Page 8 - IB July 2021

Whispers Whispers

Sign of the times paid out to companies and employees match against the All Blacks this month,
The Chinese embassy in Nuku’alofa of the Department of Agriculture and it was seen as a message of hope and
recently hosted an exhibition for the Livestock (DAL). “The money is gone. I inspiration by sponsors and advocates.
100th anniversary of the Chinese Com- cannot retrieve any,” PNG Minister John Unfortunately somebody neglected to
munist Party. They welcomed a num- Simon has told local media. Seven dis- consult with the players, who resisted
ber of dignitaries to tour the exhibits, tricts and two provinces were to get the the attempt to have them wear the
including Her Royal Highness, the funds through their treasury office, but messaging. A week later, fans were told
Princess Royal Pilolevu Tuita. A sign of it appears the money has instead gone the message had been watered down
strong Tonga-China relations, but times to various companies, cash advances, considerably to read “Vaccinate Fiji,
have certainly changed when com- clothes and electrical equipment for it’s your choice”. That too was clearly
munists invite royalty to their birthday staff of DAL. rejected by the team, although ground
party! Tonga’s Prime Minister Dr Pohiva signage carried the vaccination mes-
Tu‘i‘onetoa told the reception that his BSP woes sage. “It’s a delicate matter for some,”
Tonga People’s Party manifesto was in- The drama continues at ASX-listed coach Vern Cotter said later.
spired by a study tour of China in 2019. BSP Financial Group, after reports it has
breached PNG prudential standards by Journalism under fire
Attention deficit allowing its chairman, Kostas Constan- Not a great month for Pacific jour-
At the 5th France-Oceania summit, tinou to serve in the role for more than nalism. In Apia, the Samoa Alliance of
French President Emmanuel Macron six consecutive years. It follows on a Media Practitioners for Development
beamed in for discussions with Forum statement from the Financial Analysis (SAMPOD) condemned attacks against
leaders on climate, oceans, COVID and Supervision Unit (FASU), which sits Samoan women journalists and called
and regional security. Maybe France’s within the PNG central bank, which on the United Nations to lend its sup-
pledges to the region might be valued described a “systemic culture of non- port. It came when a young female
more if Macron hadn’t spent time read- compliance at BSP.” The Central Bank reporter was verbally abused by people
ing his papers instead of listening to the of PNG Governor, Loi Bakani, distanced taking part in a march which, ironi-
statements from Pacific leaders. himself from FASU’s sanctions. Sir Kostas cally, was calling for an end to violence
told the Australian Financial Review against women although it was gener-
Immigration concerns that: “The Bank of PNG has approved ally understood to be a thinly disguised
In Vanuatu, an early morning raid has of my mandated term until the AGM [an- political rally. Then in Fiji, Prime Minis-
signalled the start of an operation to nual general meeting] in May 2023.” ter Voreqe Bainimarama called a televi-
clamp down on the illegal procurement sion reporter a derogatory term when
of immigration documents. Vanuatu Solar sailing she questioned him about quarantine
police and immigration officers have A solar-powered outboard engine breaches, prompting the Fiji Media As-
searched homes and workplaces amid is being tested on a Marshallese-built sociation to call on the PM to withdraw
concerns that forging and falsifying of catamaran in Majuro in what could be a his statement “and simply respond to
immigration documents is on the rise. transformative development for other her queries in performing her duties as
The fraudulent activities allegedly Pacific maritime and island communi- a journalist.”
include issuance of fake permit cards, ties. Waan Aelon in Majel (Canoes of the
forged citizenship letters, counterfeit Marshall Islands) says the trials are part Kava concerns
passports, false immigration stamps and of a sustainable transport programme Vanuatu authorities managed to stop
forged immigration letters of certifica- that WAM and others are engaged in a Nigerian national from smuggling kava
tion, resulting in a hit to revenue of locally to develop low-carbon vessel op- cuttings out of the country after he
more than Vt20 million (US$181,000) in tions for the Marshall Islands. was denied boarding on a flight transit-
the last five years. ing through New Zealand. His luggage
Vaccinate Fiji…if you want had already made it onto the plane
A poor harvest It was a compromise that wasn’t. before he was denied boarding and it
Meanwhile, Papua New Guinea author- When Fiji rugby officials announced was removed. Vanuatu’s Kava Act states
ities are investigating how K22.7 million that the Flying Fijian rugby team was that no kava planting materials are to
(US$6.46 million) intended for agricul- going to wear jerseys emblazoned with be exported from the country. Pacific
tural projects in districts was instead the words “Vaccinate Fiji” in their first nations remain concerned about the il-

43 YEARS OF COLOURING
THE SOUTH PACIFIC

Colour
with APCO
APP

8 Islands Business, July 2021