Page 6 - IB November 2023

Briefs Briefs

legislation is needed. “The people have spoken. Now it’s
our job to navigate and uphold these changes. Today our
American Samoa Constitution is more reflective of what the people of the FSM
American Samoa’s new entry system for Samoan citizens went value and the times we live in,” President Wesley Simina
into effect on October 19. Samoan citizens can now travel to stated.
American Samoa for up to seven days without obtaining an
entry permit, because of the close familial, cultural, linguistic
and historical ties between the two places. Samoa intends to Fiji
reciprocate and waive entry permits or visas for non-citizen The Alibaba Group intends to support small, medium, and
U.S. nationals travelling to Samoa. There will be a monthly large enterprises in Fiji through its e-commerce platforms.
maximum of 400 Samoan citizens allowed entry to American General Manager of Alibaba Australia and New Zealand,
Samoa under the programme. Requirements include having Pier Smulders, said the initiative aims to empower Fijian
a valid passport or document of identity, having a confirmed businesses by elevating their global exports and assisting
round-trip ticket, and applying three business days prior to SMEs in embarking on their export journey. Investment Fiji
the travel date. Chief Executive Officer, Kamal Chetty, stated that the primary
objective is to facilitate the expansion of local businesses on
a global scale.
Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands
CNMI’s Economic Development Authortiy has awarded the
Marianas Visitors Authority (MVA) US$1.4 million to renovate
and enhance the territory’s most popular tourist sites. MVA French Polynesia
Managing Director, Chris Concepcion, said infrastructure Teahupo’o locals in Tahiti are protesting the construction
enhancements are underway for Bird Island, Suicide Cliff, and of a new aluminium judging tower that will be used in the
Last Command Post. Concepcion also noted that part of MVA’s 2024 Olympic Games. Teahupo’o is the venue for the Games’
fiscal year 2024 budget will go toward helping the Department surfing competition. According to RNZ Pacific, the protesters
of Land and Natural Resources to maintain the tourist spots in said the new judging tower will destroy the reef which
Marpi. provides fish for the local community and could ruin the
famous Teahupo’o wave. Protesters included local pro-surfers,
Matahi Drollet and Tahurai Henry.

Cook Islands
Cook Islands is stepping up its seabed minerals bid as it
hosts international agencies at the Underwater Minerals Guam
Conference (UMC) on Rarotonga next year. Prime Minister The United States Fish and Wildlife Service has declared two
Mark Brown said it will be the first time the conference will Guam native species extinct. These are the little Marianas
be hosted in the Pacific. Among topics considered for inclusion fruit bat and the bridled white-eye bird. The Pacific Island
in the conference are geological and biological studies of Times reports the agency has issued a final rule removing
marine minerals deposits, regulatory considerations related the pair, along with 19 other species, from the list of wildlife
to mineral resource and environmental impact assessment, protected under the Endangered Species Act, “because the
and general policy considerations related to the long-term best available information indicates that they are extinct”.
development of these resources. The UMC is an annual The agency attributed the extinction of the two Guam species
international forum, with representatives from over 25 to predation by the brown tree snake, alteration and loss of
countries. habitat, and increased hunting pressure.

Federated States of Micronesia Kiribati
Parts of the Federated States of Micronesia Constitution The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and the
have been amended, including matters on dual citizenship, Government of Kiribati signed the MCC-Kiribati Threshold
presidential veto override, revenue sharing from fishing Program on September 25 designed to spur economic growth
fees, revenue sharing from minerals and non-living resources and reduce poverty for i-Kiribati. The US$29.1 million grant is
from seabeds and subsoil beyond 12-mile baselines, and the the largest direct grant investment in Kiribati by the United
eligibility requirement to run for Congress. FSM’s Executive States to date. The MCC is an independent U.S. Government
branch, through the Department of Justice, is working on foreign aid agency. The program aims to address the country’s
the enabling legislation for the amendments, whenever such biggest constraint to economic growth – low participation in

6 Islands Business, November 2023