Page 6 - Islands Business October 2023 edition

Briefs Briefs
our ocean”. FSM was joined by Palau, Solomon Islands, Fiji,
Tuvalu, Samoa, Australia and New Zealand, who were among
American Samoa 70 countries that signed the agreement as well.
A new interactive tool allowing stakeholders to assess
the vulnerability to sea-level rise in American Samoa was
launched on September 25. Samoa News reported The Fiji
American Samoa Relative Sea Level Rise Viewer, developed by Fiji’s Minister for Education, Aseri Radrodro, told Parliament
the Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System at the University that a total of 441 teachers had resigned between January to
of Hawaii along with their partners, provides users with maps June this year. “80% of them migrated for greener pastures,
of the flooding extent for various combinations of sea-level while 20% pursued other job opportunities.” He said his
rise scenarios with the ability to select specific future years, ministry is looking to rehire retirees and teachers who had
one-foot increments of sea-level rise, and frequency of been terminated for refusing COVID jabs. “We have already
flooding. It has been in development since August 2020. executed plans to ensure that quality education in all our 176
secondary and 436 primary schools, and more than 800 ECE
centres is not at any time compromised.”
Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands
The Commonwealth Ports Authority in the Northern Marianas
plans to hike airport rental rates. Authority Chair, Kimberlyn Guam
King-Hinds, said airport rentals apply to physical space like Fourteen Chinese nationals who were allegedly trying to
a store, but also refer to the assigned gate for each airline— enter Guam illegally by boat were arrested by Homeland
called a terminal rental. She said the airport is in “a world of Security. According to court documents, agents conducted
hurt” because of the lack of flights from China. Prior to the an enforcement operation with local and federal partners
COVID-19 pandemic, China was the second source market for at Smiling Cove Marina on Saipan. Prior to the operation, an
the Marianas, behind South Korea. agent posed as a boat captain and entered into an agreement
with one of the individuals to transport a group to Guam in
exchange for payment. All passengers confirmed they did not
Cook Islands want to be detected by law enforcement officials during the
The Cook Islands has been elected to the United Nations trip.
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)
Executive Council of the Intergovernmental Oceanic
Commission (IOC) for 2023-2025, securing 76 votes out of 115
voting states. The IOC promotes international cooperation Marshall Islands
in marine sciences to improve ocean, coasts, and marine Preparation is underway for the Marshall Islands national
resources management. Cook Islands’ Secretary of the Ministry election on November 20, with staff from government entities
of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Tepaeru Herrmann, said: and State-owned-enterprises getting training. The Marshall
“This is a significant result, not just for the Cook Islands but Islands Journal reported the training seminar featured two
for our Pacific region and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) veteran electoral officials from Japan who shared their
more broadly. It demonstrates that…we can make our voice expertise with a large group who will be involved in the
heard and influence key decision making.” The Cook Islands 2023 poll. A referendum will also be held that day on several
joined the IOC alongside Australia, Bangladesh, China, India, constitutional amendments.
Japan, Pakistan, Korea and Thailand.

Nauru
Federated States of Micronesia A fuel tanker ship named Angel 38, chartered by Vital,
The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) became the first successfully berthed in the new Nauru wharf on September
country in the world to sign the Biodiversity Beyond National 11. Nauru Maritime and Port Authority and Nauru Shipping
Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, after it was declared open for Line Chief Executive Officer, Frederick Pitcher, described its
signature by UN Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs, arrival as a “milestone achievement”. “The new fuel pipes at
Miguel de Serpa Soares. It was signed by FSM President, the wharf run underground and join the existing fuel pipelines
Wesley W. Simina at the United Nations General Assembly’s near the phosphate shore bin and are transported up to the
78th session. Pacific Oceans Commissioner, Dr Filimon Manoni, fuel storage tanks. This reduces costs and allows for a one-
lauded the achievement, stating that the BBNJ treaty two day discharge operation instead of the two-four days it
“gives us a legal tool to effectively collaborate to respect took in the past,” said Pitcher.

6 Islands Business, October 2023