Page 9 - IB March 2021

Briefs Briefs

continue over the sale of the mine; it’s now likely to go to a revenue of $754,000 (US$93,987) has been collected from
consortium of employees, three regional provinces and Swiss application fees. 13 applications have been rejected and 32
commodities trader Trafigura. others are still pending.

Niue Tokelau
Niueans were set to resume quarantine-free travel into New The Ulu o Tokelau, Kelihiano Kalolo has thanked Samoa’s
Zealand late this month. “This one-way quarantine free travel government and people for successfully repatriating more
will enable Niueans to receive essential healthcare, access than 100 Tokelau students, patients and families who were
education and economic opportunities, and reconnect with stranded overseas due to COVID-19. “Words are not enough to
their families in New Zealand,” Niue Premier Dalton Tagelagi express our heartfelt fakafetai to the people and government
said. Niue will maintain its current border settings, with only of Samoa. They accommodated our requests at a time when
returnees with Government approval allowed to enter the they were also desperate to bring their own citizens home.
country. They must also quarantine or self-isolate for 14 days They gave up space reserved for their citizens and resources
on arrival. such as beds in their managed isolation, lab tests for CO-
VID-19. Without this generosity, our people would not have
been able to make it home,” Kalolo said.

Palau
Taiwan and Palau are launching a travel bubble, allowing Tonga
people to travel between the islands without a COVID-19 Tonga’s $15.2 million (US$6.6 million) loan repayment due
quarantine. “They [Taiwanese officials] shared with us…that to the EXIM Bank of China, has been deferred to 2021-22,
the risk of getting a COVID case from Taiwan to Palau, based says Minister of Finance, Tevita Lavemaau. He says this will
on historical data, is one in 4 million, or 1 in 40,000 flights. help to free-up budgetary funds for fighting the threat of
But the point is the risk is very low, we are doing everything COVID-19. Local media reports Chinese embassy officials as
to make sure that the risk is as low as possible,” President saying Tonga’s total unpaid loan from the EXIM Bank of China
Surangel Whipps said. The bubble will start with two flights is TOP$259.95 million (US$113.3 million).
per week between the two islands, with the first flight sched-
uled on 1 April. An initial offering of package tours to Taiwan-
ese travellers quickly sold out.
Tuvalu
Tuvalu’s opposition party has criticised a proposed Tuvalu
citizenship and passport investment scheme as very danger-
Papua New Guinea ous. Opposition leader Enele Sopoaga says citizenship is much
PNG’s Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) does more than a piece of paper. “Critical in this regard are the
not have the capacity, office, foundation, resources, manpow- questions of transparency, verification processes, credibil-
er or funding to start operating, says its interim Chairman, ity of the buyers, duties of the buyers, responsibility of the
Thomas Eluh. He says K4 million (US$1.9 million) had been buyers, and risks management for Tuvaluan interests, local
allocated for the setting up of the commission. The initial and global,” the former Prime Minister stated. There have
budget request was K20 million (US$9.8 million). been suggestions Tuvaluan passports would be issued a cost of
A$150,000 (US$119,000) each.

Samoa
Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has dismissed Vanuatu
claims by the Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says Vanuatu’s reliance
Chairman that a Commission of Inquiry (COI) undermines on the windfall Economic Citizenship Program revenues may
the independence of Parliament. A day before Parliament be unsustainable. It made the statement in its end-of-(virtual)
broke before upcoming general elections, the Prime Minister mission statement this month. The IMF says Vanuatu’s econ-
moved to establish a COI to investigate four FAST members omy is projected to return to positive growth in 2021 as the
for alleged breaches of Parliamentary Standing Orders and impact of the pandemic fades and borders reopen gradually.
“treasonous acts.” Tuilaepa said the four were absent while It welcomes government action to improve tax administra-
parliament proceedings took place. tion, but says that a medium term revenue strategy needs to
be developed, governance of government business enterprises
needs strengthening and that authorities need to ensure insti-
tutions comply with anti-money laundering regimes.
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands’ Citizenship Commission has approved the
first 56 successful applications for dual citizenship. So far

Islands Business, March 2021 9