Page 7 - Islands Business October 2022

Briefs Briefs

Niue Tonga
The Niue government has announced its transition from The Tonga government is set to distribute humanitarian cash
“response” to “recovery” on its COVID-19 plans. The change transfers of $1.5 million pa’anga (US$614,000) to support
comes as the government believes that “there is no indica- 3,000 tsunami-affected families in Tongatapu, ‘Eua, and
tion that the virus will ever be eradicated from the world”. Ha’apai. The cash transfers will be distributed to 750 affected
According to WHO, there have been 85 confirmed COVID-19 households, and 2,467 people with disabilities, including 273
cases in Niue since it was first reported in January 2020. children with disabilities. Each beneficiary will receive two
rounds of 200 pa’anga, while children with disabilities will
receive 300 pa’anga.

Palau
President of Palau, Surangel S. Whipps Jr has signed an air Tuvalu
services agreement with Singapore’s Minister of Transport, The Asian Development Bank has approved a US$30 million
S. Iswaran, whereby “airlines can begin planning and prepar- grant to boost regional connectivity of Tuvalu’s outer islands.
ing to fly directly between Singapore and Palau,” stated The Tuvalu Strengthening Domestic Shipping Project will
Whipps. The open skies agreement between Palau and Singa- replace the Manu Folau, the existing passenger and cargo
pore allows airlines from either country to provide passenger ship, with a new ship certified to international standards. The
and cargo services between the two countries and beyond. project will also rehabilitate the existing damaged port fend-
Currently, United Airlines and China Airlines are the two main ers at the Funafuti International Port to improve ship berthing
airlines that transport travellers to and from Palau. safety, preventing damage to the wharf and ships calling at
the port.
Papua New Guinea
The World Bank and International Monetary Fund estimate Vanuatu
that Papua New Guinea’s economy will pass K110billion None of Vanuatu’s major political parties who contested the
(US$31 billion) in 2022. Prime Minister James Marape said snap elections on October 13 have secured the simple major-
in the last three years, the government has been working ity of the nation’s 52-member Parliament. Official results
towards debt restructuring and reduction. The Bank of PNG showed two political parties, Vanua’aku Pati and the Union of
reports PNG’s total debt at the end of June was K51billion Moderate Parties each secured the highest number of seats
(US$14 billion), and projects it will increase to K54billion (7). Others include: Leaders Party of Vanuatu (6), Reunifica-
(US$15 billion) by the end of the year. tion of Movement for Change (5), Graon mo Jastis Pati (4),
National United Party (4) and Rural Development Party (4),
People’s Progressive Party (2), Vanuatu National Development
Party (2) and People’s Development Party (2), and remain-
Samoa ing winning parties and Independents with one seat each.
Samoa Opposition leader and former Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Vanuatu’s Parliament Clerk, Raymond Manuake has summoned
Sailele Malielegaoi, and party secretary Lealailepule Rimoni Parliament to convene on November 4, 2022.
Aiafi have been officially suspended from Parliament for two
years. The House voted 29 – 19 in a secret ballot to uphold the
Privileges and Ethics Committee Report to suspend the Human
Rights Protection Party MPs. It is the second time the pair Wallis and Futuna
have been suspended based on the same court ruling, where Wallisian Senator Mikaele Kulimoetoke has raised his concern
they were convicted and discharged without punishment on in the French senate about the territory’s dire health ser-
contempt of court charges. vices. He said locals have been waiting 17 years for proper
government attention. Kulimoetoke has called on the French
health department and congress to consider the “broken link”
Solomon Islands between the territory’s inhabitants and its local health agency
In Solomon Islands, the government has eased its COVID-19 as issues are “not heard” and health professionals are report-
restrictions for vaccinated travellers. The government has edly “fleeing the territory”. There is an urgent need for eight
removed PCR testing for those who have had their primary dialysis machines and a new vehicle for patients, the Senator
series of jabs. Those who want to enter the country but do said.
not have their shots need proof of a negative PCR test taken
within 72 hours, before arrival.

Islands Business, October 2022 7