Page 6 - IB August 2020

Briefs

in Fiji for exploration and development activities. Drilling is
expected to commence at the end of this month (August).
American Samoa
Federal Emergency Management Authority (FEMA) officials
have left American Samoa after the territory refused to
waive quarantine requirements for the agency. Governor Lolo French Polynesia
Matalasi Moliga said negotiations with FEMA were unsuccessful French Polynesia President Edouard Fritch has signed up for
and as a result, FEMA confirmed that they were pulling a US$285 million loan from France to prop up the failing CPS
their two staff out of the territory. Earlier the Department social security agency as the territory struggles to respond
of Health had refused entry to a FEMA contractor after to the COVID-19 pandemic. This comes as the territory
discovering she had tested positive for COVID-19. American undertakes public finance reforms. The loan has a 25 year
Samoa has no recorded cases of COVID-19. term and 1.4% interest rate.

CNMI Guam
Almost 800 workers in CNMI’s tourism industry are being Total Federal funding for Guam’s COVID-19 response and
sent home due to job cuts says the Hotel Association. The recovery is up to US$1.6 billion with 72 local agencies and
Association says its 12 members are losing $US10 million a programs received funding as part of the pandemic response.
month. Meanwhile the Imperial Pacific Casino has also made The largest fund allocation is for the Pandemic Unemployment
job cuts, saying it doesn’t expect tourists to return until May Assistance program. Meanwhile the Centre for Disease
next year. Control and Prevention has determined Guam as a high-risk
travel destination and requested travellers to avoid visiting
the territory, prompting Governor Lou Leon Guerrero to seek
clarity as she emphasised that Guam’s test positivity rate is
Cook Islands
The Cook Islands government says Rarotonga’s residents won’t 2%, much lower than the national average of 8%. This month,
Governor Guerrero and Lieutenant Governor Joshua Tenorio
be charged for water unless their usage is “excessive”. The have both tested positive for COVID-19.
government is currently consulting on the establishment of
the To Tatou Vai Authority, which will oversee Rarotonga’s new Docomo Pacific is now offering 5G mobile services in Guam
water supply system. Finance Minister Mark Brown says typical and Saipan through hotspots. Docomo’s 5G Open Lab is also
household use should remain free. The consultations have offering organisations like the University of Guam Office
heard other concerns about chemicals and chlorination of the of Information Technology the ability to test applications,
water supply.
equipment and concepts at no cost. Implementation of wider
5G availability will be phased throughout the territories.
Federated States of Micronesia
FSM’s Senate is considering a Bill which would transfer
ownership of the HANTRU-1 fibre optic cable’s Pohnpei spur, New Caledonia
and other rights and liabilities to the FSM Telecommunications The pro-independence FLNKS movement says a three-
Cable Corporation. President David Panuelo says the lack of year transition period would be needed if voters opt for
direct ownership of the HANTRU-1 Pohnpei spur has direct independence on 4 October. FLNKS leaders hope to get a
implications on the implementation of the $35 million Digital 51% ‘yes’ vote after polling 43% support for independence in
FSM project with the World Bank, which intends to connect 2018’s referendum.
fibre optic access to homes, hospitals, and schools etc, and
the East Micronesia Cable (EMC) which will connect Kiribati Nickel company, SLN claims it risks running out of funds by
to Pohnpei with a spur to the State of Kosrae and another to the end of this year. CEO Colin McGibbon said SLN suffered
Nauru. a $US90 million loss last year and needs its minority
shareholders—including New Caledonia’s three provinces— to
provide capital. McGibbon says SLN also needs to see lower
Fiji electricity costs and export permits in order to survive.
Thunderstruck Resources CEO Bryce Bradley has thanked
Fiji’s government for granting the company special travel
exemptions and COVID-19 quarantine conditions to allow its Niue
drill team to enter and continue extraction of natural minerals Niue’s Fono Ekepule has passed the Niue Government’s
in the country. So far, two containers filled with equipment US$21.5 million budget. The projected budget deficit is
and the head of the coincidental drill program have arrived
US$3.7 million, and New Zealand is injecting $1.5 million

6 Islands Business, August 2020