French Polynesia's Vice President, Edouard Fritch. (Photo courtesy of French Polynesian Assembly.)

Pacific scoop:
Report – By Virginie Ribadeau Dumas, in Wellington.

French Polynesia

Political crisis: Once again, a few parties at the French Polynesian Assembly sought the resignation of the President, Gaston Tong Sang. The move included a push by the Tahoeraa Party, lead by Vice-president Edourad Fritch, who at the time was attending the 2010 PIF in Vanuatu.

The political geography is complex in Tahiti. In an interview for Les Nouvelles on Tuesday, Fritch regretted the parliamentary instability and summarised his personal political position by confirming his loyalty to both Tong Sang and his Party.

Another target of the criticism was Gaston Flosse. With elections looming, all politicians are attempting to stand out, and a union of pro-autonomy parties seems less and less likely to happen.

PIF: The two prominent Polynesian political figures present in Vanuatu for 2010 Pacific Islands Forum came back home this week. Pro-autonomy Vice-president Edouard Fritch, French Polynesia’s official representative at the Forum, said he was pleased by the general conclusions in which Polynesia’s “interest” is mentioned, but voiced his regrets that the status of associate member does not allow the territory to take part in the decision-making process. Pro-independent Assembly President Oscar Temaru, also in attendance at the PIF, asserted that French Polynesia will not be able to play its role in the Pacific region until the territory becomes independent, and claimed he received promises from Pacific leaders to argue that French Polynesia ought to be included on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories.

Austerity measure: Les Nouvelles de Tahiti made public a letter sent by Gaston Tong Sang to his ministers, in which French Polynesia’s president calls for austerity measures including 400 job losses and tax increases. Last week, Tong Sang had already evoked a difficult situation of the territory’s budget, trying to reassure the opinion by announcing that French Polynesia could pay its public servants at least until to December.

Justice: Papeete Magistrate’s Court has rendered judgment on Tuesday morning concerning a case of misuse of corporate assets at TNTV, a local Polynesian TV channel. Former CEO Loïc Brigato got a 12-month prison sentence and a 5-year ban to manage a firm for having allegedly embezzled 4 million FCFP (NZ$ 60,000) between 2005-2006. Deputy CEO Erick Monod was sentenced 4 months of imprisonment for complicity.

Justice: At the beginning of the week, Les Nouvelles de Tahiti made public an official report on alleged “exorbitant expenses” and “blameworthy management” by former Polynesian Environment Company head Karl Meuel. Market allocations are also under scrutiny, and the daily revealed that a preliminary investigation had been launched last November.

French presence in the Pacific: On Tuesday, Jérôme Régnier succeeded Jean-Louis Vichot at the post of high commander of armed forces in French Polynesia, admiral in command for the Pacific maritime zone. Interviewed by Les Nouvelles de Tahiti, Vichot said there will be no military disengagement in the Pacific region in “term of abilities”.

Climate change: Tauirai Puarai, mayor of Napuka (Tuamotu Islands) tried to advance plans for climate change adaptation. His atoll is threatened by the rise of ocean sea levels due to the climatic change. He asked the Marquesas Islands’ mayors for a shelter for Napuka inhabitants.

Tourism: According to the Statistics Insititute of French Polynesia, touristic frequentation in the territory has fallen by 12.9% compared to May 2009. Since the beginning of 2010, the number of tourists is in average 10,8 % lower than year 2009.

Transport: after a Cabinet meeting, the French Polynesia government announced on Wednesday the affect mobilization of public authorities would mean. The plan seeks to ensure passenger shipping in the Leeward Islands is satisfactory. A high speed ship King Tomatoa had stopped its service in June, and no sustainable offer of shipping connection between Tahiti and the Islands have been made by the private sector yet.

French Polynesia-China: Interviewed by Les Nouvelles de Tahiti, Papeete mayor Michel Buillard made public his satisfaction with the Tahiti festival that took place last week in Nice (Southern France). After the French riviera, he wishes to establish ties with Shanghai. Two weeks ago, a canoe left French Polynesia to rally the Chinese megalopolis.

Cinema: French Polynesia refuses to provide French producer Mathieu Kassovitz with the administrative flotilla he needs to start the shooting of his new film, due to begin in three weeks. And yet, when Kassovitz announced his choice of French Polynesia as the setting of his new film, “Order and Moral”, recounting the tragic events of Ouvéa cave in New Caledonia, the territory had promised logistic and technical support. An agreement was reached on Tuesday, and the government has agreed to grant the flotilla, but the film production team will be charged for fuel.

Nickel: Owner of South Korean Gwandyang factory along with steel producer Posco, SMSP (South Pacific Mining Society) has called for an association of New Caledonian nickel producers to ensure a sustainable nickel supply.

Jobs: Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes reviewed the law on local jobs one mouth after it was passed. The law reinforces “local preference”, i.e. hiring locals rather than metropolitans or foreigners. The manager of Danièle Brault-Delahaie, a temporary job agency, says the measure adds another constraint to an already restricted market. Others like Philippe Martin, head of the New Caledonian Institute for Developping Competencies, thinks this law could help reduce inequalities and unbalances. The law will be enforced next year in the private sector only, though the spirit of the law already prevails in the public sector.

Consumption: While wheat prices are rising all around the world, some bakeries in Noumea have lifted the price of the bread and pastries. But wheat prices are not solely to blame, an increase in other raw material prices, such as butter, as well as tax rises ,are also part of the explanation.

Banks: Following the debate initiated by New Caledonia President Philippe Gomès and on the request of the Ministry of Economics, Christine Lagarde, the IEOM – the Reserve bank for French Pacific overseas territories – presented its first report on bank rates in New Caledonia. Those results will be used in future comparisons and will help lower the costs in accordance to the new legislation on banks.

Feature story: The New Caledonian police is investigating an alleged kidnapping. On Monday a 15-year-old girl, last seen in front of her home some 24 hours before, was found by the police on a hill, bearing marks on her writs and face. A Police investigation is ongoing.

Youth: The first Youth Council was created last weekend in the city of Mont-Dore. Like the elder councillors, the “town councillors” will gather once a month to identify youth problems in the city and make a proposition to the town executive.

Australia-New Caledonia: Australia and New Caledonia are celebrating the 70th anniversary of their bilaterial association. On this occasion, the Australian Consulate published a bilingual book with crossed perspectives on the story of these relations, often stormy in the past, but how differences have been soothed. Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes published an interview of John Daugh, Australian consul expelled by French authorities in the aftermath of the 1986-1987 incidents on the Island. The weekly also interviewed Anita Butler, current Australian representative. She states that there remains potential for further progress to be achieved between the two countries.

Virginie Ribadeau Dumas is conducting an internship at Scoop Media (NZ), and is a French student majoring in international affairs journalism at the Political Sciences Institute of Rennes (France).