Page 7 - IB Mar 2020

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from France. Only citizens who arrived and registered PNG
prior to 1998, or who are indigenous Kanaks can vote in Dozens of prisoners were still on the run at the time of
the referendum. The ‘One Heart One Vote’ group claims press after more than 100 broke out of Baisu jail in Western
this means some 40,000 citizens will be able to vote in Province in late February. Eight were shot and killed in the
the municipal elections, but not in the referendum. The breakout. Another eight remandees who were shot and
referendum is scheduled for September 6 and is the second injured in the incident, were later broken out of Mount Hagen
of three possible plebiscites on the issue. Over 56 per cent of hospital by armed men. Relatives of the some of the men
voters favoured independence in the first round. have told local media they may have been frustrated by slow
court processes which have seen them in remand for years
NIUE without being taken to trial.
Niueans are expected to go to the polls on May 30, with the
current Niue Assembly to be dissolved on 29 April, although TONGA
this is yet to be confirmed by the Electoral Commissioner or Former Tongan Prime Minister Lord Tu'ivakano has been
Premier Sir Toke Talagi. found guilty of making a false statement for the purpose of
obtaining a passport and perjury. Tu'i'vakano will be sentenced
PALAU in April on three counts of making a false statement for
Palau’s government plans to reintroduce Value Added Tax the purpose of obtaining a passport, perjury and possession
in a bid to reduce tax evasion and increase revenue. Palau of ammunition without a licence. Six charges of bribery
currently uses the gross receipt tax system, which Finance and money laundering relating to the matter were earlier
Minister Elbuchel Sadang says increases the likelihood of dropped.
companies underreporting taxes. The plan, which has been
unsuccessfully floated in the past, has the backing of the
International Monetary Fund.

Islands Business, March 2020 7