Info.gi - Nofoagan Press Association
-
PRESIDENT APOLOGIZES FOR THE CRIMES COMMITTED TO NATIVE POPULATION DURING COLONIAL PAST
PORT BEAUHARNAIS - In a speech, President Lula Namatatiki surprised friend and foe by apologizing on behalf of the government to indigenous peoples for the colonial past. Nofoaga was part of France from 1791 to 1995. In that year the island became independent. But during that period, with the support of Nofoaganese of French and European descent, many atrocities were committed against the native population. For example, certain tribes were systematically discriminated against, harassed and, in one case, exterminated.
Lula Namatatiki herself descends from such an indigenous tribe and has always made it a point in the past to offer an official apology. That did not happen under the pro-French presidents. So now she takes matters into her own hands.
"Respect is a basic principle. Not only in Nofoaga but also throughout the world. Minorities must be protected at all times and at all costs from that evil that is always lurking around the corner." - President Lula Namatatiki
The president wants to give more space to the indigenous culture on the island but also in the European Union. She is opposed to so-called reservations: "Reservations arise from an animalistic view of fellow human beings and are therefore inhumane from the outset."
-
OPPONENTS LULA NAMATATIKI RAISES COLONIAL FLAG IN PROTEST; DEMONSTRATION ANNOUNCED
ROYAUME-DE-FRANCE - One day after President Namatatiki's official apologies for the colonial past to the indigenous people of Nofoaga, from which they themselves descend, opposition party Mouvement des Gentilles shocked those in power. In protest against the expulsion of the largest party in the National Assembly (Mouvement des Gentilles) and the silence of some opposition, the opposition raises the colonial flag from Nofoaga, which has also been the flag of the independent country since 1995, to Lula Namatatiki. came to power for the first time. She replaced it with the current blue hummingbird flag.
Other opponents of the current president also join the action and raise the pro-French flag.
In addition, the opposition is calling on the population to stand up and resist what they call 'dictatorship disguised as rationality'. The demonstration is scheduled for tomorrow.
The government has already announced that the demonstration is allowed as long as it proceeds peacefully 'as befits a democracy'. It is requested that the colonial flag be removed out of respect for the indigenous population and towards the Republic.
The opposition will not respond at this request, which the president regrets.
-
PROTEST AGAINST PRESIDENT: 2000 PEOPLE ON THE STREETS
ROYAUME-DE-FRANCE - Yesterday in Royaume-de-France, some 2,000 protesters took to the streets to express their displeasure at President Lula Namatatiki. The opposition had called for it. The reason for the protest is what the opposition members call the 'Lula coup'. The president banned the pro-French party and seized their seats in the National Assembly.
The demonstrators called for a real democracy where the law is respected by the government.
Many demonstrators also carried the colonial flag during the protest. Several buildings belonging to the opposition also hoisted this flag.
The demonstration was peaceful. President Lula Namatatiki responds: "It is good that people stand up for their opinion and that they therefore want to send a strong signal to politicians. This way we can join forces to let Nofoaga become the best of themselves."
-
NOFOAGA GOES ONE STEP FURTHER IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION: TRADITIONAL FISHING WILL BE PROHIBITED
PORT BEAUHARNAIS - Nofoaga's government is going one step further in the fight to preserve its wildlife and precarious ecosystem. For example, traditional fishing is banned and punishable. Traditional fishing ensures that the upper coral layers around the island are heavily damaged by the harpoons. The fact that in this practice people break coral to get to the fish also causes a lot of damage. The government now wants to prevent that.
Nofoaga has already taken measures to protect its waters. For example, in 2020 cruise ships were banned and illegal dumping was restricted. Protecting the coral belt around the island also fits in with the strategy of protecting the land from further erosion and the threat of rising sea levels.
-
GOVERNING BODIES UNDERGO DRASTIC REFORM IN NOFOAGA: PRESIDENCY MAY BE ABOLISHED
PORT BEAUHARNAIS - Nofoaga may soon look completely different. At least the administrative bodies at the highest level. President Lula Namatatiki announced this. The drastic reforms should serve to safeguard the laws and their application from any form of corruption. For that reason, the presidency in its current form could be abolished, according to Namatatiki. Nofoaga has a presidential system. So that could change soon.
The National Assembly would also not escape the reforms that Lula Namatatiki has in mind. This should make parliament stronger, says the president. Critics of Lula Namatatiki have long criticized the erosion of the institution. The president's party holds almost all the seats.
The concrete reform with press conference is planned for the end of this or the beginning of next week.
-
NOFOAGA AND GADALLAND & ASPERN TAKE NEW STEPS IN FURTHER INTEGRATION
NOFOAGA/GADALLAND & ASPERN - The Caribbean island states of Nofoaga and Gadalland & Aspern are taking steps towards further integration of the Caribbean Common Community Commission. That reported a government source in Port Beauharnais, the capital of Nofoaga.
For example, both countries are working on a common intelligence service that should merge the current two. The personal criminal law in both countries would also be harmonized so that the same sentence is pronounced for the same crime.
The Caribbean Common Community Commission has already been given a great deal of powers by both countries, taking over the role of both nations, especially in foreign policy. Nofoaga and Gadalland & Aspern want to have more clout within the European Union and against larger players on the continent. In the diagram below you can see on which cases Nofoaga and Gadalland & Aspern already operate as one. The possible new powers. The personal criminal law and a common intelligence service were also included in the scheme.
Another element in the further integration of both countries is that Gadalland & Aspern will have a permanent seat in the National Assembly of Nofoaga. In turn, Nofoaga gets a special position in the CLC of Gadalland & Aspern.
Finally, both countries will also adopt a common official anthem to strengthen Caribbean integration among the population.
The Caribbean Common Community Commission is proof that within the EU, where there is a lot of discord and extremism between nations today, a good and friendly relation with a focus on positive development for both partner countries is indeed possible.
-
PRESIDENT ANNOUNCES LONG-AWAITED REFORMS
PORT BEAUHARNAIS - President Lula Namatatiki today announced a series of reforms. Already two weeks ago, the President's Office announced that changes were in the pipeline to improve the involvement of the people in the democratic system.
Part of the government and existing levels of government will also be further reformed. This is a result of the closer collaborations between Nofoaga and neighbouring country Gadalland & Aspern.
Layers of government focused on efficiency services.
Former president Romain Guichard abolished the municipalities. What took its place were local regions where villages were merged on paper. The cabinet of Lula Namatatiki will implement this and set up the 'Communautés Urbaines' for this purpose. Nofoaga will thus be divided into two 'Communautés Urbaines'. A third 'Communauté des territoires soumis à la République'. All other levels of government with the exception of the national government will disappear.Parliament and presidential elections
In the National Assembly, the parliament of Nofoaga, nothing changes. Except that just like Spain also Gadalland & Aspern gets a permanent seat. It is up to that country to appoint a representative of the people and to determine the modalities for this.What does change is the election of the head of state. At the moment it is on theparliament to appoint one of its members as president of Nofoaga. This requires a two-thirds majority. When the post is vacant, the President of parliament takes on the task. All this disappears.
The Nofoaganese will have the opportunity to appoint their president themselves, through universal suffrage from the age of 18. What is even more remarkable is that a president can only take two terms in office, without succession. This should serve to counter political dynasties and oblige the leaders to carry out their work properly.
The president can also no longer dissolve parliament or call elections himself. The power here will lie with the parliament.
These reforms are quite remarkable. Lula Namatatiki, who recently completely controlled the parliament, prevents herself from being president any longer. But for now... she stays.
-
NOFOAGA BANS (ALMOST) ALL PLASTIC PACKAGING
PORT BEAUHARNAIS - Soon there will be virtually no plastic to be found on the island state of Nofoaga. This must be demonstrated by the intention of the government and various environmental organisations that concluded a pact together.
The ban applies to various packaging such as disposable plastic bags, meat and fish packaging, straws, disposable cups and others.
The government will also change its garbage policy. For example, households will receive two tons from the government to get everyone sorting. Garbage will also be picked up daily to avoid pests. In this way, the government wants to shift up a gear in the transition to a sustainable society.
The measure builds on the decisions already taken. For example, cruise ships are banned from national waters and the penalties for illegal dumping have been significantly increased.
-
NOFOAGA AND GADALLAND & ASPERN ADOPT THE SAME NATIONAL ANTHEM
NOFOAGA/GADALLAND & ASPERN - The two Caribbean island states of Nofoaga and Gadalland & Aspern adopt the same official national anthem to strengthen their unity. The anthem also bears witness to this and will be played on official occasions such as state visits and sports matches.
The new national anthem was written on Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Ode to Joy, which is also the European national anthem. The national anthem is titled 'Rise, O voices of the ocean'.
Official lyrics
Rise, O voices of the ocean
Both, our peoples side by side.
Conquering mighty waters and, yes,
Standing victory, bearing’s flag.
Together Sertia and the Gentilles,
Ever of their grace aware,
Oh, let our hearts beat always bravely
For our lands that we do share.Rise, O voices of the ocean
Both, our peoples side by side.
Conquering mighty waters and, yes,
Standing victory, bearing’s flag.
Roaring through the vivid waters,
Joining in one grand refrain.
Ascending to the sunlit heavens,
Telling both their honoured names. -
ARCHBISHOP OF INQUISTA ADOPTS CHILD FROM NOFOAGA... AND THAT'S A PAINFUL AFFAIR
SAINT DOMINICO, INQUISTA - Yesterday it became known that the Archbishop of Inquista, Mikaela Kligenberg, has adopted a child from Nofoaga. The child, who now bears the name Tyceon, lost his family in the volcanic eruption in 2021.
In itself, the adoption of a child from Nofoaga is not a problem. But it does expose a major pain point in the management of well-being, particularly that of children and young people in the Caribbean island nation.
Official documents that Info.gi was able to view at the competent authorities shows that 1 in 4 children is orphaned by young people under the age of 13. Most of the orphans are of black-nofoaganesis origin and face discrimination and racism at a very young age. For example, former employees say that the adoption files of black-nofoaganese children were sabotaged in a systematic way or remained untreated.
GOVERNMENT DENIES
When confronted with this, the minister strongly denies it. In a brief response, which was also supported and reiterated later today by President Lula Namatatiki, the minister said that adoption is always a sad thing and that governments and leaders of other countries would work better together on projects that combat all forms of child suffering. -
BAN ON ENVIRONMENTALLY HARMFUL VESSELS FROM 2025
PORT BEAUHARNAIS- The government in Port Beauharnais is stepping up the fight against the degradation of the natural habitat of local marine life. For a year and a half, cruise ships are no longer welcome in the national waters of the island state. A while ago, the traditional way of fishing was also restricted to protect the brittle coral around the island. This traditional way of fishing uses long iron harpoons with which fishermen ford the coral and prick it in the coral.
The government is now going a step further and from 2025 prohibit the use of boats and ships that run on diesel, oil and gas that cannot be collected within the ship itself in case of a leak. In practice, this means that only ships powered by electricity or hydrogen can pass through the national waters of Nofoaga.
The measure applies to ships registered in Nofoaga as well as to all other ships from outside Nofoaga.
