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Pacific Briefs
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Posted on Apr 16 2001
Guam facing big Compact Impact cuts
HAGATNA, Guam (PIR) — Millions of dollars of Guam’s share of compact impact funds from the United States could be cut if President Bush’s proposed budget for fiscal 2002 is passed.
Guam’s appropriations for compact aid would revert to $4.58 million, a move that would have serious implications for the island, said Congressman Robert Underwood.
The funds are compensation to Guam for the cost of education and social services provided to immigrants from the Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands and Republic of Palau.
The 1986 Compact of Free Association allows for open immigration from those countries to the United States.
University threatens closure over protests
JAKARTA, Indonesia (PIR) — The rector of the Jayapura Institute of Science and Technology threatened to close down the school following student protests demanding his resignation.
Moh Ali Kastella said the school would shut down if students continued their protests and threats to kill the lecturers.
The students began their protests last November 27, accusing Kastella of embezzling scholarship funds.
An investigation found no proof of the charges.
Samoa census planned for this year
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (PIR) — Samoa’s population counts, abandoned in 1996 because of a lack of funds, will take place this year using a $210,000 grant from Australia.
Although the census is legally required to be conducted every five years, the 1996 count was cancelled because of a lack of funds.
Training of some 1,300 officials will start at the end of this month and the census will take place at the end of the year.
Samoa’s population, according to the last census in 1991, was 170,000.
Tuvalu stamps commemorate fire tragedy
FUNAFUTI, Tuvalu (PIR) — A stamp set has been issued to commemorate the tragic fire that raged through the girls’ boarding school dormitory at Motufoua last year killing 18 people.
A percentage of the proceeds will be used to buy safety equipment for the Motufoua Secondary School.
The souvenir stamp sheet features a fire truck and the Motufoua school gate in the background.
