PACIFIC BRIEFS

French Polynesia to rescue ailing pearl industry

PAPE’ETE, French Polynesia (PIR) — The government announced that it will develop stricter standards for the export of black pearls in an effort to revive the French territory’s declining pearl industry.

The government said it will exercise more control over the production and export of black pearls, French Polynesia’s largest revenue export.

New rules would include a more stringent classification of black pearls and a ban on the export of pearls that do not meet higher quality standards.

The industry has suffered recently from foreign competition and the discounting of prices on the international market.

Fiji mahogany harvesting pact signed

SUVA, Fiji (PIR) — Local landowners and a U.S. investor signed a multi-million dollar agreement that would lead to the harvesting of mahogany.

The joint venture to harvest Fiji’s richest hardwood was signed betweenTailevu and Serua mahogany landowners, Vanua Levu Pine landowners and American Global Resources Investors.

Under the deal, landowners would receive $100 million and 3,000 new jobs would be created.

The agreement, which would create a world-class timber industry in Fiji, still needs approval by the Great Council of Chiefs.

A. Samoa eyes airlifting stranded Vietnamese

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa (PIR) — Officials considered dispatching a US military aircraft to evacuate the more than 200 Vietnamese workers stranded in the U.S. territory ever since the closure of Daewoosa Samoa garment factory in January.

That suggestion was raised during a meeting two weeks ago between Congressman Eni Faleomavaega, Gov. Tauese Sunia and US Ambassador to Vietnam, Le Van Bang.

Tauese said the move would have perpetuated the bad publicity American Samoa and Vietnam have received recently.

He said it is Vietnam’s responsibility to transport the workers home.

Possible WWII Japanese bunker unearthed

TIYAN, Guam (PIR) — A World War II-era Japanese bunker was unearthed during excavation work at a former naval air station.

The gray stone entrance of the bunker, located about 30 feet below a cliff, was hidden for decades by a landfill.

The military was performing cleanup work on the former naval base before completely turning the land over to the local government.

The base has been closed since 1993.