Page 7 - IB May 2024

Briefs Briefs

Nauru. The Sydney Morning Herald reported four Vietnamese
asylum seekers were intercepted by the Australian Border
Force off the coast of Broome, as were 33 people of unknown Samoa
nationality who arrived at Christmas Island after their vessel The practice of using Samoan passports as collateral for
was damaged. About 64 people are currently on Nauru, rental cars, loans, or other business transactions has been
with fewer than five assessed to be refugees, according to officially declared illegal. Valavalatumanu Pese Sia’opo,
Australia’s Home Affairs data. the Deputy Chief Executive Officer for the Ministry of Prime
Minister and Cabinet, told Savali Newspaper that passports
are government property, issued under the Immigration Act
2008. Valavalatumanu called upon businesses across Samoa to
New Caledonia respect this directive and to seek other forms of security in
New Caledonia’s power supplier ENERCAL told the local their transactions.
Congress it is now facing a “critical situation”. “For the past
ten years, (consumers) do not pay electricity at its real price,
because New Caledonia has decided to freeze the price of Solomon Islands
electricity for consumers and take care of the difference,” Australia will contribute over SBD$18 million (US$2,115,000)
ENERCAL said in a release. Chairman Laurent Chatenay to establish a new border management system, Australia’s
urged the Congress and the local government to make quick Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles, confirmed. The
decisions and to settle a debt ENERCAL claims reaches system will provide upgrades to Solomon Islands’ immigration
US$162.2 million. operations by digitising visa processing, border entries
and exits across the country, and improving processes for
increased revenue collection. It is scheduled to be fully
Niue implemented by mid-2025.
Niue’s Government launched a major extension to its
maritime VHF network with island-wide VHF coverage,
reaching 12 nautical miles offshore. Minister of Infrastructure, Tonga
Crossley Tatui said the extension of this network was a The Tonga Government is considering issuing Starlink a licence
significant and important project for maritime safety in Niue. to offer broadband internet services in Tonga. Prime Minister
Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni said Starlink had applied for
a licence to operate in Tonga. Since the Hunga-Tonga Hunga-
Ha’apai eruption damaged the submarine fibre optic cable
Palau in 2022, communications have been a major issue in Tonga,
The Palau Paradise Express, a new non-stop flight service where internet services have remained slow and expensive.
operated by Nauru Airlines, will fly between Brisbane and
Palau’s commercial centre Koror, with the first flight to take
place this month. Nauru Airlines will operate the flight until Tuvalu
October 31, with eligible Australian, Pacific and Asian airlines Tuvalu expects to take delivery of its new inter-island vessel,
invited to participate in a limited tender to operate the funded by the Asian Development Bank, before the end of the
route through to October 2025. The new route complements year. Finance Minister, Panapasi Nelesone told Pacnews the
the Island Hopper flights between Brisbane, Yaren, Tarawa, new vessel will replace the existing passenger and cargo ship,
Majuro, Pohnpei and Koror.
Manufolau, which is in an unserviceable state.

Papua New Guinea Vanuatu
BSP Financial Group Limited is budgeting K345 million (US$90 Ernst & Young (EY) Australia have been appointed as
million) in capital expenditure over two years starting voluntary liquidators of Air Vanuatu. This follows the airline’s
this year. Group Chief Executive Officer, Mark Robinson, cancellation of around 20 flights to and from New Zealand,
said: “We’re making substantial investments in technology Australia and Nouméa this month after reportedly being
and leveraging data more effectively to gain a deeper placed into administration. Minister of Finance and Economic
understanding of customer needs and risks. Encouragingly, Management, John Salong, said EY will provide a plan to
some of the steps we’ve taken are already yielding results, the Government and shareholders offering options for a
such as our ability to pre-approve loans, originated and stronger airline in the future. Fiji Airways and Virgin Australia
processed entirely digitally.” have stepped in by providing alternative flights to and from
Vanuatu.

Islands Business, May 2024 7