Page 9 - Islands Business March 2024

Whispers Whispers

resilience, but at the same time, comments making demands to that end
everything is being done to destroy our have left senior officials aghast. And
climate resilience.” it’s definitely having the wrong kind of
effect because people are beginning
Infrastructure worries to wonder, might this be a case of Front Page Pte Limited
It appears there’s worries about putting your head in the sand as a way GPO Box 12718, Suva, Fiji Islands.
two major Chinese-funded sporting of ignoring the problems? Or is it stuff Tel: +679 9209375
infrastructure in the region. Early getting to the head? Sales & Advertising
this month, Vanuatu’s National Sports marketing@islandsbusiness.com
Commission (NSC) said it was struggling Names in the water Circulation & Distribution
to maintain Korman Stadium, the Interesting move on the floor of the subs@islandsbusiness.com
largest sporting complex in the country. Cook Islands parliament this month, Finance
The stadium was built through Chinese with the passage of a bill that changes finance@islandsbusiness.com
grants five years ago to host the 2017 references to the term “mining” in
Mini Games and is being used for the country’s Seabed Minerals Act with Fiji stockists
weddings, church services and music “minerals harvesting ... to reflect Amy St Pharmacy - Amy St, Toorak, Suva
events. NSC management said the the actual activity that takes place”, Dominion Bookshop - BSP Life Building Arcade, Suva
government had not been appropriating according to Prime Minister Mark Brown, Ginger Kitchen - Fiji Museum
funds for the facility’s operation and who is also the minister responsible for Hot Bread Kitchen - Damodar City, Suva/LICI building,
maintenance. Meanwhile, there are seabed minerals. Apparently, mining was Butt St, Suva/Namaka, Nadi/Rajendras Foodtown Complex,
Valelevu/Namoli Avenue, Lautoka
similar worries about the maintenance seen as too broad a term that ranged
of the 10,000-seat stadium that China from extraction through to digging and Kundan Singh Supermarket - Tamavua and Pacific Harbour
built for the Solomon Islands as a gift – cutting, when the preference is for a Maui Bay TOTAL Service Station - Lot 15, Maui Bay Estates
the venue for the 2023 Pacific Games. specific term used for collecting nodules Nausori Airport Kiosk - Nausori International Airport,
Nausori
And that stadium was only handed from the floor, “to reflect the actual Palm Court Bistro - QBE Arcade, Victoria Parade, Suva
to the Solomons government last activity that takes place,” he said in
September. What next? Parliament. The move reflects Brown’s Post Fiji - General Post Office, Suva
Raiwaqa Bakery - Flagstaff/Nausori/Nukuwatu St, Lami
seriousness about pushing through on
Watery worries the potential that deep seabed mining Samabula Drug Store - Samabula
And then there’s talk floating about holds for the Cooks, although opponents The Projects Collective - Colova Estate (The Beachouse),
Coral Coast, Korolevu
in one island country about a public say it’s a case of bluewashing. But then, USP Book Centre - USP Laucala Campus, Suva
official who’s more worried about how there are others who will ask, “what’s
the lights in his pool are angled, than in a name?” And, with seabed mining Vuda Marina General Store - Vuda Marina, Lautoka
the obviously many more pressing legislation looming large on the agenda Yees Xpressmart - Unit S22, Port Denarau, Nadi
matters at hand. Ironically, while the of Pacific Island countries, will this be Regional
Pacific grapples with the existential something that other countries will take ASCC Le Bookstore - Pago Pago, American Samoa
doom of increasing heat, rising ocean note of? Friendly Islands Bookshop – Nuku’alofa, Tonga
temperatures, and encroaching sea Hachette Pacifique – Papeete, French Polynesia
levels, some people have their head in Whispers is compiled under the Heritage Park Hotel – Honiara, Solomon Islands
the clouds – or, under the water, in this supervision of the editorial team. Naoero Postal Service Corporation (Nauru Post) – Civic
case? Centre, Aiwo District, Nauru
Palau Community College Bookstore - Koror, Palau
Head in the sand? Samoa Stationery and Books - Apia, Samoa
There’s also the head of an island body Tuvalu Post - Funafuti, Tuvalu
who, with the kind of worries that Vanuatu Post - Port Vila, Vanuatu
his part of the woods is facing right Yap Cooperative Association – Colonia, YAP, FSM
now, is said to be more interested
in how much obeisance he gets from
certain governments. His very pointed

Islands Business, March 2024 9