will establish its own award system to replace the current honors conferred by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.

The highest award will be known as the Order of Papua New Guinea, which will be bestowed on only 30 living persons at any one time.

The honor will be bestowed by the Head of State acting on the advice of the National Executive Council with recommendations from the Honors and Awards Committee.

West Papua islands shark haven

JAKARTA, Indonesia — The Aju Islands located off the northern coast of Sorong district in West Papua have the world’s largest shark population, according to a study by the Worldwide Fund for Nature.

The Aju Islands has a total of 2,000 acres of land and 150,000 acres of reefs and consists of 13 small resource rich islands.

The islands’ waters are abundant in various species of reef fish, sharks, and green turtles, which are often targeted by fishermen hunting for shark fins.

Scientists say the Aju Islands should be turned into a conservation area to protect it from destructive fishing.