Page 31 - IB July 2021

Deep Sea Mining

NAURU DETERMINED TO BACK DEEP SEA MINING

Continued from page 12 ficient scientific data on the sustainability of the oceans if
mining takes place.
work for exploitation in the area within two years.” “We appeal to you, not to be the Pacific Island state that
However a coalition of civil society organisations in the Pa- goes down in history as the one that jump-started the issu-
cific has called for caution. “We appeal to you to reconsider,” ance of an exploitation license by prematurely forcing through
the coalition said in a recent letter to President Aingimea. mining regulations during a pandemic and against grow-
“While we recognise that such a decision to trigger the ing public concerns regarding DSM,” the CSOs appealed to
two-year rule is a sovereign decision, although required by Aingimea. “It is our view that it would be in Nauru’s best long-
contract with a private company, we believe the decision will term interest to allow for thorough consultations and negotia-
generate a set of events that will incur reputational damage tions on the international mining regulations to be concluded
to the Nauru’s standing in the global community and in the prior to any licensing of exploitation of DSM in the AREA. The
long term prove not to have been in the best interest of Nauru mining regulations, negotiated and agreed to by the global
and her people.” community, should afford protection to Nauru as a Sponsoring
Despite this opposition, Nauru went ahead under UNCLOS State in the longer term.”
Part XI and issued a licence ahead of the international min- For now, Kiribati, Tonga and the Cook Islands will watch
ing codes and environmental regulations negotiations being the Nauru situation unfold as they also hope to exploit their
concluded. mineral-rich oceans.
Pacific churches and environmental groups are part of the
coalition which has objected to mining on the basis of insuf- editor@islandsbusiness.com
COVID-19

USP’S REGIONAL STUDENTS STRUGGLE TO STUDY

Continued from page 16 Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has con-
firmed 22 Solomon Islands students in Fiji have tested positive
government special allowance has been forthcoming, with for COVID-19, saying the situation is extremely worrying for
students receiving only their ordinary student allowance. the local students, parents and the government.
PNG student Jacqueline Piniau stated that they had not “All 22 cases are asymptomatic,” he stated.
been contacted by their embassy in Suva since the start of Solomon Islands has approximated 850 students in training
this year’s COVID outbreak. institutions across Fiji. “Just over 50 of these have gradu-
ated and can return home, the rest will remain in Fiji,” PM
Sogavare stated, noting however that this cannot happen until
The students have mixed reactions to returning home dur- the outbreak is brought under control in Fiji, given the highly
ing the outbreak. “The Embassy of the Federated States of transmittable nature of the Delta variant.
Micronesia is working closely with the national government to Solomon Islands students Choi and Pitamoki say they have
bring home students who have already graduated and those heard that their government is arranging repatriation, but
who wish to return home. However, I don’t see any reason details would be confirmed later. Choi hopes to return home
why I should go home right now. I would like to complete soon but is also concerned about the safety of the local
my studies in Tourism and Management before I can return citizens and does not want to risk them getting infected.
and contribute to my government and communities,” said Pitamoki hopes to return home if all classes are online next
Christopher Sigrah. semester.
Students from Vanuatu say their government is planning a Piniau says she would like to return home to Papua New
repatriation flight in July or August and students are cur- Guinea if a repatriation flight is organised, however she has
rently filling out a repatriation survey. “We are not sure if the not received contact directly from the High Commission here
repatriation is for all or only for those who are finishing stud- in Suva. “Realistically, I would like to return home after I fin-
ies this semester. The travel requirements have also changed ish my program,” she said.
where they are only allowing fully vaccinated citizens back to All students interviewed had received their first dose of the
the country, and this does not apply to most students as we AstraZeneca vaccine and await their second dose.
only received the first dose,” said one student. On-campus students are again under strict lockdown after
Vanuatu Prime Minister Bob Loughman said earlier this Fiji’s Ministry of Health and Medical Services reported cases
month that 29 students are completing their studies in Fiji on campus.
soon and would need to return to Vanuatu. The PM said his
government is liaising with their Fijian counterparts to deter- editor@islandsbusiness.com
mine when they can bring the students home safely.

Islands Business, July 2021 31