Page 7 - IB December 2022

Briefs Briefs

commitment.’’ Meanwhile, to meet the high tourist demand in
the year-end, Nauru Airlines has partnered with Air Vanuatu to
counter capacity shortfalls. Samoa
Samoa’s population has increased by 4% in the past six years,
to 205,557. According to the Samoa Population Housing Census
2021 report, Upolu island continues to have the largest count
New Caledonia of the country’s population with 160,334 people. The average
France Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin has ruled out any age of the total population was 22 years, reflecting a youthful
further voting on another referendum in New Caledonia Samoan population, which indicates “continuous demands for
during the president’s current five-year term. Darmanin developments catering for the needs of the young population
ruled out a replacement independence referendum too, such as education, health, and employment opportunities,”
saying there would be “no rematch” but agreed that the the report stated.
French constitution gave New Caledonia the right to self-
determination. He said it was up to the French state to reach
out to those in New Caledonia who have voted against French Solomon Islands
dependency. Solomon Breweries Limited is the first business to officially
announce a SBD$1 million (US$121,000) sponsorship for the
Pacific Games 2023. Solbrew Corporate Affairs Manager, Qila
Niue Tuhanuku says the sponsorship is “both a duty and honour
The Niuean government has sought help from the New as a business… to support the hosting of the games.” The
Zealand Pasifika Medical Association due to increased cases sponsorship will be the bronze sponsorship for the Pacific
of community transmission of COVID-19. RNZ Pacific says half Games Organising Committee.
of the nursing workforce is down, either away sick with the
virus or on leave. There have been 209 reported cases since
March 2022 and 99.4% of the eligible population have received Tonga
vaccines. Two medical teams from NZPMA had been scheduled Australia has provided additional budget support of AU$30
to arrive in the country at the time of printing. million (US$20.12 million) to Tonga in aid of the country’s
economic recovery and to “strengthen partnerships”. Tongan
Prime Minister, Siaosi Sovaleni Hu’akavameiliku stated the
direct funding agreement will be used for efforts concerning
Palau COVID-19, the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai disaster and more
A former governor of Ngiwal state in Palau was arrested on recent global inflationary pressures.
December 8 after failing to show up to his sentencing hearing
on December 1. In October 2022, Ellender Ngirameketii
pleaded guilty to two Misconducts in Public Office felony Tuvalu
counts, and two misdemeanours on Code of Ethics violations. Taiwan has donated AU$100,000 (US$67,097) in funds to assist
He has been fined US$30,000 and will be on supervised Tuvaluans who have been facing a prolonged drought caused
probation until he pays the full fine.
by consecutive La Nina events. The funds were presented by
Andrew Lin, Taiwan’s Ambassador to Tuvalu to the Minister
of Public Works, Infrastructure and Environment, Ampelosa
Papua New Guinea Tehulu. The funds will be used to procure water tanks.
The Asian Development Bank has approved a US$250 million
loan to help Papua New Guinea’s state-owned enterprises
deliver high-quality, affordable services in key sectors such as Vanuatu
energy, water supply and aviation. ADB Financial Management The Vanuatu College of Nursing Education has announced its
Specialist for the Pacific, Matthew Rees says their reform plan to not accept new nurse intakes for the next five years.
programme has enabled SoEs like Kumul Consolidated Currently, VCNE has no proper basis for its legal establishment
Holdings to pay the government a dividend of US$22.9 million and operations. “In the next five years, we will be training
this year for the first time since 2015. The PNG Government our nurses abroad. An advantage of this decision is that the
has also allocated US$56.8 million through the 2023 National 90 or 100 students we are sending abroad will graduate with
Budget to help SoEs deliver reforms including progressing Bachelors, not diplomas like what VCNE is producing,” said
partial privatisation for Telikom, National Development Bank, Russel Tamata, Director General of the Ministry of Health.
People’s Micro Bank and Air Niugini.

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