Page 8 - IB_November2020

Whispers

Democracy in action? the Fiji Independent Commission Against director of PNG’s Medical Research
US Ambassador to Fiji, Joseph Cella Corruption. institute have concerns.
told invited guests to a Presidential
Election Party in Suva on November 4 Another regional race Dubious qualifications
that: “It is always a delight to show- It looks like the race for the next A ‘university’ claiming to be regis-
case and celebrate our democratic Secretary General of the Pacific Islands tered in Tonga does not have accredi-
principles, and electoral processes. The Forum is not the only race there is. The tation say education authorities. The
open and transparent manner in which new position proposed in last year’s Commonwealth Vocational University
U.S. elections are run is an example climate change declaration by Pacific claims to be “the premier institution
for the world.” He made the comments leaders at their Tuvalu Forum meeting, of higher learning across the Kingdom
hours before President Donald Trump appears to have attracted a race on its of Tonga, in the South Pacific Ocean”
prematurely/erroneously claimed he own. “The United Nations Secretary according to its website, to the surprise
had won the election and tweeted “stop General to urgently appoint a Special of Tongans. The Chief Executive Officer
the count”, and the day before the Adviser on Climate Change and Securi- of Tonga National Qualification and
Republican Party began launching legal ty” was the leaders’ tenth call of action Accreditation Board (TNQAB) Dr Opeti
action questioning the poll and count in their 2019 Kainaki II Declaration for Pulotu, told Matangi Tonga that the
in several states. Ambassador Cella is Urgent Climate Change Action. Some so-called university had unsuccessfully
a political appointee and served on a island nations have whispered that lodged an application with the Board to
Catholic advisory panel for the 2016 given Fiji’s Peter Thomson already holds be registered as a university some years
Trump campaign. the position of UN Special Envoy for the ago.
Ocean, this new position, if endorsed by
West Papua tensions the UN chief, should go to a UN Pacific Superyacht testimony
The shooting of a pastor and a priest island member other than Fiji. Casino owner James Packer’s faced a
in West Papua, reportedly at the hands barrage of questions when he appeared
of soldiers, has passed largely unr- Unexpected gifts by satellite link before an Australian
marked upon by Pacific Island leaders. Vanuatu parliamentarians and their casino inquiry from his $200 million
Indonesia is part of the Melanesian spouses were the lucky recipients of superyacht IJE, as it cruised through
Spearhead Group and Pacific Islands cufflinks decorated with Vanuatu’s coat French Polynesia recently. Packer told
Forum, a matter of contention for some of arms and black pearl earrings during the inquiry that he was not well when
members, in particular Vanuatu. Mean- Vanuatu’s 40th anniversary celebrations, he stepped down from the Chairman-
while Indonesian soldiers have crossed it has been revealed. The gifts were ap- ship of Crown Resort Casinos, which
into Papua New Guinean territory and parently originally intended for regional is being investigated for alleged links
set up camp at Torassi River report leaders and officials who were expected to organised crime gangs in Asia, the
local media. The PNG Defence Force to attend the celebrations before the circumstances of the sale of a large
commander has sought to downplay coronavirus pandemic closed borders. stake in the business, and laundering of
concerns over the incursion despite a Vanuatu’s Public Accounts Committee drug funds.
history of tension in the area. has revealed that US$211,000 was spent
on jewellery however Opposition MPs Fiji escapes
Political donations under scrutiny say they haven’t accepted the gifts Billionaires like Packer are the type of
Donations to Fiji political parties and have questioned the circumstances clientele two Fijian resorts are hoping
are increasingly under scrutiny. Ques- around their purchase and distribution. to attract after being given approval as
tions have arisen over donations to the vacation destination for guests to self-
ruling Fiji First party, which appear to PNG COVID controversy quarantine. In order to stay on Royal
include multiple donations over the cap PNG’s government has defended Davui Island Resort or Laucala, guests
imposed by law by a businessman em- its US$2.9million allocation to a new must book the entire island for at least
broiled in a legal case over a controver- company, Niugini Biomed, to develop a 14 nights, and arrive via private flight
sial tourism development. The Registrar COVID-19 treatment in the face of criti- charter or select airline flights. They
of Political Parties says he is reviewing cism that they don’t have the scientific must also provide a negative COVID-19
the Fiji First accounts and cannot com- qualifications or experience to progress test before arrival, be tested on arrival,
ment until that review is complete. coronavirus treatment. The company and undergo daily screening. The cost—
Meanwhile the Registrar has questioned claims it’s “highly confident” it has dis- upwards of US$490,000 for groups of up
donations made to the National Federa- covered a new treatment for COVID-19, to 20 for exclusive use of Laucala.
tion Party, and how funds earmarked for after “scanning and analysing” 30,000
cyclone relief were used. The NFP and drugs from around the world. However Coal fired Pacific?
its leader have denied any wrongdoing. the World Health Organisation’s PNG The Pacific Islands will have their
The matter has now been referred to Officer in Charge in PNG and the former first operational coal mines or coal-

8 Islands Business, November 2020