Page 6 - IB August 2021

Briefs Briefs

Federated States of Micronesia
American Samoa
America Samoa’s Budget Director has assured senators that Federated States of Micronesia and the United States have
there are sufficient funds to cover salary increases for govern- agreed on a plan to build a military base in FSM. In a state-
ment released after he met with the commander of U.S. Indo-
ment officials. Catherine Saelua says the salary hikes will Pacific Command and the US Ambassador to the FSM, Presi-
cost US$1.7 million for the remainder of the year. She says dent David Panuelo said they will collaborate on plans “for
savings have been made because departments didn’t spend more frequent and permanent U.S. armed forces presence.”
their travel allocations or fill vacant positions, although some
senators have opposed the salary increases, saying they should
have gone before the Fono first.
Fiji
The paramount chief of Nadroga Navosa province, Na Ka
Australia Levu Ratu Tevita Nabekwahiga Makutu says the province will
Bundaberg mayor Jack Dempsey has apologised for the not participate in public consultations over a controversial
blackbirding practices that helped build Queensland’s sugar- land bill. The bill was passed during parliament’s recent
cane industry. Dempsey said the practice of “forcing inden- budget session. In a letter to the Prime Minister, Ratu Tevita
tured labour into Queensland cane fields was equivalent to writes: “It is disconcerting to learn that after the law has
slavery and abhorrent. “Our sugarcane industry was built on been amended, your ministry and the iTaukei Land Trust Board
the backs of Pacific Island labour,” he stated. officials saw fit and proper to do awareness in the province to
the very people who should have been consulted in the very
first place.”

Bougainville
Rio Tinto has agreed to fund an independent assessment of
the impacts of its former Panguna copper and gold mine. The French Polynesia
company abandoned the mine in 1989 during the civil war on The captain of a Chinese longliner which ran aground last
Bougainville. The assessment will look at the social and envi- month will face court in September. The 40-metre long Ping
ronmental impacts of the mine, which saw some billion tonnes Tai Rong 49 hit uninhabited Anuanurunga atoll at night, how-
of tailings pollute river and coastal waters. ever the cause of the accident is unknown. Its captain will be
charged with causing marine pollution.

CNMI
The Marianas Visitors Authority has extended its Tourism Guam
Resumption Investment Plan (TRIP) to the end of this year to The fuel surcharge on Guam Power Authority customers’
give agents more time to promote the destination in Korea. bills is set to increase by 55% between now and November.
TRIP provides subsidies to airlines, hotels, travel agencies, The surcharge is being increased in three phrases, from 11
and related businesses to help jumpstart tourism. The pro- cents per kilowatt-hour to 17.14 cents per kWh. The GPA says
gram supports weekly flights from Seoul to Saipan by Asiana fuel prices have been rising, raising the utility’s costs, and
Airlines, Jeju Air, and T’Way Air, and full operation of Pacific losses along with it.
Islands Club Saipan as a hybrid quarantine resort. Flights
began on July 24.
Kiribati
Kiribati will start upgrading work to improve mobile phone
coverage and internet connectivity in the outer islands next
Cook Islands
Cook Islands has issued a new $3 currency note, and it’s in year. Information and Communications Minister Tekeeua Tarati
hot demand. The new note is designed with polymer, a state- said Ocean Link will install a bigger satellite dish on Butaritari
next month to help improve mobile coverage in the Northern
ment from the Office of the Prime Minister said, adding it’s Gilbert Islands.
cleaner, greener and more durable than the previous material
the notes were made of. It also includes enhanced security Banaba is again rationing water to its residents as the island
features but retains imagery of Ina and the Shark, long part of is hit with water shortages. Community workers say the is-
Cook Islands folklore and legend.
land’s desalination plant has not been working since 28 May.

6 Islands Business, August 2021