Page 7 - Islands Business March 2023

Briefs Briefs

Nauru High Commissioner to Australia, Camilla Solomon signed Acting Minister for Commerce, Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster
the contract together with Gillian Sally Barnes, delegate of told the Samoan Parliament the new process will go into
the Australian Minister for Regional Development, Territories effect next month. The committee’s Chair, Niuava Eti Malolo
and Local Government on March 6. The construction of the advised that the ministry to thoroughly consider the selection
chancery is expected to commence within 18 months and be of seasonal workers to ensure that everyone in the country
completed within three years. had an equal opportunity to apply.

Solomon Islands
New Caledonia Solomon Telekom Company Limited has provided the biggest
New Caledonia’s only newspaper has closed its operations sponsorship yet for the Pacific Games 2023, valued at SD$10.7
after the commercial court accepted the publishing million (US$1.27 million). The local telecommunication
company’s request for its liquidation. The court had deferred company will provide infrastructure services and network
its decision by a day, after an injunction by the public across Games venues and villages to improve internet services
prosecutor who wanted to see if there was still a possibility during the games in November. According to the International
to rescue Les Nouvelles Caledoniennes. The prosecutor had Monetary Fund, the Pacific Games is likely to contribute to an
argued that it was worth preserving the paper as a tool of increased fiscal deficit for the country in 2023, meaning that
pluralism and freedom of expression. However, there has careful control of spending is required.
been no interest in taking over the enterprise. The paper was
launched in 1971 and became an online-only publication at
the end of last year.
Tonga
Tonga has signed an agreement with the Ireland-based
Seabased Group, for the development and deployment of the
Niue first pilot commercial-scale two-megawatt Wave Power Park
Japan has stepped in to solve a problem in Niue’s goods in the Pacific. “The Tongatapu Seabased Wave Power Park can
distribution system. Japanese Ambassador to Niue, Tatsushi be ready for commissioning within 24 months, with a Power
Nishioka, said he discovered on a trip to the island in August Purchase Agreement and at no cost to the Government,” said
last year that the lack of a forklift truck was hampering Albert Vaea, Tongan Minister of Internal Affairs, further noting
the unloading of commodities at Alofi Port. He said his that the project will eventually see Tonga deploy up to 10
government has agreed to grant assistance of US$181,000 to MW, meeting more than 50% of Tonga’s electricity needs.
buy a forklift.

Tuvalu
Tuvalu’s Prime Minister, Kausea Natano, has insisted on
Palau
The Palau Public Utility Corporation (PPUC) has announced including climate vulnerability in assessing whether a country
leaves the world’s least developed countries list. Natano told
new water and wastewater rates that will take effect on April leaders at the UN Least Developed Countries (LDC) summit
1. For those currently using 0 to 5000 gallons, the rate will that the reality of Small Island Developing States constantly
increase by 500%. For customers currently using 5000 gallons facing cyclones, droughts and outbreaks of disease was
or more, their rate actually drops by 3 cents. For wastewater, not fully captured in the current indicators. Tuvalu faced
residential customers will see a 2000% increase. PPUC says the prolonged drought and subsequent outbreaks of dengue and
new rates reflect the company’s full operating cost.
typhoid in the past months.

Papua New Guinea Vanuatu
The Papua New Guinea-Indonesia Basic Border Agreement At the time of printing, over 3000 people in Vanuatu are still
signed in 2013 has finally been ratified by the PNG Parliament. in evacuation centres after losing their homes to Tropical
Foreign Affairs Minister, Justin Tkatchenko said the ratification Cyclones Judy and Kevin. A Save the Children spokesperson,
will “pave the way for both governments to review the Jelson Naparau, said families in evacuation centres were
current status of the border and constructively address prioritised in the immediate distribution of shelter items.
outstanding issues that affect both countries.” The country’s Food Security and Agriculture Cluster says
distribution of dry rations to cyclone-affected households
is mostly only rice at the moment, due to limited stock
Samoa from suppliers in the country. Donor partners and local
Electoral districts in Samoa are set to screen applicants for organisations are also offering help, and arrangements are in
the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme as part of changes place to meet any shortfall, it said.
proposed by a Cabinet sub-committee.

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