Page 7 - IBs November 2022

Briefs Briefs

June on November 13. Since then, 11 confirmed cases have vehicles from the Australian Federal Police this month as part
been announced. Fortunately, the government said no cases of the AFP’s support to SIPF’s rearmament programme, which
have been serious and all have been only mildly symptomatic. started in 2013. Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare emphasised
Some of the diagnosed citizens have had no symptoms. “the need for an equipped police force is paramount not
Nauru’s vaccination coverage shows the majority have had only for security but also for social economic growth. Law
two doses (5-11 years 83%, 12-17 years 91%, and 18 years and and order is an enabler to development and it is important
over 100%), a government statement said. as a sovereign state we are able to better protect ourselves,
deliver on our security mandates and confront threats when it
comes.”
Niue
Niue is now part of New Zealand’s EU Digital COVID Certificate
Third Country system. This means that the Niuean government Tonga
can now provide vaccine certificates for travel to EU member Tonga will hold another by-election in January 2023 for the
countries for those who received their COVID vaccinations people’s representative in the Tongatapu 8 constituency to
in Niue. It will replace the vaccination letter issued by the the Tonga Legislative Assembly. The seat was vacated when
Niue Health Department, as the EU-DCC is internationally Semisi Fakahau, who was the Minister of Fisheries, died last
recognised. The Vaccine Travel Certificate is valid for 12 month.
months, the government stated.

Tuvalu
Tuvalu reported its first COVID-19 community transmission
Palau case on November 3. In response, 500kg of medical supplies
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr. has signed an plus international health experts were deployed to Tuvalu
immigration law that provides reciprocity for citizens of FSM, on November 19. The flight, chartered by the United Nations
RMI and the U.S.. According to Island Times, the new bill World Food Programme, transported members of the Fiji
encourages the US, RMI and FSM to fill vacancies in the Palau Emergency Medical Assistance Team, a Tuvaluan laboratory
workforce and allows citizens to work and live freely in the expert and two World Health Organization personnel. Tuvalu
U.S. without having to obtain a visa. has detected a total of 2,364 cases as of November 20 and
98% of the eligible population have received COVID-19
vaccines.
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea’s Minister for Treasury, Ian Ling-Stuckey
says the PNG government expects to spend around K628 Vanuatu
(US$178) million by the end of the year to “relieve cost of Vanuatu’s Torres Islanders made over VT300,000 (US$2400)
living pressures on families.” He said this included K283.3 on November 6 when Loh Island received its first cruise ship
(US$80.4) million for the removal of fuel taxes and K160 after seven years. However Torres Area Administrator, Thomas
(US$45.5) million for school fees. Meanwhile, the Bank of PNG Simon, believes the Vanuatu Tourism Office should provide
expects inflation to drop from 6% this year to 5% in 2023 and “refresher training”, as he says people in rural areas have lost
then to 4% in 2024. touch with tourism. “We are not representing Torres islands
alone, we are representing the whole country, what image we
displayed here will be seen as the whole Vanuatu,” he told
Daily Post. The money earned from the visit was distributed
Samoa amongst households.
Samoa’s former Assistant Electoral Commissioner, Afualo
Daryl Mapu, has been sentenced to jail on drugs charges.
The 39-year-old was found guilty of charges of possession of
narcotics, utensils, unlawful weapons, unregistered firearms, Wallis and Futuna
unlawful ammunition, and ammunition without permit. He has The use of old French Pacific Franc coins will end from
been sentenced to a total of 18 months in prison. December 1. The old coins will be reused for their metal.
Since the start of the 15-month campaign to collect old coins,
40 million of them have been gathered, says local media.
Solomon Islands
The Solomon Islands Police Force received 60 guns and 13

Islands Business, November 2022 7