Page 9 - IB December 2023

Whispers Whispers

RMI, FSM and Palau, the US Congress is Campbell is seething at Congress. If you
finding it hard to deliver the full US$7.1 can’t even provide timely development
billion pledged over coming years. funding for the US COFA states, why
President Joe Biden has included the should any other Pacific nations have
funds in a supplemental budget request, faith in US regional commitments? Don’t
but House Republicans want massive hold your breath waiting for Congress
offsets, and—as we go to press—US to fund Biden’s COP28 pledge of US$3 Front Page Pte Limited
lawmakers have failed to deliver. Little billion for the Green Climate Fund! GPO Box 12718, Suva, Fiji Islands.
wonder that US Indo-Pacific tzar, Kurt Tel: +679 9209375
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Fiji stockists
Amy St Pharmacy - Amy St, Toorak, Suva
Dominion Bookshop - BSP Life Building Arcade, Suva
Ginger Kitchen - Fiji Museum
Hot Bread Kitchen - Damodar City, Suva/LICI building,
Butt St, Suva/Namaka, Nadi/Rajendras Foodtown Complex,
Valelevu/Namoli Avenue, Lautoka
Kundan Singh Supermarket - Tamavua and Pacific Harbour
Maui Bay TOTAL Service Station - Lot 15, Maui Bay Estates
Nausori Airport Kiosk - Nausori International Airport,
Nausori
Palm Court Bistro - QBE Arcade, Victoria Parade, Suva
Post Fiji - General Post Office, Suva/Nausori/Labasa
Raiwaqa Bakery - Flagstaff/Nausori/Marine Drive, Lami
Samabula Drug Store - Samabula
The Projects Collective - Colova Estate (The Beachouse),
Coral Coast, Korolevu
Security or militarisation?
USP Book Centre - USP Laucala Campus, Suva
France’s Ambassador to Vanuatu was miffed at the suggestion that
Paris is involved in militarisation of the region, even as it deploys Vuda Marina General Store - Vuda Marina, Lautoka
200 new troops to New Caledonia, a new Pacific Academy for troop Yees Xpressmart - Unit S22, Port Denarau, Nadi
training in Noumea, 150 million euros extra for French armed forces Regional
etc etc. He furiously tweeted about France’s valuable contribution ASCC Le Bookstore - Pago Pago, American Samoa
to maritime surveillance and disaster response, which is warmly Friendly Islands Bookshop – Nuku’alofa, Tonga
welcomed by island states. PCC’s General Secretary replied: “We Hachette Pacifique – Papeete, French Polynesia
know what you do. We know what you did. We worry about what Heritage Park Hotel – Honiara, Solomon Islands
you might do in the future.” Does the Ambassador really think that Naoero Postal Service Corporation (Nauru Post) – Civic
people have forgotten 193 nuclear tests at Moruroa and Fangataufa, Centre, Aiwo District, Nauru
the Rainbow Warrior, the Ouvea massacre and more? We say France Palau Community College Bookstore - Koror, Palau
would have more regional credibility if it signed on to the Treaty on Samoa Stationery and Books - Apia, Samoa
the Prohibition on Nuclear Weapons. Tuvalu Post - Funafuti, Tuvalu
Vanuatu Post - Port Vila, Vanuatu
Whispers is compiled under the supervision of the editorial team. Yap Cooperative Association – Colonia, YAP, FSM

Islands Business, December 2023 9