French Pacific News Briefs

Religious buildings attacked again in New Caledonia

More religious buildings burned in New Caledonia.

On Thursday night, a chapel at the Catholic Church in Tuo (on the east coast of the main island of Grande Terre) was vandalized and set on fire by a mob.

Also on Thursday in Noumea, an arson attack was launched at the pagoda’s prayer room in the Magenta neighbourhood, sparking further shock and suspicion among New Caledonia’s wealthy Vietnamese community.

New Caledonia’s two main Catholic missions, at Saint-Louis (near Noumea) and Waau (Ile des Pines, near Noumea), have also suffered severe fire damage in the past two weeks.

On Monday, the French High Commission announced that all religious and heritage buildings would be protected by French security forces.

Last weekend, the mausoleum built to commemorate Ataï, the great Kanak chief who led an indigenous uprising in the late 19th century, was also partially damaged and desecrated.

The remains of the great chief, including his skull, were also stolen.

French caretaker minister visits Pacific

Marie Guévenoux, France’s deputy minister for overseas affairs, is visiting the Pacific.

In French Polynesia, she represented the French government in surfing at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

She will then travel to New Caledonia for three days (31 July to 2 August) to focus on supporting all those working to restore law and order in the crisis that New Caledonia has been facing for weeks.

Aircalin to cut more than a third of its workforce

New Caledonia’s domestic airline, AirCal, has announced it will lay off more than a third of its 350 employees.

This is the direct consequence of the violent riots that broke out in the French Pacific Islands on May 13, which have so far left 10 people dead, hundreds injured, and thousands of businesses and homes looted and burned.

Domestic and international air traffic was also severely disrupted as roadblocks were set up to hinder access to domestic and international airports.

AirCal estimates that its air traffic has fallen by around 70% since the crisis began in New Caledonia, with losses of nearly 15 million euros in the 2024 fiscal year.

Daniel Hombouy, CEO of international airline AirCalin, said the company was facing a sharp drop in passenger traffic, especially tourist traffic, and had to reduce its flight schedule to and from the Asia-Pacific region for the rest of 2024.

Statue of historic independence leader in French Polynesia now classified

The statue of Pouvāna’a a ‘Ō’opa, the historical independence leader of French Polynesia, located in the center of Papeete, is now listed as a historical monument.

The decision was made during the latest cabinet meeting of French Polynesia, based on recognition of the “metua” (leader)’s personality, charisma, commitment to the interests of the Polynesian people and love for them.

This also means that all buildings within the field of vision of the monument cannot be altered without prior authorization from the relevant authorities.

Pouvāna’a a ‘Ō’opa is widely regarded as the father of modern politics in French Polynesia during the second half of the postwar period of the twentieth century.

Air Tahiti buys four new ATR aircraft

Air Tahiti, the domestic airline of French Polynesia, said in a press release that it will purchase four new ATR 72-600 aircraft, which will be delivered between 2025 and 2028.

ATR says the new generation of turbine-driven aircraft will reduce CO2 emissions by 45%.

“These new aircraft will enable Air Tahiti to better manage flight frequency and capacity,” the manufacturer said, without disclosing the sale transaction value.

Another jailed for smuggling methamphetamine into French Polynesia

This week, a Papeete court sentenced a 25-year-old man to five years in prison for illegally importing four kilograms of methamphetamine.

The defendant explained at the hearing that the idea was proposed to him by a former fellow inmate who was a member of a Mexican drug cartel while they were both serving sentences in the United States.

The crystals were seized in batches by French customs and U.S. customs authorities in Tahiti.

The contents of some of the packages were declared as car parts.