Correspondent bank danger persists

The loss of correspondent banking services, limited financial inclusion, a potential increase in non-performing loans and difficulty accessing credit are amongst the challenges the financial sector in the Pacific

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Banking: A regional overview

At the end of 2022, the Papua New Guinea government signalled its intent to set up a state-owned commercial bank, and take a government seat on the board of Bank South Pacific. The plan has been criticised given the

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Growing insurance in the Pacific

A vibrant ‘insurance movement’ is “disrupting the historical status quo of insurance coverage access being largely confined to medium to high income urbanites,” says the General Secretary of the United Nations

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Micro-insurance gaining ground

Parametric insurance programs are seeing increasing payouts to farmers, social welfare participants and persons with disabilities, and increased interest in the micro-insurance schemes. In Fiji, 202 persons with

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Measuring vulnerability for development

Once again, people in Vanuatu are rebuilding their homes after two cyclones hit the nation in the first week of March. It’s a tragic reminder of the vulnerability of small island developing states and the way that

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Building a vision for Pacific agriculture

The lack of a regional vision for agriculture and forestry is “one of our biggest challenges”, says the Director of the Land Resources Division of the Pacific Community, Karen Mapusua. But this is poised to change,

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Noni juice inching closer to exports

There is good news for noni exporters and producers across the region, with some progress towards having regional standards for fermented noni juice. Nonu (noni) is an important agricultural export in Samoa,

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Vunivalu of Bau installed after 33 year wait

On a day when ancient Fijian ceremonies were revived and magnificently on display, Ratu Epenisa Seru Cakobau was formally installed as the Vunivalu of Bau on Friday 10th March 2023. The much anticipated installation of

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Investing for tourism growth

The rebound in Fiji tourism has again exposed a vulnerability that an upcoming tourism investment summit seeks to address; the shortage of rooms to meet projected arrivals. Citing Fiji Airways’ forecasts and new route

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Sigatoka River Safari: The power of relationships

When Jay Whyte was 13, he befriended a guard at the Shangri-La Fijian Resort in Sigatoka, who introduced the Australian visitor and his family to an authentic Fijian experience up in the green terrain of Navosa. It was

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2050 Strategy is essentially political

Regionalists generally identify three characteristics of regionalism, namely: economics, security and politics. Economic regionalism focuses on economic and financial aspects. Generally speaking, this is effectively an

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Whispers

FijiFirst resignations continue The spate of resignations from Fiji’s former ruling party, FijiFirst, does not spell the end of the party says its General Secretary Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. The latest resignation is

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Briefs

American SamoaAmerican Samoa’s Department of Health says it will only allow school aged children who are vaccinated to attend school. This as neighbouring Samoa monitors several children suspected to have measles. The

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US$59million PNG hospital named after Somare

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape opened the K210 million (US$59 million) Great Chief Somare Memorial Hospital in Wewak, telling the leaders and people of East Sepik “you deserve this for your service”.

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AUKUS is going against Pacific nuclear free treaty: Forum chair

Cook Islands Prime Minister and Forum Chair, Mark Brown has joined a growing list of Pacific leaders to object to the US$250 billion nuclear submarine deal between Australia, United Kingdom and the United States

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Big picture vision conversations missing in the Pacific

Big picture conversations about the future of the Pacific islands should be happening, but they are not, said one of the region’s foremost commentators in an interview published this week in the Marshall Islands

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Guam legislature approves pay raise bill in party-line vote

After three days of marathon special session, Guam senators on Friday night passed an administration-endorsed measure supporting a 22 percent raise to the government’s general pay plan. The amended version of the bill

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Vanuatu calls on major polluters to back UN resolution

Vanuatu’s Foreign Minister says it would be “embarrassing” for both China and the United States if they fail to back the Pacific Island nation’s push to get the International Court of Justice to issue a ruling

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International football action returns to Oceania

Several international friendlies took place over the last week in Fiji and New Zealand, with some excellent football on display. Fiji hosted a three team tournament, involving Vanuatu and Solomon Islands. In the first

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New Caledonia basketballers set for debut at Asia Cup

New Caledonia will make history by playing in basketball’s 3×3 Asia Cup in Singapore for the first time. Both its men’s and women’s teams will be taking part in the shortened version of the sport

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PNG’s Wigmen named Melanesian Cup champs

Even winning the Digicel-ExxonMobil Cup twice in the season 2014 and 2020, the reigning champions Hela Wigmen described this year as ‘special’ for having the feel and taste of playing outside the country, actually

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Sprigga Mek soars with conscious rap

Conscious songwriter, indigenous activist, Pacific hip-hop artist, Sprigga Mek (Allan Aufamau), recently saw his work reach a global audience when his music video ‘Dodge the Bullet’ featured at the Mother Tongue

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EIB to deepen Pacific footprint

The newly opened European Investment Bank office in Suva will build on pipeline projects, including a planned hydropower plant in Fiji, a major water and sanitation project in Timor-Leste, rehabilitation and greening of

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BSP Life Declares $36.8M Customer Bonus

BSP Life today announced its bonus allocation for the 2022 financial year. Managing Director, Mr. Michael Nacola stated, “On behalf of our Board and the entire BSP Life Team, I am delighted to announce a total bonus

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