New finance minister for French Polynesia
French Polynesia President Moetai Brotherson introduces his new Economy and Finance Minister Warren Dexter Photo: Gouvernement de la Polynésie française
French Polynesia's President Moetai Brotherson last week appointed a new economy and finance minister.
He is Warren Dexter, 52.
Dexter replaces outgoing Tevaiti Pomare who held the position since May 2023 and whose
Appropriation Bill faced strong opposition from the business sector.
Deter was until now a tax advisor with the Ministry of Economy and Finance with previous experience in the private sector.
Brotherson said Dexter was expected to be more open to consultations with the private sector.
"To me, he is the man for the situation", Brotherson told local media.
A new Bill dedicated to tax exemption eligibility for land purchase was voted on under Dexter's tenure in French Polynesia's Territorial Assembly on Friday by 38 votes in favour, 16 against, and three abstentions.
Dexter's appointment was also welcomed by the business community.
New Caledonia's customary chiefs Senate has a new Chairman
Eloi Gowe (left) takes over from Victor Cogny (right) as President of New Caledonia’s Customary Chiefs Senate Photo: RRB
Eloi Gowe, 65 from the chiefly area of Ajië-Arö is the new chairman of New Caledonia's customary chiefs Senate.
Gowe officially replaced Victor Cogny during a takeover ceremony held on Saturday and marked by traditional chants and dances, as well as exchanges of gifts.
In his maiden speech (made in the presence of New Caledonia's President Louis Mapou and Congress President Roch Wamytan), Gowe called for "appeasement" of New Caledonia's situation, marked by ongoing unrest, blockades, and an insurrectional climate since riots started on May 13.
New Caledonia's Chiefly Senate has been subjected to criticism and the recent resignation of one of its members, Hippolyte Sinewami, who said he now wanted to dedicate his time to a new Great Council of Chiefs which he set up as a direct challenge to the Senate.
Sinewami also said that Chiefs want to have a say in future political talks regarding New Caledonia's future.
The new Senate President, on the other hand, assured the institution he presides does not intend to meddle in politics, but wants to be part of talks on topics regarding indigenous Kanak identity.
One man arrested for selling alcohol on the black market
Beer stock sold on black market in New Caledonia seized by gendarmes Photo: RRB
A 34-year-old man was arrested on Friday and is to face trial following a gendarme operation to seize a large stock of alcohol found at his residence in the city of Mont-Dore (near Nouméa).
The arrest and seizure followed the man advertising beer and liquor for sale on videos posted on social network Tiktok, the gendarmerie's cyber crime unit said.
Security forces said they suspected the alcoholic products came from goods purchased from individuals who had looted shops over the past three months.
Even though it has now been relaxed, the sale of alcohol had been banned in New Caledonia until recently.
Public prosecutor Yves Dupas said the profit from the sale of then-prohibited products was estimated at around 3,500 US dollars.
UN Ocean Conference Special Envoy on Pacific tour
Special Envoy of the French President for the UNOC, Olivier Poivre d'Arvor, meets Fiji Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Lenora Qereqeretabua, and French Ambassador François-Xavier Léger Photo: French Embassy in Fiji
Olivier Poivre d'Arvor, the French President's Special Envoy for the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) to be held in Nice (France) in 2025, was in Fiji last week.
On Friday, during talks with the local government, including Fiji Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Lenora Qereqeretabua, the upcoming UN conference was said to be high on the agenda, the French embassy in Suva said.
Poivre d'Arvor, who is also Ambassador for Polar and Maritime Affairs, told local radio FBC France was committed to ensuring the Pacific small island states' concerns remain on top of the UNOC.
The France and Costa Rica co-hosted UNOC is to be held in Nice from 9 to 13 June 2025.
New Caledonia's Congress pushes back legal retirement age to 62
New Caledonia’s Congress has endorsed the modification of the legal retirement age from 60 to 62 Photo: LNC
New Caledonia's Congress on Thursday last week endorsed the modification of the legal retirement age from 60 to 62.
The change, to come into force on January 1, 2025, is part of a train of reforms implemented for the Local Retirement Fund (LRF).
The reforms, described as "unavoidable", also forbid public servants from retiring before the age of 55.
It follows an earlier vote this month of special emergency measures to salvage the LRF, faced with a drastic drop in contributions, mainly due to the dire economic situation caused by the riots in New Caledonia over the past three months.
Also last week, the Congress endorsed a salvage plan for local power company ENERCAL.
It involves an initial 11 percent increase of electricity consumer prices from October, and eventually +34 percent to be gradually applied over the next two years.
Over the past 12 years, under a regime of subsidised prices, ENERCAL has accumulated a deficit of some US$180 million.
'Riots' risk no longer covered in New Caledonia
New Caledonia Chamber of Commerce and Industry President David Guyenne Photo: DNC
The 'riots' risk will no longer be covered by insurance companies in New Caledonia.
Faced with an avalanche of claims (over 2,500 procedures) from their current clients (mostly companies destroyed at various levels since violent unrest began on May 13), local insurance companies have now decided that the 'riots' clause could no longer be part of any future insurance agreement, New Caledonian TV Caledonia reports.
The riots have affected up to eight hundred businesses that were targeted (burnt down and/or looted) by rioters, causing the loss of up to 20,000 jobs.
The total damage figure stands at around 2.2 billion Euros.
Local CCI (Chamber of Commerce and Industry) President David Guyenne said out of US$1.1 billion in insurance claimed so far, existing insured businesses have only been compensated by about $37.5 million.
"This is a real problem, no more future 'risk' cover means our businesses cannot look forward to re-starting", he said.