Pacific Islands Weekly: October 17th: Posts on Fiji, Tonga, Tokelau, Cook Islands, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Samoa, PNG

A sample of Pacific Island fruit.  pn132

FIJI
Rabuka to appear onViti Straight Talk tomorrow, Thurdsay, at 7pm.
♦ SODELPA would introduce minimum wage of $4 a hour.
♦ NFP would raise wages in stages. 
♦ 63,000 people eligible to vote.
♦ Latest poll result. See pn130.
♦ Fiji has been elected to the UN Human Rights Council.

♦Seven objections against political party candidates contesting next month’s general election were received yesterday as the Electoral Commission ended the objection period at 4pm.

The objections:

• Six out of the seven objections have been lodged against the FijiFirst party
• Two objections have been filed against FijiFirst leader Voreqe Bainimarama, one was filed by Mikaele Radrodro and one by Jone Dakuvula
• Three objections were filed again FijiFirst general secretary Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, one was filed by Mikaele Radrodro and two by Jone Dakuvula
• One was filed against Faiyaz Koya also by Jone Dakuvula
• One objection was filed against Sachida Nand by Uma Reddy
• SODELPA provisional candidate Bimal Prasad Chaudhry of Navua has filed an objection against all 28 candidates of HOPE. The objection against HOPE is believed to be in regards to them supposedly lodging in their candidate nomination late. No candidate has withdrawn their candidacy.

TONGA
♦ A new process of certification will make it easier to bring umu packs into New Zealand.
♦ Forecasts for economic growth in 2018 for Tonga remain negative at -0.3%-- Asian Development Bank (ADB) report.
♦ Climate change roundtable meets in Nuku'alofa this week 
♦ Tonga joins fight against cybercrime and drug-trafficking.

TOKELAU - SHIPPING: RNZ PACIFIC                                                   PACNEWS BIZ: Fri 12 Oct 2018

♦ TOKELAU atoll to boycott new ship over safety fears

FAKAOFO, 12 OCTOBER 2018 (RNZ PACIFIC) ---Tokelau's Fakaofo atoll will boycott a new ship New Zealand is providing, a leader says.

The purpose-built ship is set to be delivered in January to provide a dedicated transport link between Tokelau's three atolls.

Alehana Teao, a member of the Fakaofo Taupulega, or council of elders, said the new boat was too small and unsafe.

“Especially in recent times with the climate change, we can see that the winds are getting stronger, the ocean is angrier, so it gives me great concerns.

“In my personal view, I would not have my people travel between atolls. The sick patients would not travel on this boat from Fakaofo to anywhere. It is not safe.”

After seeing a presentation on the ship, the leader had raised his concerns with New Zealand but was ignored, Teao said.

The Fakaofo Taupulega was united in its opposition to the inter-atoll vessel and their preference for air services to Tokelau, which were controversially put on hold in 2016 after two helicopters were bought without proper approval, he said.

“I cannot see how this vessel can deliver anything that improves the quality of life for our people in the villages or travelling between the atolls," said Teao, who claimed to be an experienced seafarer.

Backers of the new ship had argued it would improve access for the other two atolls to Nukunonu where the national hospital is based, he said.

But with Fakaofo's new hospital nearly complete, Teao said patient access to Nukunonu would no longer be necessary and that medical evacuations direct to Samoa would become a priority.

In 2016, the then opposition Labour party argued another New Zealand commissioned ferry for Tokelau, Mataliki, was not fit for purpose.

Now in government, Labour's Civil Defence Minister, Kris Faafoi, said the Fakaofo Taupulega did not raise its concerns about the new ferry with him during a trip to Tokelau earlier this month.

“We heard overwhelming support for the inter-island atoll ferry,” Faafoi said.

“As far as I'm concerned that's a project that will change lives for the communities here in Tokelau,” he said…...

COOK ISLANDS
♦ New Zealand/Cook Island students from Tokoroa visiting Cook Islands  to strengthen culture and learn language.
♦ When giving birth in Atiu was wrong.

♦ TUVALU.  Drought continues


♦ KIRIBATI.  Water too saline for plants.

♦ VANUATU airport upgrade for long-haul flights.

♦ SOLOMON ISLANDS strengthens relations with Taiwan.

♦ Anuha Island, known as the Pearl of the Solomons, may spring back to life as the government sets to re-open Anuha airfield in Central Province.

♦ SAMOA. Government bulling churches over tax?

♦ PNG. Government under fire for luxury vehicle purchases.

♦ Lae gets a new Bishop.