American Samoa
American Samoa’s Department of Health says it will only allow school aged children who are vaccinated to attend school. This as neighbouring Samoa monitors several children suspected to have measles. The department has also asked health centres to ensure vaccinations are rolled out, and says checks of day care centres will be undertaken.
Northern Marianas (CNMI)
Governor Arnold Palacios says the work schedule of some Executive Branch employees will be cut to just 72 hours starting April 24, and through the end of Fiscal Year 2023. Affected employees are those whose personnel costs were funded in whole or in part by American Rescue Plan Act funds or local revenue. Due to fiscal challenges, Palacios urged other arms of government and the judiciary to implement similar cost-containment measures. “We must all do our part to overcome this financial crisis,” the Governor said.
Cook Islands
The Cook Islands’ new parliament will soon have its first sitting following the country’s general election six months ago. The delay has been due to a clause in the constitution, which requires all petition hearings to be completed before Parliament sits. Meanwhile, Cook Islands Party candidate Sonny Williams will remain as the new Member of Parliament for Titikaveka.
Federated States of Micronesia
The Federated States of Micronesia will have a new President from May. The incumbent President David Panuelo lost his seat in Congress during the general election on March 7. Peter Christian, who had the highest number of votes, is expected to be re-elected. Christian served as the eighth President of the Micronesian nation from 2015 to 2019. A total of 29 candidates – 26 men and three women – contested the 2023 elections for 14 seats across the four states of Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae and Yap.
Fiji
More than 200 former employees of Fiji Airways who were terminated during the height of the pandemic will return to work soon. Chief Executive Officer, Andre Viljoen says the airline has been working with unions and there is an agreement to bring back workers on short notice. Tourism minister Viliame Gavoka has welcomed the move.
French Polynesia
French Polynesia’s ruling Tapura Huiraatira party has held its Congress as it prepares for the territorial elections in April. The party is yet to release its lists of candidates but says it has the support of 30 of the 42 mayors. The party leader Edouard Fritch is hoping to be re-elected. Meanwhile, Moetai Brotherson of the independence party Tavini Huira’atira no Te Ao Ma’ohi has announced he will run for the Presidency of French Polynesia.
Guam
The U.S. military has narrowed down the multiple sites which will be used for Guam’s new 360-degree missile defence system, according to Navy Rear Adm. Benjamin Nicholson, commander of Joint Region Marianas. The territory’s Missile Defense Agency started working on the US$1.5 billion project, which is intended to supplement existing defence systems and better protect the island from the threat of different types of missiles. One missile defence site already acknowledged by the military is next to Eagles Field, where the government of Guam plans to build a new hospital and medical campus on 112 acres of leased military property.
Kiribati
A new facility to treat hundreds of people suffering from tuberculosis (TB) has opened at the Tungaru Central Hospital in Tarawa. Health Minister Tinte Itinteang said the premises will provide an open ward for isolating and restricting movement of susceptible pulmonary TB positive patients. It also includes isolation units for drug-resistant cases. Recent studies show Kiribati continues to battle with one of the highest rates of TB in the Pacific, recording over 400 new cases of the infectious disease annually.
Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands’ President, David Kabua has issued a state of emergency declaration to overcome the problems caused by the grounding of the country’s cargo airline in early February. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded Micronesian cargo operator Asia Pacific Airlines, due to concerns about unqualified pilots flying the aircraft. But the Guam-based airline continued to operate in breach of the FAA order. RNZ reports that the decision has caused havoc on the islands, affecting mail delivery and resulting in a shortage of essential medical supplies at the Majuro hospital.
Nauru
Nauru has signed a 99-year land lease agreement for the construction of a chancery in Australia’s capital, Canberra. Nauru High Commissioner to Australia, Camilla Solomon signed the contract together with Gillian Sally Barnes, delegate of the Australian Minister for Regional Development, Territories and Local Government on March 6. The construction of the chancery is expected to commence within 18 months and be completed within three years.
New Caledonia
New Caledonia’s only newspaper has closed its operations after the commercial court accepted the publishing company’s request for its liquidation. The court had deferred its decision by a day, after an injunction by the public prosecutor who wanted to see if there was still a possibility to rescue Les Nouvelles Caledoniennes. The prosecutor had argued that it was worth preserving the Nouvelles as a tool of pluralism and freedom of expression. However, there has been no interest in taking over the enterprise. The paper was launched in 1971 and became an online-only publication at the end of last year.
Niue
Japan has stepped in to solve a problem in Niue’s goods distribution system. Japanese Ambassador to Niue, Tatsushi Nishioka, said he discovered on a trip to the island in August last year that the lack of a forklift truck was hampering the unloading of commodities at Alofi Port. He said his government has agreed to grant assistance of US$181,000 to buy a forklift.
Palau
The Palau Public Utility Corporation (PPUC) has announced new water and wastewater rates that will take effect on April 1. For those currently using 0 to 5000 gallons, the rate will increase by 500%. For customers currently using 5000 gallons or more, their rate actually drops by 3 cents. For wastewater, residential customers will see a 2,000% increase. PPUC says the new rates reflect the company’s full operating cost.
PNG
The Papua New Guinea-Indonesia Basic Border Agreement signed in 2013 has finally been ratified by the PNG Parliament. Foreign Affairs Minister, Justin Tkatchenko said the ratification will “pave the way for both governments to review the current status of the border and constructively address outstanding issues that affect both countries.”
Samoa
Electoral districts in Samoa are set to screen applicants for the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme as part of changes proposed by a Cabinet sub-committee. Acting Minister for Commerce, Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster told the Samoan Parliament the new process will go into effect next month. The committee’s chairperson Niuava Eti Malolo advised that the ministry to thoroughly consider the selection of seasonal workers to ensure that everyone in the country had an equal opportunity to apply.
Solomon Islands
Solomon Telekom Company Limited has provided the biggest sponsorship yet for the Pacific Games 2023, valued at SD$10.7 million (US$1.27 million). The local telecommunication company will provide infrastructure services and network across Games venues and villages to improve internet services during the games in November. According to the International Monetary Fund, the Pacific Games is likely to contribute to an increased fiscal deficit for the country in 2023, meaning that careful control of spending is required.
Tonga
Tonga has signed an agreement with the Ireland-based Seabased Group, for the development and deployment of the first pilot commercial-scale two-megawatt Wave Power Park in the Pacific. “The Tongatapu Seabased Wave Power Park can be ready for commissioning within 24 months, with a Power Purchase Agreement and at no cost to the Government,” said Albert Vaea, Tongan Minister of Internal Affairs, further noting that the project will eventually see Tonga deploy up to 10 MW, meeting more than 50% of Tonga’s electricity needs, cutting Tonga’s carbon emissions by 20%, and providing clean and affordable baseload power, 24/7, from the waves off the coast of Tongatapu.
Tuvalu
Tuvalu’s Prime Minister, Kausea Natano, has insisted on including climate vulnerability in assessing whether a country leaves the world’s least developed countries list. Natano told leaders at the UN Least Developed Countries (LDC) summit in Doha this month that the reality of Small Island Developing States constantly facing cyclones, droughts and outbreaks of disease was not fully captured in the current indicators. Tuvalu faced prolonged drought and subsequent outbreaks of dengue and typhoid in the past months.
Vanuatu
At the time of printing, over 3000 people in Vanuatu are still in evacuation centres after losing their homes to Tropical Cyclones Judy and Kevin. A Save the Children spokesperson, Jelson Naparau, said families in evacuation centres were prioritised in the immediate distribution of shelter items. The country’s Food Security and Agriculture Cluster says distribution of dry rations to cyclone-affected households is mostly only rice at the moment, due to limited stock from suppliers in the country. Donor partners and local organisations are also offering help, and arrangements are in place to meet any shortfall, it said.
