Page 6 - IB December 2021

Briefs Briefs

weather events, rising international oil and food prices and
tightening global financial conditions.”
American Samoa
Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga hopes the work of the
Constitutional Review Commission will begin early 2022, with
a Constitutional conference planned for later in the year. French Polynesia
Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean says : “This has always Anyone working in French Polynesia’s healthcare system or
been a critical topic for our Territory since the US Congress with the public has to be vaccinated against COVID-19 after
approved our Constitution in 1960. We must look at all op- France’s highest court approved a law, which was adopted lo-
tions available for different types of partnerships that other cally in late August. There have been several legal challenges,
Territories under the DOI [Department of Interior] have in and a general strike last month in opposition to the law. It
place.” takes effect from 23 January.

CNMI Guam
The Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands Guam’s Catholic Church has increased its proposed pay-
reported a 35% average occupancy rate among its 12 member- ments as reparations for those who claimed they were raped
hotels in November. This is over eight times higher than No- or sexually molested by priests and other members of the
vember 2020, and does not include rooms related to COVID-19 clergy when they were minors. The Church is now offer-
quarantine arrangements. “The demand through the end of ing US$34.38 million, an increase of more than US$6million.
the year is still very strong. We anticipate more flights to be Claimants are now considering the offer, and the bankruptcy
starting at the beginning of the year,” said HANMI chairwoman court must also approve the plan, which seeks to keep the
Gloria Cavanagh. archdiocese’s churches, schools and programs open, while
compensating abuse survivors.

Cook Islands
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Kiribati
Cook Islands have signed a US$2 million grant agreement to A fibre optic cable has landed on Kiribati, bringing high-
help boost tourism in the Cook Islands. Cook Islands Finan- speed broadband one step closer for the Pacific nation. The
cial Secretary, Garth Henderson said: “Over 10,000 men and ABD is supporting the project to install the submarine cable
women in the Cook Islands will benefit from the project, par- between Kiritimati Island to a transpacific cable system con-
ticularly workers in the hospitality sector, 60.5% of whom are necting Australia, New Zealand, and Hawaii. ADB provided a
women,” at the signing. The funds will go towards improving US$21.6 million grant to Kiribati to help finance the Kiritimati
the Cook Islands’ airport and health services cable component of the project. The high-speed internet
services are expected to be officially launched by the govern-
ment in July 2022.
Federated States of Micronesia
Australia, Japan, and the United States have committed
to funding a new undersea cable to the Federated States of Marshall Islands
Micronesia, Kiribati, and Nauru to improve internet connectiv- Marshall Islands, FSM and parts of Papua New Guinea were
ity. The proposed undersea cable will provide faster, higher hit by three straight days of ocean flooding earlier this month.
quality, and more reliable and secure communications to ap- While damage was minimal, the clean-up efforts included
proximately 100,000 people by connecting Kosrae, Nauru, and moving debris from major roads. The flooding resulted from
Tarawa to the HANTRU-1 cable at Pohnpei. ongoing sea level rise, a high tide, and stormy and windy
conditions in the area.

Fiji
The Reserve Bank of Fiji says the country’s financial system
remains strong despite the impact of COVID-19 on businesses, Nauru
households and the economy at large. RBF Governor Ariff Ali The acute care unit at Nauru’s hospital has been commis-
said however that credit continued to be the major risk facing sioned. Nauru and Australia have signed a A$1.4 million direct
the banking industry, noting the level of nonperforming loans funding agreement that will equip the hospital with medical
and loans on repayment holidays. He says while the reopening equipment, support infection prevention and control, vaccine
of borders to tourists will increase confidence, downside risks management and rollout, general clinical equipment and
include “the possibility of a third wave of COVID-19, adverse the fit-out of laundry facilities. Minister of Health, Isabella

6 Islands Business, December 2021