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Briefs Briefs
its Australian operations”. It said it has given more than 12
months’ notice to enable an orderly transition to another
banking provider. Both parties have stressed to the people Samoa
of Nauru that their money is safe and held in Australia. The Over 20 countries, including New Zealand and Australia,
Australian government and the Asian Development Bank are will support Samoan police in providing security for the
supporting Nauru as it searches for another bank. Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in
Apia in 2024. When we visited New Zealand recently, we
requested for 150 but there’s an indication that it might be
more,” Acting Police Commissioner, Papalii Monalisa Tiai-Keti
New Caledonia told Samoa Observer. There are currently approximately 900
New Caledonia’s population official count currently stands police officers recruited into the Ministry. It will be the first
at 268,000. This is a slight decline compared to the trend of CHOGM to be held in a Pacific Small Island Developing State.
previous years, when the count was above the 270,000 mark,
New Caledonia’s statistical institute (ISEE) Director, Olivier
Fagnot told public broadcaster, NC La 1ère. The deficit, which Solomon Islands
has appeared over the past two years, was partly explained The Solomon Islands government has confirmed Choiseul Bay
by the number of residents (27,000) who had permanently airfield is now open for service. The upgrade at Taro is part
left the French Pacific territory, against those who had of a US$29 million programme to improve provincial airfields
arrived (17,000) during the same period. Fagnot said the next around the country. Construction involved resealing a runway
population census scheduled for September 2024, should that has been lengthened to 960 metres and building sea
provide more details on whether the existing trend persists.
walls designed to last for the next 50 years.

Niue Tonga
A new digital civil registration and vital statistics system is Seinivunga Sanetify Ki Loto Tatau Lafo’ou, 30, has been
now available in Niue. Darren Tohovaka, Secretary of Justice sentenced to 20 months imprisonment, partially suspended,
and Registrar, said: “Moving to a digital system will make it for forgery and theft from National Rugby League Tonga
easier for parents and for those who have lost a loved one. (NRL). The court was told the money was taken from a bank
It will make our office more efficient and eliminate delays account in 46 systematic unauthorised withdrawals over 13
in waiting for a birth or a death certificate. NiueCRVS will months. The funds stolen were a grant from the Government
also allow us to exchange information electronically between of Australia for the development of NRL in Tonga.
health, justice, community services and statistics. Our records
will also be safe if there is a natural disaster.”
Tuvalu
Australia’s offer to Tuvalu of 280 permanent residency visas
Palau every year as part of a new treaty between the two countries,
Alii Palau Airlines, the country’s new locally incorporated is being criticised as an Australian strategic security initiative
airline company, will add new routes and more flights to in the guise of climate justice. The agreement was signed
Palau. “The flight routes will open Singapore, India, and by Tuvalu Prime Minister, Kausea Natano, and Australian
Bhutan to us,” said Minister Ngirai Tmetuchl. He said that it counterpart, Anthony Albanese at the Pacific Islands Forum
will also provide access to Asia and European markets. “It’s leaders meeting in the Cook Islands. Tuvaluan academics,
not just tourism. The flights will also help us bring workers Taukiei Kitara and Carol Farbotko said the “purported solution
from other Asian countries, not just from the Philippines, and for Tuvaluans” presented to the casual observer as some form
open new destinations for us,” the Minister said. of climate justice was “an insidious form of colonialism.”
Writing for Japan’s Toda Peace Institute, Kitara and Farbotko
said that with adaptation measures, the habitability of atolls
can continue into the 21st Century, despite rising sea levels.
Papua New Guinea
Local businesses which provided services for refugees under
the PNG Humanitarian Programme (PHP) must be paid, said Vanuatu
Prime Minister James Marape. Under the PHP, refugees have The number of ni-Vanuatu workers blacklisted overseas has
been living in apartments and receiving allowances and risen to 174, including those on seasonal contracts in Australia
grocery vouchers plus medical treatment. Service providers and New Zealand, according to the Vanuatu Daily Post. Senior
who have not received any payments for services rendered labour mobility officer, Minnie Bani told the newspaper that
since November wrote to Chief Migration Officer Stanis in most cases, blacklisting occurs as a result of alcohol abuse.
Hulahau, warning that they would stop providing services Australia’s Department of Pacific Affairs said blacklisting
unless the outstanding bills were paid. Marape said the 63 serves as a punitive measure against workers who violate
refugees remaining in the country will remain. “Papua New program rules or exhibit inappropriate behaviour.
Guinea is a Melanesian country and we will not kick out
people seeking refuge,” he said.

Islands Business, December 2023 7