French Pacific News Briefs

Photo screenshot Moetai Brotherson, President of French Polynesia, the largest island in Polynesia, reacts to the New York Times report on “Toxic Paradise”.
photo: Screenshot/Polynesia One

French Polynesia unites against New York Times ‘toxic paradise’ report

French Polynesia’s top leaders unanimously oppose New York Times This week’s report is titled “Olympic surfing comes to ‘toxic’ paradise”.

The article, published on Tuesday, refers to the radioactive fallout from a 1974 French nuclear test (conducted between 1966 and 1996 at Moruroa and Fangataufa atolls) that contaminated the main island of Tahiti, where the Olympic surfing competition is currently being held at Teahupo’o.

In response to the article, Tony Gearos, president of the Polynesian Territorial Council, told PBS Polynesian First “Just because New York Times Bringing up old topics does not mean that we are questioning the future of the entire country today. That is simply not tenable.”

“You know, they have a right to think what they want. They can come and lecture us.

“I think the United States has also conducted its own nuclear tests,” said French Polynesia President Moté Blazeson. “So, this doesn’t bother me that much. What really bothers me is whether this will become a big deal.”

500 kg were seized on board a foreign vessel in Tahiti.
photo: TV Network

International cocaine traffickers face tough jail terms

Three Dutch citizens and one Polish citizen were sentenced on Friday by a Papeete court to between four and seven years in prison for international cocaine trafficking.

In addition to the prison sentence, a fine of approximately $3 million was imposed.

The ruling came after they were arrested in October 2017 on a sailboat off Nuku Hiva Island, in the Marquesas Islands.

After a search, French police and customs found about 500 kilograms of drugs hidden on the ship.

It was later determined that the cocaine was not destined for the French Polynesian market but was instead being transshipped to another final market.

However, since the trial was held in absentia (the three were released in 2019 after serving two years in the local Nu’utania prison and were allowed to leave French Polynesia and return to their respective countries), a European arrest warrant was issued this week for their re-arrest and sentence in a French prison.

Australian Benjamin Lowe, an Olympic surfing judge, has been disqualified for taking a photo with fellow competitor Ethan Ewing and his manager Bede Durbidge.
photo: TV Network

Australian referee disqualified from Tahiti surfing competition for taking selfie

Australian referee Benjamin Lowe was disqualified from the Tahiti surfing competition for posting a selfie of himself with fellow competitor Ethan Ewing and his manager Bede Dubic, French sports daily reported. team Thursday.

Lowe is one of 11 judges on the performance evaluation panel for surfers competing at Te Ahupo during the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The ruling comes from the International Surfing Association (ISA), which manages the judging panel.

The ISA said in a press release that the decision was made to “protect the integrity and fairness of the ongoing competition” and reminded all other judges and teams “of their responsibilities regarding appropriate conduct.”

The ruling was based on the fact that during a surfing competition, no referee may have any relationship with any competitor.

Tahitian surfer woman Fiyero.
photo: Supply/Swimming Pool

Vahine Fierro was defeated by compatriot Johanne Defay

Local competitor Vahaine Fierro was the favourite to win this week’s Olympic surfing competition in Tahiti, but she was eliminated by compatriot Johanne Defay in the eight-person paddleboard final on Thursday.

Fierro broke down in tears after hearing the judges’ decision, but she showed humility and resilience, saying the iconic wave she has been surfing since she was 15 years old had taught her “another lesson.”

Her French teammate Johanne Defay, who has advanced to the quarterfinals, paid tribute to the 24-year-old Fierro, saying she was “still the boss” and the “queen of Tehupe” despite her Olympic defeat.

In the men’s event, Kauli Vaast, also from Tahiti in French Polynesia, has now qualified for the semi-finals, leaving another French teammate and friend, Joan Duru, behind.

Kauli Vaast performs during a barrel surfing competition during the quarterfinals of the Olympic surfing competition in Te Ahupu, Tahiti, French Polynesia.
photo: Supply/Swimming Pool

New Caledonia sugar tax postponed

New Caledonia’s sugar tax, originally scheduled to start on August 1, has been postponed to September 1.

The New Caledonian government said the move was in response to the current situation and to give retailers more time, adding that there could be more delays depending on negotiations between the National Assembly (parliament) and the government.

Another factor is that since the rebellion broke out on May 13, the New Caledonian government has experienced a sharp drop in tax revenues, resulting in a huge deficit in government revenues.