Page 7 - Islands Business February 2023

Briefs Briefs

domestically to our customers in Kina,” he said. Tokome said
the priority was to maintain the supply of all oil products
Nauru to PNG and minimise any impact of these issues on the
The fate of about 150 refugees and asylum seekers remaining community and customers where possible. In early January, Air
in Nauru and Papua New Guinea, with little to no knowledge Niugini had suspended domestic flights due to suspension of
of when or if they will be resettled, continues to concern fuel supply by Puma.
some bodies. The United Nations has condemned the
Australian government, saying it had a legal responsibility
towards the safe settlement of refugees and asylum seekers
under international rules. Greens Senator, Nick McKim has Samoa
introduced proposed laws that would see 66 people on Nauru The Samoa Ports Authority has recorded a record $10.6 million
and another 92 in PNG transferred to community detention in tala profit and handed over a dividend of more than $3.7
Australia if they posed no security risk. million tala to the people and Government of Samoa as a 35%
share of the profits for the Financial Year ended 30 June 2022.
The dividend target set for Government-owned trading bodies
each year is 7%. SPA has been able to exceed this by 28%, a
New Caledonia government statement said.
New Caledonia’s SLN nickel company has been granted
a US$43 million loan from the French state to stave off
insolvency. SLN is New Caledonia’s largest company, Solomon Islands
employing about 2000 people directly and a further 8000 The Solomon Islands Pacific Games National Hosting Authority
indirectly. The decision to lend more has been announced by (NHA) has confirmed the launching of the Safe Green
the French finance ministry after coordination with Eramet, Games initiative. The programme marks the beginning of
which is the main shareholder in SLN. beautification and clean-up activities within the entire
Honiara City in the build-up towards the 2023 Pacific Games in
November. NHA Chairman, Dr Jimmie Rodgers said, “Our aim
is to leave a beautiful legacy after the games by improving the
Niue
Niue’s Public Service Commission and Department of image of the city and quality of life for its residents.”
Education have been trying to address a shortage of
qualified teachers. TV Niue reports high teacher turnover is
a concerning issue in the country where the salaries offered Tonga
are much lower compared to their New Zealand counterparts. Tonga has become the sixth country to join Australia’s Market
Director of Education, Birtha Togahai, said the situation is Development Facility. The Australian state-funded economic
being addressed as they start the school term. She said they initiative states its mission is to boost local employment and
have managed to do the interviews and fill all the vacancies. income opportunities. The respective countries said that over
US$2 million in investment would be provided to the Kingdom
over the next four years.

Palau
Palau’s Bureau of Public Safety, Ministry of Justice, Bureau of Vanuatu
Customs and Border Protection and Ministry of Finance have The Vanuatu government has suspended giving new passports
signed a Memorandum of Understanding to further expand to seasonal workers effective immediately until July. Minister
their partnership through joint co-operations to ensure of Internal Affairs Christophe Emelee said the decision was
effective law enforcement in border management. A grant made to allow enough time for 6000 new passport holders to
of US$4.2 million by the Government of Japan and UNDP will be engaged in either the RSE scheme or the Seasonal Workers
fund a three-year project through strengthening the systems Program. The high demand of new passports being issued are
and capacities of border control agencies, including technical among reasons why the suspension has been put in place.
support, revenue assurance, ecological and food safety,
migration, transport, and the tourism industry.

Region
Papua New Guinea A new visa will allow up to 3000 people from the Pacific region
Puma Energy in PNG has again been unable to receive any to migrate to Australia as permanent residents each year. Aus-
foreign exchange (FX) supply – with no flows for six weeks, tralia’s Minister for International Development and the Pacific,
says country manager Hulala Tokome. “Our lack of FX is Pat Conroy said the Pacific Engagement Visa was about creating
critical and is limiting our ability to purchase oil products a path for permanent migration, rather than boosting numbers
from the international market in US dollars and sell them of temporary workers. The visa will be open in July.

Islands Business, February 2023 7