Page 9 - IB June July 2024

Whispers Whispers

tokenism, since Australia, and not New Grounded again
Zealand, is a major transit point for Papua New Guinea leaders continue
Fijians. Plus, the real problem with to experience first-hand the impacts of
New Zealand appears to be the single- the Puma Energy fuel crisis. Minister for
entry basis on which visitor visas are Communications, Timothy Masiu was Front Page Pte Limited
GPO Box 12718, Suva, Fiji Islands.
granted, so that a visa application forced to sit in a plane on the tarmac
Tel: +679 9209375
(and payment) is required for every at Port Jacksons airport for four hours
single visit. Hardly the best deal for with fellow passengers enroute to Sales & Advertising
a struggling economy. Hence, social Fiji for the Pacific Media Conference. marketing@islandsbusiness.com
media was awash with unflattering The problem – fuel supplies were not Circulation & Distribution
commentary. Coincidentally, Samoa’s available. The stoppage was so long the subs@islandsbusiness.com
former Prime Minister,Tuilaepa Sa’ilele flight crew had to be switched over, Finance
Malielegaoi joined the chorus of which further delayed the flight. There finance@islandsbusiness.com
criticism soon afterwards over a longer is no end in sight to the ongoing crisis,
running issue by exclaiming that it which a year ago led the government Fiji stockists
was easier for his people to get to hell to declare a national emergency. Puma Dominion Bookshop - BSP Life Building Arcade, Suva
than to get to New Zealand! He was Energy and the Bank of Papua New Ginger Kitchen - Fiji Museum
speaking at a recent public hearing in Guinea continue to grapple over foreign Hot Bread Kitchen - Damodar City, Suva/LICI building,
Auckland for the Restoring Citizenship exchange orders, and in the meantime, Butt St, Suva/Namaka, Nadi/Rajendras Foodtown Complex,
Valelevu/Namoli Avenue, Lautoka
Removed By Citizenship (Western the people and business suffer. Kundan Singh Supermarket - Tamavua
Samoa) Act Bill. In 1982, a Privy Council
ruling recognised individuals born in Running proud Maui Bay TOTAL Service Station - Lot 15, Maui Bay Estates
Western Samoa after 13 May 1924, as Tuvalu may not have a real Nausori Airport Kiosk - Nausori International Airport,
Nausori
“natural-born British subjects” under competition running track, but that
Palm Court Bistro - QBE Arcade, Victoria Parade, Suva
New Zealand law. It effectively granted hasn’t stopped the nation from sending
Post Fiji - General Post Office, Suva
them New Zealand citizenship when the an athlete to the Paris Olympics.
Raiwaqa Bakery - Flagstaff/Nausori/Nukuwatu St, Lami
country established its own citizenship Karalo Maibuca will proudly represent
in 1948. But then, the then-New Tuvalu this month as its sole athlete Samabula Drug Store - Samabula
Zealand government enacted another and flag bearer. In the absence of a The Projects Collective - Colova Estate (The Beachouse),
Coral Coast, Korolevu
law in 1982 Act which revoked their track, Maibuca runs on the airfield
USP Book Centre - USP Laucala Campus, Suva
citizenship, to avoid a large influx of when at home, although he is currently
Vuda Marina General Store - Vuda Marina, Lautoka
Western Samoans claiming citizenship. studying and training in Fiji. Officials
Yees Xpressmart - Unit S22, Port Denarau, Nadi
The new Bill aims to restore a pathway say many of the small Tuvalu contingent
to NZ citizenship for this group of who competed in the recent Oceania Regional
people born in then-Western Samoa athletic championships in Suva trained ASCC Le Bookstore - Pago Pago, American Samoa
between 1924 and 1949. Malielegaoi on the runway. Maibuca aims to break Friendly Islands Bookshop – Nuku’alofa, Tonga
referenced an agreement between the the Tuvalu record for the event, which Hachette Pacifique – Papeete, French Polynesia
New Zealand and Chinese governments he currently holds. Heritage Park Hotel – Honiara, Solomon Islands
about a visa-free scheme. “1.4 billion Naoero Postal Service Corporation (Nauru Post) – Civic
[Chinese] that could come [to NZ] and Whispers is compiled under the Centre, Aiwo District, Nauru
yet for us in Samoa that is extremely supervision of the editorial team. Palau Community College Bookstore - Koror, Palau
difficult. To go to hell [is easier] than Samoa Stationery and Books - Apia, Samoa
to come to New Zealand,” the former Tuvalu Post - Funafuti, Tuvalu
Prime Minister said. But then, when Vanuatu Post - Port Vila, Vanuatu
has it ever been made easy for Pacific Yap Cooperative Association – Colonia, YAP, FSM
Islanders?

Islands Business,June/Juy 2024 9