ADB presses islands to reform economies<\/p>\n
MELBOURNE, Australia (PIR) — Officials of the Asian Development Bank approved a new aid strategy for Pacific Island nation members the focuses on public sector reform and private development.<\/p>\n
Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu will undergo poverty reduction through social and infrastructure investments, the bank said.<\/p>\n
More private sector growth and financial restructuring is need for the Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga, officials said.<\/p>\n
The strategy for the atolls of Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Nauru and Tuvalu will focus on the establishment and expansion of trust funds.<\/p>\n
Fiji tourism report disputed<\/p>\n
SUVA, Fiji (PIR) — Recent reports of hotel workers losing their jobs have been gravely misinterpreted, said Tourism Minister Konisi Yabaki.<\/p>\n
The country’s tourism industry has made significant strides forward this year following the decline in visitor arrivals after the May coup, Yabaki said.<\/p>\n
The Fiji Visitors Bureau said tourist arrivals have improved significantly since last September after travel advisories by Australia and New Zealand were lifted.<\/p>\n
Still, the numbers are about half of what was recorded before the coup.<\/p>\n
US team to take WWII remains home<\/p>\n
PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PIR) — Twelve members of the US Army are in Milne Bay province to remove the remains of American soldiers who were killed during World War II.<\/p>\n
Local villagers discovered a bomber and ammunition along with human remains at a crash site, located in the province’s rugged eastern mountain range.<\/p>\n
The names of the airmen are not known.<\/p>\n
Milne Bay was a major Pacific battleground during World War II.<\/p>\n
Guam reviews Pohnpei food ban<\/p>\n
HAGATNA, Guam (PIR) — Health officials said more examination needs to be done in Pohnpei before they can lift a ban on imported food from the island state.<\/p>\n
Pohnpei was declared cholera-free last month following an epidemic that killed 20 people and sickened 3,800 people since last April.<\/p>\n
The last cholera case in Pohnpei was reported in January.<\/p>\n
There is a likelihood that the ban will be lifted, said Public Health Director Dennis Rodriguez.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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