American Samoa
Local inflation reached double digits in the first quarter of 2022. The rate was 11.6%, an increase from 9.7% at the end of 2021, says American Samoa’s Statistics and Analysis Division. Price rises were driven mainly by increases in the cost of food, transportation, housing, education and communication.
Northern Marianas (CNMI)
CNMI Governor Ralph Torres has been acquitted of all the charges filed against him in six articles of impeachment. The Republican-led Senate voted four to three to acquit Torres of alleged corruption and other felonies. The charges had been laid by the Democrat-Independent-led House of Representatives. The impeachment trial was the first in CNMI history.
Cook Islands
Over 200 Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for Cook Islands Permanent Residence have been received by the Cook Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI) with 71 online submissions pending, MFAI announced. The applications include those who have submitted in their own right, and spouses of Cook Islanders and Permanent Residents. Cook Islands’ Principal immigration officer Kairangi Samuela in a statement said: “We had anticipated this number of EOI given the last time Permanent Resident calls were made was over 10 years ago.”
Federated States of Micronesia
FSM President David W. Panuelo, guided by the FSM COVID-19 Task Force, has recommended Congress consider extending its Declaration of Public Health Emergency to July 31, and consider passing the Healthy Border Protection Act in a Special Session of Congress in July 2022, so as to allow the FSM more time to vaccinate its citizens and prepare for the opening of the nation’s borders on August 1st. As of May 16, vaccine coverage for all FSM persons aged five and up is at 69%.
Fiji
Fiji’s minimum wage did not typically provide a decent standard of living for a worker and family in Fiji, states the U.S. Department of State Country Report on Human Rights Practices for Fiji released early May. Fiji had a national minimum wage per hour of $2.68 (US$1.24) in 2021 and the Government has announced a staggered increase to $4 (US$2) per hour by January 2023.
French Polynesia
The Institute of Statistics in French Polynesia (ISPF) has reported the nation’s return to pre-COVID levels in exports of seafood products in both value and in volume exported. In a balance sheet published mid-May, the ISPF said: “Exports of fishery products, excluding shells, doubled over one year to 1.786 billion XPF and returned to their pre-crisis level.” Exports of fish products accounted for 19% of local export revenue in goods in the period.
Guam
Guam residents will need to pay much more for electricity, starting July 1, according to the Guam Power Authority. By the end of the year, customers who use 1,000 kilowatt-hours of power will need to pay US$86.75 more per month. The GPA has proposed a three-step increase in the fuel surcharge — a 28% increase in the total power bill.
Kiribati
It’s the end of an era at South Pacific Marine Services (SPMS), which has officially closed its service following the cessation of its contract with the Kiribati Government, SPMS told Radio Kiribati. The office closure marks the end of recruitment and employment of Kiribati seafarers aboard German merchant ships overseas. SPMS has been recruiting and employing Kiribati seafarers for 50 years.
New Caledonia
Four anti-independence parties in New Caledonia are working towards a formal merger as the territory prepares for a new statute after last year’s rejection of independence from France. The four – Caledonia Together, the Republicans, Mouvement Populaire Calédonien (MPC), and Generations NC – declared that they shared principles and values to become a ‘common New Caledonian house’.
Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands has become the first Pacific nation to share information on fishing activities in their waters as part of a crackdown on illegal fishing. Global Fishing Watch Pacific programme manager Dr Kamal Azmi said the Marshall Islands government is working with the NGO to improve the sustainability of its marine resources. The system won’t replace Marshall Islands’ existing monitoring controls, but it can help in combating illegal fishing in the islands.
Nauru
Nauru has signed on a US$15 million grant provided by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to establish an efficient, climate-resilient international port in Nauru. The Nauru government is investing $200,000 in the project and it will cover key areas of climate change resilience, sustainability, and additional costs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Niue
The Niue Government has tabled a NZ$56.9 million Appropriations Bill for the financial year ending June 30th, which is an increase of NZ$8.2 million from the FY budget ending June 30th. The Ministry of Social Services has the largest allocation at more than NZ$13 million.
Palau
Palau is the first Pacific Island country to sign the Moana Pledge transpacific agreement, reaffirming the island nation’s commitment to generating 100% of its energy from renewable resources by 2032 without increasing costs to consumers, and enhancing overall island resiliency. Currently, Palau’s renewable generation is mostly solar (2.7 MW), according to the Asian Development Bank, accounting for less than 7% of total consumption.
PNG
PNG’s Pandemic Response controller David Manning says he has forwarded the independent report on the funding of Papua New Guinea’s COVID-19 emergency response to the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee for further investigation. Manning says the report cites minimal accountability for expenditure by some international partners. While investigators were able to identify amounts of donated funds, Manning said they were unable to identify whether funds were spent in accordance with their intended purpose.
Samoa
Samoan election candidate Ali’imalemanu Alofa Tu’ua’u has described the Supreme Court’s decision that she and two other women be awarded seats in parliament as a “win for all women.” The Court ordered that the Human Rights Protection Party (H.R.P.P.) members, Aliimalemanu Alofa Tuuau, Faagasealii Sapoa Feagai and Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party member Toomata Norah Leota are to be sworn in as MPs, fulfilling Samoa’s constitutional requirement of 10% female representation in the legislative assembly.
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands received its first ever Computerized Tomography (CT) scan machine after two years of hard work on the SBD$27 million (US$3.3 million) project. “I am overjoyed that we finally have our own CT scan after some 40 years after independence. Now we do not need to send our patients overseas for such services,” Prime Minister Sogavare said. The CT machine has already conducted 73 CT tests, including brain, chest, inner ear, spine, heart, kidney and liver scans.
Tonga
Tonga’s quarantine and isolation period will be reduced to five days, starting on 1 June, as COVID-19 cases continue a downward trend, Tonga’s Ministry of Health announced. On 18 May, there were 46 new cases recorded in Tongatapu, Vava’u and Ha’apai. Meanwhile, vaccination rates stand at 98% for the first dose, 91% for second dose and 58% for booster doses.
Tuvalu
Tuvalu’s revenue share from the management of its dotTV Internet domain name asset will now be based on the number of people purchasing the namespace instead of an annual flat fee. “The new agreement is key for the Future Now Project because it is a major part of our digital nation activities and our drive to see Tuvalu as a… nation with fully digitised administrative services,” Tuvalu’s Minister for Justice and Foreign Affairs Simon Kofe said. Additional revenue earnings from the new agreement will contribute toward Tuvalu’s efforts to future proof itself against the worst impacts of climate change, Kofe said.
Vanuatu
The Vanuatu Government plans to control the illegal sale of alcohol without a valid license. It is also considering the use of National Identity Cards to confirm whether or not the person purchasing liquor is over the age of 18 years. This was disclosed as the Bill for Liquor Licensing (Amendment) was tabled on May 18 by the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Ishmael Kalsakau. The DPM explained that the current amendment is aimed at reducing the rate of social problems and juvenile misconduct related to alcohol consumption.
Wallis and Futuna
A decision on who will sit in the French National Assembly on behalf of the islands of Wallis and Futuna will be made by the legislature on June 16. The seat has been empty for four years due to the current congressman’s serious illness.
