Page 10 - IB April 2021

Whispers Whispers

Parliament terms eras to connect to the Police monitoring ment, saying “he has not been paid
Concerns in Solomon Islands that network—courtesy of China. However in for over a year, has [had] no assistance
moves are afoot to extend the life of Australia, the federal government has with repatriation, and is owed nearly
parliament. Concerns have been raised cancelled two initiatives the state of Vt25 million(US$130,000) in outstand-
by, amongst others, opposition member Victoria had signed under the Belt and ing salary, severance and travel and
Peter Kenilorea Jr that the move to Road Initiative, with Foreign Minister also expenses he personally paid when
extend the life of parliament from four Marise Payne saying she considered the embassy had no funds.” Nai was
to five years is a fait accompli, due to them to be inconsistent with Australia’s appointed Ambassador to China in 2015
the government’s majority, and the fact foreign policy or adverse to our foreign (after an earlier stint in 2012). In May
that cabinet has apparently already ap- relations.” China’s embassy has called 2020, the Vanuatu government report-
proved it. Prime Minister Manasseh So- the move “unreasonable and provoca- edly wrote to him, saying his term had
gavare said the matter will need wider tive.” ended, and that he would be repatri-
public consultation and that there is no ated. Director General of Foreign Affairs
need to rush through a change, although Rabuka moves and External Trade, Kalfau Kaloris says
he also said: “On prima facie, we will Speculation continues in Fiji as to as it is now a legal matter, he cannot
be doing injustice to ourselves and the who is providing financial and political comment except to say an offer had
nation if we go to the polls in 2023,” ac- backing for former Opposition leader been made to Nai.
cording to local media. Kenilorea Jr has Sitiveni Rabuka. The former Prime
called for the proposed change to either Minister says he will register his new Air Vanuatu shakeup
go to a referendum, or that it be tested party, People’s Alliance, this month and Still no details on the restructuring of
as an election issue next year. that he already has the 5000 signatures Air Vanuatu, after the appointments of
required under the electoral act. He has its Board of Directors were terminated
Puna’s plans a prominently located office in Toorak, last month. Finance Minister, Johnny
Incoming Pacific Islands Forum Secre- Suva city and the continued fracturing Koanapo, said the decision was made in
tary General, Henry Puna says he will of his former SODELPA party will widen order to ‘save’ the airline. The gov-
push “‘as hard and as fast as I can, so as a number of individuals associated ernment has now taken control of Air
that the Forum family will remain intact with that party join Rabuka’s ranks once Vanuatu, and will be closely monitoring
and complete as it is.” Puna made the registration is complete. Lynda Tabuya, expenses. Meanwhile, a Commission of
comments at his final official farewell SODELPA’s second highest vote getter Enquiry has determined that an A220
ceremony in Cook Islands, saying prior- in 2018 after Rabuka, has been waging Airbus aircraft purchased in 2019 was
ity issues for the Forum include cyber, very public battle with the SODELPA incompatible with Vanuatu’s needs.
health and people security, economic leadership. Commission Chairman John Path said
recovery and climate change. He also the airline doesn’t have pilots and engi-
hopes Pacific leaders will look to the No confidence escape act neers or hanger space for the aircraft.
Cook Islands’ example of the Marae Papua New Guinea’s parliament has Air Vanuatu paid a deposit of US$17.5
Moana as a model for environmental adjourned for four months, with Prime million dollars for the first of four air-
management. Not to dampen such en- Minister James Marape escaping a no craft, which was due in June 2020, with
thusiasm, but the problem is that it was confidence motion as a result. The three others to follow at the end of last
his own appointment as PIF boss that government said the COVID-19 outbreak year and the first half of 2021.
triggered the split with the five Micro- currently gripping PNG and the positive
nesian members who have decided to diagnoses of 36 parliamentary staffers TikTok trouble
withdraw over the failure of their candi- and one MP in the last week, promoted The usual double standards were
date to get the top job! Forum officials the adjournment. During its brief sitting on show in PNG this month after Miss
are already discussing a review of how this month, at least 20 more than the Papua New Guinea was “released”
the PIF Secretary General is selected in mandated maximum gathering of 50 from her duties after keyboard war-
future. Puna is expected to assume his people were in the house. The adjourn- riors objected to a video she posted of
new role on May 17. ment came as the opposition-backed herself twerking on TikTok. Lucy Maino
former PM Peter O’Neill as its preferred was vilified, with the Miss Pacific Islands
Cinching the belt Prime Minister. PNG is due to go to the Pageant PNG organisation stating that
There are diametrically opposed polls in July next year. the pageant: “promotes the virtues of
approaches to China support in Fiji confidence, self-worth, integrity, and
and Australia this month. Fiji police Diplomat’s woes community service with a parallel focus
have taken possession of $F1.5 million A former Vanuatu Ambassador to on education” in a statement confirming
(US$733,478) worth of equipment—in- China claims the Vanuatu government that her term had now ended. In re-
cluding a fully loaded command vehicle, has left him and his family “destitute in sponse, Maino wrote: “While I endured
drones, vehicle conferencing materials China.” Nguk Yang Dennis Nai has filed public abuse and harassment online,
and servers that will allow CCTV cam- a claim against the Vanuatu govern- thousands of women around the country

10 Islands Business, April 2021