Page 8 - IB July 2020

Whispers

PIFS Race of Trade in the government of Vanuatu, Xue Bing, and a sign that China’s mining
If the whispers we’re hearing are Ambassador Roy Mickey Joy. aspirations will find support in PNG.
true, then expect to hear the race for Palau, which recognises Taiwan, voted
boss of the Pacific Islands Forum secre- Sweeney is out of work against the motion.
tariat to widen further with the entry Australian QC Charles Sweeney is no
of another candidate. Fiji is rumoured longer Chief Justice of Tuvalu after the Travel bubble, political football
to be contemplating its own nominee government of Prime Minister Kausea The mooted Pacifc travel bubble
for the role of Secretary General of PIFS Natano used its majority to pass a mo- between New Zealand and Pacific Island
to add to the already-declared candi- tion seeking his removal from office. nations has turned into a political foot-
dacies of Marshall Islands ambassador A heated debate and walk out by the ball in NZ. New National (opposition)
to the US, Gerald Zackios, former DG opposition led by former Prime Minis- leader Judith Collins says an arrange-
of SPC Dr Jimmy Rodgers of Solomon ter Enele Sopoaga failed to convince ment with Cook Islands “sounds smart”
Islands, sitting Prime Minister of Cook government members to change their although she asks whether Cook Islands
Islands Henry Puna and Tongan regional mind. One of the first decisions of the would have confidence in New Zea-
and international civil servant Amelia Natano administration was establishing land’s quarantine facilities. Meanwhile
Kinahoi Siamomua. The incumbent, an independent tribunal to look into the Act Party leader David Seymour, leader
Dame Meg Taylor of Papua New Guinea performance of Judge Sweeney, whose of New Zealand’s Act party has told
completes her second and final three- tenure in office had seen the reversal of supporters “If we don’t wrap our arms
year term this year. Prime Minister numerous court rulings that had initially around our Pacific neighbours, someone
Frank Bainimarama is reportedly eyeing ruled against Sopoaga. Following the else will.” New Zealand Prime Minister
two former foreign ministers in his passing of the motion for his removal, Jacinda Ardern won’t be rushed into a
country, and an announcement may be the opposition shot back with a motion decision, saying “no one wishes to be
coming soon. When it does, the host of no confidence against Prime Minister responsible for COVID entering into the
of the PIF secretariat, which organises Natano, which was defeated by 8 votes Pacific.”
the annual meeting of Pacific Island to 6, with the Speaker abstaining.
states, will have to fight against two DFAT jobs to go in PNG
perceived roadblocks, the perceptions On or off loan deal Australia’s Department of Foreign
that the host nation is disqualified from After news broke in February of a Affairs is cutting 60 positions through
proposing a candidate and that the desire by Solomon Islands Manasseh ‘natural attrition’ in budget-cutting
SG job is rotated amongst the region’s Sogavare’s government to look into a measures, and two of them will be in its
three cultural groupings of Microne- US$100 billion loan from China, no one Port Moresby High Commission. Opposi-
sia, Polynesia and Melanesia. Forum in Honiara seems to know whether it’s tion spokesperson Penny Wong criticised
Chair Tuvalu has suggested the vote be still on or off. A Chinese man said to the move, saying while Prime Minister
delayed until next year, and Dame Meg’s be the broker of the proposed loan is Scott Morrison “talked a big game” on
term be extended. Meanwhile French no longer answering his telephone, and foreign affairs, but “[fell] short where
Polynesia, which has opened its borders, no one in the PM’s office wants to talk it counts”. Many Australian staff were
has offered to host a meeting of Forum about the matter anymore. Concern sent home from Pacific high commis-
Leaders later this year. the loan would lead to a debt trap sions at the start of the pandemic,
were raised when a letter penned by although it’s believed they are now
MSG heats up Solomon Islands finance minister Harry returning.
A similar race is also shaping up at Kuma about the proposed loan was
the sub-regional Melanesian Spearhead leaked to the local news media, given Bad timing, bad optics
Group, headquartered in Port Vila, the that the sum of the loan is more than 60 There are questions in the Common-
capital of Vanuatu. Director General of times the country’s GDP. wealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
the MSG, Ambassador Amena Yauvoli of over a decision to grant the Managing
Fiji has already vacated office. He had PNG’s vote for China Director Priscilla Iakopo a pay rise in
been named Fiji’s new ambassador to PNG was the sole Pacific country to the midst of the pandemic. Rep. Tina
the United States based in Washington, support China’s security measures in Sablan has stated her concern over the
although in its national budget delivered Hong Kong at the UN Human Rights raise, given 23 of the MVA’s 34 staff
July 17, the Fiji Government revealed Council this month. Other Pacific Island members have been furloughed. MVA is
it was closing that Embassy. A selection nations have strong ties to China, but funded primarily by hotel occupancy tax
committee is whispered to have started none supported the security laws. Some collections. Like many Pacific nations
work to shortlist candidates for the commentators suggest the vote reflects and territories, tourism is the main eco-
new DG, with the front runners said to PNG’s hopes that China will help bail it nomic driver of the local economy.
include a former Prime Minister of Vanu- out of COVID-related economic con-
atu, Joe Natuman and the current DG traction through renegotiated loans, Samoan sentence
as well as the influence of Ambassador Pity Sio Agafili, who has reportedly

8 Islands Business, July 2020