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Tax Havens and a New Cabinet
10 Years Ago in Pacific Magazine
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In the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, 10 years ago, Juan Babauta was the commonwealth’s representative in the U.S. Congress. In this issue, he announces his intention to run against incumbent Gov. Larry Guerrero. (Babauta has gotten his wish, he is the current governor of CNMI.) The new Palau President Kuniwo Nakamura names seven members to his new cabinet. Then-Vice President Tommy E. Remengesau Jr. (who is the Republic’s president these days) was given the Ministry of Administration. In Fiji, President Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau warned his country’s politicians against any move toward establishing a government of national unity that isn’t widely supported by indigenous Fijians and their chiefs. The PNG government of Prime Minister Paias Wingti announced the formation of a National Law, Order and Justice Council to replace all law-and-order committees in the country. Vanuatu puts a new law into effect that is intended to make life easier for offshore companies, adding guarantees for a 20-year exemption from taxes, with the only condition being that they remain solvent. Vanuatu seemed to be in competition with the Cook Islands and Samoa—a decade ago all three countries gained reputations as tax havens.
