Page 7 - IB January 2023

Briefs Briefs

masks to be worn outdoors, in office settings and in large and listening abilities in Samoan. Patu shared, “My motivation
gatherings due to local transmission of the COVID-19 virus. was simply love. My love for my culture and people run bone
Since January 2020, there have been 4,621 confirmed cases of deep and so an opportunity to bring that here was really a
COVID-19 with 1 death, reported to WHO. As of July 10, 2022, blessing from the Lord.” Atutasi added, “Everyone in the
a total of 24,143 vaccine doses have been administered. class has expressed their excitement to finally have this
opportunity to learn Samoan.”

New Caledonia Solomon Islands
The latest inflation figures in New Caledonia have prompted Solomon Islands has ratified the 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear-
an automatic increase of the minimum wage by US$9 a Test-Ban Treaty, the 14th Pacific Island nation to do so. The
month. The annual inflation rate is 4.9%. The increase will Treaty bans any nuclear weapon test explosion or any other
come into effect on February 1st and raise the general nuclear explosion. Robert Floyd, Executive Secretary of the
monthly minimum wage to US$1,488. Increases are triggered Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO)
automatically if prices go up by more than 0.5 percent over praised the move, saying “This is a powerful message and a
the preceding month. The latest hike is the fifth in the past 12 strong political statement from the Solomon Islands whose
months. history underlines the importance of banning nuclear testing
for good.”

Niue
The Niuean government continues to solely handle COVID- Tonga
positive cases to tackle its community transmission outbreak. China and Tonga have partnered to construct a US$60 million
Positive cases are required to isolate for seven days while sports complex for Tonga High School. Prime Minister, Siaosi
other household members must undergo a RAT test for five Hu’akavameiliku thanked the Chinese government saying,
days. There are 21 active cases, zero recoveries, and 99.4% of “Having this facility of international standard will not only be
the eligible population vaccinated as of January 23. Namukulu beneficial to (the school) but to sports in general here in the
was the only village who had yet to record a single case of Kingdom.” The Sports Complex Project will include an indoor
COVID-19 at the time of printing. stadium, an international standard rugby field, netball and
tennis courts, stated the Prime Minister’s Office.

Palau
Tuvalu
Palau’s first utility-scale solar and battery energy storage Tuvalu has stopped recording COVID-19 cases, labelling the
facility in Babeldaob is scheduled to be completed in April situation ‘calm and normal’. Government spokesperson Lili
this year, according to the contractor Solar Pacific Pristine Faavae said when the border was officially opened, a decision
Power. Australia has provided AU$31 million (US$21.4 million) was made to scrap data recording of infection and “the
in financing for the construction of the solar project, which is Ministry of Health also lifted all its COVID special operations
expected to generate 20 percent of Palau’s energy needs by according to the community outbreak situation.” The last
the end of 2023. Palau’s current power system is dominated update was 30 November 2022, when 2779 cases had been
by diesel generation, with renewable energy only taking recorded since the community outbreak was announced on
a small share (just 4%), according to IRENA’s 2022 Palau November 3.
Roadmap Report.

Vanuatu
Papua New Guinea Virgin Australia will resume its international flights to
Sir Bob Dadae has been re-elected as the country’s 11th Vanuatu, starting 10 March 2023, as it continues to expand
Governor General for the next six years. Sir Bob gained 71 its network within its short-haul markets. “We are very
votes over former top public servant and diplomat Winnie excited about the return of Virgin Australia to Vanuatu after
Kiap and lawyer and university lecturer Stephen Pokawin.
more than 3 years,” relayed Adela Issachar Aru, CEO Vanuatu
Tourism Office. “It definitely shows the confidence (in)
the destination.” Five weekly flights have been scheduled
Samoa between Brisbane and Port Vila on Mondays, Wednesdays,
The Samoan language has been added to the curriculum of Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, however, weekend flights will
Stanford University in the U.S., thanks to students, Ari Patu be paused from May through to late June 2023, the airline
and Brandy Atuatasi. According to the school’s website, the stated.
Samoan language courses focus on speaking, writing, reading,

Islands Business, January 2023 7