Page 12 - IB Sept-Oct 2020

Whispers

Forum leadership update office says processing time for the bench and coach’s box to field a strong
Whispers are persistent that the new independence anniversary will be side. There have been a number of
boss of the secretariat of the Pacific seven days. No word on whether extra expressions of interest for an addi-
Islands Forum may fall on neither of people have been allocated to support tional Super Rugby team, including by
the leading contenders for the posi- this extraordinarily quick turn-around the Kanaloa Hawai’i franchise. A South
tion. While Micronesian Forum members time. And while government’s plans are Auckland-based contender, Moana Pa-
are clamouring for their turn to fill the muted, the private sector has presented sifika, is also keen, although it’s claims
role, the uncomfortable truth is that it alternatives. A large market and fair in to have the support of Fiji has been
would mean Marshall Islanders hold the the historic Thurston Gardens is being questioned by the General Manager
two top positions at the secretariat. widely promoted and Fiji stores are High-Performance for the Fiji Rugby
Even if one argues the Deputy SG is a awash with patriotic shirts, t-shirts and Union, Simon Raiwalui.
naturalised citizen of RMI, some Forum flags.
members are concerned his country of Travel refunds
birth is PNG, and that country provided Power plays in PNG The NZ government is launching a
the outgoing boss, Dame Meg Taylor. The abolition of the powerful role of travel reimbursement scheme for Kiwis
There are question marks against the Chief Secretary to the PNG government who booked and paid for, but are un-
Solomon Islands and Fiji’s candidates has pleased many in government and able to take overseas holidays. New
too, in particular over their close ties to the civil service. “The chief secretary Zealand is one of the most important
China. Fiji’s candidature is further com- position has been recognised to have source markets for many Pacific island
plicated by its role in another regional too much power with the potential of destinations, and an estimated NZ$690
body, the USP, which has set it against undermining the fundamental constitu- million is locked up with overseas travel
the views of other Forum members, tional relationship between ministers and tourism suppliers servicing island
clearing the way, or so it is whispered, and their agency heads,” said Prime and other destinations. Under the
for the remaining candidates from Minister James Marape in dispensing scheme, travel agents will be paid a
Tonga and Cook Islands. The Kingdom with the role. “We must protect the percentage of any cash refunds they are
is proposing Amelia Kinahoi Siamomua, constitutional relationships between our able to secure for their clients. Pacific
the youngest of the five candidates, ministers and their agency heads.” Isaac travel offices have been encouraging in-
while the fact that he has been a Pacific Lupari was the last in a line of chief ternational visitors to delay their travel
leader gives Henry Puna a reasonable secretaries, which also included Sir plans to when borders reopen, rather
chance of taking the SG post. In any Manasupe Zurenuoc, Joshua Kalinoe and than cancel them outright.
case, it is whispered more leaders are Robert Igara, all of whom faced their
backing calls to have this discussion own controversies in their time. Dateline dilemma
face-to-face, which would seem to rule Will Niue follow Samoa and Tokelau
out appointing a SG this year. USP pay cuts and move to the western side of the
Who was the one USP executive who Intenational Dateline? It will if Op-
Muted celebrations for Fiji declined to take a further 5% pay reduc- position MP Terry Coe has his way. He
So Fiji is turning into the big five-O in tion as the regional university grapples wants to put a motion to this effect
October, but no thanks to the COVID19 with financial problems? Embattled before the House next month. He says
pandemic, celebrations will be muted Vice Chancellor, Professor Pal Ahluwa- it will help the tourism industry when it
and low key. Plans during the ‘old lia repeatedly made the point that all restarts, as visitors from New Zealand
normal’ was for the heir to the British but one of his most senior executives can leave Aotearoa and arrive in Niue
throne, Prince Charles to attend the had voluntarily taken the cut when he on the same day, and help businesses
celebrations. Invitations were person- briefed media and staff recently. It is align their hours with their New Zealand
ally extended by Prime Minister Voreqe understood the one executive who de- counterparts.
Bainimarama on one of his visits to Eng- clined very publicly aligned himself with
land last year, and preparations were the university’s Pro Chancellor when Concerns over ‘parachute
well advanced when the virus struck. It the VC was briefly ‘suspended’ from his adventurism’
was the Prince of Wales who also depu- position in June. The record-breaking descent of the
tised for her mother when Fiji gained its first two women to the earth’s deepest
independence on 10 October 1970. Super-optimistic rugby? point in the Marianas Trench recently
Meanwhile Fiji’s Office of the Presi- Will the Pacific islands finally have has raised questions over the access
dent called for nominations for Fiji a Super Rugby team? It will if the New private companies and NGOs have to
Honours as part of the 50th anniver- Zealand Rugby Players Association has Pacific waters outside national jurisdic-
sary. Ordinarily nominations take 12-18 its way, with CEO Rob Nichol saying tions. The Deep-sea Mining Observer
months to process, but the President’s there is enough depth on the field, says Pacific island communities in

12 Islands Business, September/October 2020