Page 10 - IB May 2018 Edition

Political Brief

the votes, and although the former French Polynesian president
has been banned from running for office, its widely believed
that he is still playing a huge influential role in Tahoeraa. Gef-
fry Salmon is now leader of Tahoeraa but analysts in Papeete
believe if the party wins the second round of polls, Flosse will
effectively run Tahiti as an advisor.
In the last elections five years ago, Tahoeraa was the big
winner but most of its assembly members left or were expelled
to then form the Tapura party.
Pro-independence leader Oscar Temaru’s party on the other
hand won 20 per cent of the votes which he considers to be a
success. Having less than half of the support of the Tapura, his
party is likely to remain in opposition, adds Radio New Zealand.
It quoted Temaru as saying that voter turn-out was very low
at 61 per cent, hoping more voters will join in the next round.
His colleague Moetai Brotherson said many people stayed
away because they are disgusted with politics. They need to
Edouard Fritch and Gaston Flosse in 2013 Photo: RNZI Walter Zweifel
be convinced that there is a noble aspect to politics, he added.
In another development, a complaint has been lodged in
Ruling party in Tahiti Paris asking for French Polynesia’s election on the island of
Huahine to be annulled.
It was lodged with the top administrative court in France and
wins first round the complainant, Yves Conroy, alleged the mayor of Huahine
Marcelin Lisan distributed free fuel from the petrol station he
owns and gave away boxes of frozen chicken to get votes for
the ruling Tapura Huiraatira.
FRENCH Polynesians have gone to the polls in the first round Conroy also alleged that the Huahine mayor threatened
of the territorial elections and the ruling Tapura Huiraatira party council staff with dismissal. Before the first round of voting
has emerged on track to retain power. opened, Conroy lodged a complaint for abuse of public funds
Second round of elections will take place in the second week for campaign purposes implicating President Edouard Fritch
of May with only three parties left in the contest. and four of his ministers.
Radio New Zealand reports that Tapura won 43 per cent of the He said once the campaign accounts would be finalised he
votes, which if repeated in the second rounds will give it a big was certain that Fritch would be removed from office.
majority in the 57-seat assembly. This is so because the party Twenty years ago, Conroy launched a complaint against the
coming first gets 19 seats as a bonus. The remaining 38 seats Tahoeraa leader and President Gaston Flosse for alleged abuse
are then divided in proportion to the parties’ relative strength. of public funds which eventually led to him being convicted and
Gaston Flosse’s Tahoeraa Huiraatira party won 29 per cent of barred from public office. – Pacnews

Fifty more refugees bound for US with the requirements of “good governance” and weapons before
Sydney, Australia - About 50 refugees are expected to leave the middle of June, 2020.- Pacnews
Manus Island and Nauru in coming weeks to start new lives
in the United States, as Australia continues the slow process Bougainville university plans
of emptying the immigration camps. The refugees, who have Buka, Bougainville - Plans are underway for a separate uni-
received their final approvals will join about 230 others who versity for Bougainville. Funding will be made available by the
have been resettled in America. Since resettlements under the autonomous Bougainville government with help from the national
deal started in September, about 145 refugees have left Nauru government. This was confirmed by Higher Education Minister
and 85 have departed Papua New Guinea’s Manus Island. There Pila Niningi who had responded to Bougainville Regional MP
are about 309 people on Nauru and several hundred on Manus Joe Lera’s questions raised in Parliament on issues pertaining to
Island. - Pacnews tertiary institutions including that of Bougainville. - Pacnews

Bougainville funding constraints PNG quake food starting to rot
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea - Funding for the imple- Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea - Food and relief supplies
mentation of the Bougainville Peace Agreement (BPA) has meant for earthquake victims are starting to go bad inside three
been a concern among other important issues that needed to warehouses in Mendi because there is no transport to deliver
be addressed, stated the report on the parliamentary bipartisan them, an official says. Warehouse supervisor Aaron Dou said
committee on Bougainville Referendum. Committee chairman 1000 bags of sweet potatoes donated by Hagen businessman
William Powi stressed the importance of funding from Waigani to Nelson Tenge were rotting. The Southern Highlands disaster
successfully implement the Bougainville Peace Agreement. Powi office has no money to transport relief supplies to those affected
said there must be additional funds (beyond the grants to which by the earthquake. The three warehouses in Mendi are filled with
the Bougainville government was otherwise entitled) to ensure food donated by businesshouses, individuals, church groups and
that Bougainville was “referendum ready” and be able to comply donor agencies. - Pacnews

10 Islands Business, May 2018