Page 9 - November 2021 IB FINAL

Briefs Briefs

tional elections due to its Pacific Games hosting duties. Prime
Minister Manasseh Sogavare has told the Electoral Commission
Nauru that voter registration won’t be possible due to preparations
Nauru realised a A$14 million budget deficit in 2020-21. for the games. The Opposition says this would set a dangerous
Government revenue declined by 17% due to a drop in grant, precedent.
financing and dividends revenue, and delays in an EXIM bank
aircraft loan. As part of its COVID-19 response, the govern-
ment paid Nauru Airlines $4.7 million to ensure regular air Tonga
freight and passenger services. A new multi-million Tonga Parliament complex will be con-
structed on the Nuku’alofa waterfront, but there are con-
cerns about the vulnerability of the site to the effects of
climate change and sea level rise. The building will need to be
Palau
President Surangel Whipps Jr. has urged Palau’s Congress to raised by about three metres to compensate for its low-lying
position. Construction is expected to start late next year,
consider the introduction of a digital residency bill for “indi- with $4.4 million allocated for the architectural work alone.
viduals and businesses that use cryptocurrency to transact.” Tonga’s 125-year-old Parliament Building was destroyed by Cy-
Under the bill, Palau will offer a government-issued digital clone Gita in February 2018, and parliament has been sitting
residency to non-residents, but would not give foreigners at the Tongan National Centre complex at Tofoa ever since.
physical residency. The President envisages digital residency
being administered through a public-private partnership.
Tonga has elected an all-male parliament, with nine new
faces making up the 17 People’s Representative seats. No
women were elected. The end of the Pohiva era in the Tongat-
Papua New Guinea apu 1 constituency was confirmed as incumbent Siaosi Pohiva
Prime Minister James Marape says PNG’s partnership with lost his seat to Tevita Puloka. Semisi Sika, the late Pohiva’s
Fortescue Future Industries (FFI) is bigger than just hydro in deputy, was another surprise loser when he was defeated
Purari River and will encompass a huge set of projects worth by newcomer Dr Pingi Fasi for the Tongatapu 4 constituency.
billions of kina. He says the Fortescue Metals Group – through Former Education Director Taniela Fusimalohi defeated cur-
its subsidiary FFI – is moving to green energy and hydrogen, rent Finance Minister Tevita Lavemaau for the Eua seat. Nine
and its scope will cover not just the Purari River systems nobles’ representatives have also been elected to the Legisla-
but also Kikori and Strickland systems, and geothermal sites tive Assembly. Director of the Women & Children Crisis Centre
throughout PNG.
(WCCC) in Tonga, women’s rights activist and filmmaker,
Ofa-ki-Levuka Guttenbeil-Likiliki said the election results are
The 2022 PNG general election will go ahead as scheduled, a reminder of the work still required to get women into office.
starting with a issuing of writs on 28 April, says Prime Minis- (Pacnews)
ter James Marape. He estimates the cost of the 2022 general
election to be around K400 million (US$113 million).
Vanuatu
French fishing vessels have been spotted fishing illegally near
Samoa Aneityum, and the Matthew and Hunter islands. Vanuatu’s na-
Samoa’s Ministry of Customs and Revenue has announced tional fishing monitoring agency confirmed the three long-liner
the income tax on ministers of religion, which was imposed fishing vessels based in Noumea were sailing in these disputed
in 2018, is now on hold while the government consults with waters, prompting Prime Minister Bob Loughman to write to
religious bodies and the community. Paris expressing his disappointment. Vanuatu claims sover-
eignty over Matthew and Hunter.
The Samoa Electoral Commission will be established after the
by-elections this month to review how April’s General Election
can be improved upon. Electoral Commission Faualo Lefau Wallis and Futuna
Harry Schuster said increasing women’s participation in parlia- Wallis and Futuna has reopened its air links to New Caledonia
ment will be amongst the issues examined. after their suspension for two months because of COVID-19
community outbreaks in both territories. The re-opening is ini-
tially only for people who can claim urgent personal matters,
Solomon Islands such as health issues or business that cannot be
The Solomon Islands government has been criticised for its delayed.
plan to extend the term of parliament and delay the 2023 na-

Islands Business, November 2021 9