Page 7 - IB December 2021

Briefs Briefs

Dageago said the 17-bed unit will be an essential facility in
the care and treatment of patients, especially in the event of Solomon Islands
COVID-19.
Solomon Islands has the world’s most expensive power sup-
ply according to a report published in the Journal of Energy
Economics and Policy. The research, which analysed 3,883
Niue tariffs across 230 countries, found that Libya offers the cheap-
Niue’s Public Service Commission Chair, Ida Talagi Hekesi est electricity in the world at just USD0.007 per KWh while
has confirmed that reform of government’s organisational the most expensive electricity in the world can be found in
structure will take place over the next two years. “Resources the Solomon Islands, where one KWh is USD0.692. The report
are very limited and so we can’t continue in this current says on average, the cost of electricity in the Solomon Islands
structure,” she says. The Commissioner says despite some is seven times more than what others are paying in the region.
complaints about the process, consultations over the re- The author, Dr. Hlalefang Khobai, says studies indicate that a
structure have been ongoing for several years. Amongst the 1% increase in electricity prices is associated with an approxi-
recommendations; the addition of a new Ministry of Finance mately 0.05% decrease in economic growth.
and Economics, six new departments, and name changes to
central agencies.
Tonga
Tonga’s Parliament has elected Siaosi Sovaleni as the
Kingdom’s new Prime Minister. He replaces Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa
Palau following this month’s election. Sovaleni, who was a minister
Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr has accused China under the previous PM, crossed the floor to gain support from
Airlines of “poisoning the market” by providing inconsistent independent and aligned MPs. He says he will focus on educa-
service to Palau. “I think China Airlines is playing (not serious) tion, health, economic development, e-government, climate
with Palau market. They need to change their behaviour, need changes, illicit drugs, natural disasters, youths and women
to be invested, and think long-term about the Palau market,” initiatives and good governance.
the President said. He says Palau needs consistent air con-
nections, and if China airlines can’t operate the route, other
Taiwan airlines could step in.
Tuvalu
Tuvalu’s government has selected GoDaddy Registry as the
new registry service provider for its dot tv country code top
Papua New Guinea level domain (ccTLD). It hopes the partnership will enable it
PNG’s Oil Search has now merged with Australian energy to grow the .tv namespace. The value of the contract has not
giant Santos. Formed in 1929, Oil Search started producing oil been made public. Tuvalu’s 20-year deal with Verisign expired
in the 1990s and had grown to become the largest company last month. The .tv has domain has been lucrative for Tuvalu
on the PNG stock exchange. Former Oil Search CEO Peter with the growth of video streaming content channels using the
Botten has told Australian media he believes the company was suffix.
sold short, and other options for the company should have
been explored.
Vanuatu
Major changes in the remunerations and benefits of Minis-
Samoa ters, Members of Parliament (MPs), constitutional bodies and
Seven new Members of Parliament have been sworn in. commissions are imminent following a decision of the Coun-
Five of the seven MPs belong to the ruling Fa’atuatua i le cil of Ministers. Housing allowances will double, or in some
Atua Samoa ua Tasi – FAST Party and two to the Human Rights cases, be offered for the first time. Sitting allowances will
Protection Party – HRPP. The status of two others is still before also rise. Director General to the Prime Minister’s Office, Dr
the courts. Gregoire Nimbtik, has told local media the changes will ensure
greater consistency. “Presently, it is a mess,” said DG Nimbtik.
Samoa’s government intends to rescind the lease over a
Samoa Airways Boeing 737-800 aircraft and launch a full audit
of the national airline’s operations and financial viability. The Wallis and Futuna
Prime Minister says an independent group led by the airline’s A passenger arriving on the first flight from New Caledonia
minister, Leatinuu Faumuina Wayne Fong, will now negoti- since borders reopened has been diagnosed with COVID-19.
ate with the leasing company on options for the nation to be They have since been admitted to hospital. More than half of
released from the lease agreement. She says discussions will the territory’s population is not vaccinated.
also be held with neighbouring airlines to ensure continued
connectivity to Samoa.

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