Marching into Fiji’s ‘Frank’ new political order
In 1965, buoyed by the outcomes of the constitutional conference in London, the Leader of Government Business in Fiji’s colonial government, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara sent a cable home: ‘Ni yalovinaka ni kakua ni
Fiji @ 50: Sugar’s bittersweet future
Growers like Gyan Deo may be the reason why Fiji’s sugar industry will still have a future in the next half a century. Like the bulk of the country’s 12,000 sugarcane growers, Deo works his 12-acre farm in rural
Fiji making amends in Pacific regionalism
From the zenith of Pacific regionalism (the Forum) from the early 1970s, Fiji’s standing in the group and amongst its regional neighbours stooped to unprecedented ignominy in 2009. Fiji was the first member country
Fiji @ 50: ATH flexes its regional muscle
Fiji’s Amalgamated Telecom Holdings’ (ATH) recent US$25 million investment from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to finance a greenfield 4G mobile network in Papua New Guinea, is a vote of confidence in the regional
Fiji @ 50: A view from the future
In my family, October 10 marks the day that my grandparents started their life together. Some 61 years ago, on a little island seemingly in the middle of nowhere, a young man and woman made promises to love and support
Fiji @ 50: Death of a regional giant
Slowly but surely the once mighty Fiji Television Limited has started to crumble, taken apart from within by a combination of government pressure, acquiescent board members and questionable divestments. Last month the
Fiji @ 50: Losing the arts is to lose our soul
The arts have clearly shaped Fiji’s trajectory these last 50 years but have the arts and our creative industries been afforded agency to flourish and continue their critical role in nation-building and nurturing? Have
One year to go: A game of hope for people in the Blue Pacific
Four years ago, the tiny Pacific island country of Fiji won its very first Olympic medal, a gold, when it stormed its way through rugby’s debut year at the XXVI Olympiad in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It was a win for
“I am hopeful that we will increase our score”: New Caledonia’s referendum
On 4 October, New Caledonians will vote in a referendum on self-determination, to determine the political status of the French Pacific dependency. This is the second referendum to be held under the Noumea Accord, an
Who will welcome Bougainville?
The results of the historic Bougainville elections are now known. In electoral processes setting benchmarks for emulation in the Pacific, former Bougainville Revolutionary Army Commander, Ishmael Toroama, was
Food Revolutionaries
The founder of the Pacific Island Food Revolution says the campaign’s work on changing food choices in the Pacific region is “super relevant” in the current global coronavirus pandemic. “Our project is about
Palau to choose leader to inherit COVID-19 woes
The outcome of this November’s election will be crucial to Palau’s response to the economic crisis, as whoever will win the polls will be confronted by the impacts of COVID-19 well beyond 2020. At the
Palau’s heralded marine sanctuary faces reassessment from next leaders
Palau’s National Marine Sanctuary— which is hailed as the tiny nation’s much celebrated signature policy—may face review from President Tommy Remengesau Jr’s successor. More than five years
Movers and Shakers
In memorium Former Cook Islands Prime Minister, Joseph Williams, has died of coronavirus in Auckland. At 82 years of age, Williams was a well-known GP, politician and author, as well as a former Cook Islands Health
