Page 8 - Islands Business September 2023

Whispers Whispers

WHO will be next regional health Holiday photos 2020-21 report, but reported it
leader? As he toured three Melanesian nations, was difficult to check or access
Why is the Pacific Islands region French President, Emmanuel Macron was information required for the audit.
fielding two candidates for the position accompanied by a large French media Six entities were not audited
of World Health Organization (WHO) contingent (who paid up to 5,000 euros because of a lack of information
Regional Director for the Western for the privilege). In Noumea, the press for the period, including the
Pacific? Tonga has nominated Dr Saia pool for some events were restricted Palace Office, Parliament’s Office,
Ma’u Piukala, and Solomon Islands has to the press pack from Paris, with no Public Enterprises, Office of the
put forward Dr Jimmie Rodgers. After local journalists from New Caledonia Attorney General, the Public Service
Niuean New Zealander and former invited. Much grumbling from the Commission and Tonga Fire and
Pacific Community (SPC) boss, Colin Southern hemisphere journalists about Emergency Services.
Tukuitonga missed out on the role in the lack of solidarity from their French
2018, experts in health and diplomatic colleagues. And even more anger, when Foreigners behind the flags
circles suggested a single Pacific local TV stations were told to take out a The practice of foreign
candidate would have a strong chance of subscription to Agence France Presse if representatives sitting behind the
being chosen this time around. However, they wanted pool footage of key events! flags of Pacific Island nations in the
there are Whispers that Tonga and Anyone might think the President was international arena persists. Papua
Solomon Islands sent their nominations playing to an audience at home. New Guinea’s Northern Governor,
to WHO before regional caucusing could Gary Juffa is irked that at a recent
agree on a united Pacific candidate. Dr Climate security climate change conference, “half of
Piukala and Dr Rodgers (who is also a When it won office in 2022, the ALP our PNG delegation at the conference
former head of the SPC) will be vying government led by Anthony Albanese consisted of foreigners working with
for the post against fellow physicians commissioned a climate and security risk or for the Coalition for Rainforest
Song Li of China, Susan Mercado of assessment from the Office of National Nations.” Juffa claims of the 25
Philippines, and Tran Thi Gian Huong of Intelligence (ONI). The intelligence PNG delegates, 12 were foreigners.
Vietnam. A candidate will be selected in analysts’ report has been sitting with the He wants to know who appointed
January 2024. government for months. Last month, a them. “What do they know about
motion from independent Senator, David our country for them to be there to
Fight for fisheries funds Pocock (a former Wallaby) called for the represent our country?” He continued:
Debate continues amongst members release of a declassified version of the “Some of them never even came
of the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) over report, but the ALP government voted here.” Meanwhile at the International
distribution of a US$60 million economic with the opposition Coalition parties to Seabed Authority’s recent convening,
assistance package pledged by the reject his motion. Why the secrecy? Could The Metals Company continued to sit
United States. Some countries such as the report say that climate is Australia’s on the Nauru delegation.
Fiji, want the funds evenly distributed biggest threat, and the government
amongst members. Others want should be moving harder and faster to Guam grudge
distribution to reflect fishing activity and address the region’s greatest security Is a personal grudge holding up 25
resource share. At a recent meeting of challenge? Meanwhile, the AUKUS nuclear telecom projects in Guam? That’s the
the FFA Council, Fiji’s Fisheries Minister, submarines are scheduled to cost A$368 assertion of GTA President, Roland
Kalaveti Ravu referred to a “prodigal son billion in coming decades. Certeza, who has complained to the
effect”, a reference to Kiribati, which Office of the Attorney General that
rejoined the Pacific Islands Forum this Dead air the Guam Historic Preservation Office
year after a dispute over its leadership Tongans were deprived of hearing is refusing to approve applications to
was resolved. Kiribati’s membership debate on the Auditor General’s Report allow work to proceed because GTA
of other regional agencies, including for 2021-2022 when funding ran dry to declined to sponsor the Guam Sports
the FFA, has remained uninterrupted. pay for the daily radio broadcast from the News Network’s 10-year anniversary
“While much can be said of how much Tongan Parliament, local media report. in 2021. A preservation office staffer
we value our ability to co-operate The timing could not have been worse… owns that network. Certeza says the
and compromise, I must say that or better (depending on your interests), grudge is holding up critical federally-
the outcomes of discussions held in given the “litany of weaknesses in funded work and that the matter has
recent meetings have raised serious many Ministries and … wide extent of been dragging on for the past two
concerns on our ability to think about inadequate reporting of government years.
the implication of our actions on other expenditures and discrepancies between
members,” Ravu told journalists. systems,” reported Tonga Wires. The Nuclear inequity
broadcasts were introduced following It has been a hard pill to swallow
the 2010 political reforms. The Auditor for Marshall Islands. Just days after
General audited 19 ministries for his United States Congress and officials

8 Islands Business, September 2023