Page 8 - Islands Business October 2023 edition

Whispers Whispers

Confused, changing tunes to play with the big boys of world rugby students in their thesis have suddenly
So, in boycotting US President following mixed results by Tonga and reappeared in regional journals under
Joe Biden’s annual summit with Samoa in the Rugby World Cup 2023 in the name of the principal of the
Pacific leaders in Washington DC late France. Fiji’s Flying Fijian team seems institution. In some cases, the original
September, Prime Minister Manasseh to be the only Pacific nation that is idea has been taken, articles written
Sogavare wasn’t the only one hitting the doing well, with the strong possibility and printed in books or delivered
headlines after some media reported of qualifying for the RWC quarterfinals. as new philosophy at overseas
that even the host and his senior aides Despite the strong performances of the universities with no attribution to
got confused about the exact value ‘Ikale Tahi of Tonga and Manu Samoa in the original paper presented by a
of aid being promised to the island their respective RWC pools, they were lowly student. Moves are underway to
countries. In his opening remarks, no match for the stronger and much report the head of institution to the
President Biden said it was a whooping more wealthier teams in the so-called authorities.
USD$40 billion investment, then some Tier 1 - England, Wales and Scotland and
aides walked it back to only USD$40m Australia, New Zealand and Argentina. Too many jobs
for infrastructure before they settled Rugby pundits point to the fact that Fiji In New Caledonia, conservative
on USD$200m in the summit’s final is only doing well because it got more politician, Sonia Backès has been
statement. games and more exposure playing with building up an impressive portfolio of
Tier 1 nations pre-RWC than its eastern jobs, including leader of the anti-
Washington priorities neighbours. independence party Les Loyalistes,
Despite the pomp and ceremony of President of the Southern Province,
the Biden-Pacific summit, the meeting Rugby and politics and junior minister for citizenship in
caused few ripples in Washington, Who is the minister who tried to ensure the French Government led by Prime
coming as Congress debated whether that a school rugby team would enter the Minister Elisabeth Borne. But her
to shut down government. Forum Chair national quarter finals despite not having decision to also run for the French
and Cook Islands Prime Minister, Mark qualified for the event? Apparently, the Senate raised eyebrows, even on her
Brown noted wryly at the closing dinner: minister tried until the last minute to own side of politics. Fortunately for
“When the media came in, they asked have his former alma mater included in her work schedule perhaps, she was
the President about the car strike, the the draws. Two days before the quarter unsuccessful—many anti-independence
picket line, and a few other things. finals, officials were meeting past voters decided to back FLNKS
I don’t think they saw the line-up of midnight trying to accommodate the candidate Robert Xowie instead,
Pacific Island countries because there minister’s whim. Eventually, the matter who won the seat. It’s the first time
were no questions about the Pacific was placed before the nation’s Attorney- a pro-independence politician from
Islands. So, all I can say is, as far as the General who advised that the rugby union New Caledonia will take up a seat in
American media, there are no pressing constitution be followed, not the desire the Senate. Rumblings in Paris that Ms
concerns with the Pacific Islands.” of the minister. Backès should consider her future.

Ratifying SPNFZ Loose lips Very public officials
Flashback: Last year’s US-Pacific The rate at which chatter keeps On that note, imagine the Pacific’s
Islands summit at the White House emanating from one particular camp in top officials undergoing livestreamed
said, “We are united in our support for Sitiveni Rabuka’s three-way governing job interviews as part of the
the nuclear non-proliferation regime, coalition in Fiji, one wonders whether recruitment processes for top regional
including the South Pacific Nuclear anyone there has heard of the word positions. That’s what happened
Free Zone Treaty.” There’s just one discretion. It apparently takes very recently as part of the recruitment
problem—the United States is the little to kick their chatter frequency for the job of WHO Regional Director,
only major weapons state that has into broadcast mode. Be it who might Western Pacific. The former DG
refused to ratify the three protocols have aspirations for the top job or who left the role under a cloud—he was
to the Treaty of Rarotonga! Interesting is miffed over the latest in-coalition accused of using racist language
then to see the stronger wording of bickering. One cannot help but be against staff from certain countries.
this year’s White House communique, reminded of the rather appropriate Solomon Islands’ Dr Jimmie Rodgers
where “States Parties to the Rarotonga adage, “loose lips sink ships”. This one and Tonga’s Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala
Treaty... encouraged the United States certainly seems in need of a few less lips. appeared in a day of livestreamed
to ratify the Treaty’s protocols as soon interviews, alongside three other
as possible.” Pacific plagiarism concerns candidates, in a forum designed to
Consternation at a Pacific place of gauge their suitability for the role.
Rugby chatter higher learning over what appears to be The forum only allowed questions
Chatter is growing louder about the plagiarism at the highest levels. Over from member states and came
urgency of getting the Pacific islands the past five years, ideas proposed by about after a letter from 60 experts

8 Islands Business, October 2023