Page 6 - Islands Business February 2023

Briefs Briefs

constitution and the rule of law in his opening statement
during the second parliamentary session for 2023. The FijiFirst
American Samoa leader will be out of Parliament until February 17, 2026.
American Samoa’s criminal justice planning agency has been
awarded US$431,794 in federal funds for crisis intervention
and drug control efforts. Earlier this month, Deputy Secretary
of Samoan Affairs, Tauese Vaa Sunia called for government, French Polynesia
villages, churches, classrooms and households to join in a Six people in French Polynesia have been given jail sentences
collective effort to battle drugs. Methamphetamine has for importing methamphetamine or ‘ice’ through the mail
rapidly become the drug of preference in American Samoa and system in 2019. They were given up to three years in prison
a rehabilitation centre is in planning stages. for sending about 50 envelopes with small quantities of the
drug from the United States to Tahiti. Two of those convicted
were employees of the local post office who were found to
be accomplices. A public prosecutor in French Polynesia,
Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands Thomas Pison says there are at least 10,000 consumers of
Asiana Airlines will suspend its CNMI flight service on March methamphetamine in the territory.
4 until further notice. Commonwealth Ports Authority (CPA)
Board Chairwoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds told the Marianas
Variety she was not too familiar with Asiana’s plan, but
added, “I’m hoping that they will come back.” She said Guam
fewer flights will mean less revenue for CPA. The worst- Guam’s Attorney General, Douglas Moylan has asked the
case scenario, she added, is that they may have to lay off Guam Police Department to strictly enforce curfew laws that
employees and operate at a very limited level. Low cost prohibit minors from being out at certain times of the night.
carriers, T’Way Air and Jeju Air, will continue flying to the With limited exceptions, minors are prohibited from being out
Marianas. after 10pm Sundays through Thursdays, and after midnight
Fridays and Saturdays. Restrictions end at 6am each day,
according to a letter from Moylan. The office will prosecute
Cook Islands minors, parents and others who violate the law, Moylan said
The results of the newly released Cook Islands Census 2021 in the letter. “We believe that tough curfew enforcement will
show the number of people employed as a percentage curb the crimes in our 19 villages,” he said.
of the total working age group was 68.1%. “Total income
was estimated around NZ$216 million per annum, roughly
translating to a per capita income of NZ$14,400 for every Kiribati
man, woman and child,” the Census says. Of those in The government of Kiribati has partnered with Victoria
employment, 83.4% were paid employees, 15.1% were either University of Wellington in New Zealand in its efforts to
self-employed or an employer, and 1.6% were working in a reduce high maternal and child mortality rates in the country.
family business without pay. The partnership will focus on finding ways to improve
midwifery and nursing practices in Kiribati. Kiribati has the
second highest maternal mortality rate in the Pacific - with
92 deaths per 100,000 live births. And its child mortality
Federated States of Micronesia
The FSM Department of Resources and Development, in rates are almost 10 times higher than New Zealand, Kiribati’s
health minister Tinte Itinteang told RNZ Pacific.
collaboration with the Yap State Government, has started
conducting the 2023 Census of Population and Housing,
which will conclude mid-April this year. The department says
the census will provide the essential baseline information Marshall Islands
needed for planning in the next 10 years. According to the The European Union has placed the Marshall Islands on its tax
FSM Statistics Office, the population of the State of Yap was haven blacklist, surprising government officials in Majuro.
11,577 in 2020. It is the second blacklisting for the Marshall Islands, which
operates offshore corporate and ship registries, in six years.
The EU put the nation on its tax haven blacklist in late 2017
Fiji but removed the Republic in 2018. Blacklisting signifies
Fiji opposition leader Frank Bainimarama has been suspended the EU’s determination that the Marshall Islands is non-
for three years as an MP for breaching parliamentary cooperative on tax matters. The move will likely continue
privilege. It comes after the former prime minister said until October, when the EU is scheduled to update the list.
President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere had failed to protect the

6 Islands Business, February 2023