Pacific Peoples' Partnership

Connecting Indigenous and Pacific Peoples

Pasifik Pulse News Brief

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COVID-19 in the South Pacific

Prepared by Peter Boldt, Multimedia Coordinator, Pacific Peoples’ Partnership

Covid-19 Pandemic in the South Pacific in numbers as of July 22nd, 2020 (Source: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/)

As the Covid-19 pandemic ravages much of the world, many South Pacific Islands have managed to resiliently stave off the virus. Despite its significant poverty levels, Timor-Leste has set an example to the rest of the international community, maintaining its total coronavirus case count to only 24. The Timor-Leste government acted quickly, calling an early state-of-emergency, locking down borders and enforcing strict quarantine measures. Nationwide, communities acted in accordance with government recommendations by staying home and avoiding crowds. The country, which just recently gained its independence in 2002, knew it had to act swiftly in order to avoid a collapse of its limited healthcare system.

New Zealand and the Marshall Islands followed in a similar fashion. Taking note of the staggering rate of infection around the world, governments in both countries enacted early travel bans and implemented broad and strict public health measures. For other countries, travel bans were implemented far too late and the consequences were severe. Aiming for a total limitation of who could enter the country, both the Marshall Islands and New Zealand were able to effectively stop the spread of the coronavirus in its tracks.

The Pacific Island diaspora, particularly in the United States, has been hit disproportionally hard by the coronavirus. In Los Angeles County, Pacific Islanders are suffering a higher rate of coronavirus infection than any other ethnic group. Public health experts are comparing Pacific Islanders’ struggle to those of the Latino community that has suffered a similar fate and have identified characteristics that may be contributing to high coronavirus vulnerability such as reduced access to healthcare, high levels of poverty, multigenerational/crowded households and underlying health conditions such as diabetes, and heart disease. Pacific Islanders themselves also note that certain cultural traditions such as large family gatherings and in-person church/funeral services may be contributing to high transmission rates. Similarly, Marshall Island communities in Oregon and Washington have been hit particularly hard. 

Palauan diplomat Ngedikes Olai Uludong in a podcast titled: Cultural identity, small island states, and climate change, has called on the international community to act in solidarity with regards to climate action in the same way it has in its response to the coronavirus pandemic. During the podcast, she goes on to say: “I learned that just because you’re from a small island doesn’t mean you can’t change the world.” A powerful message that speaks to the leadership and urgency needed to address climate change issues in small island states.

Black Lives Matter in Oceania

Prepared by Jaimie Sumner, Operations Coordinator, Pacific Peoples’ Partnership

The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement has rippled across the world.  A call to end the racism, police violence, and inequity faced by Black Americans has resonated far and wide, including in Oceania. Many are taking this moment to show solidarity, reflect on racism in their own communities, and learn how to take action.

Credit: Photo by Davon Michel from Pexels

Many Pacific Islanders have stood up with their Black American brothers and sisters and added their voices to the fight against anti-black discrimination.  BLM protests have sprung forth in Guam, American Samoa, Hawaii, New Zealand, and Australia.  Supporters held a BLM ceremony on the water at Launiupoko in Maui and Māori protesters performed a Haka at a protest in Christchurch.  For some great stories from Pacific BLM supporters, visit here.

Some amazing Pacific writers and speakers have expressed beautifully the strong connection between Pacific Islanders and the BLM movement.  You can read through Fijian-Tongan author Tagi Qolouvaki’s personal story about how Islanders can engage with BLM and challenge anti-blackness in their communities.  Or, for perspectives rooted in Hawai’i, check out Joy Enomoto’s reflection on BLM and Black history in Hawai’i and Marshallese writer Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner’s powerful spoken word poem (one curse word).  Or watch the recent livestream on BLM in Asia Pacific with Papuan lecturer Elvira Rumkabu and Wamba Wamba lawyer Eddie Synot.

In tandem with Black Lives Matter, a parallel movement has arisen in Indonesia called #PapuanLivesMatter (PLM).  This campaign was inspired by the BLM movement, as activists noticed the similar struggles of African Americans and Papuans against race-based oppression.  Papuan Lives Matter is not meant to detract from Black Lives Matter but to call attention to racism and police brutality against Papuans in Indonesian-controlled Papuan provinces.

BLM and PLM have touched many across Oceania, and we hope to carry these movements forward and challenge racism wherever it lingers.  For ways you can support this work, here are a few resources:

–          A Guide to Being an AAPI Ally to Black Lives Matter by ASPIRE

–          It Starts at Home: Confronting Anti-Blackness in South Asian Communities by the Queer South Asian National Network

–          Black Lives Matter USA–          Black Lives Matter Vancouver

Genetic Links Between Native Americans in South America and Pacific Islanders

Prepared by Andy Nystrom, Archivist & Research Assistant

On July 8, 2020, Stanford Medicine announced that their own scientists and collaborators conducted a study proving contact between Polynesians and Native Americans from what is now Colombia, and did so prior to the arrival in South America from Europeans. “To conduct the study, Ioannidis and a team of international researchers collected genetic data from more than 800 living Indigenous inhabitants of several South American countries, Mexico and Polynesia, conducting extensive genetic analyses to find signals of common ancestry. Based on trackable, heritable segments of DNA, the team was able to trace common genetic signatures of Native American and Polynesian DNA back hundreds of years.” This is something that had long been speculated but difficult to prove.  “Other studies have analyzed ancient DNA from bones belonging to Native Americans and native Polynesians. Ancient DNA samples, however, are often degraded, so these studies were unable to provide sufficient evidence that the two populations shared a moment in history.” According to Stanford postdoctoral scholar Alexander Ioannidis, “We found identical-by-descent segments of Native American ancestry across several Polynesian islands… It was conclusive evidence that there was a single shared contact event.” So around 1,200 AD, this contact resulted in children with DNA from both cultures.

Lisa Matisoo-Smith and Anna Gosling accept the likely contact date and even the suggestion that first contact could even have been as early as 1082. However, the study above suggests that they two groups met at Easter Island, where Native Americans already were, and the latter two authors claim that this is unlikely; they say it’s more likely that the long-distance voyaging was done by the Polynesians. “Polynesians are among the greatest navigators and sailors in the world. Their ancestors had been undertaking voyages on the open ocean for at least 3,000 years… Indigenous Americans have no history of open-ocean voyaging. Similarly, there is no archaeological evidence of pre-Polynesian occupation on any of the islands of Polynesia.” They also question the comparative populations. “The only non-East Polynesian Pacific population used in analyses was from Vanuatu. Taiwanese Aboriginal populations were used as representatives of the “pure” Austronesian ancestral population for Polynesians.” In the next paragraph, they add, “This is wrong and overly simplistic. Polynesian genomes themselves are inherently admixed. They result from intermarriages between people probably from a homeland in island southeast Asia (not necessarily Taiwan) and other populations encountered en route through the Pacific.”

The latest finding is only the latest look at the ties between Indigenous populations in North & South America and Pacific Islanders. A 2015 study found that “some Native American groups from the Amazon rainforest — also known as Amazonia — derive a fraction of their ancestry from a population that is more closely related to the Onge from the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal, New Guineans, Papuans and indigenous Australians than it is to present-day Eurasians or Native Americans.” This genetic signature is absent in Native American populations in North and Central America. Prior to that, a 2013 DNA study found a link between Indigenous Brazilians and Polynesians. Sérgio Pena, a “molecular geneticist at the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Belo Horizonte, Brazil” and his colleagues looked at “samples drilled from teeth in 14 Botocudo skulls kept in a museum collection in Rio de Janeiro.” Twelve of the skulls did not show any evidence related to Pacific Islanders, but “mtDNA from two of the skulls included a haplogroup commonly found in Polynesia, Easter Island and other Pacific island archipelagos”.  At the time, they concluded that Polynesians voyaging to the west coast of South America and making their way to southeastern Brazil was unlikely due to the Andes. Still, it is clear from both these earlier studies and the study from this month that there is some ties between Native South Americans and Pacific Islanders, particularly Polynesians, and that these ties happened prior to Europeans arriving at South America.

People & Passages

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Vanuatu 40th Anniversary of Independence

PPP offers our congratulations to the Island Nation of Vanuatu on their 40th Anniversary of Independence!  Imagine the power of 20,000 people marching through the COVID free streets of Port Vila to celebrate Vanuatu’s independence.  We join the Pacific Islands Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (PIANGO) commendation of Vanuatu’s leadership concerning West Papua’s freedom, quoting Vanuatu founding father and first PM Walter Lini that “Pacific will not be free unless all colonized territories including West Papua is free.”

See a video of the celebration here

Credit: Media Courtesy of Vanuatu Minister Ralph Regenvanu

Jacky Teagai

On April 27 2020, at the age of 51, after a long fight with cancer, Jacky Avrenant Ronal Teagai departed this world peacefully in his home in Courtenay, BC Canada. He was surrounded by his loved ones while listening to his favourite songs from the islands and accompanied in prayer by his family. 

Jacky was born in Papeete, Tahiti, on October 29 1968. His mother was Marquesian from Hiva-Oa, and his father was from Takaroa, in the Tuamotu atolls.   He grew up in New-Caledonia where he later got married in 1991 to Natasha Olivari, and had his firstborn son there too. In August 1994, he moved to the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island with his family, following his in-laws and soon after welcomed two more sons, and later, a daughter. He became a grandfather 3 years ago. He is survived today by three sisters and a brother, as well as his wife of almost 29 years, and his four children, Denyss, Darel, Melvin and Vehine Teagai.

Jacky had two places he called home, Vancouver Island and New-Caledonia. As he was aware of his coming death, he made it clear that the two most important things in his life were his faith and his family.

Jacky’s family shared this quote in rememberance:

“Blessed is the soul which, at the hour of its separation from the body, is sanctified from the vain imaginings of the peoples of the world. Such a soul liveth and moveth in accordance with the Will of its Creator, and entereth the all-highest Paradise.”  Baha’u’llah, from the Baha’i Writings

Jacky was fondly remembered by his good friend Ake Lianga, a Solomon Islander and long time PPP friend also living in BC Canada:

Jacky, you were a true friend.  A friend who was funny and with a great sense of humour. You were humble and loved to entertain everyone around you, the Pacific Island way. I am blessed to have known you those years. You showed kindness with a great heart to those that came across your path. Those times you invited me to spend time with your family, in Black Creek, you showed me to expect nothing more but live a simple life and be happy; “a true island way”. You had once encouraged me not to forget, but to embrace our South Pacific Island culture and knowledge wherever we live. I recalled on that day, some 22 years ago, walking along the street in Courtenay, a man yelled across the parking lot, “hey, you from Pacific?” and you were quite curious. Your face lit up in excitement as we introduced ourselves. It was the beginning of our friendship. I remember you convinced me to try to learn how to ride a bike for the first time and thought it was quite hilarious as Denyss, Darel, Melvin looked on, cheering and laughing. I will cherish every wonderful memory with you and your family, my friend and the love you shared with everyone around you. May your soul rest high and in peace with the almighty.

COVID-19 Safety Plan

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Risk Assessment

We have assessed the risks of COVID-19 at the PPP office based on information from WorkSafe BC and the Government of BC.  We are a small organization with lower risks than many; even so, we are treating this pandemic with utmost seriousness.  We are committed to safeguarding the health and safety of our staff, board, and volunteers, as well as our partners and visitors, as we carry out our work.

Transmission of COVID-19

“The virus that causes COVID-19 spreads in several ways.  It can spread in droplets when a person coughs or sneezes.  It can also spread if you touch a contaminated surface and then touch your face.  The risk of person-to-person transmission increases the closer you come to other people, the more time you spend near them, and the more people you come near.  The risk of surface transmission increases when many people contact the same surface and when those contacts happen over short periods of time.” (WorkSafe BC)

Assessment of risks at the PPP office:

Frequent touchpoints:

  • Door handles/surfaces – exterior building door, exterior office door, and interior office doors
  • Elevator buttons (and riding in close proximity to other people)
  • Stair handles
  • Light switches
  • Office phones
  • Shared computers and technology including the TV, printer, desktop computers, laptops
  • Table/desk surfaces and chairs
  • Kitchen counters, faucet, and fridge handle/surfaces
  • Washrooms shared with other offices – doors, surfaces, toilets, taps, proximity to other people

Person-to-person contact:

  • Meetings with staff, board, and volunteers
  • Meetings with organizational partners
  • Shared use kitchen and meeting room

Protocols to Reduce Risk

Cleaning & Hygiene:

  • Building management has extra cleaners sanitizing surfaces, railings, elevators, washrooms, and office external door handles throughout the day, but we must also sanitize our office doors and necessary surfaces/equipment in the office
  • Sanitize office door surfaces and handles at least twice a day (at opening and closing)
  • Maintain open doors when in office to reduce touchpoints
  • Use stairs and avoid using the handle if safe.  If using the elevator, ride alone if possible
  • Wash hands upon arrival in the office and throughout day
  • Provide ample cleaning materials for sanitizing office & washing hands
  • Clean frequently used surfaces (door surfaces/handles, tables, equipment in use, kitchen tap, fridge handle/surface) at least twice a day and less frequently used surfaces at least once a day
  • Designate one person per office phone
  • Designate one person per computer or laptop if possible
  • Supply each staff member/volunteer with individual office supplies wherever possible
  • Designate one person to use printer per day and send documents to that person electronically
  • Wipe down surfaces & equipment before and after use – If the surface has dirt or debris, clean it with soap and water before disinfecting
  • Consider bring your own utensils and dishes if eating in office
  • Wash your own dishes after use and sanitize any kitchen surfaces and equipment you use
  • Consider using single use washrooms or entering shared washrooms only when vacant
  • Wash hands after returning to office from shared washrooms

Social Distancing:

  • Limit the number of staff and volunteers in the workplace, adjusting schedules to ensure no more than 3 in office at a time from June 1, opening up to 5 or more in July depending on current government / WorkSafe safety directives
  • Remain 5 square metres away from others while in office
  • Relocate workstations to be at a greater distance from each other
  • Allow people in office to wear masks if they want and provide training on usage and limitations
  • Post occupancy limits for office as a whole (3 until early July reassessment) and each room (1 each in offices/entrance vestibule, 2 in meeting room, 1 in kitchen)
  • Prohibit visitors in the office until reassessment in early July
  • Continue to schedule meetings online rather than in-person as much as possible
  • Assess partners’ precautions and provide our protocols to them before meeting in person
  • Avoid any travel for meetings between communities that is not essential until end of June, check back to see if travel is allowed within BC from July to September
  • Supply 1-2 masks in case anyone in office begins exhibiting symptoms

Training & Signage:

  • Train and post signage directing workers, volunteers, and visitors on how to conduct themselves to maintain safety and to approach Executive Director or Operations Coordinator with any concerns
  • Send the following materials to staff, board, and volunteers:
    • Office Policy
    • Illness Policy
    • Transmission of COVID-19
    • Cleaning & Hygiene Protocols
    • Social Distancing Protocols
    • Mask Usage
  • Post the following signage in office:
    • Cleaning & Hygiene Protocols
    • Social Distancing Protocols
    • Handwashing
    • Room Occupancy Limits
    • Office Occupancy Limit
    • Office Policy

Policies

Office Policy

Visitors to the office are prohibited until reassessment early July.

Staff and volunteers are permitted in office to a maximum of 3 at a time until reassessment early July.

People who are prohibited from entering the office:

  • Anyone who has had any of the COVID-19 symptoms in the lasts 10 days is prohibited from the workplace.  Symptoms include fever, chills, new or worsening cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, and new muscle aches or headache.
  • Anyone directed by Public health to self-isolate.
  • Anyone who has arrived from outside Canada or had contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case must self-isolate for 14 days and monitor for symptoms.

Illness Policy

  • If a staff member, volunteer, or visitor to the office begins to feel severely ill, call 911.
  • If a staff member, volunteer, or visitor starts exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 in the office, they should put on a mask (provided in Ziploc on front desk), wash their hands, and go directly home.  Once home, they should consult the COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool online, call 811 for further guidance, and self-isolate for 10 days.  All surfaces they came into contact with should be immediately cleaned and disinfected.

Training Policy

  • Staff, board, & volunteers will be provided Office Policy, Illness Policy, Cleaning & Hygiene Protocols, and Social Distancing Protocols in advance of attending the office
  • Signage will be posted detailing effective hygiene practices, occupancy limits, and mask usage, occupancy limits, and Office Policy, and Illness Policy
  • Executive Director and Operations Coordinator will monitor the workplace to ensure policies and protocols are being followed

Supplied Items

  • Microban spray cleaner and paper towels (these are on the government’s list of hard-surface disinfectants)
  • Hand soap for the kitchen sink
  • Hand sanitizer for each room (however, washing hands with soap and water will be encouraged as it is more effective)
  • 1-2 masks in case of staff/volunteers/students/visitors developing symptoms at the office

This plan will be updated in response to changes in the situation with COVID-19 and new recommendations from the Government of BC and WorkSafe BC.

Statement of Solidarity with Black Lives Matter

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The Pacific Peoples’ Partnership (PPP) has always and continues to stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter.

 

We support the fight for equality, liberation, and justice.

 
 
Our struggles for black rights, Indigenous rights, and human rights are interconnected and come from the lived experiences within our PPP Board and our wider PPP community.
 
 
Equality, liberation, and justice are integral to the work we do in partnership with Indigenous peoples, nations, and communities in Canada and throughout the South Pacific, and we are dedicated to upholding those values and practices.
 
 
– PPP Board and Staff
 
 
Photo: PPP President Mua Va’a and family at June 7 BLM rally. Photo by Johanna Buermans
 

Implications of Super-Cyclone Harold April 15, 2020

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Vanuatu and Fiji are among the countries recovering from the impact of Cyclone Harold, a category 5 storm that hit the region in mid-April. $2.5m from the UN’s emergency humanitarian fund will help thousands of people in Vanuatu affected by Cyclone Harold. The UN has also offered support to other hard-hit countries in the South Pacific. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), “Initial assessments suggest as much as 90 percent of the population in Sanma, the most affected province of Vanuatu, lost their homes, and more than half of all schools and almost a quarter of health centres were damaged.” Emergency funds will go to safe drinking water, food, shelter, and healthcare.

Rock of Pangi, South Pentacost, Vanuatu. ©World Travel Guide

Damage on the Vanuatu island of Pentecost has been compared to a bombing.  Two of Vanuatu’s four deaths occurred there: a 90-year-old woman died after the cyclone tore off the roof of her home in Lekaro village, while a falling concrete wall at a church hall in Melsisi killed another woman. She had taken refuge with her family in a church hall where many others had sought shelter. The president of the newly-formed Port Vila Pentecost Disaster Committee, Ian Baltor, claims that response from the Red Cross and the National Disaster Management office ”was very late”, adding, “They have dropped off some relief packages but that was after a week. To me that is too long.”

The Fiji Government has declared a thirty-day State of Natural Disaster for areas affected by Cyclone Harold. This allows the permanent secretary and minister “the powers to use government resources for works needed in the affected areas to bring about normalcy”. For areas of the Pacific impacted by the cyclone, relief efforts have been impacted by the coronavirus. These countries are having to balance COVID-19 lockdown efforts with cyclone relief (at a time when Fiji has the virus) and subject any relief supplies to quarantine (three days in Vanuatu), among other issues.

For a comprehensive assessment of the COVID-19 virus as it is unfolding in many South Pacific countries and territories, please click here.

Prepared by Andy E. Nystrom, PPP Archivist & Research Assistant.

 

Pasifik Currents May 2020 Executive Message

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April keeps safe with a Fijian-pattern mask made by her mother in law.

Talofa Lava Friends,

We are in an historic moment in time, one that has the potential to change our lives forever. While we are impacted differently in each part of the globe, we share the opportunity to address systemic changes and challenges that can positively transform our world, if we act together.

Early this month Pacific Peoples’ Partnership (PPP) marked our 45th Anniversary by launching a campaign for our Pacific Resilience Fund. Donations through this fund are distributed equitably throughout the South Pacific, and most importantly, they support Islander-led processes at the community level. Our local partners continue to work together and build resilience even in the face of recent crises, including COVID-19 and Cyclone Harold, both of which you will see covered with stories in this issue. PPP stands in solidarity with our friends and neighbors in the South Pacific – will you join us and be a part of building this legacy?

Makere – a recent donor to the Pacific Resilience Fund – wrote in the Maori language: “Tena koutou ki a koutou katoa, he koha iti, engari he koha aroha tenei…”  “We are with you all. A little gift, but this is a love gift…”

This sentiment is shared by PPP’s Samoan-Canadian President Muavae Va’a, who passionately shared his own stories of resilience and urged your solidarity. “As a Pacific Islander, it is important to me to support our peoples back home… Let’s begin today…even small amounts will

In November 2019, Samoan Elders Po & Savea joined program partner Eco Canada’s Kori, April and Mua at an Indigenous Youth Climate Connect workshop held at ȽÁU, WELṈEW̱ Tribal School on Vancouver Island, Canada.

be helpful.”  We invite you to watch his 8-minute video message.

While the immediate challenges of the recent cyclone and COVID-19 crises may take up our days, we are all adjusting to this new reality. PPP and our partners continue to work in physical isolation, but please know that we are working hard to make an impact – even virtually!

Within this edition of Pasifik Currents, you will find feature stories on our 45th Anniversary, updates from the HELP Resources Papua New Guinea project Vendors Collective Voices, inspiring stories from up and coming young female leaders, plus more people, program and news updates.

Save the date: “Giving Tuesday” will take place on May 5th as an emergency response to COVID-19. This is a global day of giving and unity that demonstrates the power of our collective generosity. Look to hear from us and the communities we are supporting in the South Pacific.

Thank you for continuing this Pacific Peoples’ Partnership journey. We look forward to you standing in solidarity with us well into the future!

April Ingham, Executive Director

Pacific Peoples’ Partnership

 

Coronavirus Impact on Pacific Island Nations and Territories

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Research and story compiled by Andy E. Nystrom, PPP Archivist & Research Assistant

The following information is accurate to April 15, 2020. For the most up-to-date information tracking the COVID-19 virus in South Pacific nations, we recommend Worldometer’s website which regularly updates cases, deaths, and testing. For most countries the information can be found here.  For those countries that are under control of the United States, as well as Hawaii, click on USA in the above link or click here. 

COVID-19 Info Poster in Papua New Guinea

According to The Guardian’s weekly briefing on the Pacific on April 15, infection figures for the Pacific, while still low, more than doubled from the previous week. While Fiji, French Polynesia, and New Caledonia cases levelled out after their initial rise, they could rise again rapidly should containment efforts fail. A virtual meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum on April 7 led to the establishment of the Pacific Humanitarian Pathway for the Pacific (PHP-C), which “provides political commitment to the movement of humanitarian and medical assistance to countries affected by Covid-19, particularly where normal transport routes have been impeded by border closures.”

The following information from the above article on what the Pacific governments are doing as of mid-April is quoted verbatim, including the hyperlinks from the original article:

 Papua New Guinea: The government has opened a Covid-19 treatment centre in Port Moresby, which can cater for up to 76 patients. Traditional border crossings (into and from Indonesia, Australia, the Federated States of Micronesia, and Solomon Islands) have been forbidden. The military has been deployed to patrol in some places, especially along the Indonesia border. More than 300 people have registered their interest in being repatriated from around the world.

 Fiji: Specialised military vehicles received from China will be used in the fight against Covid-19. The government has allowed for repatriation flights from the US and Australia. Returnees will be required to undergo 14 days of strict quarantine on arrival.

 Solomon Islands: Parliament has voted for a four-month state of emergency covering Honiara. Dr Claude Posala who is chair of the Solomon Islands Medical Association, was sacked after taking to Facebook to criticise the government response to Covid-19. The government has closed its maritime border with Bougainville and imposed a two-night curfew over the Easter weekend

 Vanuatu: Authorities are maintaining strict protocols for receipt of medical and other humanitarian assistance to minimize risks of introducing the virus. This includes sanitation of supplies received and keeping any accompanying personnel air side. The government has determined that no foreign personnel will be allowed to enter Vanuatu to assist with the humanitarian response to cyclone Harold.

 New Caledonia: Restrictions on travel and public gatherings have been extended until 19 April. The customary Senate has called for restrictions to be imposed for longer and wants all weddings this year cancelled. But the provincial president of the Loyalty Islands says the restrictions should be relaxed in his province. Repatriation flights continue, including from Japan and French Polynesia.

 Samoa: The prime minister has indicated he has no intention of re-opening borders. The government has announced an economic stimulus package with focus on supporting tourism. The Samoa Hotels Association says 50 hotels have closed and 500 workers have been laid off, with more job losses expected.

 Marshall Islands: The government has sought to quell community concerns about proposed and rumoured arrivals by sea and air. The Nitijela was reconvened for an emergency two-day session which included a lengthy briefing from the national disaster committee. An economic impact committee has been established to assess the impact of the shutdowns in various sectors including tourism, hospitality and aquaculture.

 Federated States of Micronesia: President David Panuelo has announced a $15m economic stimulus package, with a focus on wage subsidies.

 French Polynesia: President Édouard Fritch has advised citizens and residents who are stranded overseas, including in France, that there are no plans to facilitate their repatriation.

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands: The government has announced that the public service will be cut in half as a result of a Covid-19 related economic collapse.

Reports from other sources are presented below:

Palau’s President Tommy Remengsau is enforcing strict isolation steps in his country.  He has shut off the tourism-dependent nation and plans to continue the isolation until the rest of the world is over the worst of the virus, even if the cost to the government is 60% of tax revenue.

People breaking quarantines is an issue in the Pacific.  “One sailor in Guam was caught leaving his room while in quarantine. Meanwhile in Fiji, multiple people breaking the strict lockdown rules has led Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama to state those who breach any such regulations should be ‘dismissed’.”

The Hill is critical about the lack of coverage of US territories that are not one of the 50 states, noting that while stats for them are being reported, they are generally left off of corona virus maps of the US. Most Americans know about the USS Roosevelt being docked in Guam but little about Guam itself. In Guam the military “controls nearly a third of Guam’s land. COVID-19 infected sailors from the USS Roosevelt are being moved to the Guam Naval Hospital. Sailors who test negative and are asymptomatic are being quarantined in hotels and kept under military surveillance. This latter move has local leaders and the general public worried that they could endanger the island’s overall health.” The article also notes the difficulties in assessing contagion in the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa (the latter thus far having no confirmed cases) because “they both lack testing capacity and must send their specimens to Guam.”

You can help by making a donations to PPP’s  Pacific Resilience Fund which will support COVID-19 relief efforts in the Pacific Islands region. For more information click here.

COVID-19 Impacts on the Informal Economy in Wewak, Papua New Guinea

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By Penial Kabilo, Project Lead, Vendors Collective Voices, HELP Resources

Quick statistics: With the markets closed since March 28 2020, 1400 vendors in the Wewak market could not earn a living for 4-5 weeks now. At least 500  street vendors sold outside the market. And at least another 500 had so called table markets around a small radius from the market. So approx 2500 had their livelihood greatly impacted. 

With most urban markets around the country temporarily closed due to the Corona virus threat, local informal economy workers are already

Empty Wewak Market

feeling the brunt of this global pandemic. Unlike workers in the formal systems who are guaranteed some social security during the lock-down, informal workers are not eligible for such social protection.

Social distancing and staying at home are death sentences for this group of workers that work in a grey area of the economy. Those in authority are of the perception that informal economy workers are involved in illegal activities, they are unimportant, that it is largely women’s work therefore is of no real significance and is less productive. However, these workers play a crucial role in the functioning of urban centres. Market vendors maintain urban food security, provide nutritious street food, reduce poverty by offering low cost food alternatives and other services.

Their absences on the streets and in markets around the country in the last one and half months is surely affecting the proper functioning of urban life. Urban food security is under threat during the lock-down, as not all urban residents

The same area before the lock down and State of emergency.

are able to stock up on store goods. Much needed cheap local organic food is not reaching consumers, the absence of this marginalized and vulnerable group is beginning to be noticed by the majority and those in authority.

If there was a time that those in authority can provide social assistance to informal workers, now is the time. But for a country like PNG where social security systems are almost non-existent, it is an impossible task.

However, such decisions are made to safeguard our health and minimize the spread of the Corona Virus. A sad fact that many informal economy workers and the general public must accept and live with.

Closure of Wewak Main Market and other privately run markets.

 The closure of the main market took effect on 28th March and has been so for more than 1 month now.  The Provincial Chairman for the COVID- 19 response team recently announced through a circular that the main market will still be closed until such time the threat from COVID-19 is neutralized, for time being designated areas for temporary markets are at Boram/Moem Junction, Kaindi and Yawasoro. Small suburban markets are encouraged with social distancing and good hygiene practices to be observed. Vendors at other districts are encouraged to trade in their respective districts.

 The Wewak Town Market on average has 1200 vendors and is one of the main revenue earners for Wewak Urban Local Level Government, with an estimated 1.4 million Kina (450 000 US Dollars) rolling into the Local Level Government’s account per year (HELP Resources Baseline report 2018). With its closure, revenue shortfall is imminent, according to the Wewak Urban LLG who went on the local news, casual staff will be laid off due to shortfall in revenue. They have since been pressuring the Provincial COVID-19 task-force chairman to reopen the market.

Vendors are also affected by the closure, in one of HELP Resources community outreach to Hawain, a village located outside of the urban boundaries, village women have expressed dissatisfaction at the current situation. They have no space to bring their produce to sell and the designated areas available for trading are not safe. They have made pleas to authorities to have some proper systems in place during this state of emergency.

This area is usually crowded during fortnights, not the case in this photo taken last week Friday (24th April).

Since then, pressure from vendors, the general public and the Wewak Urban Local Level Government has made the Provincial Covid-19 task-force to reconsider their decision. Just recently in our meeting with the Local Level Government Officials 28th April HELP Resources has been notified that a decision has been reached on the 22nd April to reopen the Town Market on the 5th of May. However other smaller suburban markets and the two privately run markets (Dagua and Kreer) will not be opened to the general public, a decision that will surely create some hot air. Scholar Sengi who is an urban reseller has already made an appeal to local authorities to reopen Dagua Market, she buys betel nut from rural vendors and resells this at Dagua Market. Since the closure of the market she and other urban resellers were forced to sell at their respective communities and other unfamiliar territories. She has since noticed a big decline in her revenue and cannot fully support her family.

Other vendors who depend mostly on informal economy have all expressed similar sentiments. Not only does the market closures affect their daily income but also the lack of customers. The travel restrictions and the general panic of contracting the virus has caused people to stay at home. Maria, 70-year-old woman who sells

Maria selling next to her house at Sepik Timber

home baked scones in front of her house is one such vendor who is finding it very hard to make ends meet due to this situation. Her husband is unemployed, and their only source of income is from her daily sales.

Food security in Wewak

The closure of the Main market and two privately run markets has affected the food security of urban residents. These markets supply fresh vegetables and other local spices as well as fresh fish and other sea foods. Market closure means no supply. Not all urban residents in Wewak can afford to relay on store goods for two weeks, markets complement their meals.  Nutritious organic foods from the rural areas are in demand at these times. The designated markets in operation are operating on ad hoc, no regulations on prices and no form of management. Their operations are based on mutual understanding between vendors and customers, security is also a concern as these markets are pushed to the fringes of the town.

HELP Responses to this crisis

Rural vendors selling at one of the designated areas, (Kaindi).

The State of Emergency and COVID-19 threat has not deterred the team from HELP Resources from going ahead with our project activities, however on a lesser scale than was expected. The team has realised that informal economy vendors are the most affected group within our societies at this very challenging time, hence the office must operate to serve, protect and represent their interests.  The Project, Vendors Voice shaping Informal Economy’s main activity for this year, the informal economy community information sessions will be used as a forum to encourage, communicate and strengthen vendor’s spirits at this dark period. Moreover, HELP Resources is also in dialogue with Local Government and other partners to assist with the reopening of the main market. The office is also assisting women who cannot sell their handicraft by advertising on social media.  All our field activities are strictly planned with close observations to State of Emergency rules and COVID-19 Health requirements.

Penial Kabilo, Project Lead, Vendors Voice Shaping Informal Economy Development.  Penial’s main role is to provide leadership in the projects operations that includes leading a cadre of community based IE advocates, provide advice to existing vendor’s association and guide formations of new associations, providing training to local government officials, vendors and other stakeholders on Informal economy development and also liaise between HELP Resources and local government on the projects development. Plus maintain and provide updates on the project development on social media.

RECENT FACEBOOK UPDATES:

HELP Resources meets with Wewak Town Authorities April 28, 2020

Amid the doom and gloom of COVID-19, some positives are slowly emerging for informal economy workers, especially the market vendors and the residents of Wewak town. A brief brainstorming meeting was held today with partners from Wewak Urban Local Level Government and Wewak Town Commission. The main agenda was on the effects of COVID-19 on the informal economy in Wewak and how best HELP Resources can assist with the reopening of Wewak Town Market with respect to current SOE rules and COVID-19 health measures. We have been assured by Mr. Kabaru and the Deputy Mayor that the Town Market will reopen on May 5th. Unfortunately, all other roadside markets will remain closed. Other designated markets at Boram Junction, Old Airstrip, Kaindi and Yawasoro will remain open for the time being.

HELP Resources informal market meetings about COVID

Information Session at Tui village, Hawain by HELP Resources on the Informal Economy and the importance of vendor’s voice. With the current (COVID) restrictions and closure on Wewak’s main market, rural vendors are finding it very tough, the importance of having a united voice at these uncertain times is vital in bringing rural vendors concerns to relevant authorities.

HELP-Resources Project in PNG’s East Sepik Province, Year 2

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By Jill Akara Bosro, Manager, Help Resources

 In 2017 Pacific Peoples’ Partnership (PPP) and HELP-Resources (HELP-R) planned a three-year project to demonstrate effective, district-level implementation of the Papua New Guinea’s Informal Economy Act, and associated government policy and strategy. Funded by the Commonwealth Foundation (CF), this pilot project aims to facilitate education, information and training that will motivate and support emerging vendors organisations and their leaders to find their collective voice while influence planning and budgeting for effective development.

Geraldine, (and grandson) maker and trader of re-usable shopping bags

With a population of about 25,000, Wewak town has at least fifteen ‘markets’ and many more informal, street trading hubs of various sizes, operating under different regimes. Only one is managed by local government. Every day, an estimated three to five thousand women are trading under challenging conditions. While some women vendors can build viable, small enterprises, most live precariously from day to day, on small incomes derived from informal trade as many have done for decades. Wewak’s main market has 1,000-1,500 women vendors’ daily – 96% are female or children.

In October 2018 HELP-R with a team of vendors and local community development leaders, completed a baseline survey across Wewak’s only government-managed market and twelve more informal markets. A comprehensive first year report by Elizabeth (Sabet) Cox appeared in the March 2019 edition of Pasifik Currents.

In a new development at the start of Year 2, PNG’s national government decided to include the East Sepik Province in a National Audit of the Informal Economy (IE), and UN Women announced that it will launch a market-based project in another rural district of East Sepik Province, complementary to the HELP Resources project. In addition to the government statistical audits and the UN’s large-scale project scoping, HELP-R’s more in-depth qualitative baseline survey brought a strong gender analysis and rights framework that informs and complements these new efforts to roll out government IE policy.

The findings were presented to key stakeholders followed-up several weeks later with a well moderated seminar with senior government officials and newly elected mayor and local government councilors, vendors leaders, and representatives of local police, public health and commerce. Representatives of both government and vendors had an opportunity to dialogue and made important “in principle” commitments to work together for change.

There were slight delays due to local government elections, and a change of key personnel in the Wewak Town Commission. But interest and commitment to develop structures and processes for the constructive engagement of organised vendors and local government have been shared publicly with an event to formalize this agreement – re-scheduled to the first quarter of year 3 of the Project.

HELP Resources Informal Economy Educators and Advocates

In Year 2, HELP-R has focused more on women vendors ‘education and organisation for constructive engagement with local government. This is based on its comparative advantage in working with women vendors, informing and educating them through a range of popular education strategies and tools.

Throughout the second half of year 2, HELP-R has worked intensively with:

  1. the local government as duty bearers and administering authority of the PNG Informal Economy policy and law.
  2. the emerging vendors’ organisation representing the collective voice of citizens active in the informal economy and rights holders under the IE law and PNG Constitution

Both government officials on the ‘supply side’ and market and street vendors on the ‘demand side’, have been supported to learn about PNG Informal economy policy and legislative framework, as well as the (Vendors) Voice strategy of government, launched in 2018, which is directly aligned with the HELP-R Vendors Voice project. Both government and vendors have started to see a way forward.

A large group of Women Sepik River sago traders in Wewak market

The baseline survey was extended to include the rural local government areas of Wewak District. Field trips were arranged, and political and practical support was provided by the office of the Governor of the East Sepik. Throughout May and June 2019, a 2-woman research team re-visited the 12 markets originally covered, plus an additional 24 markets, covering all wards and Local Governments in Wewak District. They observed and documented the history, operations, strengths and challenges of these diverse markets and trading hubs. The field researchers met and talked to local community leaders about the social and economic significance of their trade and the trends they had observed over the years. They recorded responses and testimonies and statements by vendors. These were transcribed to give a snapshot situational analysis of 37 markets in Wewak District. HELP-R team has continued to visit and reach out to the rural vendors so that their Voice is not silenced by that of urban vendors and that their specific issues will be recognized. The baseline survey report was compiled in June and published locally in July.

HELP-R has recently been invited by UN Women to bid for a tender to provide capacity development and training for vendors’ organisations in 2020. This would be a welcome supplement to the limited project funds available to strengthen vendors organisations.

Breaking news: HELP-R has just provided PPP with a COVID market impact update, see this here.

Founded in 1999, HELP Resources is currently led by a younger generation of development workers with a mission to work with local government and civil society to deliver more effectively on laws, policies and strategies for social protection and development. You may visit the HELP Resources Facebook page, to follow the project’s progress.  All photos are submitted by Help-R

Based in London, England, the Commonwealth Foundation, is the Commonwealth’s agency for civil society, supporting participation in democracy and development. It supports ‘civic voices’ to act together and influence the institutions that shape people’s lives.

RedTide Summit 2020 Postponed Due to Coronavirus

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RedTide logo by Mark Gauti, T’Sou-ke Nation

In 2018 PPP was part of a remarkable project that saw the birth of the RedTide International Indigenous Climate Action Summit. This was hosted by Toitoi Manawa Trust in May 2018 in Te Kaha, Aotearoa (New Zealand). Attending that first RedTide was youth activist Kalilah Rampanen from the Nuu-chah-nulth Territory of Ahousaht on Vancouver Island, British Columbia which became the designated location and host for RedTide 2020. Kalilah was named youth Chair of RedTide 2020, working diligently with her family with the expressed permission and support of her Hereditary Chief Maquinna, towards hosting the next bi-annual summit in July 2020.

Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has meant that all travel is now restricted for the foreseeable future, as is entry into this small Indigenous community. It has been a difficult but necessary decision to postpone the event. The Summit team is now looking at the possibility of hosting virtual programming this summer, and the Summit on Vancouver Island next year.

If COVID teaches us anything, it is that we are indeed interconnected and must work together in solidarity to responsibly halt the spread and successfully bring this pandemic to an end.

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