Page 7 - IB FEB 2020

Briefs Briefs

CNMI

Guam
Marshall Islands

Federated
States of
Micronesia
Palau Nauru

Kiribati

Tokelau
Papua New
Guinea
Tuvalu
Samoa
Solomon Islands

Wallis and Futuna
American Samoa
Vanuatu

Fiji
French Polynesia
Tonga Niue
Australia Cook Islands
New Caledonia

to supplement the main supply need more rain to operate re-elected. Siopili Perez for Nukunonu and Kelihiano Kalolo
efficiently. for Atafu have been restored to the Fono. The new member is
Fofo Tuisano of Fakaofo Atoll, who will also serve as the Ulu o
SOLOMON ISLANDS Tokelau and chair of the Council for the Ongoing Government
Advertisements are out for the first tranche of on-the- of Tokelau. The government starts it term next month (March).
ground jobs associated with the Tina River hydro-power
development with the project looking for 145 people to help TUVALU
build access roads to the site. The 15-megawatt infrastructure Tuvalu continues to feel the impact of Cyclone Tino. The
project is expected to eventually employ some 350 locals at World Bank has granted US$6.2 million towards the recovery
the height of construction. It’s due for completion in 2024. effort to restore critical services. 20 families remain in
emergency accommodation in Funafuti after their homes were
TONGA completely destroyed in the cyclone.
Tonga’s Reserve Bank says its foreign reserve holdings
were down $2.1 million pa’anga (US$903,382) in December VANUATU
2019 due to oil and other import payments. However over As Vanuatu prepares to go to the polls on March 19, a
the year to December, foreign reserves increased to $487.4 number of MPs may face bribery charges and outgoing PM,
million due to increased remittances from Tongans abroad Charlot Salwai Tabismasmas may also face a charge of perjury
and budget support, grants, and project funds from Tonga’s relating to a civil matter. The court will hear a preliminary
development partners. inquiry on February 25. The matter dates back to last year,
when the PM controversially appointed backbenchers as
TOKELAU parliamentary secretaries.
Two of the three Faipules (leaders) on Tokelau have been

Islands Business, February 2020 7