Page 13 - IB FEB 2019

Political Brief - PacIFIc

Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Solomons

clean up after Cyclone Oma

PORT VILA, Vanuatu – More than 1000 people took shelter in
evacuation centres in Vanuatu’s Torba and Sanma provinces
during Cyclone Oma in mid-February. The Daily Post reports
that around 600 people are facing immediate food shortages
after their food gardens were destroyed in the storm. Vanuatu
Red Cross has distributed tarpaulins, tools and kitchen sets to
affected households, while calls for immediate food distribution
continued. Storm surges and flooding also required evacuation
of Norsup in Malekula.
In New Caledonia, about 10,000 houses were left without Waves batter the coastal village of Pelong on Maskelyne island in Vanuatu as
Cyclone Oma hits the region.
Photo: Red Cross Vanuatu
power. Roads were blocked by fallen trees, landslides and
flooding, and food crops have been devastated.
Meanwhile the Solomon Islands National Disaster Manage- Cyclone Oma, damage to food crops has been reported in Makira,
ment Office says while there were no casualties as a result of Malaita and Temotu provinces.

Tuvalu PM slams Rudd proposal as ‘neo-colonist’ have not breached the Political Parties Integrity Act. The Act has
FuNAFuTI, Tuvalu - A proposal from former Australian Prime a provision for each political party to accommodate positions for
Minister kevin Rudd in response to the climate change challenges women in their respective parties. under Section 48 (1) of the
being faced by Pacific island nations has been dismissed by Tuva- PPIA, a political party shall reserve for women, at least 10 per
lu’s Prime Minister. In an online essay, Rudd suggested Australia cent of the total number of candidates it selects and endorses
propose a “constitutional condominium” with Tuvalu, kiribati and to contest the election. In Section 48 (2), where the minimum
Nauru, which would see Australia become responsible for their number of women who have applied or agreed to be nominated as
eeZs and for the “relocation over time of the populations of these candidates of a political party is less than the number of women
countries to Australia, where they would enjoy the full rights of required by the political party to satisfy subsection (1), such a
Australian citizens.” However Tuvalu’s PM enele Sopoaga, told political party will not have contravened this section.
the ABC in response: “The days of that type of imperial thinking
are over. We are a fully independent country, and there is no Referendum for Chuuk postponed
way I’m going to compromise our rights to fisheries resources,
our rights to our immediate resources.” Sopoaga said Australia PALIkIR, Federated States of Micronesia - A referendum for the
state of Chuuk scheduled for this month has been postponed
should be looking at cutting its coal exports first and foremost.
defusing a flashpoint between China and the united States.
The referendum to secede Chuuk from FSM was scheduled for
Forum urged to treat China, Taiwan equally
kOROR, Palau - Micronesian leaders are urging the Pacific Island 5 March, the same date as the country’s general elections. Ac-
Forum and Secretariat to treat China and Taiwan equally. In a cording to Chuuk state Legislator eliesa Tuiloma, the referendum
date would be scheduled for later this year. He said it was delayed
signed communique following their summit in Palau, the leaders
encouraged their Pacific counterparts to recognise the participation because they wanted to ensure that all avenues were covered
of Chinese and Taiwanese delegates during their regional meet- moving forward, especially the constitutional implications of such
ings. “The president and heads of delegations strongly encour- referendum. It is the largest of the four FSM States, having most
aged the PIF and the Secretariat [to] establish a more respectful of the country’s population and many locals have been resentful
towards the capital city of Palikir, in Pohnpei State.
and fair policy regarding the conduct of PIF activities relating to
the participation of the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan,”
their communique reads. It apparently follows incidents that took More land reclamation planned
place in Samoa in 2017, where the Taiwanese delegates were not MAJuRO, Marshall Islands – The island government aims to
allowed access to the Forum Leaders meeting venue. It also fol- reclaim more land from the sea to counter the adverse impacts
lowed last year’s Forum in Nauru when the Chinese delegation of rising sea levels. President Hilda Heine said they would be
was not allowed to address the leaders. having a national dialogue where they would be engaging tradi-
tional leaders to discuss ways to protect the islands. “Raising our
Parties exclude women candidates Islands is a daunting task but it must be done, we need political
HONIARA, Solomon Islands - Five political parties have not in- will and especially the traditional leader’s commitment to see this
cluded any female candidate for the upcoming general elections through,” Heine told the Marshall Islands Journals. According to
planned for 3 April. The five political parties are the Solomon local government officials involved in climate change and disaster
Islands Party for Rural Advancement (SIPRA), united Democratic response work, the outlook for the Marshall Islands was not good.
Party (uDP), People’s Alliance Party (PAP), Green Party of Solo- The atoll nation has been experiencing an ever increasing changes
mon Islands and People’s Progressive Party (PPP). Registrar of in climatic conditions from severe droughts, coral bleaching and
the Political Parties Commission Nairi Alamu said these parties other notable impacts of climate change.

Islands Business, February 2019 13