Friends in Regional News: Fisheries & Bankrupt Pension Plans
Journalists gather in Solomons for tuna workshop
Sun, Aug 26th 2012
By BERNADETTE CARREON
Palau Correspondent
HONIARA, Solomon Islands - Pacific journalists gathered in the Solomon Islands Aug.
15 - 21 for a one-week workshop on communicating tuna conservation and
development in the region. The workshop was hosted by the Parties to the Nauru Agreement and sponsored by the Pew Environment Group. Organizers invited journalists from the eight PNA countries - the Federated Sates of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, Palau, Kiribati, Tuvalu, the Solomon Islands, Nauru and Papua New Guinea - to discuss current issues
pertaining to tuna in the Pacific. The groups also visited fishing vessels, fisheries
surveillance operations and canneries.
Two journalists from the workshop will be selected to attend the Western and Central
Pacific Fisheries Commission meeting in December 2012 in the Philippines.
Anouk Ride, PNA media liaison and one of the workshop facilitators, said that the
Solomon Islands was chosen as the venue of the workshop because it is an example of
how "environmental sustainability and economic development can work together in a
country."
Amanda Nickson, director of the Global Tuna Conservation Campaign, Pew Environment Group, said that the Pacific region is leading the world in tuna management and that 55% of the tuna catch in the world are from the waters of the region, especially the PNA member countries.
At the last WCPFC meeting in March in Guam, Pacific island nations failed to convince developed nations such as the United States, the European Union, China and Japan on ways to conserve big-eye tuna and protect other species and to put in place more stringent measures to protect resources.
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Actuary still willing to assist Retirement Fund
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 2012 00:00
BY ALEXIE VILLEGAS ZOTOMAYOR - REPORTER
THE professional who looks at the financial condition of the pension fund is willing to assist in resolving the Retirement Fund crisis. Dylan Porter In an email to Variety, Buck Consultants LLC principal and consulting actuary Dylan Porter said, “Buck remains available to assist. In addition to its duties producing actuarial valuation reports, Buck has the ability to assist the courts in shaping a remedy.” He added, “Buck also has the capability and expertise to perform functions of certain vacant Fund staff positions on an interim basis until the positions are filled.”
Last June 7, Buck offered its services to the governor’s office in resolving the Fund crisis. In July, Buck Consultants also emailed the House and Senate leaderships, volunteering to assist in developing a path forward for the stakeholders.
Asked if any of the CNMI government officials responded to his offer, Porter said: “The House speaker contacted me and asked if Buck Consultants is able to look at the Social Security bills. A staff member of the lt. governor’s office also asked if Buck is able to look at the Social Security bills. I responded ‘yes’ in both instances and proposed steps to begin a review.”
One of the Social Security measures, H.B. 17-312, was signed into law by Lt. Gov. Eloy S. Inos late last month without an actuarial study to determine its impact on the Fund.
Buck Consultants signed an agreement with the Fund last February, under which the actuary will provide a basis for determining and certifying the commonwealth government’s contribution to the Fund as required by P.L. 6-17, among other related services as may be requested and mutually agreed by the Fund and the actuary.
For the actuarial valuation services, the two parties agreed that the fees should not exceed $59,750. Buck has yet to complete the valuation report for fiscal year 2010 pending the submission of data from the Fund.
According to Porter, “Buck Consultants provides services to the Fund pursuant to its contract approved in Feb. 2012. That document sets the terms of our offered services, including fees.”
During Friday’s hearing in federal court regarding the Roe/Doe lawsuit, the Fund expressed its confidence in Buck Consultants’ services.
Designated Federal Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood expressed interest in having a discussion with Buck Consultants regarding the Fund’s financial condition.
http://mvariety.com/cnmi/cnmi-news/local/49531-actuary-still-willing-to-assist-retirement-fund.php
Sun, Aug 26th 2012
By BERNADETTE CARREON
Palau Correspondent
HONIARA, Solomon Islands - Pacific journalists gathered in the Solomon Islands Aug.
15 - 21 for a one-week workshop on communicating tuna conservation and
development in the region. The workshop was hosted by the Parties to the Nauru Agreement and sponsored by the Pew Environment Group. Organizers invited journalists from the eight PNA countries - the Federated Sates of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, Palau, Kiribati, Tuvalu, the Solomon Islands, Nauru and Papua New Guinea - to discuss current issues
pertaining to tuna in the Pacific. The groups also visited fishing vessels, fisheries
surveillance operations and canneries.
Two journalists from the workshop will be selected to attend the Western and Central
Pacific Fisheries Commission meeting in December 2012 in the Philippines.
Anouk Ride, PNA media liaison and one of the workshop facilitators, said that the
Solomon Islands was chosen as the venue of the workshop because it is an example of
how "environmental sustainability and economic development can work together in a
country."
Amanda Nickson, director of the Global Tuna Conservation Campaign, Pew Environment Group, said that the Pacific region is leading the world in tuna management and that 55% of the tuna catch in the world are from the waters of the region, especially the PNA member countries.
At the last WCPFC meeting in March in Guam, Pacific island nations failed to convince developed nations such as the United States, the European Union, China and Japan on ways to conserve big-eye tuna and protect other species and to put in place more stringent measures to protect resources.
------------------------------------------------------
Actuary still willing to assist Retirement Fund
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 2012 00:00
BY ALEXIE VILLEGAS ZOTOMAYOR - REPORTER
THE professional who looks at the financial condition of the pension fund is willing to assist in resolving the Retirement Fund crisis. Dylan Porter In an email to Variety, Buck Consultants LLC principal and consulting actuary Dylan Porter said, “Buck remains available to assist. In addition to its duties producing actuarial valuation reports, Buck has the ability to assist the courts in shaping a remedy.” He added, “Buck also has the capability and expertise to perform functions of certain vacant Fund staff positions on an interim basis until the positions are filled.”
Last June 7, Buck offered its services to the governor’s office in resolving the Fund crisis. In July, Buck Consultants also emailed the House and Senate leaderships, volunteering to assist in developing a path forward for the stakeholders.
Asked if any of the CNMI government officials responded to his offer, Porter said: “The House speaker contacted me and asked if Buck Consultants is able to look at the Social Security bills. A staff member of the lt. governor’s office also asked if Buck is able to look at the Social Security bills. I responded ‘yes’ in both instances and proposed steps to begin a review.”
One of the Social Security measures, H.B. 17-312, was signed into law by Lt. Gov. Eloy S. Inos late last month without an actuarial study to determine its impact on the Fund.
Buck Consultants signed an agreement with the Fund last February, under which the actuary will provide a basis for determining and certifying the commonwealth government’s contribution to the Fund as required by P.L. 6-17, among other related services as may be requested and mutually agreed by the Fund and the actuary.
For the actuarial valuation services, the two parties agreed that the fees should not exceed $59,750. Buck has yet to complete the valuation report for fiscal year 2010 pending the submission of data from the Fund.
According to Porter, “Buck Consultants provides services to the Fund pursuant to its contract approved in Feb. 2012. That document sets the terms of our offered services, including fees.”
During Friday’s hearing in federal court regarding the Roe/Doe lawsuit, the Fund expressed its confidence in Buck Consultants’ services.
Designated Federal Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood expressed interest in having a discussion with Buck Consultants regarding the Fund’s financial condition.
http://mvariety.com/cnmi/cnmi-news/local/49531-actuary-still-willing-to-assist-retirement-fund.php