Cook Islands bubbles with New Zealand

As presaged late last year, travellers from Cook Islands will be able enter New Zealand without having to undergo quarantine on arrival from January 21. There have been no cases of COVID-19 recorded in Cook Islands.

The move has been welcomed in Cook Islands as people can now travel to visit family in New Zealand, receive medical treatment, and make arrangements for students to recommence their education after the Christmas break.

For now, the travel bubble operates in one direction only. However, Cook Islands authorities have advised that there will be some quarantine exemptions for critical workers. This includes members of the judiciary with the government noting a significant backlog of cases that has arisen.

Meanwhile, movement of workers from the Pacific to Australia and New Zealand is progressing with deployments from Vanuatu, Tonga and Samoa having already occurred or being in progress.

Fiji takes on presidency of UN human rights council

The UN Human Rights Council has a new president. She is Ambassador Nazat Shameem Khan, Fiji’s permanent UN representative in Geneva.

Late in the process, Bahrain put forward a rival nomination. This was reportedly with the support of both China and Russia, who may have found Ambassador Khan’s reputation as a human rights defender problematic. However, this was denied by the Chinese Ambassador to Fiji who stated that his country was supportive of Ambassador Khan’s appointment.

The announcement was met with mixed responses in Fiji and elsewhere in the Pacific. Some noted that this is another example of Fijian leadership on the global stage. However, others felt that problems with human rights in Fiji may raise questions about the suitability of the appointment. Others feel that this should be an opportunity to raise the profile of human rights abuses in West Papua.

Vanuatu deepens bilateral relationship with China

The Vanuatu government has received a grant of VT1.3 billion (AUD15.5 million) from the People’s Republic of China as direct budget support. This forms part of the ‘Economic and Technical Cooperation’ agreement between the two countries.

In his remarks at the handing over ceremony, Prime Minister Bob Loughman called China a ‘true friend’ of Vanuatu with particular reference to the support his government has received in dealing with COVID-19.

He said that the financing would be used to focus on productive sectors, infrastructure, and other activities that will empower ni-Vanuatu citizens to contribute to the wealth and development of the country.

The Chinese Ambassador, Zhou Haicheng, stressed that his country would continue to provide support to Vanuatu further to its graduation from ‘Least Developed Country’ status at the end of last year.

COVID vaccinations begin

Some countries in the Pacific islands region are among the first to commence vaccination programmes in the fight against COVID-19.

Countries such as Palau, Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia are benefitting from the USA’s “Operation Warp Speed”. In Marshall Islands, health workers have been made the first priority to receive the vaccine, followed by those aged over 60.

Authorities have noted that being able to ensure follow up to provide the second dose currently required using the Moderna vaccine presents a challenge.

Meanwhile in Fiji, business leaders are hopeful that a prompt and comprehensive rollout of a vaccination programme will increase the chances of being able to open a travel ‘bubble’ with Australia.

Both Australia and New Zealand have undertaken to assist Pacific countries in accessing vaccines, including by way of procurement assistance.

Leaders to meet in February

The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat has announced that the region’s leadership will meet during the first week of February. The meeting will be convened online.

The two item agendas for this special retreat are the impacts of COVID-19 and the appointment of a new Secretary-General. The incumbent, Dame Meg Taylor, is due to step down this month. However, she will remain in her position until her successor is appointed.

The issue of the new Secretary-General has been a matter of some contention during the last year. The Micronesian countries have previously threatened to leave the Pacific Islands Forum if their candidate is not given the job.

If the February meeting goes ahead, it means there will be two meetings of the Pacific Islands Forum leaders this year. The 2021 meeting is scheduled for the middle of the year, to be held in Fiji. It is hoped that this will be an in-person meeting.

AUTHOR

Tess Newton Cain is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Griffith Asia Institute and project lead of the Pacific Hub.