Nauru

This project will benefit around 75,000 people.

The assistance, comprised of a $21.6 million grant to Kiribati and a $15 million grant to Nauru, is part of the Improving Internet Connectivity for Micronesia Project supported by ADB. The project will help install a submarine cable connection between Kiritimati Island to a proposed transpacific cable system connecting Australia and Hawaii, while financing Nauru’s share of the East Micronesia Cable (EMC) System. The EMC system will be cofinanced by the World Bank and ADB.

The workshop was opened last week by Acting President and Minister for Justice and Border Control David Adeang, who said it was timely for the country, which is being reviewed as part of the second cycle of UNCAC peer-review process.

The country review is being conducted by Nepal and Burundi with the support of the UNODC and will commence this Thursday.

In his opening address, Mr Adeang explained that while Nauru is a small nation, “[we are] committed to a fair, just and prosperous existence for [our] people”.

The Minister for Home Affairs, Education, Land Management and Health, Charmaine Scotty said the policy will be applied across government departments and mainstreamed into policies and laws.

Scotty informed the 62nd session of the Commission on the Status of Women at the UN that Nauru will introduce Gender Responsive Budgeting to ensure that the national budget allocations are equal and optimally applied so output is the same for both men and women.

The Government of Nauru has chosen “Building a strong Pacific: Our Islands, Our People, Our Will” as the theme for this year’s gathering.

Related meetings leading up to the Pacific Islands Forum are:

Officials Meetings
Pre-Forum Forum Officials Committee – Samoa (August 6 – 8)

Ministerial Meetings
Forum Economic Ministers Meeting – Palau (April 25 – 27)
The Forum Education Ministers Meeting – Nauru (May 24)
Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting – Samoa (August 10)

The award recognises outstanding individual volunteers in Commonwealth member countries who are making a change in their community.

Drawing on her experiences as a wheelchair user, Thoma has been instrumental in shaping Nauru’s disability policies and practices for more than 30 years.

According to the Points of Light wesbite, Thoma successfully advocated for Nauru to sign legislation in accordance with the ‘UN Convention on the Rights for Persons with Disabilities.’

His appointment and oath taking ceremony took place on Tuesday March 13 before the Acting President of Nauru Hon David Adeang M.P. who is also the country's Minister for Justice.  

Under the Nauruan constitution, appointments of judges of the Supreme Court are made by the President.

Also present at the ceremony were the Chief Justice of Nauru Justice Filimone Jitoko, as well as the Registrar of the Supreme Court Mr Ronald Prakash.

The two leaders exchanged views on climate change, developmental cooperation and cooperation in international forums.

Waqa was in India to attend the first meeting of the ISA.

Nauru and India established diplomatic ties in 1968.

Photo MEA India

Ian Rintoul of the Refugee Action Coalition said 29 refugees left on Sunday comprising four families, eight children and several single men from Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

This is the fifth group to have departed Nauru since the US resettlement began in September 2016.

Mr Rintoul said although Australian Border Force officials have denied that any nationalities are banned from US resettlement, it was remarkable that no Iranian, Somalis, or Sudanese have been accepted this year.

The scheme was announced by the Australian government last September.

Through the Programme, approved employers who cannot fill positions from the Australian labour market are provided avenues through which they can recruit workers from the small island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu for three-year placements.

Businesses on Hayman and Hamilton Islands currently employ 54 i-Kiribati workers in hospitality roles. These workers provide much-needed skills to keep Australian businesses running following the devastating effects of Cyclone Debbie.

Since independence, Nauruans have been forced to appeal to the High Court of Australia, but Mr Adeang says having a local Court of Appeal which will sit and determine appeals in Nauru will mean appellants who file appeals will have easier access to justice.

“This will be less expensive and affordable for litigants who will be able to actually observe appeal proceedings, and will mean a greater degree of transparency in the delivery of justice.”