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French Polynesia Ends Blockade with Protocol Agreement

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The three-day blockade of the Port of Papeete in French Polynesia has come to an end with the signing of a protocol agreement by President Oscar Temaru, four labor unions, and Leonard Puputauki, a former head of the presidential intervention group known as the GIP. The agreement was reached after Puputauki's refusal to accept his firing by the Temaru government sparked a dispute that saw the GIP divided into two groups: supporters of Puputauki and supporters of Robert Maker, the new head of the GIP. The agreement addresses several key issues, including the payment of minimum wage to GIP employees and the resumption of normal provisioning of French Polynesia's archipelagoes.

Key Takeaways:

  • The protocol agreement was signed by President Oscar Temaru, four labor unions, and Leonard Puputauki, a former head of the GIP, bringing an end to a three-day blockade of the Port of Papeete.
  • The agreement appoints Marcel Ahini as temporary non-executive director of the GIP for three months, with authority to handle daily activities.
  • Ahini, a labor union background, is tasked with finding a new head of the GIP acceptable to all parties.
  • Under the agreement, Robert Maker agrees to resign as head of the GIP, and Leonard Puputauki accepts a post in another government department.
  • GIP employees paid the minimum wage will start receiving the new monthly minimum wage of 125,000 French Pacific francs (approximately US$1,395 or €1,048).
  • The dispute divided the GIP into two groups: supporters of Puputauki and supporters of Maker.
  • The blockade caused service stations throughout the island of Tahiti to run out of gasoline and diesel fuel.
  • The Puputauki supporters allowed fuel trucks to supply Tahiti's electrical company to prevent widespread power outages.
  • The agreement allows for the release of goods blocked in customs, enabling a resumption of normal provisioning of French Polynesia's archipelagoes.

Statistics:

  • The new monthly minimum wage for GIP employees will be 125,000 French Pacific francs (approximately US$1,395 or €1,048).
  • The blockade lasted for three days.
  • The agreement allows for the release of 133,000 tons of goods blocked in customs.
  • The blockade affected the entire island of Tahiti, causing service stations to run out of gasoline and diesel fuel.

Sources:

  • (Pacnews)
  • French Pacific francs to US dollar exchange rate (varies): approximately US$1 = 90 French Pacific francs

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