Nuclear review

Last Month

THE United States Department of Energy has asked for another six months to take another look at the safety of Rongelap Atoll (see map) in the Marshall Islands, one of the sites of American nuclear tests in the late forties and fifties. The department told the House of Representatives’ Insular and International Affairs Subcommittee that Energy Secretary James Watkins wanted a new look at Rongelap. The atoll had been the centre of a controversial claim by the Energy Department that it was safe.

The Department of Energy said it was not backtracking from its stand but Wat kins was concerned with issues raised by the people of Rongelap. The review will involve Rongelapese, scientist, health specialists and health and radiation ex perts.

The announcement came at nearly the same time 3200 Marshall Islanders were

reported to have filed compensation claims at the Majuro-based Nuclear Claims Tribunal seeking payment for

damages caused by the testing program

me in the Marshalls more than 30 years ago. Nearly 5400 claims were lodged for alleged damage to health, land or prop erty, death and other damage.

The people of Bikini, Eniwetok, Rongelap and Utirik atolls are receiving

compensation payments through the

Marshalls Compact of Free Association with the United States. Payment for claims made to the Nuclear Claims Tri bunal are made from interest acquired from a US$l5O million trust fund pro vided by the United States in 1986 and invested in Wall Street stocks and bonds.

Meanwhile the United States Army is going ahead with its Star Wars testing programme at Kwajalein Atoll despite concern about water and air pollution.

The army said the tests would not add much to the atoll’s pollution problems although it will clean up the existing mess. □

Nori’s assault THE Opposition Leader of the Solomon Islands, Andrew Nori, continued his assault on the government last month.

He predicted revenue in real terms will drop by 27 per cent this year because of constricted activities in the commercial sector and the drying up of liquidity in the banking system.

Nori said that while government would need more money to meet its ex penses, its revenue will drop. He pointed out that the budget for salaries had been underestimated, especially when there were plans to recruit at least 170 more

people.

School teachers employed under the National Teaching Service will receive an 18.5 per cent pay rise, an increase that will cost the government US$2.5 million, said the Secretary for Education and Human Resources Development, James

Saliga.

The government has also agreed to open a consular office in Brisbane in June to promote trade and investment.

The consular will have a staff of four and a budget of U 5565,000. • Nori is a former Cabinet Minister.

An error in production last month made him a former Prime Minister. □