Page 6 - IB August 2024

Briefs Briefs

diversity of emblematic marine species, and one of the most
diverse seabird assemblages in the South Pacific,” UNESCO’s
Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands World Heritage Committee stated at a recent meeting in
Star Marianas Air, a commuter airline that provides passenger India. It is the second UN-listed property for French Polynesia,
and air cargo service in the Northern Marianas, plans to alongside the cultural landscape of Taputapuātea which was
terminate its air services to these locations effective October listed in 2017.
15. Pacific Island Times reported the decision was driven by
the fee structure currently imposed by the Commonwealth
Ports Authority. “The broad definition of maintenance and
operation expenses, lack of detailed cost allocation and Guam
ambiguous treatment of common use areas result in fees United Airlines has confirmed it will end service between
that do not accurately reflect our actual usage of airport - Guam and Fukuoka, Japan on October 26 as the slow rebound
facilities and services,” Robert F. Christian, Chairman of the of Japanese tourist arrivals continues. “We regularly evaluate
Star Marianas Air’s Board of Directors, said in a letter to CNMI our Guam schedule and make adjustments based on demand
officials. and the broader needs of our network,” the airline stated.
The Guam Visitors Bureau board has heard that there were
11,214 visitor arrivals from Japan in June, a mere 27.2% of
the 40,877 Japan arrivals in June 2019.
Cook Islands
The Cook Islands’ Ministry of Health says residents should
not possess any imitation tobacco products now that new
tobacco control laws are in place. The Act which bans the Kiribati
manufacture, importation, sale, distribution and advertising A hundred and fourteen candidates are to contest the Kiribati
of imitation tobacco products, including vapes/e-cigarettes, elections, starting on August 14. A second round of voting for
was passed in Parliament in May. the 44-seat parliament, Maneaba ni Maungatabu, is scheduled
for August 19. Four candidates, all sitting members have
returned, unopposed. There are 18 women standing - a large
increase on 2020 when just seven contested the poll. The
Federated States of Micronesia election of president does not happen until the MPs in the
About US$233.7 million in funding has been provided to the new parliament put forward a minimum of three nominations
Compact Trust Fund for the Federated States of Micronesia. and those candidates then stand for public election, likely by
Assistant Secretary of the United States Department of October.
the Interior, Carmen G. Cantor, said “this contribution…
represents the first instalment of United States contributions
to the Trust Fund that will total US$500 million over a two-
year period.” Marshall Islands
Almost eight decades after the last nuclear bomb detonated
in the Marshall Islands, there is a call from the Pacific region
Fiji for a concerted effort to study its impacts on women and
There is growing momentum around moves to review Fiji’s girls. Marshall Islands Minister for Women, Jess Gasper Jr
2013 Constitution. A public lecture by Australian academic, told the 15th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women and
Professor Anthony Regan, which was attended by the Prime the 8th Pacific Women’s Ministers Meeting that: “We seek
Minister and parliamentarians from both sides of the House, comprehensive evidence-based data that can effectively
laid out a number of options for a potential review. Now connect health outcomes directly with our nuclear legacy.
Independent (and former FijiFirst) MP, Viliame Naupoto has This data is essential for informing our policy, securing
told parliament that the Constitution should be reviewed necessary resources and ultimately ensuring the health and
as soon as possible, and that it gives too broad powers to wellbeing of our people.” Marshall Islands reportedly has the
the military. He also says it should be reviewed to remove highest rate of cervical cancer in the world at 79 per 100,000
its perceived connection to the former government. Prime women, while one in eight women will suffer from breast
Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says public consultation will be cancer in their lifetime.
critical to any review.

Nauru
Domestic violence and sexual offences constitute a significant
French Polynesia portion of reported crimes in Nauru. “Since 2021, over
French Polynesia’s Marquesas Islands are now part of the past three years, we have received 79 cases, with 53
UNESCO’s World Heritage list. “The archipelago is a major completed and 23 closed due to insufficient evidence. It is
centre of endemism, home to rare and diverse flora, a
crucial to recognise that these numbers do not necessarily

6 Islands Business, August 2024