Page 6 - IB April 2023

Briefs Briefs

Fiji
American Samoa
American Samoa has issued a public health emergency after Fiji’s Director of Public Prosecutions, Christopher Pryde has
been suspended. Attorney-General Siromi Turaga said it was
an outbreak of measles has spread across the U.S. territory. because of an act of misconduct last month when he spent
Dr Scott Anesi, the department’s lead epidemiologist, said 31 about 30 to 45 minutes conversing alone with former A-G
suspected cases are all in children between ages 2 months old Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, despite Sayed-Khaiyum being the
and 13 years old. The emergency declaration is set to expire subject of an ongoing investigation. Opposition leader Inia
Wednesday, 24 May. All schools have been closed for two Seruiratu believes the reasons given for Pryde’s suspensions
weeks.
are “unacceptable”. Senior lawyer, Ratu David George
Toganivalu has been appointed as Acting DPP.

Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands
Governor Arnold I. Palacios has signed an administrative
amendment to the 1983 agreement that allowed the US to French Polynesia
lease land on Tinian. The amendment grants the US, “the French Polynesia’s pro-independence Tavini Huiraatira party
right to the reasonable use of roadways as well as the right has come out on top in the first round of the territorial
to improve, construct, maintain and repair roads and utilities elections. The party led by Oscar Temaru won almost 35%
owned by the Commonwealth, including all supporting of the votes, beating the ruling Tapura Huiraatira party of
facilities and structures.” Henry S. Hofschneider, special Edouard Fritch, which obtained 30%. For the first time, Tavini
assistant to Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang, said the administration Huiraatira came first in several large towns in Tahiti and
believes that the Commonwealth Ports Authority would dominated in Moorea. With 35% of the votes, it substantially
benefit from the projects, especially at the airport where improved its first-round result from the elections in 2018
there is no fuel pipeline. when it won 20%. The second round of elections was
scheduled on April 30 at the time of printing.

Cook Islands
Cook Islands Parliament has repealed provisions in its Crimes Guam
Act that criminalised homosexuality. The Crimes (Sexual Guam has welcomed the 4000th temporary non-agricultural
Offences) Amendment Bill 2023 which, among other things, (H-2B) worker approved to work on the island, representing
aimed to decriminalise homosexuality, passed into law on a record-setting number of foreign workers since the hotel
April 14. The Bill aims to also provide more protection for construction boom in 1995. Originally from Quezon City,
victims of rape and repealed a provision that married women Philippines, Ronel Tramado arrived after working in Qatar.
can only be raped by their husbands “if they are separated”. “With a historic number of H-2B workers, we can expect more
President of Pride Cook Islands, Karla Eggelton, said “the construction progress and more opportunities to keep Guam
journey for the Cook Islands to get to this day was one moving forward,” said Governor Lou Guerrero. H-2B workers
weaved with love, respect and faith. We are now truly one are available to work on construction projects in the civilian
nation and one people.” sector, including projects relative to commercial buildings,
home construction, and government facilities.

Federated States of Micronesia
The FSM Congress has passed a resolution urging outgoing Kiribati
President David Panuelo to suspend his plan to switch ties to Kiribati’s Opposition wants answers from the government
Taiwan. “Our nation’s diplomatic relations with the People’s about the ongoing crisis in the country’s judiciary. The
Republic of China is an example of hard work, consultation government last year dismissed the chief justice and
and study by our Department of Foreign Affairs,” the three Court of Appeal judges - all New Zealanders – and
resolution stated. In a letter to the FSM Congress last month, it had also removed High Court judge, Australian David
Panuelo disclosed the initiatives he has taken to push ahead Lambourne. Opposition MP and the country’s first president,
with a diplomatic realignment in favour of Taiwan, saying the Sir Ieremia Tabai, said the public remains unaware of how
nation “will be much better off without China.” In February, the government has treated the judges. Lambourne’s lawyer
Panuelo met with Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu to said the government acted unconstitutionally in not including
negotiate US$50 million in assistance to offset the FSM’s losses someone of high judicial office in its tribunal looking into its
should the nation eventually sever ties with Beijing. claims the judges had violated their oaths. That tribunal is
yet to announce its decision, while the Court of Appeal has
now been without any judges for more than seven months.

6 Islands Business, April 2023