Crucial Bougainville separation meeting, Covid case in Niue, and airline drops mask mandates
The Bougainville and Papua New Guinea governments hold a critical last meeting this weekend before the PNG election process.
It will be the final, and most crucial of the Joint Supervisory Body (JSB) meetings, because it will seal the Era Kone Covenant which both governments separately endorsed last month.
The covenant is seen as marking the beginning of the independence ratification process.
(seated L to R without masks)Papua New Guinea PM, James Marape, acting United Nations Resident Coordinator, Dirk Wagener and Bougainville President, Ishmael Toroama during July’s JSB meeting in Wabag, Enga. Photo: Supplied
Bougainville is pushing for full independence from PNG after overwhelming support in a referendum two and a half years ago.
The national broadcaster reports the next step is the creation of a constitutional regulation, which would allow the referendum result to be presented to the national parliament for ratification.
The Covenant stipulates that the incoming parliament will be the one that deals with the ratification.
Bougainville's leader Ishmael Toroama has said he expects independence to be granted by 2027 at the latest, with significant progress toward that point to be achieved by 2025.
Covid found on Niue border
A covid-19 case has been detected at Niue's border.
It comes as the Government prepares to reopen the border.
The Office of the Secretary of Government says the person initially returned a negative result.
But the person who arrived from New Zealand on a flight on April 19 has since developed symptoms and is being monitored.
Niue has only had a handful of cases at the border but no detected community transmission.
Mask mandates dropped
Hawaiian Airlines is to follow the United States and no longer mandate the wearing of face masks on board flights.
Photo: Copyright: backyardproduction / 123RF Stock Photo
It follows a federal judge's ruling in Florida that struck down a federal policy that mandated the wearing of face masks on public transportation - including onboard commercial aircraft in the U.S.
The airline is also putting on extra flights from next month between Honolulu and American Samoa.
Wearing a mask is mandatory at Pago Pago International Airport, which allows only travellers to enter the facility.
Manu'a flights resume
Flights to American Samoa's outer islands of Manu'a resumed yesterday after Samoa Airways flew in replacement pilots from Apia.
Flights were suspended from Monday of last week after one of the two pilots operating flights to Manu'a tested positive for Covid.
Since the start of the Covid pandemic in 2020 the American Samoa Government has been leasing a Twin Otter with pilots and mechanic support to operate flights to the Manu'a islands.
An airline officia in Apia says the delay is because the airline ran short of pilots who are Covid free and/or are still up to date with their flying hours.
The airline operated one flight to Ta'u Island yesterday, a charter for the Ministry of Health to take a team to carry out Covid vaccinations and testing.
New boat for pan-Samoa route
Ocean travel between the two Samoas will be considerably more comfortable later this year with the arrival of the MV Lady Samoa IV to replace the more than 20 years old Lady Naomi.
The boat was officially launched on Tuesday in Hiroshima in Japan.
The new ship was built with funding from Japan's grant aid assistance programme.
Samoa's Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, attended the launching ceremony via video link from Apia.
The MV Lady Samoa IV is said to feature an environment-friendly design with consideration for passenger comfort, advanced technology throughout and is equipped to handle a wide variety of cargo shipments.
It can carry 280 passengers and 17 crew.
Family upset at lack of new leads on teen's death
One year since the death of an 18-year-old Samoan university student, there have been no new developments from Police.
The family of Tu'uau Fasavalu continues to search for answers.
Fa'asavalu is believed to be a victim of a hit and run traffic incident, not far from his residence in Vaitele.
Acting Police Commissioner Auapaau Logoitino Filipo says the investigation is ongoing.
He said the police have made numerous public appeals for information, but efforts so far have been unsuccessful.
But he said the case remains open.
Police released video footage of a van they suspect was involved in the accident.
Pacific Community presents climate change qualifications
Two new climate change-related qualifications aimed at strengthening the region's resilience have been presented by the Pacific Community.
The certificates are aimed at providing a basic understanding in industries such as agriculture, coastal management, fisheries, and tourism.
Qualifications Team Leader Rajendra Prasad said the qualifications offer greater flexibility for learners.
She said they offer a wider scope of knowledge and transferrable skills.
The project, which is funded by the European Union, addresses climate change and disaster risk manager in the Pacific region.