A Māori supporter of Pacific independence movements claims the French government has “constructed the crisis” in New Caledonia by pushing the indigenous Kanak population to the edge, reports Atereano Mateariki of Waatea News.

A NZ Defence Force Hercules is today evacuating about 50 New Zealanders stranded in the French Pacific island territory by riots that broke out last week over a plan to give mainland settlers voting rights after 10 years’ residence.

Sina Brown-Davis from Kia Mau Aotearoa said Kanak leaders had worked patiently towards independence since the last major flare-up in the 1980s, but the increased militarisation of the Pacific seemed to have hardened the resolve of France to hang on to its colonial territory.

• LISTEN TO WAATEA NEWS: Māori support for Kanak independence

“Those rights to self-determination, those rights to independence of the Kanak people as an inalienable right are the road block to the continued militarisation of our region and of those islands,” she said.

New Zealanders stuck among riots and civil unrest in New Caledonia’s capital say they feel abandoned by their own country, having received little help from the government.

Nouméa descended into chaos on Monday, with clashes between indigenous Kanak pro-independence protesters and French security forces.

They were sparked by anger at a proposed new law that would allow French residents who have lived there for more than 10 years to vote — which critics say will weaken the Kanak vote.

• READ MORE: Kanaky in flames: Five takeaways from the New Caledonia independence riots
• Other Kanaky New Caledonia crisis reports
• Kanaky – put a stop (really) to the time of colonies!
• Blood on their Banner: Nationalist Struggles in the South Pacific – David Robie

Since then, five people have died, including two police officers, and hundreds have been injured in the French Pacific territory.

Late on Friday there were reports of clashes between police and rioters around a domestic airport near Nouméa, as New Caledonia’s capital entered its fourth night under curfew.

Local media reported rioters on the airfield at Magenta airport threw hammers and stones at police, and police responded with tear gas and stun grenades.

Police warned the military was authorised to use lethal weapons if they could not contain the situation otherwise. A local told RNZ Pacific the Kanaks were not going to back down, and things could get “nasty” in the coming days if the army could not contain the crisis.

New Zealanders feeling marooned
Four friends from North Canterbury landed in Nouméa on Monday as part of a “lifetime dream” trip.

Shula and Wolf Guse, and Sarah and William Hughes-Games, were celebrating Shula’s birthday and Sarah and William’s 40th wedding anniversary.

But fresh off their flight, it became clear their celebrations would not be going ahead.

“As we left the airport, there were blocks just everywhere . . . burning tyres, and people stopping us, and lots of big rocks on the road, and branches, and people shouting, waving flags,” Shula Guse said.

They wanted to get out of there, but had barely heard a peep from New Zealand government organisation SafeTravel, Sarah Hughes-Games said.

“All they’ve done is send us a . . .  general letter, nothing specific,” she said.

“We’ve contacted the New Zealand Consulate here in Nouméa, and they are closed. This is the one time they should be open and helping people.”

It was not good enough, she said.

“We’ve basically been just abandoned here, so we’re just feeling a little bit fed up about the situation, that we’ve just been left alone, and nobody has contacted us.”

It was unclear when they would be able to leave.

Struggling to find food
Meanwhile, another person told RNZ they had family stuck in Nouméa who had registered on SafeTravel, but had heard nothing more from the government. They were struggling to find food and were feeling uneasy, they said.

“They don’t know where to go now and there seems to be no help from anywhere.”

Air New Zealand confirmed it was forced to cancel its upcoming flights between Nouméa and Auckland on Saturday and Monday, with the airport in Nouméa closed until at least Tuesday.

“Even when the airport does reopen, Air New Zealand will only operate into Nouméa when we can be assured that the airport is safe and secure, and that there is a safe route for our ground staff and customers to reach the airport,” it said.

MFAT in ‘regular contact’ with impacted New Zealanders
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it had activated its emergency crisis system, and consular officials in Nouméa were in regular contact with impacted New Zealanders, New Caledonia authorities, and “international partners”.

The Consulate-General was open, but staff were working remotely because it was hard to get around, it said. Those who needed immediate consular assistance should contact the 24/7 Consular Emergency line on +64 99 20 20 20.

“An in-person meeting was held for a large group of New Zealanders in Nouméa yesterday [Thursday, 16 May 16] and further meetings are taking place today,” a spokesperson said.

“Consular officials are also proactively attempting to contact registered New Zealanders in New Caledonia to check on their situations, and any specific health or welfare concerns.

“Regular SafeTravel messages are also being sent to New Zealanders — we urge New Zealanders to register on SafeTravel to receive direct messages from consular officials.”

The ministry was also speaking regularly with New Caledonian authorities about airport operations and access, and access to critical supplies like food and medicine.

“New Zealanders in New Caledonia should stay in place and avoid all protests, monitor local media for developments, and comply with any instructions and restrictions issued by local authorities.”

There are currently 219 New Zealanders registered on SafeTravel as being in New Caledonia.

Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters told RNZ Morning Report the government was doing all it could to get New Zealanders home.

That could include using the Air Force, he said.

The Defence Force confirmed there had been discussions with officials.

This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

Fiji was regarded a bully, flexing its muscle as a selfish and arrogant player in regional forums, claims Association of South Pacific Airlines (ASPA) president George Faktaufon.

He said he hoped Fiji would rejoin the regional aviation community with the election of the new coalition government.

Faktaufon said Fiji — through its national airline Fiji Airways — had a lot to offer to the development of the region’s aviation sector.

• READ MORE: Other Pacific aviation reports

“As one who worked for the Pacific Island region for most of my working life, it saddened me to watch Fiji slowly but surely lose its status as a credible leader in the region,” he said.

“Apart from climate change, which Fiji only joined the bandwagon years after countries like Kiribati and Marshall Islands and their leaders, [former presidents Anote] Tong and [David] Kabaua, had been in the forefront in every international forum, including COP and other forums, Fiji has been seen as a bully, flexing its muscles and often regarded as a selfish and arrogant player in regional forums,” he said.

“In 2022, I attended three regional high level ministerial meetings — Forum Aviation Ministerial Meeting, virtually, Forum Leaders/Private Sectors Dialogue in Suva and then the Forum Economic Ministers/Private Sector Dialogue in Vanuatu,” Faktaufon said.

“In all these meetings, Fiji came out as the stumbling block to enhancing regional air connectivity with its stringent air services agreements with other PICs [Pacific Island Countries], that were not only outdated but favoured Fiji and its national airline.

“Fiji Airways has a lot to offer to other PICs and their national airlines, but it has to be in a mutual partnership.

“Fiji Airways has the resources both in expertise and also equipment that it could use to benefit other PICs as well as itself.

“It is called regional collaboration and co-operation where there are winners and no losers.

“We had done it before, with a joint lease of a B737 between Fiji Airways and Royal Tongan,” Faktaufon said.

Repeka Nasiko is a Fiji Times reporter. Republished with permission.

The Queen’s Representative in the Cook Islands, Sir Tom Marsters, has confirmed Mark Brown as the Prime Minister.

In a statement issued from Mark Brown’s office, Sir Tom said he was “satisfied” that Mark Brown had the majority of the MPs elected to Parliament.

Following the final count of the Cook Islands general elections, the Cook Islands Party (CIP) gained 12 seats in the 24-seat Parliament, including the Ngatangiia seat which was initially tied between CIP’s candidate Sonny Williams and Cook Islands United Party’s Margaret Matenga.

• READ MORE: Brown reappointed PM – CIP wins key seats
• Ruling party in Cook Islands closer to power after gaining 2 extra seats
• Other Cook Islands election reports

Brown thanked the community for a fair and peaceful election process.

“The people of the Cook Islands have spoken and I will now go through the process of confirming a government,” he said.

Petitions post-elections ‘expected’
Despite a clear majority, all candidates and parties have one week to lodge petitions and Cook Islands News editor Rashneel Kumar said it would be surprising if there were not any petitions.

“The bigger news normally is if we don’t have any petitions. So we do expect it,” he said.

“Since the Cook Islands gained self governing status from New Zealand, we have had petitions every elections so we do expect it and I think there are already parties that have been walking on that, so we will know by early next week, how many petitions have been filed.”

Flights start between Cook Islands and Tahiti
An inaugural flight from Rarotonga to Tahiti-Faa’a airport in Pape’ete, French Polynesia, took place today.

Prime Minister Mark Brown was boarding the flight along with a delegation.

The flight comes after a deal between Cook Islands and French Polynesian airlines — Air Rarotonga and Air Tahiti Nui — in hopes to attract visitors from America and Europe to the Cook Islands.

This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

New Caledonia has detected three cases of Covid-19 in the community and ordered a two-week lockdown from midday today.

The three cases are not connected and involve people who have not travelled, suggesting the virus is circulating in the community.

Territorial President Louis Mapou said investigations had been launched immediately to identify contacts and the chain of transmission.

• READ MORE: Three delta cases of covid detected in New Caledonia – schools closed
• Other reports on New Caledonia and covid

One of the cases is an unvaccinated person who had already been in hospital in Noumea.

The second infection was picked up in a vaccinated and asymptomatic traveller at a pre-departure check at the international airport in Noumea ahead of a flight to Wallis and Futuna, which has subsequently been cancelled.

The third case is an individual who fell ill on the island of Lifou and was flown to the main island’s hospital in Noumea and placed in intensive care.

Territorial President Louis Mapou addressed New Caledonians on the strict lockdown details last night in a joint television statement with French High Commissioner Patrice Faure.

Schools in the Southern province had already been closed yesterday for two weeks.

New Caledonia had its first outbreak in the community in March and managed to eliminate the virus with a month-long lockdown.

With the borders largely closed, anyone arriving must spend two weeks in a government-run quarantine facility.

Last week, the territory’s Congress voted to make covid-19 vaccinations compulsory for adults by the end of the year, triggering a rally on Saturday by thousands opposed to the measure.

Until today, New Caledonia had recorded 136 covid-19 cases but no fatalities.

This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

Indonesia, the world’s fourth largest country by population with 270 million, has not yet determined its stance towards the Taliban leadership after seizing power in Afghanistan.

It is also the most populous Muslim country.

The Director-General for Asia Pacific and Africa at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abdul Kadir Jailani, said the same attitude was also being shown by other countries.

• READ MORE: Qatar jet carrying technical team lands in Kabul
• ‘I’ll stay in Afghanistan as long as I can,’ says reporter Charlotte Bellis
• Other Afghanistan reports

“Why haven’t many countries taken a definitive stance, because the situation is still fluid and (the Taliban) have not yet formed a legitimate government,” said Abdul Kadir in the webinar ‘Post-Conflict Afghanistan: Fall or Rise?’ this week.

According to Jailani, Taliban officials are negotiating with a number of figures in Afghanistan in a bid to form a new government.

In addition to the formation of government, Indonesia is also still waiting for the status of the Taliban in the international community.

Jailani said a common view was needed about the status of the Taliban.

“This understanding is very important, so we can get faster information to determine our attitude towards the Taliban and its government later,” he added.

He said the Indonesian government was also careful in determining its stance because the Taliban’s seizure of power in Afghanistan received a “quite warm” and mixed reaction from within Indonesia.

Jailani stressed that Indonesia’s definitive stance would only be conveyed when the situation in Afghanistan became clearer.

The Taliban seized control of the civilian government in Afghanistan on August 15 without any resistance. A few days ago, the Taliban claimed to have pocketed a number of names of figures who would later fill the new government.

Unlike in the 1996-2001 era, the Taliban claimed to be forming an inclusive government that involved all elements and ethnicities in Afghanistan.

A person who arrived in Japan from New Zealand with covid-19 visited Wairakei Terraces and Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland in Rotorua and Taupō shortly before their departure, health authorities have revealed.

As a precaution, Toi Te Ora Public Health have alerted the public there was a “small possibility” they may have been exposed to this person at two places on the following dates and times:

* Wairakei Terraces – Thursday, August 6, 6pm – 7pm

* Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland – Friday, August 7, 9am – 10.15am

READ MORE: Former Cook Islands PM in hospital – NZ flight to Cook Islands derailed

“If you were at one of these places at these dates and times there is a small possibility that you may have been exposed. You should monitor yourself for symptoms of covid-19 and if you develop any symptoms you should immediately self-isolate and arrange to get tested,” said Dr Neil de Wet, Medical Officer of Health.

Meanwhile, the Cook Islands has temporarily shut its air border for any incoming travellers. The order came into effect on August 13 at midnight.

The office of the prime minister said this came after concern over the re-emergence of covid-19 in the Auckland community with a South Auckland based cluster.

A review of the order is expected on August 17, ahead of the next flight from Auckland to Rarotonga, scheduled to arrive in Rarotonga on August 21.

This article is republished by the Pacific Media Centre under a partnership agreement with RNZ.

• All RNZ coverage of Covid-19
• If you have symptoms of the coronavirus, call the NZ Covid-19 Healthline on 0800 358 5453 (+64 9 358 5453 for international SIMs) or call your GP – don’t show up at a medical centre.

Pacific Media Watch Newsdesk

Papuan New Guinea’s massive drug haul of more than 600kg of cocaine, seized after a mysterious plane crash by the alleged smugglers more than a week ago, has shaken authorities in both Australia and PNG.

The haul has been estimated at worth up to K200 million (A$80 million) at street value.

The collaborative operation has resulted in the arrests of at least six Australians – one in PNG – and four Papua New Guineans with investigations ongoing. Here are two reports fron the PNG daily newspapers:

READ MORE: Background to the massive PNG drug heist

By Marjorie Finkeo in Port Moresby
Four men allegedly involved in the attempted export of 28 bags of cocaine to Australia have been arrested at two locations in Port Moresby.

Two were arrested at Manu Autoport with A$40,000 (K100,000) cash and electrical items in their possession while the other two were apprehended at Sunset Lodge outside the city.

Police Commissioner David Manning said at a press conference yesterday the suspects were all PNG nationals.

A search conducted at Sanctuary Hotel at Waigani came up empty, Manning said.

He said a joint investigation was continuing and more charges were likely to be laid against the Australian pilot David Paul Cutmore who was charged under Immigration Act 1978 for illegally entering PNG and fined K3000 last Friday.

He said the investigation team was also looking at additional charges against Cutmore under the National Pandemic Act 2020. – PNG Post-Courier

Pacific Media Centre’s Southern Cross radio comment on the investigation yesterday.

By Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby

The country’s biggest drug bust, involving more than 600kg of cocaine estimated to cost around K160 million, has been hailed as “great detective work” and the result of a two-year investigation by Australian and PNG police.

A team of police and Customs officers led by Deputy Police Commissioner Operations Donald Yamasombi found 28 black duffle bags containing “high-grade” cocaine wrapped in plastic, some Australian dollars and a flat-screen television near Papa-Lealea village, 30km outside Port Moresby last Friday.

It was near the makeshift airstrip where a Cessna 402C aircraft, which entered the country from Australia without clearance last Sunday, crashed when it tried to take off with its illegal cargo.

Police Commissioner David Manning said police knew “at the time it was a substantial amount of cocaine”.

“(There was an) organised gang involved in this and from what we knew, they were planning to have it removed from PNG via a black flight, a flight that was registered to fly into PNG airspace,” Manning said.

“We now know that the flight landed successfully (but) could not take off due to some mechanical fault.

‘Flight failed to take off’
“What ensued is the result of that flight (failing) to take off.

“The bags were left in an undisclosed location within the village.”

Australian Federal Police senior liaison officer Detective Superintendent Julian Bianco said what was achieved by both police forces was an “excellent result for law enforcement in the Pacific”.

“The seizure brings to a conclusion the long-time operation that has been overseen by the Royal PNG Constabulary and the AFP and Australian law enforcement,” Bianco said.

“Without the assistance of the PNG police and the great detective work, we certainly would not be standing here with this (illegal drugs).

“The aircraft travelled to PNG to collect drugs to take back to Australia.

“We are thankful to the PNG constabulary for stopping it from entering our shores.”

According to pictures obtained by The National, inside each of the black duffle bag was 1kg of cocaine wrapped and labelled 777.

Manning said the drug bust was the largest in the country’s history and the culmination of a two-year operation, and the result of “good detective work” by the Papua New Guinea and Australian police. – The National

A combined investigation team seized more than K200 million ($80 million) worth of cocaine in the biggest drug heist in the history of Papua New Guinea last night, reports the PNG Post-Courier.

The 750 kg drug haul was connected to the mysterious plane crash last Sunday near the PNG LNG plant west of Port Moresby.

The Australian pilot who flew the light plane and turned himself in appeared in court yesterday and admitted to having flown the plane illegally into PNG from Mareebe in Far North Queensland, Australia.

READ MORE: More than 500 of cocaine seized as international investigation targets drug syndicate

He was fined K3000 and ordered out of PNG.

Police, Customs and National Intelligence officers, with assistance from the Australian Federal Police, have successfully confiscated what Pandemic Controller and Police Commissioner David Manning described as the “biggest drug heist” in years.

Among the 28 bags containing 24 kg of cocaine was a 140 cm TV set meant as a gift to those who would have successfully loaded the drugs onto the plane.

The accused pilot, David John Cutmore, 52, from Williams Landing, Melbourne Australia, admitted and pleaded guilty to one charge of unlawful entry in breach of immigration laws.

The maximum penalty for the charge of illegal entry is K5000 fine or six months imprisonment.

Maximum sentence sought
Police prosecution during submission on sentence asked the court to impose the maximum penalty of K5000 fine since the offence of illegal entry was serious.

The court was told that the accused did not have any passport or visa and flew an aircraft into the country illegally.

Although the court was told of illegal dealings, including drug trade, no evidence was provided to the court.

The court, presided by Magistrate Tracey Ganai, ordered a K3000 fine considering that the police prosecutors did not provide any evidence or exhibits of illegal items allegedly in the procession of the accused pilot.

The court also noted there was no evidence presented on whether police were pursuing additional charges.

The only charge was illegal entry in breach of immigration laws.

Magistrate Ganai ruled that the accused pilot pay a fine of K3000 and be deported immediately.

Failure to pay fine would result in a prison term of 4 months and deportation after completion of the prison term.

Now that evidence has surfaced, additional charges could be laid.

• Australian Federal Police news report

The leaders of New Zealand and Australia have agreed to ease travel restrictions between the two countries as soon as it is safe to do so.

Ardern yesterday announced she had accepted Australian leader Scott Morrison’s invitation to video call into his ministerial Cabinet meeting today.

It was the first time a New Zealand leader had attended a meeting of Australia’s cabinet since World War 2.

READ MORE: Al Jazeera coronavirus live updates – UK death toll rises above 30,000

Morrison and Ardern have agreed to commence work on a trans-Tasman covid-safe travel zone – easing travel restrictions between Australia and New Zealand “as soon as it is safe to do so”, a joint statement from the Prime Ministers’ offices said.

There is no time frame.

Necessary health, transport and other protocols would have to be developed and met to ensure the protection of public health, the statement said.

Once “effective travel arrangements across the Tasman” are established they would look at opportunities to broaden that to the Pacific.

‘Kick-start for tourism’
“A trans-Tasman covid-safe travel zone would be mutually beneficial, assisting our trade and economic recovery, helping kick-start the tourism and transport sectors, enhancing sporting contacts, and reuniting families and friends,” the statement said.

Today’s media briefing. Video: RNZ

“We need to be cautious as we progress this initiative. Neither country wants to see the virus rebound so it’s essential any such travel zone is safe. Relaxing travel restrictions at an appropriate time will clearly benefit both countries and demonstrates why getting on top of the virus early is the best strategy for economic recovery.”

Australians and New Zealanders travel across the ditch more than they do anywhere else, Ardern told New Zealanders at a 1pm media briefing, at which New Zealand announced its second day in a row of no new cases of the virus.

She pointed out that New Zealand is Australia’s second largest source of tourists after China, with 1.2 million visitors last year and 1.6 million Aussies visited New Zealand.

“We both stand to benefit from getting travel up and running again.”

Ardern said there were around 75,000 Australians in NZ and more than half a million New Zealanders in Australia.

“We’re also Australia’s largest export market by number of exporting firms … so the case for increasing economic relations when safe is clear.”

Prioritise safety
Ardern said any travel agreement between Australia and New Zealand would prioritise safety.

She said the meeting was still underway but said the discussion was only possible as a result of the world-leading results on both sides of the Tasman to get the virus under control.

“I do think we should both be proud of the efforts that have been made.”

An Australia-New Zealand bubble would mean people from both countries being confident of travelling between the nations without having to quarantine – but was still some time off, she said.

New Zealand has been urged to include the Pacific Islands in any proposed trans-Tasman bubble.

Ardern has said the government is focused on travel between New Zealand and Australia rather than with other Pacific nations for now, because of the “huge risk” if the coronavirus found its way into Pacific Island nations that are yet untouched by the virus.

New Zealanders left behind in India are asking for additional repatriation flights to evacuate them, after the government did not have enough capacity to return everyone who wanted to come home in the face of the covid-19 coronavirus pandemic.

More than 700 citizens and permanent residents returned on the three flights from New Delhi and Mumbai, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) said, the last of which returned on April 30.

However, almost double that figure – 1360 people – expressed interest in the flights. Some people changed their mind, and others could not travel for a variety of reasons. The remainder were left behind and now have no clear path home.

READ MORE: Al Jazeera coronavirus live updates – Afghan fears virus may be spreading faster

• Jailing of Jakarta Six fuels virus fears over Papuan political prisoners
• Guam’s news blackout: Since when are our journalists ‘info rationed’

“Due to high demand for the flight, we have unfortunately not been able to offer seats to all those who would have been eligible to travel to New Zealand,” an MFAT email to registered New Zealanders said, regarding the third flight from New Delhi.

“Until such time as commercial flights re-commence or other countries’ chartered flights become available to New Zealanders, we continue to encourage New Zealanders to stay safely where they are.”

Navjot Matharu’s 52-year-old mother is in New Delhi. She registered for the flights and was willing to pay but did not receive a ticket, and is now stuck. She’ is a permanent resident, unable to return to her full-time job or home.

Matharu said it had been a stressful situation, fearing there would not be any commercial flights available for months.

‘No more flights’
“[The government] haven’t said there aren’t any plans [for future flights], but they’ve just said ‘we’re looking into it’. I think it’s a nice way of saying ‘no more flights’,” he said.

He said he understood flights were complex to organise.

“I’m already grateful that they’ve done so much. They’ve still got 700 people out which is a big number. But now half of them are saying, ‘well you got those people out, why can’t you get us out?’.

“They’ve already done three flights so they have the process. People are willing to pay for it, so I don’t see why it is so hard to put on another few flights and get the rest of the people out as well,” he said.

Other governments – such as Australia – have some flights planned which New Zealanders can apply for. Thirty-four New Zealanders took up such offers leaving from Kolkata and Chennai.

“[If it] was 20 or 30 people [left in India] then ok sure, we’ll just have to suck it up until things get better. But unfortunately what I’ve seen is that a lot of people are still there and are willing to pay for the flights as well,” Matharu said.

Two new coronavirus cases
In other developments yesterday, the Ministry of Health reported just two cases to the country’s covid-19 total and the government said it had approved the fast tracking of large “shovel ready” projects, largely bypassing the Resource Management Act.

The two new cases of Covid-19 recorded over the previous 24 hours, were both linked to the St Margaret’s Hospital and Rest Home cluster in Auckland.

The Ministry of Health’s latest information shows there have been no new deaths or probable cases, taking the total number of confirmed and probable cases to 1487.

Three more people have recovered taking that total to 1266, meaning 85 percent of all cases are now considered as recovered.

Eight people are in hospital, none in intensive care.

A total of 4634 tests were completed, taking the total to 150,223.

By Ritika Pratap in Suva

Fiji Airports will defer future infrastructure projects as a result of financial set-backs caused by the Covid-19 coronavirus.

In response to a global slow-down in travel and reduced flights, chief executive Faiz Khan said almost all costs at airports were fixed, and the company now faced a major financial disaster.

Khan said every dollar lost in revenue hit the company’s bottom line and cash flow because fixed costs and existing commitments could not be reduced.

READ MORE: NZ must ‘protect’ the Pacific

He added that while planned projects would be shelved, those already under contractual engagements needed to go ahead.

The chief executive said this mad the situation of the airports highly challenging, along with the entire aviation and tourism industry.

The Airports Council International Asia-Pacific has warned the prolonged duration of the Covid-19 outbreak will significantly reduce the region’s airports from forecast growth.

The Airport Association is urging regulators and governments to implement well-defined adjustments and relief measures.

According to ACI World estimates, Asia-Pacific is suffering the highest impact, with passenger traffic volumes down -24 percent for the first quarter of 2020, compared to forecast traffic levels without Covid-19.

The ACI World Airport Traffic Forecasts 2019-2040 predicts around $26 billion revenue for the first quarter in the Asia-Pacific region in the “business as usual” scenario. The impact of Covid-19 is projected to have a revenue loss of over $6 billion.

It said that unlike airlines, which can choose to cancel flights or relocate their aircraft to other markets to reduce operating costs, airport operators managed immovable assets that could be closed down.

The ACI said airports were faced with immediate cash flow pressures with limited ability to reduce fixed costs and few resources to fund capacity expansion efforts for longer-term future growth.

Ritika Pratap is deputy news manager of the public broadcaster FBC News.

Four people have been isolated by Fiji health officials and are being monitored for suspected Covid-19 coronavirus infection.

The Health Ministry in a statement said all four people were in strict isolation and were in a stable condition while they were awaiting test results.

The ministry said a 15-month old girl developed respiratory symptoms in Suva yesterday after arriving in Fiji from the US on Tuesday.

READ MORE: Third confirmed case of Covid-19 in NZ
READ MORE: Fiji nationals cleared of coronavirus

A 37-year-old Fijian woman returning from a trip to Italy was flagged with respiratory symptoms during a health screening at Nadi airport yesterday.

A three-year-old Fijian boy and his mother, a 26-year-old Fijian woman, developed respiratory symptoms today after returning from Bali and Singapore.

Contact tracing has started for all four patients, the ministry said.

The ministry said the case definition for suspected cases was being widened to include anyone with respiratory symptoms who had recently travelled to a country reported to have local transmission.

It added that this should not alarm the public, but be an indication of the high level of alert and stringent preventative measures the ministry was proactively taking in response to the global outbreak.

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services reiterated that there were currently no confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Fiji.

Praneeta Prakash is a multimedia journalist for the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation’s FBC News.

The search for the missing Indonesian military Mi-17 helicopter, which disappeared on Friday, continues around the Mol and Aprok mountains near Jayapura, Papua, Jakarta news media reported today.

“We are currently searching over ground and air, with a helicopter unit dispatched as well,” said Lieutenant-Colonel Chandra Dianto of the Jayawijaya Military Command as quoted by Antara.

The search was halted yesterday afternoon and was expected to be continued today, reported the Jakarta Post.

READ MORE: Indonesian Army helicopter with 12 on board goes missing

The ground team had climbed the Mol and Aprok mountains and reached 762m above sea level.

Chandra also said that the air search had covered the route the Mi-17 had used to return from Oksibil.

“There’s no sign of the Mi-17 as of now,” Chandra added.

The local air traffic control lost contact with the Mi-17 helicopter at the same time as a cumulonimbus cloud suddenly appeared over the district of Oksibil in the Bintang mountains, according to the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), region V, of Jayapura.

A cumulonimbus cloud is considered dangerous as it possesses elements that could disrupt flights.

The Mi-17, registration number HA-5138, carried 12 passengers and air crew who were assigned to Okibab prior to the incident. The flight was carrying supplies for on-duty soldiers in the region.

RNZ News reported that rescue efforts were focused on the mountainous Pegunungan Bintang regency on the Papua New Guinea border.

A military spokesperson, Muhammad Aidi, said four helicopters and a surveillance aircraft are being sent out today.

A plane crashed in the mountainous Gunung Menuk area in Pegunungan Bintang regency of Indonesia’s Papua province on Saturday, killing eight people on board, including the pilot and co-pilot  – but a 12-year-old boy survived.

Rescuers who reached the aircraft at dawn said they found the boy alive among the wreckage.

The crash was near Oksibil close to the border with Papua New Guinea.

“The survivor, identified as J, 12, has been evacuated from the crash site and taken to a hospital in Oksibil district to receive treatment for his broken right hand,” Pegunungan Bintang police chief Adjunct Commander Michael Mumbunan said yesterday.

He said the victim’s bodies were also being transported to Oksibil.

The Swiss-built plane, operated by PT Martha Buana Abadi, was found on Sunday at 6.15 am local time, according to Jayapura Search and Rescue Agency spokesman Yadianto.

The plane departed from Tanah Merah airport in Boven Digul on Saturday at 1.42 pm and was scheduled to arrive at Oksibil airport at 2.20 pm.

“It took eight hours for search and rescue personnel to reach the crash site – comprising a two-hour drive and a six-hour trek through Kampung Okatem to Gunung Menuk,” Yadianto said.

In 2015, a Trigana Air twin turboprop plane crashed near Oksibil, killing all 54 on board.

Nethy Dharma Somba is a Jayapura-based reporter of the English-language Jakarta Post.

Papua New Guinea authorities have imposed a 6pm to 6am curfew in the Southern Highlands provincial capital of Mendi to prevent further violence.

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has vowed that political leaders who are alleged to be behind the violence in which an Air Niugini aircraft at Mendi airport and the courthouse were set ablaze and destroyed yesterday will be arrested.

He said the culprits would be arrested and charged within a 21-day period, reports the PNG Post-Courier.

O’Neill announced this today after the National Executive Council decided to declare a state of emergency in Mendi.

Former Southern Highlands Provincial Administrator Thomas Eluh has been appointed SOE Controller.

Additional police and Defence Force personnel will be flown into Mendi to restore law and order.

The riot in Mendi followed a National Court decision yesterday dismissing the election petition by Joseph Kobol who had challenged last year’s election result, declaring the incumbent William Powi as Governor.

Plane, buildings set ablaze
An Air Niugini PNGLink Dash 8 aircraft was set on fire at Mendi airport, the District and National Court Building, as well as Governor William Powi’s residence were set alight in the election related violence to hit the Province.

Air Niugini chief executive officer Durani Tahawar said today that the captain and crew of the torched Link PNG Airline had safely arrived in Mount Hagen from Mendi under escort and were now being checked in at a safe Hotel.

“Our HGU staff is with them and we are grateful that they are safe, they shall return tomorrow to Port Moresby,” he said.

Earlier, Prime Minister O’Neill described the actions of the protesters as “disgraceful”, reports EMTV News.

Link PNG has suspended flights to Mendi, Tari and Wapenamanda until further notice.

Asia Pacific Report republishes EMTV News content with permission.

• Protesters in PNG’s Highlands torch plane, shut Mendi airport

Protesters in the Papua New Guinea Southern Highlands town of Mendi have torched a plane and closed the airport.

Earlier, the local police station commander Gideon Kauke had said police were guarding the aircraft to ensure there was no further damage after its tyres had been flattened.

But he said his team of about 10 police could not contain a mob of “uncountable numbers”, particularly after missiles were thrown, forcing them to retreat.

“We were guarding the plane but compared to them we were outnumbered and they came in all directions, all corners. Missiles were thrown, bush knives were thrown,” Kauke said.

Kauke said some of the protesters, who continued to behave “menacingly” in Mendi as their numbers build up, were carrying guns.

He said the protest was in response to a court ruling in Waigani confirming the election of the Southern Highlands Governor William Powi.

Governor Powi’s success in last year’s PNG general election had been challenged by Joseph Kobol and Bernard Peter Kaku.

Kauke said the protestors alleged there was foul play in the court decision.

This RNZ Pacific news item is published under a content sharing agreement with the Pacific Media Centre.

Islands Business managing director and editor Samisoni Pareti has again been questioned by Fiji police over an online article involving a local magistrate, the news magazine reports.

Pareti was today called to Criminal Investigation Department headquarters for the second time this week to answer allegations on an alleged breach of the Public Order Act.

The Director of Public Prosecutions will decide whether Pareti and colleague Nanise Volau must answer charges relating to alleged incitement to sedition.

LISTEN: Alarm in Fiji over police investigation into Islands Business

READ MORE: Police grill magazine editorial staff over story

Former IB publisher Netani Rika was questioned earlier today and released, the news magazine reported.

On Sunday, police questioned Rika, Pareti and Volau in connection with an article on Andrew See who recently ruled in favour of Air Terminal Services Limited (ATS) workers in an industrial dispute over Nadi International Airport. IB had alleged in its report that the magistrate’s contract had been terminated three weeks after his landmark ruling on January 20.

Islands Business reported on its social media website that police were “being assisted in their investigations” by Chief Registrar Yohan Liyanage, and Fiji Sun journalist Jyoti Pratibha, a claim later denied by the reporter in the Fijiian Newsroom social media page.

FBC News reported late this afternoon that police spokesperson Ana Naisoro had said Rika had been released while Pareti and Volau were still being questioned.

‘CLOUD OVER MAGISTRATE’ STORY CONTROVERSY
Cloud over magistrate in ATS case – The Islands Business article that stirred the controversy
Alarm in Fiji over police investigation into Islands Business – ABC
Be ‘responsible, journalists reminded – Fiji Times
Police question magazine trio – Fiji Times
The Real Issues behind the ATS dispute – Fiji Labour Party
Air Terminal Services
Fiji police issue permit for FTUC march – Islands Business

Tokelau’s purchase of helicopters included plans to travel via remote Swains Island, contradicting earlier reports claiming the aircraft were ill-suited for the job.

Documents also reveal New Zealand officials approved plans for air services to Tokelau in the lead-up to the heavily criticised investment.

In February, it was revealed that Tokelau had bought two helicopters to circumvent the 24-hour ferry voyage from Samoa, expenditure Foreign Minister Murray McCully described as “extravagances”.

At the time, NZ Helicopter Association chairperson Peter Turnbull raised doubts about  whether the aircraft would be able to make the almost 500km trip from Samoa to Tokelau.

The incident prompted New Zealand’s Administrator to the territory, David Nicholson, to propose veto powers on purchases more than NZ$500,000 by Tokelau’s local government.

However, inquiries have revealed plans to use the US-administered Swains Island (pop. 17) as a stopover point between Samoa and Tokelau, effectively splitting the direct flight in two.

In light of this, Turnbull said both legs of the journey were “quite achievable” by the Bell 212 “Huey” helicopter purchased by Tokelau.

Approached by officials
American Samoa Representative and owner of Swains, Su’a Alex Jennings, said he was approached in January by officials from Tokelau’s National Public Service based in Apia.

Su’a said he had later contacted the US Federal Aviation Administration and was told Swains could be used in emergencies and as a fuel stop for the helicopters.

He said he had also briefed local leaders from the American Samoa government and further progress was only “pending a formal commitment” from Tokelau.

Following public outrage from Minister McCully and Ulu o Tokelau Siopili Perez, that commitment seems unlikely, with the General Fono agreeing last month to sell the helicopters.

Both helicopters were sold separately by New Zealand businesses and licensed with the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand.

Under the National government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has pushed for air transport to Tokelau since 2010, when then-acting administrator Jonathan Kings said Minister McCully was “personally excited” about air services he viewed as a “sensible, workable and sustainable” solution.

A meeting in June last year between the previous Ulu, Afega Gaualofa and Minister McCully saw the prospect of a regular air service between Tokelau and Samoa raised further.

Earlier McCully support
Minister McCully said in a written statement at the time he supported the project and the use of Tokelau’s International Trust Fund towards paying for it.

Air services were put forward as part of Tokelau’s proposed development initiatives the following month at the General Fono in Fakaofo.

This included plans for an interim air service to be “up and running soonest” until village airstrips on Tokelau’s atolls could be constructed.

An independent review of the helicopter purchases, commissioned by David Nicholson, has been completed and found “issues of governance and process around capital purchases”, said Minister McCully in a written response to questions tabled by Labour’s Pacific Island Affairs spokesperson Aupito William Sio.

Aupito said it was time for Minister McCully to “come clean” and reveal what came out of the report in this review.

“We also know that there was a meeting that occurred on March 16th in Apia between the minister, the administrator and the Tokelau leadership and I think it’s in the public interest to know what was discussed at that meeting.”

Currently, the only means of transport to Tokelau is the Mataliki, a ship designed in London and built in Bangladesh at a cost of over NZ$12 million, paid for by the New Zealand government.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it would not respond to questions regarding the purchases due to an “ongoing inquiry taking place in Tokelau”.

Minister McCully declined to comment, while David Nicholson and Siopili Perez could not be reached for comment.

• ‘Heavy handed’ NZ clamps down on Tokelau spending
• Tokelau’s new ferry Mataliki slips quietly into Apia port

On the day of the arrival in Vanuatu of World Bank Vice President Victoria Kwakwa, tourism industry stakeholders are reportedly calling for a quick resolution to an apparent impasse over the selection of a contractor to perform the upgrades to the Bauerfield airport runway.

In late December, a World Bank procurement expert told bidders that she hoped to be able to announce the winning bid within a month of the tenders being unsealed. Nearly two months have passed, however, and no announcement has been made.

The Vanuatu Daily Post has received reliable reports that the crux of the delay is an impasse over the preferred contractor. Sources have confirmed that there are differing opinions about which one should win, and that price is a concern for at least one of the parties.

READ MORE: Vanuatu airport runway repairs usher in new tourism era

Most parties will not speak on the record because of the sensitive nature of the negotiations, but aviation stakeholders stated last week that they were ready to ask for high level government intervention in order to break the impasse.

Over the weekend, government representatives confirmed that they were willing to intervene in the process.

One political operative, who chose to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the affair, confirmed that a letter had been sent to a minister by tourism industry representatives, expressing concern at the economic cost of further delays.

It is widely known that several tourism operations are approaching the end of the line in terms of their ability to continue doing business at these depressed levels, and that any curbs on inflows over the upcoming peak season could spell disaster for them.

Expedited upgrade
The expedited runway upgrade bidding process had been designed with an eye to breaking ground in April, in order to ensure that any interruptions in service would not affect peak season tourist traffic.

Being able to announce completion of the runway upgrades by July might also have the effect of enticing Air New Zealand to return to scheduled service.

While arrival numbers from New Zealand are not huge, a vote of confidence from one of the most highly regarded airlines in the world would go a long way to reassuring travelers about the safety of the runway.

A completed runway upgrade might also convince Qantas to restore their code share with Air Vanuatu on their Sydney and Brisbane to Port Vila service.

Sources have confided that part of the problem stems from a lack of trust in the judgment of some parties. Vanuatu deferred to the World Bank’s choice of project manager during the emergency repair process, and later expressed regret when additional repairs were proven necessary.

Flight turned back
A Virgin Australia flight was turned back last year when additional damage was discovered on the runway, on a section that the project manager had deemed safe.

Nobody’s safety was affected because Airports Vanuatu Ltd was conducting visual inspections of the runway before every jet aircraft arrival and departure.

But the effect on the confidence of international tourism operators was palpably negative.

Parties to the negotiation have quietly accepted that the government’s position is understandable, and said that they view the Vice-President’s visit as an opportunity to “cut the knot” and move ahead with repairs to the runway.

Kwakwa is visiting the country to sign an agreement establishing a country office in Vanuatu.

She was joining at a signing ceremony yesterday by Minister of Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Jotham Napat, and Finance Minister Gaetan Pikioune.

Dan McGarry is media director of the Vanuatu Daily Post group.

• More airport upgrade delays

“An ambitious new plan to improve Vanuatu’s aviation and tourism sectors” is relegated to second place on Radio Vanuatu News today.

But the Vanuatu Daily Post links work for the new Bauerfield terminal and a massive hotel project at Melcoffe on page one.

Certainly the projects are huge and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation is a large company and is considered to have served Vanuatu well so far, the new jobs signed for yesterday having the additional security of a “bankable feasibility study” by March next year for independent consideration and protection of government finances.

This is a matter which will invite serious criticism and the Vanuatu Daily Digest has strong views on the subject.

An eight level five star resort is planned for immediately opposite the Daily Post building, adjacent to the Russet Plaza building, on Fatumauru Bay, costing Vt 3 to 4 billion (NZ$38 to $51 million).

The Vanuatu Daily Digest believes “no large scale commercial or tourist development should take place until the Port Vila Municipal Council employs a team of qualified town planners, and has solid zoning and urban development plans” in place to balance transport, infrastructure and community needs with commercial development.

Urban planners must be made to present their findings publicly and justify obvious bottlenecks as with the developments opposite Kaiviti and the Russet Plaza itself.

The new Bauerfield terminal is planned to be on the other side of the present runway, to the north of the existing terminal.

Airports Vanuatu Limited chairman Bakoa Kaltongga said the project was worth US$60–90 million (Vt 6.5–9.7 billion) and would bring to reality the Code E status for the airport to enable longer haul aircraft to use Bauerfield in their schedules, especially assisting Asian business and pleasure travellers.

In other news, an administrative change to legislation which will enable newly elected MPs to be sworn in as soon as elected rather than await the next sitting is the lead item on Radio Vanuatu News today.

This was voted on this week, before Parliament was dissolved. It sounds so much more efficient.

Bob Makin writes for Vanuatu Daily Digest.

Assistant Secretary for Civil Aviation of the Department of Transportation, Communications and Infrastructure, Massy Halbert, said this new flight route would strengthen trade links and provide more business opportunities.

It would also promote a sense of “Pacificness” between both countries.

Halbert also added that it was historical and both countries will work together to ensure this service is sustained.

“Absolutely, I will continue to do my part, so plans for December to begin the passenger schedule service can proceed,” he said.

Air Niugini has begun operating the special services to Chuuk and Pohnpei in FSM and is flying a special service to FSM for the Pacific Islands Forum leaders summit whose preparatory meeting opens tomorrow.

There were 70 divers, and others, by chance were booked on the first flight PX 4072, operated by Boeing 737-700.

After 2 hr 40 min, the Bird of Paradise touched down at Chuuk. From Chuuk, it took another hour to Pohnpei.

Sharing costs
Air Niugini chief executive officer, Simon Foo, says the partnership is about sharing costs involved in operating this service.

Industries like tourism will be promoted.

“It will be twice a week, from Port Moresby to Chuuk then Pohnpei and back the next day,” he said.

This service saves time and cost.

A passenger, Quinton Devlin who works in the Solomon Islands, said it now only took three hours to Pohnpei rather than connecting through different countries.

“From Honiara, this is the best route with less time,” he said

It’s always a privilege for operating crews, like Ethel Samlai, because normally they are randomly selected.

“I am very privileged and I thank Air Niugini for selecting the team which I was part of,” she said.

Foo said the establishment of this direct service from Papua New Guinea to the Federated States of Micronesia represented a major expansion of Air Niugini in the Pacific and for Port Moresby to become the Pacific’s “hub in the aviation industry”.

EMTV News reporter

• Air Niugini operates special flight for FSM Forum meeting.
• Fijian PM snubbing Pacific leaders’ meet

By Royson Willie in Port Vila

Prime Minister Charlot Salwai, as shareholder of the national carrier, has instructed Air Vanuatu not to terminate any ni-Vanuatu pilot employed by the airline.

The intervention by the head of government was made after it was brought to the prime minister’s attention that there were plans to terminate ni-Vanuatu pilots by the end of this month.

In a letter dated July 12, 2016, the prime minister instructed the board of directors chairman, John Lum.

The prime minister said he was informed that the management of the company was planning to take the action this month.

But Salwai noted that the employment contracts for the ni-Vanuatu pilots would end on July 31, 2018.

He said he was aware that steps were already taken “to bring more foreign pilots” into the country.

“In fact , one foreign pilot is already in Port Vila and he is waiting for his police clearance requested by Immigration in order to commence his employment.

‘No longer tolerated’
“I want to inform you that my government will no longer tolerate this action to continue to happen: no termination of ni-Vanuatu pilots of Air Vanuatu will be allowed,” he said in his instruction to the board chairman.

The prime minister as shareholder instructed the board to stop entertaining such policies but rather consider the national interest.

Salwai asked the board to review the airline’s current policy requiring that all ni-Vanuatu pilots must have an Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL).

He said that the local pilots for Air Vanuatu’s domestic services were qualified to fly with a commercial pilot Licence (CPL) according to International Civil Aviation Organisation rules.

Salwai said the company’s policy should see the company finance the total cost of all its ni-Vanuatu pilots in achieving an ATPL.

“Air Vanuatu Operations Ltd is a national company and the investments made to develop its human resource shall be considered as investments for the development of this Nation,” the prime minister added.

The Daily Post contacted Air Vanuatu and the Prime Minister’s Office for further comments on the issue but none was made before going to press.

25 pilots
However, earlier this year in March the airline told the Daily Post that Air Vanuatu employed 25 pilots, of whom 14 were Vanuatu nationals and 11 were expatriates.

At that time the airline revealed that there was a recent review of salaries for new or junior pilots requiring further training in order to complete their ATPLs.

“Air Vanuatu is meeting the financial obligations of this training, which would otherwise require the pilots to fund themselves,” the airline said.

“We see this as a way of encouraging more ni-Vanuatu to apply for roles in aviation.

“This training takes between two and three years after which they can build on their flight hours and experience to become eligible for command positions, thus attracting a higher salary.”

Royson Willie is editor of the Vanuatu Daily Post.

The Bell 5073 chopper, carrying five people, crashed into a house in Taman Martani village in the Kalasan subdistrict around 3 pm local time.

The helicopter was heading to Adi Sucipto International Airport in Yogyakarta from Adi Sumarmo Airport in Solo, Central Java.

The helicopter crew members were Captain Titus Benediktus Sinaga, Second Lieutenant Angga Juang, Master Sergeant Rohmad, Second Sergeant Sirait and Lance Corporal Sukoco.

The victims were receiving treatment at Bhayangkara Police Hospital in Yogyakarta, the report said.

By Charles Yapumi in Port Moresby

Papua New Guinea’s national airline Air Niugini yesterday cancelled its flight to Kagamuga Airport in the Highlands town of Mt Hagen after reports of civil unrest and closure of the airport by authorities.

Loop PNG was informed in the morning by the state-owned airline’s public relations office that all flights operated as per the schedule this morning.

But in a press release yesterday afternoon, Air Niugini PX 186/187 was cancelled because of the situation on the ground.

“Although some flights this morning were delayed as passengers and staff had difficulty getting to the airport on time due to yesterday’s unrest, most Air Niugini flights operated as normal,” the statement read.

PNG Air flights to Mt Hagen were also cancelled yesterday.

Meanwhile, Western Highlands Province PPC Jacob Singura said situation was still tense but police have taken control of the situation.

In other developments yesterday:

• Professionals from other Commonwealth nations must be brought in to chair the commission of inquiry into the police opening fire at students at the University of Papua New Guinea on Wednesday, says the Opposition.

Opposition Leader Don Poyle welcomed the Prime Minister Peter O’Neill’s decision but said the inquiry should be balanced and fair.

“I do not trust the police commissioner; I want highly placed people from Australia, New Zealand or England who have the same jurisdiction like [PNG] to chair the commission.”

Poyle added that outside experts must be used to collect evidence and also give opinions.

• The Papua New Guinea government has termed as “intentionally reckless” reports by some international news organisations on Wednesday’s shooting at UPNG.

Foreign Affairs secretary William Dihm said the visa status of the foreign correspondent in Port Moresby would need to be reviewed because of it, Pacific Media Watch reports.

• In Paris, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said it was appalled by a police attack on a woman journalist during the UPNG demonstration that was dispersed violently and called on Papua New Guinea’s authorities to put an end to such violence and punish the police officers responsible.

Charles Yapumi is a reporter for Loop PNG.

• ‘They shot at us like we’re trying to rob a bank,’ says student leader
• David Robie’s Cafe Pacific commentary – History repeats itself

THE PRICE OF POLITICS … CONTINUED

By Dan McGarry

The [Vanuatu] Prime Minister’s Office has wrongly accused the Daily Post of calling Sato Kilman’s name into disrepute, and of partisan bias. These allegations cannot go unanswered.

We thank Prime Minister Sato Kilman and his team for their contribution to this nationally important dialogue. We regret that it took the publication of our editorial to get a response, but any kind of talk—no matter how heated—is preferable to the silence that preceded it.

The PM’s response adds useful context to the conversation. We spent over a thousand words detailing the most recent chapter in what he rightly notes is a series of failures that has spanned a decade.

But the PM helped to pull the timeline further back, and to show how even the World Bank plan—which we described as having “warts”—was flawed in important ways. This is useful context, and we are better off for it.

But the accusation that we have somehow politicised the issue is simply false. The entire piece is an argument against politicising this topic.

Yes, Mr Kilman’s government is hardly the only one guilty of playing political football with the lives of our travellers. We agree on that point. The key point in the editorial was:

“Three different governments, three different plans. That’s no way to run a country.”

Back to 2008
We can extend the blame all the way back to 2008, when a runway resurfacing plan should have been started.

Daily Post publisher Marc Neil-Jones asks, “why didn’t Mr Kilman demand that something be done during his term as Prime Minister when it was well known that the situation was getting critical? At the end of the day, the decision to stop flights landing at Bauerfield has come directly under Mr Kilman’s watch as Prime Minister.

“In politics someone else is always at fault and we accept that in the case of Bauerfield runway, there have clearly been errors made by successive governments that have culminated in the current situation which will be catastrophic for the economy in Vanuatu.

“We hope that the arguments over who is responsible do not detract from the real questions demanding urgent answers. When is the runway going to be fixed? When will Air New Zealand and Virgin flights resume? When will Qantas resume its code share?”

The World Bank confirmed [on Friday] it had just received a letter from the government of Vanuatu, asking them to continue their work on this critical task. The government has clearly come to the same conclusion that we advocated in the first place:

“Why the World Bank plan? Because it’s the one we have. It’s got warts, sure, but it’s the one plan that has the shortest time to completion, and the only one that’s survived a proper and public due diligence. This isn’t about partisanship; it’s about pragmatism.”

Bias accusation rejected
Finally, concerning the accusation that the Daily Post is guilty of political bias: We reject that accusation.

Marc Neil-Jones: “We can assure you that Daily Post has never sided and will never side with any political party to try and get them into government.

“We know that it is a sensitive time after elections but do not accept the comment that ‘Daily Post is using a very serious issue to clearly attempt to bring disrepute to the current caretaker Prime Minister’. We would simply say that the 14 MPs, including ministers in this government, who were jailed on bribery and corruption charges, have already brought your government into disrepute well before news of the cancellation of flights to Bauerfield.”

That said, my door is always open. Email me at dan@dailypost.vu. Call me at 55 44 602. Drop by our office.

Note: Some have said that the Daily Post has traditionally leaned away from the Moderate and toward the Nationalist political agenda. I suspect that this perception is the colonial legacy of French and English rivalry rearing its ugly head. I can only respond that, having grown up in Québec, I sympathise deeply. I firmly believe we should cast off this last vestige of colonialism and quit fighting Europe’s cultural wars.

Venez me voir. Je vous écouterai, et j’espère qu’on s’entendra.

Caretaker PM slams Vanuatu Daily Post

Full Office of PM letter

‘The price of politics’ editorial

Vanuatu’s caretaker government has attacked the Vanuatu Daily Post for an outspoken editorial in Wednesday’s edition, entitled “The price of politics”, accusing the newspaper of partisan bias and  “slanting” its commentary on the country’s international airport furore.

The caretaker Office of the Prime Minister, Sato Kilman, also claimed editorial director Dan McGarry was “trying to further the aims of the Opposition” to become the government.

The newspaper ran the attack at length today and also responded strongly in a separate editorial, saying the accusation was “false” and the original editorial had actually argued against politicising the issue. Today’s editorial said:

“Yes, Mr Kilman’s government is hardly the only one guilty of playing political football with the lives of our travellers. We agree on that point. The key point in the editorial was:

“Three different governments, three different plans. That’s no way to run a country.”

The Daily Post has a long tradition of fearless editorial independence.

Results still awaited
Official results from the snap election more than a week ago are still awaited from the Electoral Commission.

The election was called by President Baldwin Lonsdale in December after he dissolved Parliament to end a political stalemate that followed the conviction of 15 government MPs for corruption.

Preliminary unofficial results indicated Parliament is “in for a shake-up”, with many long-serving MPs set to lose their seats, according to Radio New Zealand International.

At least one defeated MP has blamed “corruption” for his loss. The Daily Post reports the MP from South Ambae, Vanua’aku Pati’s once popular Richard Mera blamed his defeat on alleged corrupt political practices including vote buying.

Urgent issue
The Daily Post’s editorial said the airport runway issue was an important, urgent and serious issue and needed a solution.

Last week, Virgin Australia became the latest airline to suspend flights to Vanuatu. Earlier, Air New Zealand and Qantas had decided to suspend flights there, due to concerns over the runway safety at Bauerfield airport.

The letter from Kilman’s office thanked the Daily Post for “drawing attention to this issue” and reporting “some of the problems encountered”.

“However, it is obvious to the Office of the Prime Minister that Dan McGarry has slanted his article in such a way so as to make the issue a political issue and try to further the aims of the Opposition of getting into government,” the letter claimed.

“The problem of the airport runway has been outstanding for a long time and if the truth be known, there was a proposition from the World Bank several years ago to fix the airport.

“Nothing happened with that World Bank proposition for a few years and when Sato Kilman came in as Prime Minister in 2011, so arrangements were made with a Chinese group — Shanghai Construction Corporation to prepare a feasibility study.

“Shanghai Construction Corporation which is one of the largest construction companies in China and the world presented their report to Government in collaboration and cooperation with Airports Vanuatu Limited and Civil Aviation Authority after several months of study and assessment.

“Prime Minister Kilman is of the same opinion as former Prime Minister Natuman that repairs to the current airport [were] needed before the government could look at a new international airport.”

Runway overhaul
The Kilman letter spoke of a series of changed governments and a deal with a Singaporean company as the controversy unfolded.

“The Daily Post should stop trying to play politics and leave it to the politicians. They should stick to reporting the truth and only the truth,” the letter added.

According to RNZI, emergency repairs with a $1 million grant could get underway on Port Vila airport’s deteriorating runway in Vanuatu next month.

A full overhaul of the runway is expected by the end of the year with a $60 million grant from the World Bank.

Full caretaker PM’s letter

The Vanuatu Daily Post response

The original VDP “Price of politics” editorial