French Polynesia to rescue ailing pearl industry<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The government said it will exercise more control over the production and export of black pearls, French Polynesia’s largest revenue export.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The industry has suffered recently from foreign competition and the discounting of prices on the international market.<\/p>\n
Fiji mahogany harvesting pact signed<\/p>\n
SUVA, Fiji\u00a0(PIR) — Local landowners and a U.S. investor signed a multi-million dollar agreement that would lead to the harvesting of mahogany.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Under the deal, landowners would receive $100 million and 3,000 new jobs would be created.<\/p>\n
The agreement, which would create a world-class timber industry in Fiji, still needs approval by the Great Council of Chiefs.<\/p>\n
A. Samoa eyes airlifting stranded Vietnamese<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Tauese said the move would have perpetuated the bad publicity American Samoa and Vietnam have received recently.<\/p>\n
He said it is Vietnam’s responsibility to transport the workers home.<\/p>\n
Possible WWII Japanese bunker unearthed<\/p>\n
TIYAN, Guam (PIR) — A World War II-era Japanese bunker was unearthed during excavation work at a former naval air station.<\/p>\n
The gray stone entrance of the bunker, located about 30 feet below a cliff, was hidden for decades by a landfill.<\/p>\n
The military was performing cleanup work on the former naval base before completely turning the land over to the local government.<\/p>\n
The base has been closed since 1993.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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