Page 7 - Islands Business June 2023

Briefs Briefs
dollars each year to a council that oversaw Bikinians displaced
from their home by US nuclear testing, helping to provide
housing, food and education.
Samoa
Samoa’s government now holds 30% preference shares in
Aggie Greys Hotel Limited — which owns the Sheraton Samoa
Nauru and the iconic Aggies Greys Hotel & Bungalows in Apia.
Nauru Airlines has acquired a B737-800 freighter aircraft— Minister of Public Enterprises, Leatinu’u Wayne So’oialo, said
the airline’s first—and it is expected to be in service in August the intervention is in the national interest, as Samoa prepares
or earlier. Nauru Airlines has three passenger aircraft and is in to host the Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting in
search of another new generation aircraft which the company October 2024.
hopes to have in service later this year.

Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands declined to sign on to the recent Republic
New Caledonia of Korea-Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Summit Declara-
The city of Noumea has approved spending almost tion, saying it will not ‘participate’ in any geopolitics. Prime
US$700,000 on its shark culling campaign as New Caledonia Minister Manasseh Sogavare said, “Solomon Islands is a
has recorded a growing number of shark attacks this year. An sovereign nation and will not directly or indirectly put itself
additional US$900,000 is being made available to install nets in a position to choose sides,” on his return from the Korea-
along the city’s popular Anse Vata swimming beach, where an Pacific Islands summit that produced the declaration. He
Australian tourist was killed in February. Mayor Sonia Lagarde said elements of the strategy compete with the existing 2050
ordered the closure of the city beaches until the end of the Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.
year as a result of that attack.

Tonga
Tonga’s Prime Minister, Hu’akavemeiliku Siaosi Sovaleni,
Niue
The Niue Government is set for a deficit of NZ$8.7 million says Pacific Island nations need to collectively ensure the re-
(US$5.3 million) for the 2023-24 financial year. Television Niue sponsible and sustainable management of the mineral wealth
within their exclusive economic zones. Speaking in Nukualofa,
reports that the government estimates spending $53.9 million Hu’akavameiliku said: “Our knowledge and traditions remain
(US$33.1 million) and generating NZ$45.1 million (US$27.7 confined to near-shore areas, fisheries, or navigation. The
million) in the new financial year. Minister of Finance, Cross- seabed and its minerals remain one of the unknowns to us.
ley Tatui, said this budget shows the economic vulnerability This is due to the lack of resources and access to technol-
confronting the government, and a bill to reform the public ogy that would reach the deep depths and the seabed in the
finance legal framework will soon be tabled in Cabinet. Pacific Ocean.” He noted the importance of the International
Seabed Authority in setting standards and building capacity
for the management of seabed minerals.
Palau
Palau has named 63 undersea mounts and basins outside its
Exclusive Economic Zone. The Palau archipelago is part of the Tuvalu
extended underwater ridge that connects directly with Japan, The World Bank is investing US$23 million to strengthen
known as the Palau-Kyushu Ridge. The Island Times reports Tuvalu’s airport and aviation sector in a project aimed at
naming the underwater features is a necessary part of the improving the safety of air travel. The project will focus on
application process for extending the country’s continental upgrading critical airport equipment and improvements to
shelf. This particular area of the ocean has been frequented airport infrastructure, plus strengthening the capacity of avia-
by Chinese research vessels in the last four years, and China tion regulators and operators and other technical support.
has also named some of the sea mounts.

Vanuatu
Vanuatu’s National Council of Chiefs has called for an of-
Papua New Guinea
PNG has been facing serious fish shortages. More than 5600 ficial name change of the country’s largest island, Espiritu
employees of Lae’s Majestic Seafood company have been told Santo to ‘Venia’. Local media report the Council as saying
that the company had to pause production and RD Tuna Can- Venia is the original native name of the island and that it
should be restored. The island was named Espiritu Santo by
ners in Madang have been manufacturing half a day. All six fish
canneries in the country were struggling to manufacture on Portuguese explorer Pedro Fernandes de Queirós when he
shore as the supply of fish was low, Fishing Industry Associa- visited in 1606.
tion Chairman Sylvester Pokajam told The National.

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