Meth concerns downplayed
Fiji Police Commissioner Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho denies Fiji’s meth problem is getting out of control. The Commissioner was responding to criticisms by opposition MP, Pio Tikoduadua, who was himself responding to a report by Vice World News, detailing the country’s meth trade and local use. Commissioner Qiliho said the force has invested a lot in combatting the drug trade, with the recent establishment of a narcotics bureau and forensics accounting, and cooperation with customs authorities. Drugs were one of the key concerns at the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police (PICP) conference in Fiji last month. Meanwhile, Fiji Police say 292 meth-related arrests were made between 2017-2021, and a total of 11.23kg of the drug seized during the same period.
Biden meeting broadened
Leaders of Pacific Islands territories will now join the inaugural White House meeting with President Biden on 28-29 September, after an initial decision to exclude them was reversed. Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Henry Puna has welcomed the decision, saying: “it is important we continue to ensure these partnerships are built on genuine engagement and respond to our circumstances.” The White House meetings will likely focus on climate change, COVID-19 response and economic recovery, ocean management, maritime security, and trade. Initially the Cook Islands, Niue, New Caledonia and French Polynesia were not extended invitations to the event.
Home in disgrace
A Papua New Guinean diplomat has been recalled from Taiwan, after allegedly assaulting his wife and a restaurant server while drunk. Foreign Affairs Minister Justin Tkatchenko labelled the diplomat’s actions as “disgusting and disgraceful.” He said while the diplomat had immunity from prosecution in Taipei, that may not be the case in PNG.
Samoa political cases
A case against three men charged with allegedly conspiring to assassinate Samoa’s former Prime Minister in 2019, will finally be heard in February next year. The Supreme Court this month denied the accused’ application to stay proceedings. In 2019, police charged three men – Malele Paulo aka King Faipopo, Lema’i Sione and Taualai Leiloa, for conspiracy to assassinate Tuila’epa Sailele Malielegaoi. Meanwhile, a defamation charge against Australian based Samoan radio host Tiumalumatua Maifea Fetu has been dismissed, due to the prosecution’s failure to provide proof against the charge. The charge stemmed from alleged public defamatory comments he made against the Faatuatua I le Atua Samoa ua Tasi – FAST party and Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa on his radio programs.
Paga Hill progress
A K130 million (US$36 million) Paga Hill luxury apartment project has been launched in Port Moresby. Prime Minister James Marape did the honours, saying: “This is a country that has shown its ability to repay its investors with a substantial return on investments.” The 22-storey complex is part of the Special Economic Zone earmarked by Government in the National Capital District and will be built over two years. The project had a rough start. Originally a squatter settlement, in May 2012 Paga Hill Development Company began demolishing some 2500 squatters’ homes, prompting an injunction. Eventually the court ordered the squatters to move on and they were resettled at nearby Six Mile, at the company’s expense.
Marshalls corruption case questions
Details have emerged of the indictment against two naturalised Marshall Islands citizens accused of bribing elected and other officials in the Marshall Islands to gain government support for a controversial semi-autonomous zone for foreign investment activities. Cary Yan and Gina Zhou were extradited from Thailand and face three counts of violating the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and two counts related to money laundering. Former President, and now MP Hilda Heine, said the identities of the six legislators may not be revealed in the indictment but that “there’s some guesstimates of who the officials are.” She says, “people deserve to know who accepted bribes and accountability measures taken as appropriate by our laws.”
Air Vanuatu limps on
The Vanuatu government continues to support Air Vanuatu through its current financial troubles, Caretaker Minister of Infrastructure, Jay Ngwele says. “This means the government will do all that is financially necessary and commercially viable to support the national airline,” he said. Air Vanuatu will wet-lease an ATR72-600 from Fiji Link while its existing aircraft undergoes maintenance in Singapore. The airline denies reports that its DHC-6-300 was repossessed by Hevilift PNG. Meanwhile the owner of its only B737-800, Air Lease Corporation, is threatening repossession if Air Vanuatu’s US$7.5 million debts are not repaid.
Good news in Solomons
As Pacific Islands journalists and media workers converge on Honiara for the Pacific Media Summit, a new Solomon Islands media company, Tavuli News Company has officially launched. The multimedia company says it “aims to raise the voice of the voiceless people in the country – this is seen as a significant way of promoting the stories of prominent and ordinary Solomon Islanders” through digital television. The summit also comes as the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation celebrates its 70th anniversary.
Whispers is produced under the supervision of the editors.
