Page 8 - IB June July 2024

Whispers Whispers

Seabed issue turning into hotbed French PR fumble prison directing members of his since
Seabed mining continues to divide Welcoming the legislative elections deregistered FijiFirst Party (FFP) to vote
the region as the International Seabed in New Caledonia as a sign of vibrant against increases in salaries and benefits
Authority prepares to meet in Jamaica democracy, France’s Ambassador to for members of Fiji’s Parliament. That
at the end of July. Hawai‘i has just the Pacific tweeted an image of the appears to have landed him in a spot of
passed a law banning seabed mining in late Kanak leader Jean-Marie Tjibaou, bother as Speaker of Parliament, Ratu
the state’s territorial waters. And there describing him as “the independantist Naiqama Lalabalavu said Bainimarama
were eyebrows raised at the recent leader who was assassinated because broke the law when he signed the letter
Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture about he signed the Noumea Agreement with since “as an incarcerated criminal,
the presence of mining interests under the loyalists. Thanks to this agreement, convicted and sentenced to a term of
the flag of one Pacific state. They told independantists are now able to send imprisonment of one year, ruled him
fellow delegates they were interested representatives in the parliament”. out as Leader of the FijiFirst party”.
in supporting culture and were looking Unfortunately, Tjibaou was assassinated Lalabalavu has referred the matter to
for funder opportunities. But it’s the in May 1989, which would have made it Supervisor of Elections, Ana Mataiciwa
battle for control of the Authority that difficult to sign the Noumea Accord in for further action. Meanwhile, it seems
has taken an ugly turn in recent months. May 1998. And the first New Caledonian the governing Coalition led by Prime
Supporters of both candidates for the deputy in the National Assembly was Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has learnt
Authority’s top job, held by Seabed Maurice Lenormand, who won his seat in nothing out of the huge backlash it
Authority Secretary General, Michael 1954 (only 44 years before the Noumea suffered from going ahead with a pay
Lodge since 2016, and contested by Accord!). Lenormand won because— rise in recent times. Just a week after
Brazil’s Leticia Carvalho, accuse the after a century of colonisation—Kanak Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for
other side of attempting to influence were allowed to vote for the first time. Finance acknowledged in Parliament
the outcome of the election by offering Pacific history worth remembering. in his Budget address that the way
to pay travel costs for delegates or to the pay rise issue was handled was a
pay delegations’ past-due membership Regional media, American PR public relations disaster on the part
fees so they can vote at this month’s Some grumbling in the ranks at the of government, Minister for Women,
meeting. Then there are even more Pacific International Media Conference. Children and Poverty Alleviation,
serious claims by Greenpeace Australia The US Embassy in Suva was a generous Lynda Tabuya, dug a deeper hole for
Pacific that former Prime Minister sponsor, highlighting their commitment the government with her comments
Scott Morrison and the international to free press etc. etc. It was a great on the Budget. Her statement that
weapons industry are behind a global conference, but many folks were it was not the sole responsibility of
push to establish deep sea mining. unhappy that the US Embassy put the government to financially sustain
Greenpeace claims there are apparent a large banner directly behind the social welfare recipients, but that it
connections between deep sea mining speakers’ podium, so participants were is primarily the responsibility of the
interests and a venture capital firm required to speak with the Stars and family, has not gone down well with
linked to AUKUS. Which only adds to the Stripes waving behind their head. Yet people – to put it mildly. The rate at
current complexities on the Australian another example where donors want to which they’ve created one self-inflicted
landscape, what with constant rumblings brand Pacific events, without thinking disaster after another has Fijians braced
about the possibility of elections earlier that journalists are responsible to their for more gaffes.
than next May’s scheduled polls. Aside audience, not the sponsor - or the
from economic problems and the tussle sponsor’s flag. Of transits and hell
between Labour and the Greens over Just how do they do these things with
getting a flagship housing bill through Political pileup a straight face, people asked as New
the Upper House, remnants of past Fiji’s former Prime Minister, Voreqe Zealand Prime Minister, Christopher
tussles between Anthony Albanese and Bainimarama is two months into a Luxon announced visa-free transit
his deputy, Bill Shorten, are also said to one-year jail term over abuse of office through NZ for Fijian nationals from
be a feature in the increasingly wobbly charges and is in further trouble. September, while visiting Fiji in
equation. He apparently signed a letter from June. The main criticism was that of

8 Islands Business, June/July 2024