Page 10 - IB March 2018 Edition

Political Brief

Tuvalu rejects NZ study on expanding land

erly clarified by credible scientific communities,”
the PM said.
“The scientists working with us are very stunned
by the manner in which this report was done and
was released and the media was able to pick it up
and put it out without verification.”
Funded by the Auckland University, the New
Zealand study largely based on 40 years’ worth
of imagery of the Tuvaluan shoreline concluded
amongst other things that the country’s habitable
land mass had expanded.
“The timing is alarming me to think more deeply
about the true motive behind the report. It comes at a
very, very critical time when the world had convened
COP23 very successfully under the leadership of PM
Bainimarama,” PM Sopoaga said.
A student on Tuvalu makes his plea to the world amid the rising ocean around his tiny is- The Tuvalu leader accused the three university
land nation. Photo: Whale Oil Media
researchers of Professor Paul S. Kench, Dr Murray R.
FUNAFUTI, Tuvalu -- The government of Tuvalu has rejected Ford and Dr Susan D. Owen of not seeking his government’s
findings of a research conducted by scientists at the Auckland consent on the study.
University that says the tiny island nation may not be sinking “According to the analysis of their reports, there’s a lot of
due to the impact of climate change. holes, it doesn’t hold water. It has to be verified by SPREP,
Enele Sopoaga has called on scientists and the media to perhaps by some of the regional environmental communities
exercise care when conducting research of atoll islands such and by the IPCC,” PM Sopoaga said.
as Tuvalu which he is Prime Minister of, so as not to confuse The study was released online on 9 February and NZ media
the public. carried it as a news item the next day.
Speaking at press conference he called in Suva, Fiji last “I must say however that this is not the first time that a
month, PM Sogopaga said Tuvaluan as well as Pacific scientists report like this has come to the attention of the public. There
whom he did not name believed the research ‘had holes.’ were a couple of other reports that came sometime even before
“The important thing is to have the scientific reports prop- Paris COP21,” he said.

DPM Natuman pleads guilty and Samoa in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Gita. However the
Port Vila, Vanuatu -- Joe Natuman, deputy prime minister and government decided to proceed to allow the delegation to see
minister for tourism, trade, commerce and ni-Vanuatu business first-hand the ongoing response,” he says. The Pacific mission
has pleaded guilty to two counts of obstructing or interfering delegation is made up of MPs, Pasifika community leaders, and
with the execution of a criminal process, reports the Daily Post NGO representatives. The delegation size is smaller this year with
newspaper. Natuman was joined by the other defendant in the the mission changing focus because of Tropical Cyclone Gita.
Criminal Case 188 of 2016, former Acting Police Commissioner,
Aru Maralau, who also pleaded guilty to one count of complicity Solomon Islands, Fiji to assist PNG
to obstruct or interfere with the execution of a criminal process. Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea - Solomon Islands Prime
Natuman and Maralau entered guilty pleas ahead of the initial Minister of Solomon Islands Rick Hou said his government will
trial date which was set for 15 and 16 March. Sentencing is now look at the possibility of sending a contingent to assist PNG with
scheduled for 16 March. Meanwhile Natuman will continue to their policing during APEC. Hou, in an interview said discussions
hold the position of DPM and his portfolios following an agree- are on-going and Solomon Islands stands ready to assist PNG as
ment with Prime Minister Charlot Salwai. “Depending on how it prepares to host the summit. “It pretty much depends on what
heavy or light the sentence will be, it will then be up to the Prime PNG will want us to engage in. There have been some talks on
Minister or even myself,” he said on his future.” assistance on policing and discussions are ongoing and Police
Authorities are already in discussions,” Hou told the Post-Courier.
Pacific Mission takes on 4 Poly nations “Solomon Islands will send its police contingent to Papua New
Wellington, New Zealand - New Zealand Foreign Affairs Min- Guinea later this year so they can assist with policing with APEC
ister Winston Peters says the government’s Pacific Mission will and the MSG countries have been told to send their contingents
take place from 4-9 March and will encompass Tonga, Samoa, here for policing training.”
Niue, and the Cook Islands. “It will be an honour to have the
Pacific mission led by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, and is a Long wait for Cyclone Winston victims
further sign of the importance New Zealand attaches to our Pacific Suva, Fiji - About 50 per cent of all homes damaged by Severe
neighbours,” says Peters. “The government carefully considered Tropical Cyclone Winston on Koro Island in Fiji’s central islands
whether the Pacific mission would impose a burden on Tonga are yet to be built or completed, reports the Fiji Times. About

10 Islands Business, March 2018