Today in Pacific news in brief, Vanuatu public prosecutor files against a former Prime Minister again, another major Chinese proposal for PNG's Daru emerges, and more.
Vanuatu's prime minister Charlot Salwai in New Zealand Photo: RNZ Pacific/ Johnny Blades
Vanuatu prosecutor maintains heat on Salwai
Vanuatu's public prosecutor, Josiah Naigulevu, has filed an appeal against a Supreme Court judgement on corruption and bribery charges against former prime minister Charlot Salwai and three others.
During the trial in December, over twenty prosecution witnesses appeared but Justice Andre Wiltens dismissed the charges.
Salwai, along with former agriculture minister Matai Seremaiah, former health minister Jerome Ludvaune, and former Tafea Outer Islands MP Tom Kerr have confirmed receiving Appeal Court notices.
They will re-appear in court on 8 February.
The original hearing followed complaints from former opposition leader, now deputy prime minister, Ishmael Kalsakau.
Kalsakau claimed his first motion of no confidence against Salwai as prime minister in 2016 failed because the four defendants bribed some members of parliament that resulted in the withdrawal of their support from the motion.
On a separate charge, Salwai was given a suspended jail sentence for perjury in December. At sentencing this week Justice Wiltens handed him a two years and three months suspended sentence.
Labour mobility policy launched in Tonga
Tonga's government has lauched its first Labour Mobility policy.
The policy, which was endorsed by cabinet in 2020, aims to maximise the ability of workers to move overseas to get jobs.
Thousands of Tongans are employed in labour mobility schemes in New Zealand and Australia in horticulture, meat processing, construction, tourism and hospitality.
Tonga's Prime Minister Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa said his country benefitted greatly from labour mobility.
The greatest benefit, he said, was in providing employment opportunities for the unemployed and the poor so that they could improve their standards of living.
Tu'i'onetoa was grateful for the governments of Australia and New Zealand for their commitment in providing labour mobility opportunities for Tongans.
He also expressed hope for similar future opportunities in countries such as Japan and China.
NZ Foreign Minister lays out Pacific focus in speech
New Zealand's foreign minister has identified the Pacific as remaining a leading focus of the government's foreign policy in her first major speech as minister.
In her Inaugural Foreign Policy Speech to Diplomatic Corps, Ms Mahuta said the significant economic impacts of Covid-19 in the Pacific amplifies the climate change threat and the prospect of significant social and economic dislocation.
Ms Mahuta also says by by building on the values of kinship, common purpose and stewardship and care, New Zealand can promote investment, advocacy, and co-partnering the long-term resilience of the Pacific.
According to her, it was time for foreign policy to be more inclusive of indigenous challenges. She described previous difficulties promoting indigenous relationships on a global stage and promised to lead a different approach.
Mahuta is also vowing to promote an approach that will work to build on Pacific peoples' own capabilities.
The minister said her approach would deploy new ways of working, "including improving technology, fostering science, research, innovation and private sector collaboration, and strengthening governance".
Read more about Mahuta's speech on foreign police direction here.
Another Daru dazzle
A Chinese company has put forward a multi-billion-dollar plan to build a new city on the Papua New Guinean island of Daru in the Torres Strait.
According to leaked documents seen by the ABC, the proposal for 'New Daru City' includes an industrial zone, seaport, business and commercial zone, along with a resort and residential area.
In a letter to PNG Prime Minister James Marape, the Hong Kong registered company, WYW Holding Limited, said its "investment and development plan" included "broad ranging ideas" for the development of several areas of PNG's Western Province, including Daru.
It says the "ambitious plan" is "predicted on an agreed Sovereign Guarantee based on a long-term contract.
Such a contract would give ownership of the project to the company for a specified amount of time.
This follows reports in December about a planned new US$154 million industrial fish facility on Daru for which PNG's government has signed a memorandum of understanding with China's Fujian Zhonghong Fishery Company.
The Daru fish plant proposal is being seen as potentially a welcome development for some coastal villagers whose fishing-based livelihoods were destroyed by the pollution of the Fly River due to mine tailings from the Ok Tedi gold and copper mine.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta speaking to media on the grounds of Te Whare Rūnanga on 4 February, 2021. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone