Page 6 - Islands Business October 2022

Briefs Briefs

American Samoa French Polynesia
A U.S. Supreme Court on October 17 declined to consider Two Swedish men suspected of drug smuggling in French
whether American Samoans have full U.S. citizenship at birth. Polynesia have been summoned for trial on November 17 by
American Samoans challenging the current law, in which they the territory’s criminal court. Last month, 423 kilograms of
are considered U.S. “nationals” at birth but not citizens, say cocaine was found on board their yacht by Tahiti border pa-
it is a “vestige of racist policies” toward territories. They trol. They were reportedly sailing from Panama to Australia.
say that the Court relied upon “Insular Cases”, a series of If convicted, they risk jail sentences of up to ten years and
long-criticised early 20th century Supreme Court rulings. The nearly US$10 million worth of fines.
Supreme Court’s decision not to hear the case means the
lower court ruling remains in place.

Guam
Early voting for Guam’s elections is underway with 59,298 reg-
Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands istered voters confirmed by the territory’s Election Commis-
Governor Ralph Torres has signed into law the Fiscal Year 2023 sion. A “Great Debate” is scheduled to be held at the Univer-
budget bill. The CNMI government will have at its disposal sity of Guam on November 3 as “an opportunity for candidates
over US$140 million for government operations in the new to speak on their platforms and answer questions in front of
fiscal year. There had been concerns of a partial government an audience of 3,000 people and streamed live for the world,”
shutdown due to a disagreement between the House and Sen- a UOG release stated. November 8 is the main polling day.
ate, but a last-minute decision sealed the deal.

Kiribati
Cook Islands 4G-mobile network installations are underway in Kiribati’s
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown has warned poten- outer islands: Kuria and Aranuka by mobile service provider,
tial investors after a New Zealand bank discovered that a Ocean Link Limited (OLL). Towers, wireless base stations, and
credible-looking climate change investment proposal turned solar power systems were shipped to the locations. “Ocean
out to be fake. As a result, a sum of NZ$100,000 about to be Link is very proud that the two islands will be the first in the
invested was blocked. Pacific to enjoy the 4G-mobile service powered by solar power
systems with Lithium batteries,” OLL CEO Huafeng Zhang told
Radio Kiribati.
Federated States of Micronesia
FSM President David Panuelo announced on October 10 that
proof of COVID-19 booster doses are no longer required prior Marshall Islands
to entering the territory. This amendment is now included in Marshall Islands’ resolution to address human rights implica-
the government’s Healthy Border Protection Act. A person is tions of its nuclear legacy has been adopted by the UN Human
considered “fully vaccinated” after they have received the Rights Council at its 51st session. This is the first time that the
second dose of an mRNA vaccine, such as the Moderna or United Nations recognises the “harm done” to the Marshallese
Pfizer vaccines, or the single dose of the Johnson & Johnson people resulting from the 67 nuclear tests that were conduct-
vaccine, the government said.
ed on the territory before independence.

Fiji
Fijians will vote on December 14. The election date was Nauru
announced in October, after many months of preparations. Australia’s foreign minister Penny Wong has announced educa-
The election looks set to be a close run battle between the tion funding of at least AU$20 million (US$12.6 million) over
incumbent, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama’s Fiji First five years in Nauru focusing on “long term change”. Wong,
party, and former Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka’s People’s who recently met representatives of Nauru’s new Cabinet,
Alliance Party. said Australia is committed to another decade of support-
ing Nauru’s education sector. The Minister adds that on the
request of the Nauru government, the funding commences
quickly, in November 2022.

6 Islands Business, October 2022