A. Samoa power company shortlisted for Samoa project
PAGO PAGO (Pacnews) — American Samoa Power Authority has been shortlisted for a design and management contract for the construction of a $5 million hydroelectric power project in Samoa, to be funded by the Asian Development Bank.
ASPA is one of the 20 companies from around the world vying for the job, although the specific part of the construction it applied for is worth $500,000.
ASPA Deputy Director Fonoti Perelini Perelini said that to be certified as an Asian Development Bank contractor is quite a feat for ASPA. His company is one of the five power companies shortlisted.
He said ASPA is also shortlisted for another ADB project in the Maldives, for a telecommunication information systems project worth $9.5 million.
He said bidding for offshore projects is a way to generate job opportunities and revenues for ASPA.
HONIARA (Pacnews) — The Kongulai community in west Honiara is threatening to sabotage water supply to the capital if there demand for SI$2 million ($300,890) compensation is not met.
The group said the money is owed them for properties lost during the past two years of political crisis in the country.
The chairman of the Kongulai Land Trustees, Peter Pukivati, told SIBC that Prime Minister Alan Kemakeza had promised to give them part of the money from a previous tranche.
However, he said the money was not paid to them because it was used for other claims. The Solomon Islands government had recently indicated it was receiving the last of the four batches of funds loaned from the Taiwanese Exim Bank.
NUKU’ALOFA (Pacnews) — Thousands of foreign workers in Tonga are facing deportation in a crackdown on illegal immigration, Fiji’s Sun newspaper reports.
Foreigners living in Tonga have been given three months to sort out their immigration papers or face deportation.
According to the Sun, the crackdown will be targeting Asian immigrants, who operate 90 percent of shops here in the capital, Nuku’alofa.
An influx of Asians into Tonga has resulted in growing local resentment.
The Sun also reported that around 30 Fijian families face deportation.
PAPE’ETE (Pacnews) — The tourism and pearl industries are still the two keystones of the French Polynesia economy.
A recent meeting of the Institut d’Emission d’Outre-Mer in Paris said tourism and pearls are still the two main industries of French Polynesia.
Jean-Paul Redouin, IEOM deputy chief executive, said despite the worldwide economic downturn following the Sept. 11 terror attacks, the implementation of “some important reforms” assisted in the economic recovery of French Polynesia.
Minister for Economy Georges Puchon said: “Growth is not as high as in the past but, on the whole, our economy is still faring well. Tourism is still our main economic resource. Pearl prices are going up again, and tuna production will soon increase significantly thanks to the new fishing boats built.”
