Page 11 - IB March 2021

Whispers Whispers

It was about 400 nm to the south of including American Samoa, French Poly-
French Polynesia’s Austral Islands when nesia, Guam, New Caledonia, Tokelau
his disappearance was noticed. The Sil- and Pitcairn. The 29 nations sitting on
ver Supporter doubled back and found the Special Committee include Fiji and
him after a full day’s search. Finally in Papua New Guinea. Ambassador Bas-
FSM this month, Coast Guard, Air Force, sam al-Sabbagh, is expected to arrive
and Federated States of Micronesia re- in New York mid-year. Syria, which has
sponders rescued five mariners off Houk appalling record on human rights, is also Front Page Pte Limited
Island, Chuuk after they spent three currently vying for a seat on the UN Hu- GPO Box 12718, Suva, Fiji Islands.
days missing at sea. “The mariners man Rights Council. Tel: +679 9719660
having a float plan and communicat- Email: advertising@islandsbusiness.com
ing that plan with their family directly A long war Circulation & Distribution
contributed to their rescue,” said Cmdr. The remains of a Japanese sailor subs@islandsbusiness.com
Kristen Hahn, search and rescue mission killed during fighting on Tarawa, have Finance
coordinator for Joint Rescue Coordina- been returned to his family after finance@islandsbusiness.com
tion Center Honolulu . 80 years. DNA testing confirmed the Fiji stockists
remains were of Masatoshi Nomura, an
Police sin-binned Imperial Japanese Navy sailor. Since Amy St Pharmacy, Toorak, Suva
The Police White team in Fiji has last August, DNA testing by Japanese Dominion Bookshop, BSP Life Building Arcade, Suva
been suspended from playing any rugby authorities has led to the identification Foska Stationery & Gift Shop, Digicel House, Nabua
tournaments by acting Police Commis- of four war dead. The health ministry Grand Eastern Hotel, Labasa
sioner Rusiate Tudravu after one of is currently accepting applications from Gulabdas and Sons, Levuka
its players punched an opponent. The bereaved families for testing on remains Hot Bread Kitchen, Damodar City, Suva; LICI building,
punch was landed by Watisoni Sevutia unaccompanied by personal belongings, Butt St, Suva; Main St, Nadi; Rajendra’s Foodtown Complex,
Valelevu; Namoli Avenue, Lautoka; Savusavu.
in a match against Raiwasa Taveuni in limited to those found on Okinawa, Kundan Singh Supermarkets, Pacific Harbour and Tamavua
their quarterfinal clash at the Nawaka Tarawa, and Iwo Jima. Mad Hatter Hut, Suva
7s. The acting commissioner wants an Methodist Bookstore, Suva
investigation into the incident, and the Bilum apology MHCC, Suva
behaviour of the other police players, PNG Prime Minister James Marape has
who only intervened after a third punch apologised to “all who took offence by Nausori Airport Bookshop
was thrown. The report comes amid some Kainantu mothers” who had him Palm Court Bistro, Suva
ongoing concerns over police violence walk over bilums at a recent event. “I Samabula Drugstore, Suva
in Fiji. tried evading but the crowd including Suva Book Shop, Suva
mothers who made the bilums were The Friendly North Inn, Labasa
Beran’s bitcoins there shepherding me into that path. USP Bookcentre, Laucala Campus, Suva
If you can get there, Beran Island “I can understand the uproar, I was Regional
Resort says it is now accepting bitcoin in a bilum as a baby, from bilums were Boroko Foodworld – Boroko, PNG
payments. Surfers and their friends can food brought home, in bilums were Friendly Islands Bookshop – Nuku’alofa, Tonga
rent out the private island for 1 BTC, wealth stored, bilum is our woven story Hachette Pacifique – Papeete, French Polynesia
roughly US$57,000 (February 22) where and I totally understand the feeling of Heritage Park Hotel – Honiara, Solomon Islands
they can surf, fish and scuba dive. In those who thought we were disrespect- Nouvelle Messageries Caledoniennes de Presse – Noumea,
2018 Marshall Islands passed the Sover- ful to the importance of the role bilum New Caledonia
eign Currency Act. Beran’s operators say is to us,” Marape continued. Speaking Pacific & Occidental Capelle & Partners – Yaren, Nauru
they’re getting ahead of the changes of cultural and traditional diversity, he Pacific Supplies – Rarotonga, Cook Islands
that will come to the island nation as a also related the story of being urged Robert Reimers Enterprises – Majuro, Marshall Islands
result. to walk “through or over” his wife’s South Seas Traders – Alofi, Niue
aunties when visiting the Chambri Lakes
Syria at the UN area. “I refused but they told me Stop Press – Port Vila, Vanuatu
Syria’s Bassam al-Sabbagh is now clearly I was disrespectful to them if I Yap Cooperative Association – Colonia, YAP, FSM
Special Rapporteur for the UN Special don’t do it their way.”
Committee on Decolonisation, which
oversees bids by a number of Pacific Whispers is compiled under the supervi-
Island states to assert independence, sion of the editors

Islands Business, March 2021 11