Page 7 - IB August 2021

Briefs Briefs

Marshall Islands Samoa
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Marshall Islands A report on damage to the Australian-supplied Nafanua 11
government have signed a US$2 million grant to support pub- patrol boat has been submitted to Samoa’s Cabinet alongside
lic financial management and state-owned enterprise (SOE) a request for assistance to salvage the vessel. At the time of
reforms. Amongst the focus areas; improving the management printing, the patrol boat was still stuck on the reef not far
of non-tax revenue; strengthening control over contingent from the Salelologa wharf. It was returning from Savaii where
liabilities; and introducing performance-based budgeting for it had been deployed to take police officers to assist in moni-
local governments. toring a rally organised by the Human Rights Political Party. An
inquiry into the matter is likely.

Nauru Solomon Islands
Nauru’s President, Lionel Aingimea has opened a WWII Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has defended his govern-
monument during the 75th anniversary marking the return ment’s decision to enforce the mandatory administration of
of Nauruans from Chuuk. They had been exiled there when Ja- the COVID-19 vaccine. He said while the government respects
pan invaded Nauru during the war, and by the time they were individuals’ rights, freedom and religious beliefs, it must not
able to return, a population census noted that just 1350 Nau- jeopardise the rights of others, nor put them at unnecessary
ruans and over 5000 non-Nauruans were living on the island. risk. All public servants and private sector front-line workers
Forty-three survivors of WWII were present at the monument’s in Solomon Islands must be fully vaccinated by 30 November
dedication, which President Aingimea dedicated to “today’s or have their employment terminated.
generation and the generations to come” as well as the cour-
age, sacrifice and determination of the WWII generation.

Tokelau
Tokelau has rolled out the second dose of its Pfizer CO-
Niue VID-19 vaccination programme. The programme is mandatory
Niue’s Head of Public Health has reminded people not to for all eligible members of the population. Only those with
enter the compound of people undergoing home quarantine. certain medical conditions are exempted. Tokelau remains
Grizelda Mokoia says some people are breaching the facilities COVID-19 free, with no reported cases since the start of the
after being fully vaccinated. Premier Dalton Tagelagi has also pandemic.
urged people not to be complacent.

Tonga
Palau More than 12 people have been arrested in connection with
The Governor of Okinawa Prefecture in Japan has asked Pa- the discovery of cocaine worth over US$2.2 million in Vava’u.
lau’s Congress, the Olbiil Era Kelulau to consider opening new Three are foreign nationals, who have been released on bail.
fishing areas in the marine sanctuary for Okinawan fishermen. The charges include possession and engaging with others in
Governor Tamaki Denny has also welcomed moves to tempo- the supply of illicit drugs, plus intentionally lying to Police.
rarily open the marine sanctuary to foreign fishing fleets. The The cocaine first began washing up on Vava’u beaches in July.
amendments are opposed by the Palau Conservation Society. Meanwhile an amendment bill tabled in Tonga’s Parliament
proposes a mandatory death sentence for offenders who traf-
fic five kilograms or more of a Class A drug. It also proposes
Papua New Guinea the death sentence for offenders who repeatedly procure and
PNG should cut its quarantine regime to seven days for use children in drug offences.
fly-in fly-out (Fifo) workers entering the country says Port
Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Rio
Fiocco. He said the current 21 day quarantine period is too Vanuatu
long. “It is a huge burden on those employees who are Fifo Abdul Rahman Khiti of Syria has become the first individual
workers plus an extra cost on their employer,” Fiocco said. under the Development Support Programme (DSP) to have
his Vanuatu citizenship revoked by the Vanuatu Citizenship
The current size of the PNG stock market is about K120 Commission. Khiti became a Vanuatu citizen in April last year,
billion (US$34 billion), according to the PNG Securities Com- however his citizenship was revoked after investigators found
mission. Acting executive chairman Robert Minak said there out the US government had placed sanctions against his busi-
were 13 companies currently listed on the PNG National Stock nesses.
Exchange (PNGX) and that trading has been “slow but steady.”

Islands Business, August 2021 7