Page 7 - IB April 24

Briefs Briefs

Telecommunications Act currently prevents individuals from
using the service, although it can be licensed for service
New Caledonia providers and specific projects, such as health and education
French mining group, Eramet said it had reached an connectivity being carried out by Bluwave Wireless. She said
agreement with the French government to continue its SpaceX’s application for a license is being processed and will
subsidiary SLN’s mining operations in New Caledonia’s allow Samoans to legally use their services.
Northern Province. Under the agreement, Eramet could
extend financial guarantees granted to SLN, the mining group
said, in a move that would effectively avert the risk of a Solomon Islands
stoppage on its troubled New Caledonian nickel subsidiary’s A digital payment platform has launched in Solomon Islands.
operations. SLN has been locked in a dispute with local The Solomons Automated Transfer System is a real-time gross
authorities over financial guarantees after the provincial settlement payment system that will secure transactions,
government rejected a short extension of the guarantees, protecting customers and businesses from fraud. It will also
which are required to cover potential environmental simplify transactions for purchasing goods or sending money,
restoration. and will make payment options easier, including electronic
and mobile. The platform will be overseen by the Central
Bank of Solomon Islands.
Niue
Twice weekly flights between New Zealand and Niue resumed
on 1 April. Niue’s Tourism Advisor, Hayden Porter told Tonga
Television Niue that the pause gave them an opportunity to Tonga’s Government plans to build 200 houses for the
finish several jobs at the airport such as new floors and air Pacific Forum Leaders Meeting in August, Prime Minister
conditioning. Weekly flights to Niue are now on Mondays and Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni has told local media. The
Fridays. PM says that the Government is expecting at least 1000
participants for the meeting. Visitor accommodation in Tonga
was heavily impacted by the 2022 volcanic eruption and
tsunamis, when over 20 coastal accommodation places and
Palau resorts were destroyed on Tongatapu and its offshore islands.
The Palau National Scholarship Board (PNSB) faces a
significant funding shortage. Available resources cover less
than half of the financial needs of Palauan students seeking Tuvalu
scholarships. According to a PNSB report submitted to Olbiil Tuvalu’s newly elected Prime Minister, Feleti Teo has
Era Kelalau (Palau’s National Congress), 267 students applied confirmed his government will ratify the Falepili treaty. “We
for financial aid in fiscal year (FY) 2024, with a combined have entered into an arrangement that satisfies us … the
requirement of US$5,300,682. However, only US$2,760,433 whole treaty itself can be brought to a halt in only 12 months
was available. It is hoped the newly signed Compact Review if Tuvalu perceives that its sovereignty has been breached or
Agreement will provide some relief as it allows Palauan violated by the arrangement of the treaty,” he said. Under
students to qualify for in-state tuition rates at US colleges. the agreement, Australia will offer permanent residency to up
to 280 people from Tuvalu every year.

Papua New Guinea
The Papua New Guinea Government will soon offer visa-on- Vanuatu
arrival for Philippine passport holders. Papua New Guineans The Vanuatu Government is investing more than half a million
travelling to the Philippines currently have access visas vatu in the new passport software system, along with 70,000
on arrival. The Philippines has a large diaspora in PNG, passport booklets ordered earlier this year due to the high
numbering nearly 30,000 workers, permanent residents and demand for passports. Minister of Internal Affairs, Johnny
naturalised PNG citizens. Koanapo, will visit Germany to meet with the company
responsible for supplying the software system. He said the
contracted company is the same one providing the passport
system used in Fiji.
Samoa
The Office of the Regulator is considering an application
from SpaceX to operate in the country. Regulator, Lematua
Gisa Fuatai Purcell told a public forum that Starlink dishes
already in the country must be approved by her office. The

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