American Samoa
American Samoa has issued a public health emergency after an outbreak of measles has spread across the U.S. territory. Dr Scott Anesi, the department’s lead epidemiologist, said 31 suspected cases are all in children between ages 2 months old and 13 years old. The emergency declaration is set to expire Wednesday, 24 May. All schools have been closed for two weeks.
Northern Marianas (CNMI)
Governor Arnold I. Palacios has signed an administrative amendment to the 1983 agreement that allowed the US to lease land on Tinian. The amendment grants the US, “the right to the reasonable use of roadways as well as the right to improve, construct, maintain and repair roads and utilities owned by the Commonwealth, including all supporting facilities and structures.” Henry S. Hofschneider, special assistant to Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang, said the administration believes that the Commonwealth Ports Authority would benefit from the projects, especially at the airport where there is no fuel pipeline.
Cook Islands
Cook Islands Parliament has repealed provisions in its Crimes Act that criminalised homosexuality. The Crimes (Sexual Offences) Amendment Bill 2023 which, among other things, aimed to decriminalise homosexuality, passed into law on April 14. The Bill aims to also provide more protection for victims of rape and repealed a provision that married women can only be raped by their husbands “if they are separated”. President of Pride Cook Islands, Karla Eggelton, said “the journey for the Cook Islands to get to this day was one weaved with love, respect and faith. We are now truly one nation and one people.”
Federated States of Micronesia
The FSM Congress has passed a resolution urging outgoing President David Panuelo to suspend his plan to switch ties to Taiwan. “Our nation’s diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China is an example of hard work, consultation and study by our Department of Foreign Affairs,” the resolution stated. In a letter to the FSM Congress last month, Panuelo disclosed the initiatives he has taken to push ahead with a diplomatic realignment in favour of Taiwan, saying the nation “will be much better off without China.” In February, Panuelo met with Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu to negotiate US$50 million in assistance to offset the FSM’s losses should the nation eventually sever ties with Beijing.
Fiji
Fiji’s Director of Public Prosecutions, Christopher Pryde has been suspended. Attorney-General Siromi Turaga said it was because of an act of misconduct last month when he spent about 30 to 45 minutes conversing alone with former A-G Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, despite Sayed-Khaiyum being the subject of an ongoing investigation. “He will be subject to a fair hearing before a tribunal as required under the Constitution when there is an alleged misconduct or misbehavior.” Opposition leader Inia Seruiratu believes the reasons given for Pryde’s suspensions are “unacceptable”. Senior lawyer, Ratu David George Toganivalu has been appointed as Acting DPP.
French Polynesia
French Polynesia’s pro-independence Tavini Huiraatira party has come out on top in the first round of the territorial elections. The party led by Oscar Temaru won almost 35% of the votes, beating the ruling Tapura Huiraatira party of Edouard Fritch, which obtained 30%. For the first time, Tavini Huiraatira came first in several large towns in Tahiti and dominated in Moorea. With 35% of the votes, it substantially improved its first-round result from the elections in 2018 when it won 20%. The second round of elections was scheduled on April 30 at the time of printing.
Guam
Guam has welcomed the 4000th temporary non-agricultural (H-2B) worker approved to work on the island, representing a record-setting number of foreign workers since the hotel construction boom in 1995. Originally from Quezon City, Philippines, Ronel Tramado arrived after working in Qatar. “With a historic number of H-2B workers, we can expect more construction progress and more opportunities to keep Guam moving forward,” said Governor Lou Guerrero. H-2B workers are available to work on construction projects in the civilian sector, including projects relative to commercial buildings, home construction, and government facilities.
Kiribati
Kiribati’s Opposition wants answers from the government about the ongoing crisis in the country’s judiciary. The government last year dismissed the chief justice and three Court of Appeal judges – all New Zealanders – and it had also removed High Court judge, Australian David Lambourne. Opposition MP and the country’s first president, Sir Ieremia Tabai, said the public remains unaware of how the government has treated the judges. Lambourne’s lawyer said the government acted unconstitutionally in not including someone of high judicial office in its tribunal looking into its claims the judges had violated their oaths. That tribunal is yet to announce its decision, while the Court of Appeal has now been without any judges for more than seven months.
Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands is making use of a ‘maritime domain awareness platform’ developed by a New Zealand company to identify suspected illegal fishing activity in the western Pacific. Information obtained by Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority fisheries surveillance officers via the platform has already led to Thailand banning a tuna carrier vessel from unloading its $US7 million cargo last month, based on concerns over alleged illegal fishing activity in Kiribati.
Nauru
Nauru’s judiciary department has launched its first-ever website. Registrar of Courts, Ronald Prakash says the website is designed in a way that viewers can navigate through the complex court system with ease. “With a click of a button, you can access case information, download necessary forms, and get direct access to legislation,” said Prakash. Acting President Gababu said the use of technology can help to reduce the time and cost involved in the legal process.
New Caledonia
A room at France’s National Assembly has been named after the two New Caledonian leaders who ended years of unrest. In 1988, Jean-Marie Tjibaou of the pro-independence FLNKS, and the head of the anti-independence RPCR Jaques Lafleur, shook hands in Paris and ushered in a peace process which has endured. The president of the National Assembly and former overseas minister Yael Braun-Pivet said by going against their camps to forge peace, the two are heroes. However the naming event wasn’t attended by any of the FLNKS members who were in Paris at the invitation of the French government.
Niue
Six members of the last 17th Niue Legislative Assembly will not be seeking re-election, in what was a hard decision for some. Others have decided not to return for health reasons. The six members who will not be returning into parliament include first termer Minister Hon. Sauni Tongatule, long-serving Alofi North MP Hon. Va’aiga Tukuitoga, Lakepa MP John Tiakia, long-serving MP for Liku Hon. Pokotoa Sipeli, longest serving member for Namukulu Hon. Jack Willie Lipitoa, and former Common Roll Members Stanley Kalauni and Richard Hipa. The general election is scheduled for April 29.
Palau
The Palau Visitors’ Authority has confirmed arrivals increased more than 300% in February 2023, compared to the same month a year earlier. The authority recorded 2415 visitors in February this year, compared to 518 arrivals in February 2022. The new data further said Taiwan represents 38% of arrivals, followed by the United States and Canada with 36%. In 2022, Palau received 12,328 visitors as borders reopened. The number was far below the 93,723 visitors from the pre-COVID year 2019. Direct flights between Singapore and Palau are expected to boost the territory’s tourism sector this summer.
PNG
Barrick Gold Corp is set to restart operations at one of its biggest gold mines after inking a deal with Papua New Guinea’s government over its shuttered mine. The world’s second-largest gold producer signed an agreement with the government and its PNG partners to resume operations at Porgera mine, which had been suspended since 2020. All parties are committed to reopening at “the earliest opportunity,” Barrick said in a statement without disclosing an exact date. The mine is expected to produce an average of 700,000 ounces a year, the Toronto-based company said.
Samoa
Samoa is slowly recovering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, according to the latest Samoa Bureau of Statistics data. This quarter generated a positive growth in expenditure recovering from two consecutive quarters of negative growth. The total sum of expenditure components at constant prices stood at US$1.95 billion for the calendar year under review.
Solomon Islands
Broadcasting rights for the upcoming Pacific Games in Solomon Islands will focus on member countries rather than an individual company. Pacific Games Council Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Minogue says the Pacific Games Organising Committee would produce the programmes and have the selected broadcasters share that in their respective countries. While the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corp will be the local broadcaster of the Games, the Pacific Games Council hopes that the International Olympic Committee’s Olympic Channel will assist in boosting the reach worldwide, through their online platform.
Tonga
The eruption of a submarine volcano in Tonga in 2022 was more powerful than the largest U.S. nuclear explosion, according to a new study. A 15-megaton volcanic explosion from Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha’apai generated a mega-tsunami with waves up to 85 meters high one minute after the explosion. Waves of up to 45 meters high hit the coastline at Tofua Island, and they were up to 17 meters on reaching Tongatapu. A new simulation in the study led by scientists at the University of Miami and the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation also suggests that the eruption location relative to urban centers saved Tonga from a worse outcome. The community of Mango Island, one of the hardest hit locations by the tsunami, have been relocated to ‘Eua, south-east of Tonga’s main island last February.
Tuvalu
Tuvalu’s Minister for Climate Change, Seve Paeniu, says the latest IPCC report is “confirmation” for what Pacific nations have been calling for. The report says current action and plans are insufficient to keep warming below 1.5 degrees. “This is the reality we are facing,” Paeniu said. “Our countries are constantly being devastated by a raft of natural disasters and they are all climate induced.” He said the true cost of adaptation would involve reclaiming and raising land. Last December, the government marked the construction of a 780m long and 100m wide reclamation project in Funafuti to be completed by 2029.
Vanuatu
Australia’s Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Pat Conroy, has confirmed the establishment of its Visa Processing Office in Port Vila. Minister Conroy held discussions with the Vanuatu Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau, on how Australia can support further work around visa processing. He also informed the PM Kalsakau that a senior Home Affairs official will be setting up that office in July this year.
