Page 9 - IB July 2021

Whispers Whispers

legal export of kava from island nations, had to pay their own quarantine costs.
with Pacific Trade Invest Commissioner In contrast, NZ cricket covered quar-
Caleb Jarvis telling journalists recently antine costs for six cricket sides who
that he had heard of kava being grown toured Aotearoa this summer.
in Vietnam.
Vacuum at the top
Police to help repo APEC cars The Australia Pacific Training Coalition
In PNG, the full and final 2018 APEC continues to lose senior staff, with a
Asset Report is said to be slated for well-respected country manager joining
completion by December, and it won’t the exodus. He is believed to be leaving Front Page Pte Limited
be pretty. About 110 State-purchased for a role with the Fred Hollows Founda- GPO Box 12718, Suva, Fiji Islands.
APEC vehicles are still in the hands tion in New Zealand later this year. A Tel: +679 9719660
of general public and certain public number of senior APTC managers were Email: advertising@islandsbusiness.com
officials, and will be repossessed with let go earlier this year as the Coalition
the help of police. A further 50 vehicles pivots away from a development to a Circulation & Distribution
are being used by the police, defence, pure training focus. subs@islandsbusiness.com
health, national pandemic office and Finance
other government agencies under tem- High level backing finance@islandsbusiness.com
porary arrangements. The sale of Mase- Fiji’s bid for Minister for Women, Chil- Fiji stockists
rati and Bentley vehicles—which was to dren and Poverty Alleviation, Mereseini
have recouped some of the expenses Vuniwaqa to take up the role as execu- Amy St Pharmacy, Toorak, Suva
incurred in the hosting of APEC—has so tive director of UN Women later this Dominion Bookshop, BSP Life Building Arcade, Suva
far been a spectacular failure. year has had an influential supporter. Foska Stationery & Gift Shop, Digicel House, Nabua
One of the Pacific’s highest ranking re- Grand Eastern Hotel, Labasa
Tongan rugby does it hard gional civil servants has been canvassing Gulabdas and Sons, Levuka
“It’s not a good look for NZ rugby” support amongst Pacific Islands allies for Hot Bread Kitchen, Damodar City, Suva; LICI building,
was former Tonga international Willie Minister Vuniwaqa’s candidacy. Mean- Butt St, Suva; Main St, Nadi; Rajendra’s Foodtown Complex,
Valelevu; Namoli Avenue, Lautoka; Savusavu.
Los’e take on why New Zealand Rugby while Tonga’s Amelia Kinahoi-Siamomua Kundan Singh Supermarkets, Pacific Harbour and Tamavua
didn’t cover the costs of managed isola- has also signalled her intention to apply
tion for Tonga’s players before their for the role. She recently contested the Mad Hatter Hut, Suva
match against the All Blacks this month. position of Pacific Islands Forum Secre- Methodist Bookstore, Suva
An under-strength Tongan side lost to tary General. MHCC, Suva
the All Blacks 0-102. Many of the players Nausori Airport Bookshop
Palm Court Bistro, Suva
Samabula Drugstore, Suva
Suva Book Shop, Suva
Picture of the month:
The Friendly North Inn, Labasa
USP Bookcentre, Laucala Campus, Suva
Regional
Boroko Foodworld – Boroko, PNG
Friendly Islands Bookshop – Nuku’alofa, Tonga
Hachette Pacifique – Papeete, French Polynesia
Heritage Park Hotel – Honiara, Solomon Islands
Nouvelle Messageries Caledoniennes de Presse – Noumea,
New Caledonia
Pacific & Occidental Capelle & Partners – Yaren, Nauru
Pacific Supplies – Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Robert Reimers Enterprises – Majuro, Marshall Islands
Samoa Stationery and Books - Apia, Samoa
South Seas Traders – Alofi, Niue
Stop Press – Port Vila, Vanuatu
Yap Cooperative Association – Colonia, YAP, FSM

Medical Services Pacific nurses ensure vaccines reach the last mile. Vaccinating Fijians in the Namosi
highlands. Photo: Medical Services Pacific

Islands Business, July 2021 9