Page 6 - Islands Business March 2022

Briefs Briefs

and secure Pacific,” said President of the Federated States of
Micronesia, David W. Panuelo.
American Samoa
A U.S. Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) is in
Pagopago as American Samoa experiences a rise in community Fiji
cases of COVID-19. The team members are administering vac- The Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF) made a profit from
cines and providing treatment for people with COVID-19. More the sale of its 20% stake in Energy Fiji Limited, CEO Viliame
than 500 American Samoans had been reported COVID-positive Vodonaivalu says. The pension fund says it was able to recover
and 70.81% of the total eligible population was fully vacci- the amount it had bought the shares for, and made a profit
nated as we went to print. of more than $25.4 million (US$12.7 million) when it sold its
stake to Japanese entity, Seven Pacific Pte Ltd last year.

Bougainville
Bougainville’s President Ishmael Toroama says the autonomous French Polynesia
Papua New Guinea region needs a strong constitution guar- The government of French Polynesia has agreed to a fur-
anteeing the civil rights of the people. A Constitution Plan- ther study of Makatea atoll in response to an application by
ning Commission is about to begin its work. “We are going to Chatham Rock Phosphate, a New Zealand company seeking
create a homegrown constitution for the government and the to resume phosphate mining there. The company hopes to
people of Bougainville - it will be based foremost on protect- get a mining concession after taking over the project from
ing the people’s rights and empowering the government to Australian-owned company Avenir Makatea last year. However
efficiently and equitably distribute services to the people,” opponents said renewed mining opens the way to wholesale
Toroama said. destruction and sells out French Polynesia’s heritage. More
than 120,000 people signed a petition against the mining
project in 2016.
CNMI
The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Senate
will consider six articles of impeachment against Governor Guam

Ralph Torres during open hearings. However a Senate com- Despite an increase in COVID-19, Guam has lifted its mask
mittee may first examine the articles of impeachment to mandate and all domestic travel restrictions from March
see if they are supported by evidence. Torres is accused of 26. The government has reported an average of one COVID-
felony theft, corruption and neglect of duty. Two-thirds of the related death per day since the start of 2022. In other news,
Republican-dominated Senate would need to vote for Torres’ the territory is eager to welcome back South Korean travellers
conviction in order for the impeachment bid to succeed. in numbers after the South Korean government announced the
lifting of its seven-day quarantine requirement this month.

Cook Islands
The Cook Islands government has extended the wage subsidy Kiribati
through March as businesses try to stay afloat following disap- Kiribati’s government has received COVID recovery funds from
pointing tourist occupancy rates of 35%, far lower than the 45 the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Chinese Embassy in
– 50% anticipated. There are continued concerns over whether Kiribati, and the Australian government. The ADB has granted
there will be sufficient workers as well. More than 10% of the US$8 million, with Australia and China supplying medical
Cook Islands workforce has gone to New Zealand since the equipment. Kiribati is facing widespread community transmis-
pandemic began, and an estimated 700 staff are reportedly sion of the virus.
needed to meet impending tourism industry demands.

Nauru
Federated States of Micronesia Australia has announced its provision of A$40 million (US$28
FSM has received the ‘FSS Tosiwo Nakayama’, the first of two million) for infrastructure upgrades in Nauru, including the
Guardian-class Patrol Boats, delivered through the Pacific resurfacing of the runway and vital air traffic equipment to
Maritime Security Program, at a handover ceremony in West- improve the country’s connections. Australian Foreign Minister
ern Australia. “Named after our first President of the FSM Marise Payne said the funding builds on the promised con-
who advocated strongly for a united Micronesia, you have our struction of an undersea internet cable, which was announced
government’s guarantee that we will use this sovereign asset in December last year.
of our nation to navigate our way towards a more peaceful

6 Islands Business, March 2022