Tkatchenko returns?
Former Papua New Guinea foreign Minister and Moresby South MP, Justin Tkatchenko, is now the minister for national events, reports PNG media. Tkatchenko stepped aside as the minister for foreign affairs in May over a controversy in which he called online critics of his daughter “primitive animals”. His daughter had posted videos of a trip to the UK, where she accompanied her father on official travel for King Charles’ ordination. Those videos, which displayed a level of luxury beyond most Papua New Guineans’ reach, created anger at home. Tkatchenko’s responsibilities in his new post are unclear, but his former foray into events as Minister for APEC is best remembered for the purchase of a US$5.5 million fleet of luxury cars. At the time, Tkatchenko claimed the cars would “sell like hotcakes” after the event, but many remain unsold to this day, and are quietly rusting in storage or ‘missing in action’.
“No such thing as a free lunch”: Puna
Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Henry Puna has given a series of reflective speeches about the burdens and opportunities of leadership, as he nears the end of his term. Speaking in Auckland and in the Cook Islands parliament, he said the SG’s role was “not for the faint-hearted” as he has “learned the hard way”. Puna says the role has pushed him to his limits, physically and mentally, and spoke of the “sacrifice” he and the Cook Islands government had made in agreeing to the Suva agreement, which will see him serve just one term before being replaced by a Micronesian SG. He has also reflected on the geopolitical tussle between the US and China affecting the region, saying the “strategic neglect of ten years ago” has been replaced with a “proliferation of regional strategies and consortiums, that serve to shape and influence engagement with, and in our region – tantamount to, if I put it quite frankly, strategic manipulation.” Cook Islands will host the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting later this year, Puna’s last as SG.
FSM re-embraces China
The new Federated States of Micronesia President, Wesley Simina, has as expected, taken a very different approach to China as his predecessor. Accepting a ‘Letter of credence’ from China’s new Ambassador to FSM, Wu Wei, recently, President Simina said his country adheres to the One-China policy and will “further enhance pragmatic cooperation with China in a bid to deepen bilateral relations.” Weeks before he left office, Simina’s predecessor, David Panuelo said the country was seeing “political warfare and grey zone activity within its borders”, with China aiming to ensure that at best, FSM was aligned with China in the event of a war between China and Taiwan, and at worst, that FSM chooses to abstain altogether.
Fiji backtracks
Fiji’s government has reversed a decision to allow the Taiwanese representative office in the country to revert to its former name, which includes “Republic of China,” (ROC). China objected to this decision and plans to restore diplomatic privileges for Taiwanese representatives at the office. It will continue to be known as the Taipei Trade Office in Fiji. Much of the office’s work is in agricultural extension services.
Samoa cautious on digital initatives
Samoa’s government denies it has endorsed a Samoa Stock Exchange, Samoa Digital Asset Exchange or Oceania Special Economic Zone, despite reports of their launch in Hong Kong recently. In a statement, the government says while it has received applications relating to the initiatives, it is still being considered. It says while new investments are welcomed, they must be safe, sound, and feasible.
UN scrutinised
There’s dissent at Kadavu House, headquarters of a number of United Nations agencies in Suva, following a restructure at the UN Development Programme (UNDP) which has seen contracts of a number of key local staff terminated, and some of those roles filled by international volunteers. UNDP says staff have been consulted throughout the process, the changes will see it have a “strengthened footprint” in Fiji, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Solomon Islands, and that there will be a net increase in national posts. The controversy follows the UN’s decision to send its Resident Coordinator, Sanaka Samarasinha on administrative leave following allegations of “unsatisfactory conduct” levelled against him.
Tonga compensation questions
How much did it cost for Tonga to withdraw from hosting the 2019 Pacific Games? That’s what Tongan politicians want to know. In 2018, legal action against the country’s Government was launched by the Pacific Games Council and the Tonga Association of Sport and National Olympic Committee demanding millions in compensation for breach of contract. That suit was reportedly settled last October, but the amount involved has been deemed “confidential”. China had undertaken to pay millions for construction of a sports complex and upgrading work ahead of the Games. Parliamentarian ‘Aisake Eke, asked why the issue was not mentioned in the annual report of Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni and questioned what legislation was used to withhold the amount of money. The compensation payment was made this year.
Falemaka returns
The retirement of the Pacific Islands Forum’s Permanent Representative to Geneva, Ambassador Mere Falemaka was shortlived. The Ambassador is back at her post in Europe, where she is also the PIFS contact with the World Trade Organization and other Geneva-based international organisations. While the role was advertised following the announcement that she was moving on after many years, she has quietly returned to the position.
Whispers is compiled under the supervision of the editors.
