Page 9 - IB May 2021

Briefs Briefs

Boeing jet will be sold strictly in an “as is, where is, with all teams are preparing for a final investment decision in 2023.
faults” condition and offers are due by June 2. Another pas- PNG’s general election dates have been tentatively set for
senger B737 may also be sold next year. Nauru Airlines wants June 11-24, 2022. The issue of writs and opening of nomina-
to buy two B737-700s to replace its existing passenger jets. tions has been set for April 14.
Parliament has approved a disbursement of USD$24.95 million
for shift, which will be raised via a loan from the Taiwanese
EXIM bank.
Solomon Islands
Two people have died from injuries suffered when an unex-
ploded ordinance (UXO) went off during a social gathering.
New Caledonia The tragedy has renewed calls for the Solomon Islands, Japan
Six Kanak leaders have been charged in relation to protests and US governments to clean up unexploded bombs dating
at the Vale nickel plant last December. The six face charges from World War Two. Over the course of one weekend this
of alleged participation in a criminal organisation, theft, month, Solomon Islands police removed 101 UXOs at Gilbert
destruction of property and violence against police. New Cale- Camp in Honiara.
donia saw sustained protest against the sale of Vale last year. Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has warned companies
against arranging private flights or sea charters into the coun-
try after two people on a boat originating from PNG tested
positive for COVID-19. Manasseh Sogavare claimed several
Niue
Niue’s Fono Ekepule has passed a NZ$8 million (US$5.7 mil- companies are more interested about their businesses than
lion) supplementary budget. It included an allocation for the the safety of Solomon Islanders. The government has rejected
private sector which was welcomed by the Chamber of Com- pre-arranged private flights from Malaysia, Indonesia and
merce’s Catherine Papani. “We will also be looking at other PNG.
ways to assist businesses rather than just via a business wage
subsidy for owners and employees,” she said.
Tonga
The Niue Manatua Cable is now ready for service after under- Tonga is looking to charge repatriated passengers for their
going several weeks of tests. Premier Dalton Tagelagi said the quarantine from July, flagging that the 2-3 June, and 30 June
optical fibre submarine cable will transform the speed, capac- flights could be the last for free quarantine for Tongans. Non-
ity, resilience, and affordability of internet and telecommuni- Tongans are already paying for their quarantine. The govern-
cations for Niue’s people. ment says it costs about TOP$4,000(US$1,787) per person for
21 days quarantine. Around 2,700 people are on the govern-
ment’s repatriation registration list.
Palau
China Airlines has cancelled all direct flights to Palau until
June 8 due to stricter COVID-19 restrictions, which would re- Tuvalu
quire aircrew to undergo a 14-day quarantine on their return A survey of Tuvaluan businesses has found two-thirds had
to Taiwan, where there has been an upsurge in cases. The returned to full operation by the end of 2020, compared to
Taiwan-Palau travel bubble program officially began on April one-third of businesses in the Pacific overall. The Pacific Busi-
1, allowing residents of the two countries to travel largely ness Monitor report found that by November, almost a fifth of
quarantine-free. Tuvaluan businesses were experiencing increases in revenue,
compared to only 6% across the Pacific. PTI Australia’s Trade &
Investment Commissioner, Caleb Jarvis said while the contin-
Papua New Guinea ued impact of closed international borders has interrupted
Ethnic violence in Port, attacks on police in Alotau and re- trade routes and driven up import costs, Tuvalu’s business
ported clashes in Western and Eastern Highlands provinces, community had been able to adjust quickly to the changing
Pogera and Kokopo is affecting business, says the PNG Cham- conditions.
ber of Commerce and Industry. Chamber President Ian Tarutia
says the cost to businesses has been immense, “with many
businesses not operating, in fear of looting, businesses stand Wallis and Futuna
to lose much needed revenue, with their employees in danger There are concerns that misinformation is slowing COVID-19
of not being paid.” Police Commissioner David Manning called vaccination rates in Wallis and Futuna, where health authori-
the Alotau attack on police an act of terrorism. ties want to immunise 70% of the population. Mid-May figures
After a year of delays because of COVID-19, the PNG Govern- indicate 51.5% of adults have received at last one shot.
ment and Total have announced the remobilisation of the However misleading social media posts and advice from the
PNG LNG project teams and of other required resources. The diaspora is now believed to be hampering efforts.

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