Reverse Fishing License - In Defence of PIPA

 

Reverse Fishing License - In Defence of PIPA

15th June 2022

Betero Kautum

Recently, PIPA has come into contention again as President Maamau’s government has seeked to repeal the no-fishing mandate in the area. This is of particular note as the PIPA has been identified by UNESCO and World Heritage Convention as a key migration and breeding spot for many nomadic marine animals in the Pacific Ocean region and contain a level of biodiversity integral to the surrounding ecosystem. 

Our government’s repeal of the “no-take” policy in the area is an abandonment of Kiribati's commitment to environmentalism and against climate change, a commitment that our small island nation facing the plight of rising sea levels should be steadfast in. It has been rightly criticised by many environmentalist groups and will do nothing but cause international embarrassment. As former president Tong said, “this is nothing but a disappointment.”  

Many proponents of the revocation of PIPA has argued for it on grounds of economic benefits. However, since the early stages in the creation and development of PIPA, Former-President Tong has acknowledged the importance of fishing licensing for the economic growth of Kiribati. 

Therefore, in an inventive and ingenious move, he had also created a system of reverse fish licenses where much of the interests earned from the PIPA endowment, funded by donations from international organizations and other sources, are used to pay for these reverse licenses which will go to compensate Kiribati for lost revenues suffered from restricting fishing licenses in PIPA. The problem isn’t the lack of funds, but the government’s incompetence in utilizing and investing them into the key strategic assets that will actually bring prosperity. 

Former respected president Anote Tong has also said: “I have retired, it is up to my party, the BKM, to work with other members of the Manaeba to figure out how to make reverse fishing licenses commercially viable and to save the PIPA.”

“It’s a huge blow for conservation but I think it’s a much bigger blow to our credibility as a nation,” he said. “The ability for any people to have any confidence in working with Kiribati like this in the future is going to be really diminished and that’s a real shame because there are very important partnerships that could be developed with Kiribati that have PIPA as the centrepiece”.

The TKB’s promises are just that, promises. They aren’t going to be fulfilled nor will prosperity be brought to the people. This is merely President Maamau and his party’s vie for power, leveraging their relationship with China to benefit themselves politically and financially.

Statement from Australian Government

 

As part of the bill passed by the Kiribati parliament, the Australian government, along with New Zealand, has provided the required items that the government has requested which includes:

Shelf-stable food

Clean bottled water

Quenchsea (portable devices for converting seawater into freshwater) 

P&G water purifying packets

N-95 Respirator gas masks

Tents

With these materials, we believe life in Kiribati should return to normal, or at least whatever close approximation of normalcy that is afforded to them in these trying times.

Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs,

Marise Payne

30th May, 2022

Use of the Coat of Arms 

The terms under which the Coat of Arms can be used are detailed on the following website: www.itsanhonour.gov.au/coat-arms. 

Contact us 

Communications Advice Branch Department 

One Canberra Avenue Forrest 

Email: governmentadvertising@gov.au

Rehabilitation of the Kanton Airstrip and Opening of PIPA

  KIRIBATI VOICE

Rehabilitation of the Kanton Airstrip and Opening of PIPA

15th May 2022

Tiaon Kaurob

Recently, China has drawn up plans to rehabilitate an airstrip and bridge on the island of Kanton, in the Phoenix Islands group in Kiribati. Kanton is strategically located midway between Asia and the Americas, and was used to host and refuel military aircraft during World War Two. 

Kanton has been used by the U.S. for space and missile tracking operations and its near 2-kilometer (6,562 ft) runway hosted long-range bombers during the war. Kanton used to be an important stop for civilian flights after World War Two, but the introduction of long-range jet aircraft meant that Kanton was no longer commercially viable as a refueling station. All airlines ended their operations there by the late 1950s, and the airstrip had fallen into disrepair. 

The repair of this airstrip, if supported by funds from the Chinese government, would provide an upgrade for the transportation system of our nation. As is well known, air travel in Kiribati has always been limited by the lack of infrastructure and a new airstrip would be an invaluable asset. Our government has added that rehabilitation of the site would support commercial air travel between Kiribati's islands and turn Kanton into a "high-end niche tourism destination.”

Further, the success brought by this endeavor would allow for a continuation of the friendly diplomatic ties between our nation and China, perhaps bringing in more funding and investments into our nation’s other development projects. 

In regards to other projects, China has also expressed support for the opening of PIPA, the Phoenix Islands Protected Area. In a recent statement, President Maamau has stated that “Similar to any Government, our decisions, as we make them, put the livelihoods of our people at the forefront and have been carefully considered and agreed to as a Government.” The Ministry of Line and Phoenix Islands Development has also approved of these plans, highlighting the great benefits it’ll bring to our nation. The opening of the area would provide vital growth for our economy and China has promised the sending of more fishing fleets to the area. 

The plans have not been set in motion, but the Cabinet of ministers in Kiribati is expected to further decide on whether to move forward with these plans to rehabilitate the Kanton airstrip.

INEFFICIENT GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO THE TINAKULA ERUPTION

 

INEFFICIENT GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO THE TINAKULA ERUPTION

1st May 2022 | Ioane Taom

As of yesterday, April 30th, our inept government has finally passed the long-delayed Tinakula Eruption Bill. Though it was a bill meant to address the immediate concerns of the people after the recent sudden disasters, it took the government nearly a month and more to pass with a bare minimum majority. Not only has it come late, it is also riddled with later amendments, leading to mass confusion and delay of relief operations. Further, despite the cumbersome amendments, the bill still fails to address key issues like cleaning up the volcanic ashes in the end. 

During our incompetent MP’s political gridlock, local councils and community elders have taken charge in relief efforts. Grassroots groups have transported urgent drinking and foods to areas that have suffered and provided basic medical care for those affected by the ashes. Further, local groups have also started reconstruction of submerged buildings. Ehukai Baoro, a leader of one of these groups in the Gilbert Islands have written to us, asking “Why is the government taking so long to respond to pressing issues? They have left us alone by ourselves and thank God the Kiribati people are a hardy and sturdy people who are capable by ourselves. What is the use of such a government?” 

Further, as predicted, rainfall has washed away much of the ashes on land and in nearby ocean areas. However, some of the ashes have contaminated the lagoons, contaminating various freshwater sources including numerous wells throughout our nation. The presence of causeways and seawalls has made it such that it is hard for the ocean to wash the lagoons away. Currently, there is still enough rainfall for sustenance, but the contaminated wells mean that a drought would be a life-threatening situation.

Our various ministries have also failed to respond to this crisis, with ministers caring more about their position as an MP than to fulfill the responsibilities that fall within their jurisdiction and, therefore, the welfare of their constituency rather than the nation’s benefits at large. The copious amount of time spent debating about where to set the center for transport efforts shows the members’ greedy vie for power. They have tried to benefit themselves in a national crisis — and last night was a shameful, ludicrous display of this fact.

President Maamau’s government’s negligent behavior —- exemplified by the complete lack of any sort of meeting of his cabinet —- is disgusting and a spit on the face of the hard efforts of the Kiribati people suffering from their incompetence. Where are the cabinet directives that display executive action, which arecrucial in a crisis? What are the party leaders doing letting their members fight with each other instead of cooperating to solve this common issue? Further, though President Maamau's government has emphasized the fostering of diplomatic relationships with China, they have failed to, at this crucial juncture, utilize this very relationship that they have spent so long to cultivate. They have removed diplomatic ties with Taiwan and restored ties with China because, they claim, China can offer much more resources and funds for our development efforts. Yet, none of these promises have been fulfilled. 

This past month has been a dark splotch in our nation’s history and we must fix our mistakes to place our next foot forward into the future.

Bill to Revoke PIPA

REPUBLIC OF KIRIBATI

7TH MEETING OF THE 12TH MANAEBA NI MAUNGATABU

ORDER PAPER

Monday 20 April 2022

10.00 AM

1. PRAYERS

Tamara are i karawa, a na tabuaki aram. E na roko ueam: E na tauaki am taeka i aon te aba n ai aron tauana i karawa. Ko na añanira karara ae ti a tau iai n te boñ aei. Ao ko na kabara ara buakaka mairoura n ai arora ñkai ti kabara te buakaka mairouia akana ioawa nako ira. Ao tai kairira nakon to kaririaki, ma ko na kamaiuira man to buakaka; ba ambai te uea, ao te maka, ae to neboaki, n aki toki. Amene.

2. ORAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

(Not included in this document) 

3. ANNOUNCEMENT BY HON. SPEAKER

(Not included in this document) 

4. BILLS 

Phoenix Islands Rising Act 2022

(Appended at the end of this document) 

5. MOTIONS

1. His Excellency Taneti Maamau, Te Berentitenti will move;

Motion No. 1

Motion to move into the first reading for the Government Bill titled ‘Phoenix Islands Rising Act 2022’

Dear members of our great Manaeba Ni Maungatabu. I welcome you back to our parliament, as we are able to officially begin proceedings in light of the recent tragedy that has struck the Solomon Islands, as well as our people. 

Let us have a moment of silence for the tragedy that has occured. 

[moment of silence]

Anyhow, our first order of business today is to open up the PIPA to commercial developments. As you may know, the decision to proceed to close off PIPA as a no-take zone was made on the assurances that a ‘reversed fishing license’ regime through the PIPA trust will compensate revenue forgone. However, the PIPA has failed to deliver on the ‘reverse fishing license’, and as a result, we have been missing out on a vital source of revenue for our people and their livelihoods. 

Furthermore, the independent advisory panel on the PIPA, has found that since the creation of PIPA in 2015, demand for our fishing permits has declined 8 percent, costing the country millions in revenue. Clearly, we need to woo foreign fishing vessels with better fishing grounds, otherwise they will leave us for bluer waters elsewhere.

Therefore, I implore all of you, especially my friends on the TKB bench to support my bill to bring great wealth to our people. This will take us further on the path to graduating from LDC status, so that we may join the other nations of the world in pursuing economic development. 

REPUBLIC OF KIRIBATI

PHOENIX ISLANDS RISING ACT 2022

PREAMBLE

With reference to the Phoenix Islands Protected Area Regulations 2008,

An Act to make provision for the opening of the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA) – a 408,250-square-kilometer marine protected area, to commercial fishing and economic development in Kiribati. 

Dated this 20th day of April, 2022.

OPERATIVES

Title

1. These regulations are called the Phoenix Islands Rising Act 2022.

Objective

2. The objective of this act is to reduce the size of the protected area for the terrestrial and marine resources of the Phoenix Islands, and to reverse the conditions stipulated in the Phoenix Islands Protected Area Regulations 2008.

Commencement

3. These regulations come into operation on the day they are published at the Office of Te Berentitenti.

Opening Of The Protected Areas

4. Reduces the size of the Phoenix Islands Protected Area, hereafter referred to as PIPA;

1. The size of the area shall be reduced to 3 miles off the coast of the islands of the region;

2. Areas that have as a result been removed from PIPA are to be opened to commercial fishing.

5. Urges commercial fishing to be undertaken by fishermen in need of more fishing grounds:

1. Countries immediately allowed into these fishing ground will include:

1. Kiribati

2. Japan

3. People’s Republic of China

2. Fishing licences will be sold through preexisting means

3. Additional countries may be added to this list on the permission of the President; the Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources Development (MFMRD); and the Minister for Lines and Phoenix Islands Development (MLPID).

6. The immediate abolishment of the PIPA Management Committee;

1. They are no longer required to submit management plans for the PIPA;

2. They are also no longer required to monitor the management of the PIPA.

Canton Cooperation Council

7. The formation of a ‘Canton Cooperation Council’;

1. A council created to allow the strengthening of economic ties between Kiribati and the People’s Republic of China;

2. This council will be filled with members decided by the Minister of Foreign Affairs;

8. For the Canton Cooperation Council to immediately consider preferential access for fishing vessels belonging to the People’s Republic of China to purchase licences for the period of the next 10 years.

[[SUBMITTERS]]

H.E. TANETI MAAMAU

Te Berentitenti

Published by exhibition at the Office of Te Beretitenti this 20th day of April, 2022.

DR. NAOMI BIRIBO

Secretary to Cabinet

 

Stalling of Council Directive

 

INEFFICIENT GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO THE TINAKULA ERUPTION

10 April 2022 | Ioane Taom

Our government is stalling on a potential bill that is being developed to help mitigate the issues caused by recent tsunamis that have hit the Gilbert Islands. It supposedly includes both a focus on local authorities to handle the immediate situation, and pleas to the international community, specifically Australia and New Zealand, to provide aid. Is this a moment of political polarisation, or even worse, is our government simply failing to address our urgent issues?

Even if it were not to stall in parliament, the bill concerningly does not address the problem of the volcanic ash that has been floating in and causing problems. Where are the provisions to clear this ash? It is a pressing concern and one that is urgent for the people of the Gilbert Islands. While this is a frightening series of events, the people of Kiribati are relying on their government to help them and keep them safe.

Another large elephant in the room is China, who has put out an official statement announcing that they also would be open to sending aid to Kiribati if they are allowed to upgrade an airstrip on remote Kanton, built by the US during World War II. “We sympathize with the people of Kiribati and wish to lend our support, which would only be possible with the improvement of transport links.” says Chinese Ambassador to Kiribati, Shen Zhiwei​​. The project would improve accessibility and facilitate the movement of urgent supplies. The relationship between Kiribati and China has been put under fire from outside actors in recent years, but due to the current unique circumstances, there is certainly a need to reconsider.

The governments of Australia and New Zealand have published statements urging government officials from Kiribati to reach out for aid, as they are unable to act without communication from the Kiribati side. “What is going on? How can we help them if we do not know what they need?” said New Zealand's minister of foreign affairs, Nanaia Mahuta.

Tsunami Exposes Vulnerability of Kiribati

 

Tsunami exposes Vulnerability of Kiribati to Ocean-Related risks

28th March 2022

Betero Kautum

As our citizens are, unfortunately, keenly aware of, the recent tsunami which struck Kiribati serves as a stark reminder of the ocean threats we face, and highlights the apparent lack of government foresight. This is exemplified in the lack of a universal evacuation protocol or infrastructure such as an inventory of food and water supplies to hold out during our time in the shelter.

Importantly, the Minister for Environment, Lands and Agriculture Development (MELAD) and MP Ruateki Tekaiara has been criticised for his lack of support for farmers nationally despite the flood ruining their fields and livelihoods. In contrast to such lack of care, his extremely fast response to his constituents - resulting in very little direct threat - has been seen as an example of ignoring national concerns while focusing on his own local constituency. Farmers have pressed the government heavily for support following the tsunami’s damage to their fields and cropland, as they expect to face poverty and possibly starvation and the loss of their livelihoods in the following months.

Furthermore, questions have been raised over the government's long-term plan for dealing with natural disasters and the ever-present issue of rising sea levels. It is understood that natural disasters and extreme weather events are only likely to get worse for Kiribati in the future. Concerns have been raised that the current ruling party in the government, the TKB, is not properly acknowledging the threats Kiribati faces. This is particularly worrying since the party’s stance of refusing to engage in ‘migration with dignity’ was based on their proclaimed desire and ability to develop Kiribati’s infrastructure so it could deal with crises like this.

Many have pointed to the actions of MP Terieta Mwemwenikeaki, secretary of the BKM, who has heavily developed the disaster mitigation facilities within his constituency. However, this is merely a short term solution,a nd in the long term, it is the position of the BKM that we must find a new home if we cannot convincingly find a way to stay on our own islands sustainably. We must act now, because we want to migrate with dignity by choice - not be forced out of our home as climate refugees. 

Our nation is at the forefront of climate change, predicted to be the first nation to be completely submerged by rising sea levels. The clear lack of efforts by President Maamau shows that he doesn’t have the benefit of the people at heart. Instead, he and his party has been sitting on their laurels since the last election. The people should make their voice heard and send their grievances to the government.