The presentation series will kick off with “Indigenous Land Rights in the Pacific: Views from Hawaii and the South Pacific” starting at 9 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 18, at the Visitors Center Theater, American Memorial Park.
During this presentation, Van Dyke will examine a number of legal questions relating to indigenous rights during a talk entitled “Rights of Indigenous Peoples under U.S. and International Law.”
This will be followed by two presentations by Crocombe entitled “Constraints on Land Rights in the South Pacific” and “The Current Drive for Land Reform in the South Pacific.”
The second part of the series features a presentation by Van Dyke titled “What are Marine Monuments?” It will start at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 18 at the AMP’s Visitors Center Theater.
During his talk, Van Dyke will explore a number of legal and practical issues relating to marine monuments, with a special focus on the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
Van Dyke and Crocombe will give these same presentations at public venues on Rota and Tinian on the 20th and 21st.
Crocombe will also visit classes at Northern Marianas College on the 22nd.
Van Dyke is on the faculty of the University of Hawaii School of Law where he teaches constitution and international law. He has authored five books and has worked on problems relating to the status of Native Hawaiians, nuclear waste, ocean law, and human rights.
Crocombe is professor emeritus of Pacific Studies at the University of the South Pacific in Raratonga, Cook Islands. He is a recognized authority on land tenure and land policies in the Pacific and has written widely on these subjects.
This series, supported by funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities, is a part of the Humanities Council’s ongoing efforts to facilitate public dialogue on important community issues.
GREEN Meadow School students participated in the primary grade forensic conference at Kagman Elementary School on Oct. 4.
The following is the list of the school’s students who won awards in the competition:
K-2 Division: (K-5-2nd Grade)
1st Place: Dramatic Interpretation: Kristina Crisostomo
1st Place: Reader’s Forum: Jerique Reineer Suba
1st Place: Duo: Ryan Louis Divino & Anniea Sofia Saturno
1st Place: Choral Speaking:
1. Kimvherly Ann Dela Cruz
2. Angel Mae Oropesa
3. Deirdre Mae Rosete
4. Kiana Joyce Valencia
2nd Place: Dramatic Interpretation: Pionnah Rosej Gregorio
2nd Place: Reader’s Forum: Danielle Pineda
2nd Place: Duo: Angel Mae Oropesa & Deirdre Mae Rosete
2nd Place: Choral Speaking:
1. Ian Willard Ranin
2. Dustin Ross Salilin
3. Ardel AustinCiolo
4. Art Vincent Alfeche
5. Sean Aaron Ancheta
3rd Place: Humorous Interpretation: Angel Sean Legaspi
3rd Place: Choral Speaking:
1. Natalie Hirsbein
2. Kelly Acebo
3. Jemimah Borromeo
3rd Place: Duo: Kimvherly Ann Dela Cruz & Kiana Joyce Valencia
4th Place: Dramatic Interpretation: Claire Marzan
4th Place: Humorous Interpretation: Jhanylin Cruz
4th Place: Choral Speaking:
1. Claire Marzan
2. Jhanylin Cruz
3. Mikee Mendoza
4. Kristina Crisostomo
5. Christian Palattao
4th Place: Duo: Art Vincent Alfeche & Ian Willard Ranin
4th Place: Impromptu: Jerique Reineer Suba
5th Place: Choral Speaking:
1. Andrea Monique Agtarap
2. Ryan Louis Divino
3. Gabrielle Shanikka Flores
4. Anniea Sofia Saturno
Coaches:
PGFC Coordinator- Ms. Grace Rosete
K-5- Ms. Sony Natividad
1st Grade-Ms. Jehan Mangahis
2nd and 4th Grade— Ms. Ellen Alejo
3rd Grade- Ms. Marilyn Divino
3-5 Division: (3RD – 5th Grade)
1st Place: Dramatic Interpretation: Ma. Theresa Dalusong
1st Place: Readers Forum: Amelito Dalusong Jr.
1st Place: Choral Speaking:
1. Bert Magallano
2. Keandre Deseo
3. Joshua Saturno
4. Patricia Sablan
5. Mary Grace Briones
2nd Place: Dramatic Interpretation: Bert Magallano
2nd Place: Duo B: Ian Lemuel Elnas & Piolo Gregorio
2nd Place: Duo C: Claire Calage & Patricia Sablan
2nd Place: Choral Speaking: 1. Chekaina Viel Coloma
2. Claire Calage
3. Kathleen Trinidad
3rd Place: Dramatic Interpretation: Chekaina Viel Coloma
4th Place: Readers Forum Master: Kaela Mae Valencia
4th Place: Choral Speaking: 1. Danielle Coloma
2. Ma. Fatima Briones
3. Kaela Mae Valencia
5th Place: Humorous Interpretation: Danielle Coloma
5th Place: Readers Forum Novice: Kathleen Trinidad
Call for presentations
THE Western Pacific Academy of Science and Environmental Management is putting forth a call for presentations for its upcoming annual meeting, a media release said.
As in previous years, it is anticipated the meeting will be conducted in late November or early December, and as before, it will be held during the evening from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Depending on the number of speakers, one or more consecutive days and the best appropriate speaking venue will be identified.
The last special meeting of the academy was held in March at the American Memorial Park auditorium.
All interested science and environmental professionals and students of these disciplines are encouraged to develop a 15- to 20-minute presentation on any aspect of their recent work which may be of interest to the CNMI’s science and environmental management community.
They are requested to contact either John Furey, [email protected], or Andre Kozij, [email protected], for scheduling on the developing meetings’ agendas.
As always, potential members and/or potential group officers are also highly encouraged to make contact with the group.
Anticipating an expanded and updated active membership listing and a high level of group support, i.e., everyone being fee-current and potentially willing to serve as either a board member/officer/coordinator/speaker, etc., the group is seeking 501C3 nonprofit organizational status for the academy.
It is felt that nonprofit status could provide opportunities to extend the academy’s outreach to also provide fund management assistance to projects directly supporting Western Pacific science and environmental management aims.
September arrivals up 5 %
(MVA) — According to the latest statistics from the Marianas Visitors Authority, September arrivals are up 5 percent — 27,650 visitors came to the islands last month compared to 26,252 during the same month in 2007.
Following the decline in arrivals from Japan in August, September saw a remarkable increase of 35 percent, with 17,236 visitors arriving from Japan compared to 12,794 Japanese visitors last year.
One major factor behind this significant increase in arrivals from Japan was the much greater airline seat capacity that the CNMI has enjoyed over the past several months.
Arrivals from Korea, however, saw a decline of 22 percent.
In 2007, 8,605 Korean visitors visited the CNMI in September compared to 6,697 this year.
Arrivals from Korea are expected to rebound dramatically in the coming months with the launch of a second daily flight from Seoul in November. However, travel industry members are concerned about the continued weakening of the Korean won and its influence on overseas travel demand, especially to dollar-based destinations.
First Hawaiian says it’s a strong and secure bank
(FHB) — First Hawaiian Bank continues to be a strong and secure bank, ranked in the top 5 percent of all U.S. banks in terms of credit ratings, earnings, and capital — its rating is AA-, the highest rating of any local bank.
Its parent company, BNP Paribas, is one of the largest and most profitable banks in the world. Its market capitalization as of June 30, 2008, was in excess of $55.0 billion and its long-term credit rating was one of the strongest in banking at AA+ from Standard & Poor’s.
FHB is also “well capitalized” by federal regulators. The bank’s capital ratio is one of the strongest in the U.S. The bank’s net capital position as of June 30 was in excess of $2.5 billion.
The bank’s credit policies avoided exposure to the sub-prime crisis and speculative real estate mortgage markets. FHB has consistently been a conservative and prudent lender and its depositors can rest assured that First Hawaiian Bank is both safe and secure.
BankPacific lowers prime rate
(BankPacific) — For the 9th time since Sept. 2007, BankPacific has reduced its prime rate, this time to 4.5 percent, the lowest it has been since Sept. 2004.
“The lower rate helps our communities. While the mainland economy is being battered, our region’s outlook is strong. The reduction in the prime rate just made it even stronger,” said Philip Flores, BankPacific CEO.
