Page 8 - IB AUG 2019

Whispers

Fiji’s show of support for Lam light by Kiribati’s government. National cabinet line-up. Bryan Kramer has used
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Geographic is undertaking the research his Facebook channel to condemn the
was in the midst of dealing with massive expedition on Nikaumaroro atoll this murder of women in Tari, to publicise spot
protests against Hong Kong residents month. It’s led by US Oceanography Pro- checks at police stations and to defend his
opposing her extradition bill as we went fessor, Dr Robert Ballard, who found the performance against critics who have said
to print, but still had time to meet Fiji’s Titanic’s final resting place, and involves he was much more vocal as an opposition
Trade Minister Premila Kumar. Kumar met two vessels and 45 experts. The resulting member than in cabinet, saying “when
Lam on August 15, and reassured her of documentary will be aired in October. you are a Member of the Opposition you
Fiji’s support for the ‘One China Policy’ are afforded the time and opportunity to
and ‘One Country, Two Systems’ for Hong t be vocal and critical of the Government
Kong. There’s no sign that the protests on important issues, without having to
will abate at this point, and the political APEC hangover actually do anything.”
troubles have led to the cancellation of The figures don’t look great. PNG’s gov-
two conferences that were due to be held ernment is still trying to offload 38 of the t
in Fiji as organisers were not willing to Maseratis it acquired for the APEC meet-
risk participants having to transit through ing. Just two have been sold. It says 45 ve- PNG MPs at risk
Hong Kong airport. hicles used during APEC are still ‘missing’ Meanwhile while Kramer has told Austra-
although they may with government de- lian media he expects to be assassinated in
t partments. 35 of the vehicles donated for the role as he tries to clean up corruption
APEC have now been handed to the fire, while PNG’s Minister for Mining Johnson
EMTV woes ambulance and provincial health authori- Tuke has revealed he was shot at in Port
More trouble in the EMTV newsroom in ties. The government says the remaining Moresby in August. Tuke said he sur-
Papua New Guinea, where the head of donated vehicles will be given or sold to vived through “divine intervention and
news and current affairs, Neville Choi, various public and state institutions and a quick response in the face of danger”.
was briefly stood down. EMTV says Choi the remaining luxury vehicles will again The Minister says he doesn’t know if the
was dismissed for failing to follow HR pro- be put up for auction. Local media reports shooting was politically motivated or a
cesses. However his news team, including that K20 million (US$5.9 million) is still random attack.
the journalist appointed to replace him, owed to APEC service-providers.
called for his immediate reinstatement, t
and it is acting EMTV CEO Sheena Hughes t
who should be stood down. Late last year, China, Taiwan’s quiet Forum
senior EMTV journalist Scott Waide was The Rock’s #1 fan Chinese delegates to the Pacific Islands
suspended over his coverage of APEC ex- Many Samoans have ridiculed his haka Forum dialogue meeting largely kept their
penditure, but was quickly reinstated. At and Samoan war cry in the blockbuster heads down after last year’s performance,
that time, EMTV management suggested Fast and Furious: Hobbs & Shaw, but but ‘announced’ their own step-up in the
it was forced to suspend the respected Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele region. The schism between Australia and
journalist. EMTV came under state pres- Malielegaoi is a fan. The PM said: “I take Pacific island nations meant jockeying
sure as the government was embarrassed my hat off to Seiuli,” using The Rock/ between Beijing and Taipei didn’t receive
by the pre-APEC coverage. Dwayne Johnson’s Samoan matai title. much oxygen in Tuvalu, however Taiwan
“For a few seconds, Seiuli immortalised and Solomon Islands did agree on a visa-
t our country, our people and our Samoan exemption deal on the sidelines of the
identity on the silver screen.” summit. Still, it feels like too little too late,
Jeers, not cheers as Solomons looks set to switch diplomatic
Texan brewers, the Manhattan Project t recognition to China once the current re-
Beer Company have come under fire for view of the relationship is complete.
naming a beer ‘Bikini Atoll’. Marshall Kiribati waits for Embraers
Islanders continue to live with the legacy Air Kiribati’s decision to go with Embraer t
of US nuclear tests on the atoll, and say for its new planes means it’s one of the few
the name is insensitive. The company has Pacific airlines to take delivery of new air- Paladin charm offensive
defended itself by saying it didn’t mean to craft this year. The first of the airline’s two The Paladin group, which has been under
trivialise the nuclear tests and “is creat- new Embraer E190-E2 jets will arrive later scrutiny for the way its contract to provide
ing awareness of the wider impacts” of this year, and the second is due to land security was renewed on Manus Island in
nuclear test programs, although it’s hard early 2020. The airline says the aircraft PNG, seems to have launched a charm
to see how that aligns with the endless will open up longer domestic and interna- offensive. It has funded open air film
photos of artistically-placed beer cans tional routes. Meanwhile Fiji’s two Boeing screenings –reportedly it’s the first time
and bikinis that populate its social media 737 MAX planes remain grounded, and films have been shown on Manus for 40
channels. the Miami Air plane it leased due to the years—and has provided four classrooms
737 problems was also grounded due to to local schools. Paladin has only been
t mechanical issues. awarded a six month extension to its
t contract, and there is pressure to ensure
Earhart search on again a local firm gets the job when it’s time for
Yet another attempt to solve the peren- Kramer’s strong Facebook game renewal.
nial mystery—what happened to aviator PNG’s Police Minister continues to be the
Amelia Earhart—has been given the green savviest social media user in the new t

8 Islands Business, August 2019