Page 6 - Islands Business May 2023

Briefs Briefs

Party. Acting Supervisor of Elections, Ana Mataiciwa states
that Section 26(2) of the Act requires all parties to provide
American Samoa to the Registrar, within three months after the end of each
American Samoa wants associate member status of the Pacific financial year, the record of accounts of its income, expendi-
Islands Forum, after being an observer since 2011. Gover- ture, assets and liabilities audited by an auditor certified by
nor Lemanu Peleti Maunga said it was crucial for American the Fiji Institute of Accountants. She says the parties did not
Samoa to push for greater inclusion and that over the years, comply with the requirements and that they have 60 days to
American Samoa’s isolation from regional decision-making has remedy the breach or face deregistration.
contributed to a lack of adequate representation and support
on relevant issues including climate change, public health,
and economic development.
Guam
Public consultations are due to begin in Guam on the United
States military’s proposal to install a new missile defence sys-
Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands tem on the island. The proposal will combine Army and Navy
CNMI’s only hospital has agreed to pay the Commonwealth defensive missile systems with improved radar. The move is
Utilities Corporation US$525,000 a month for a year to avoid a response to potential missile threats from North Korea but
having its power and water supply cut. The Commonwealth also occurs amid ongoing tensions with China over Taiwan.
Healthcare Corporation owes the utilities company over Guam already hosts three major US military bases and around
US$50million in outstanding bills. It took an intervention 10,000 troops.
from CNMI Governor, Arnold Palacios and Lt. Governor, David
Apatang to secure an agreement. The final figure reached is
a compromise between what the hospital wanted to pay, and Kiribati
the amount the utility company was demanding to cover costs Kiribati’s Kiritimati Island has welcomed its first international
and service its outstanding debts.
travellers in three years since COVID-19 forced the closure
of the island’s international border. The country’s tourism
authority says the reopening is a welcome relief for the
Cook Islands private and community-owned tourism business operators. Fiji
Cook Islands’ Secretary of Health, Bob Williams, has confirmed Airways will operate weekly services to Kiribati from Nadi, Fiji
medicinal cannabis products could be available to some and Honolulu, Hawaii and travellers are required to present
people in June and will “definitely” be available by the end their double vaccination certificate upon check in.
of the year. Williams said although amendments needed to
be made to existing legislation, the Ministry of Health would
reactivate its pharmacy board to issue medicinal cannabis
products. Marshall Islands
The Micronesian Games will now be held from June 15-24,
2024 in Majuro. The Micronesian Games Council had an-
nounced in March that it was delaying the 10th Games due to
Federated States of Micronesia be held this July due to the unreadiness of the host islands’
Former Speaker Wesley W. Simina has been elected the 10th sports facilities. Between 1500 and 2000 athletes, coaches
president of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), suc- and officials are expected for the games from Kiribati, Nauru,
ceeding David Panuelo. “I intend to serve you to the best of Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam and Northern
my ability. I intend to lead to serve you and our country, not Mariana Islands. This is the first Micronesian Games to be
lead to be served,” Simina has pledged. Before being elected hosted by the Marshall Islands since the games started in
to the FSM Congress in 2011, Simina served as the Governor of 1969.
Chuuk 2005-2011. Aren B. Palik, senator-at-large for Kosrae,
was also sworn in as the nation’s Vice President, while Esmond
B. Moses was elected Speaker of the FSM Congress, and Rob-
son U. Romolow named Vice Speaker. Nauru
The UN climate adaptation fund has approved US$8 million
for the ‘resilient coastal fisheries and aquaculture’ project.
Fiji This is the first time Nauru has accessed the fund and Secre-
Four Fiji political parties have been suspended for 30 days for tary for the Department of Environmental Management and
contravening Section 26(2) of the Political Parties (Registra- Agriculture, Berilyn Jeremiah says this is a milestone achieve-
tion, Conduct, Funding & Disclosures) Act. They are FijiFirst, ment for Nauru as it will address long-standing barriers that
All People’s Party, New Generation Party and the Unite Fiji hamper the implementation of adaptation solutions in the

6 Islands Business, May 2023