In this bulletin:
1. SOL — Decaying World War II bombs in Solomon Islands releasing toxic chemicals, new research finds
2. PNG — PNG PM Marape queried over status of Bougainville
3. PNG — PNG Parliament passes Vagrancy Act
4. PACific — Australia aims to ensure COP31 works in everyone’s interest: Australian Envoy Green
5. VAN — Seized cocaine in Vanuatu confirmed as pure
6. USA — 5m tonnes of CO2 emitted in just 14 days of U.S war on Iran, analysis finds
7. PACIFIC — Pacific partners welcomed ahead of First NZ Brigade Skill at Arms
8. PACNEWS BIZ — Reliant on imported fuel, Pacific islands appeal for help as oil prices surge
9. PACNEWS BIZ — WPRFMC to consider restoring fishing in Pacific Marine Monuments
10. PACNEWS BIZ — Shipping costs affect prices: Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Industry
11. PACNEWS BIZ — Airline stays the course
12. PACNEWS DIGEST — Weather Ready for All: GEDSI Strategy launched for inclusive disaster preparedness
13. PACNEWS DIGEST — Amplifying Her Story: Media Drives Equality in PNG
14. PACNEWS DIGEST — Measuring the impact of Sustainable Ocean Governance for Solomon Islands
15 PACNEWS DIGEST — The Pacific century needs its own kind of university system
SOL – WWII TOXIC CHECMICALS: UNDP PACNEWS 2: Mon 23 Mar 2026
Decaying World War II bombs in Solomon Islands releasing toxic chemicals, new research finds
HONIARA, 23 MARCH 2026 (UNDP)— Coastal communities in Solomon Islands are facing growing health and environmental risks as decaying World War II bombs release toxic chemicals into land and sea, new research has found.
The Environmental Impact Assessment is the first investigation in the Pacific to examine how aging unexploded bombs contaminate the environment. It was conducted by scientists from The University of Queensland and supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with funding from the Government of Japan.
More than 80 years after World War II, thousands of bombs, shells and other munitions remain across the islands. As the metal casings corrode, they release toxic heavy metals and explosive chemicals into soil, water and coastal ecosystems.
The study found elevated levels of arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury at sites where bombs are present. Explosive compounds such as TNT and PETN were also detected.
Scientists also detected explosive residues in marine life, including shellfish collected from nearshore areas. Communities and clinics reported symptoms after eating seafood from affected areas, including skin rashes, ulcers, vomiting, diarrhoea and neurological problems. Health workers described cases of illness in breastfeeding infants.
Dr Stacey Pizzino, who led the research at The University of Queensland, said the danger is increasing as the bombs continue to decay.
“The health risk from World War II bombs is growing as the ordnance breaks down and releases heavy metals into the environment,” she said.
“Communities are already reporting illnesses that may be linked to exposure to these toxins.”
Researchers tested samples at selected sites, meaning the findings do not represent the entire country. However, the study shows that contamination can occur wherever unexploded bombs interact with soil, water or marine ecosystems.
The Solomon Islands saw some of the fiercest fighting in the Pacific during World War II, including the pivotal Guadalcanal Campaign. Decades later, the threat remains widespread. The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force recorded 7,773 unexploded bomb callouts between 2011 and 2025, most involving live explosives. Many of these bombs lie close to villages, gardens and fishing grounds.
Researchers warn that climate change is making the situation worse. Flooding, storms and coastal erosion can expose buried bombs, speed up corrosion and spread contaminated sediments into wells, rivers and coral reefs. Warmer, more acidic seas may also accelerate the release of chemicals.
More than half of known bomb sites are within one kilometre of the coast, where climate impacts are strongest.
The report calls for faster bomb clearance in high-risk areas, long-term monitoring of water and seafood, and better national mapping of unexploded ordnance across the country.
Raluca Eddon, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP in Solomon Islands, said the findings highlight the urgent need to remove the bombs.
“Time is running out as more hazardous chemicals leak into the environment, harming reefs, sea life and coastal communities,” she said. “This research shows the urgency of clearing unexploded bombs in Solomon Islands, across the Pacific and around the world.”
The findings were presented with Solomon Islands Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services.
“This is an important resource for our country and for the wider region,” said George Bogese, Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry. “The Solomon Islands Government sincerely appreciates the continued support of the Japanese Government in strengthening our work on unexploded ordnance.”
For many communities in Solomon Islands, the study highlights the environmental and health consequences of a war fought more than eight decades ago are still unfolding today…. PACNEWS
PNG – INDEPENDENCE: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS 2: Mon 23 Mar 2026
PNG PM Marape queried over status of Bougainville
PORT MORESBY, 23 MARCH 2026 (THE NATIONAL) — Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape says there has been no report or clear study on Bougainville’s autonomous status to this day.
He said for the most part, Bougainville’s autonomous status had been shaded by the Bougainville crisis.
Marape was responding a series of questions put through by East Sepik governor Allan Bird on what set the Bougainville’s autonomous status apart to other provinces also seeking the same path.
Bird asked if the autonomy arrangement had worked or failed on Bougainville and if there were any audits conducted to be tabled in Parliament for MPs and public to view.
Marape said provinces operated under the Provincial and Local Level Government (1995) Organic Law while Bougainville operated under part 14 of the Constitution.
He said the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (Arob) was a direct creation of the Constitution through the amendment that took place in 2001 and their autonomy was clearly defined.
“Reporting has always been blurred simply at the backdrop knowing fully that they have a special case, they come from the crisis background,” Marape said of Bougainville’s circumstances.
“There is some element of sympathy from Waigani to them that has not compelled much of accountability and reporting back to Waigani.
“I would ask in the next meeting with Bougainville’s leaders for a study on what has happened so we can help them in their course on what is coming ahead and for us going into the future,” he said.
Marape said in other ways the full audit, or study, had taken place in respect to their power arrangement which had seen most transferred to Bougainville.
Most of Bougainville’s functions have been transferred in the 2010 Joint Supervisory Body (JSB) with education being the first function, followed by economic powers of fisheries, forestry and land ownership under the Autonomous Bougainville Government.
“Transfers of power have been somewhat slow, Buka is not anxious to draw down of powers and Waigani is also slow to transfer powers,” he said.
Marape said PNG had retained sovereignty on defence, currency and foreign affairs matters…. PACNEWS
PNG – VAGRANCY ACT: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS 2: Mon 23 Mar 2026
PNG Parliament passes Vagrancy Act
PORT MORESBY, 23 MARCH 2026 (THE NATIONAL) — Papua New Guinea Parliament has passed the Vagrancy Act which provides that one can be declared a vagrant if they are found not “a fit and proper person” to live in an urban centre.
The bill was passed with an 80-1 vote, with Chuave MP and Opposition Leader James Nomane the only one to vote against it.
National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop, who tabled the Vagrancy Bill 2025, said it would only affect those who continuously engaged in criminal behaviour in urban centres.
“The idea is that if you commit a violent crime (repeatedly), that is unacceptable (and) you will be sent back to your home (district),” he said.
This means that anyone who breaks any laws in any cities or towns in the country will be arrested by police, charged, and taken to court.
Police can then apply for an exclusion order, and the court will determine how long the offender is to stay away.
Parkop said as an example, if there was an ongoing criminal case, or if someone was suspected of inciting ethnic conflict, alcohol-driven fight or other crime, police or town authorities could apply to the court for an exclusion order.
“If you are unemployed and don’t engage or commit crimes, then this law doesn’t apply to you,” Parkop explained.
“This law also applies to members of parliament, chief executive officer or anyone in a higher position involved in any crimes like buying, transporting, or selling guns and ammunitions.”
Parkop said “it’s our city (Port Moresby) and we must live together”.
“Whatever your issue is with tribal fights, leave it there (at your home district). Don’t bring it into the city,” he said.
This bill had been brought up before but was shelved because it was deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
Parkop described the bill as another tool available to the municipal authorities to use where and when necessary to complement their efforts to deal with crime in their municipalities.
He said while it would not solve all issues, it would help address some of the challenges.
“It will definitely not be a silver bullet to solve all the rural-urban migration issue or other related issues in the urban centres,” Parkop said.
“We have the Criminal Code Act and the Summary Offences Act that deal with minor offences.
“Our problem is enforcement. Police (resources) are stretched. And in the city, we are doing our best to support the police and ensure people live peacefully.
“But some people don’t have the understanding and respect for others who want to live peacefully.”
Parkop said the previous legislation had allowed police to declare a person a vagrant. But it was ruled unconstitutional.
Meanwhile, Opposition leader James Nomane has warned that the Vagrancy Act will create discrimination, erode national unity and will make citizens exiles in their own country.
Nomane, the only MP to vote against the Vagrancy Act bill in Parliament said: “The reason I say this is that, after 50 years, all members must be promoting national unity. I am of the view that the bill will create discrimination, erode national unity and it will make citizens exiles in their own country.
“I am very concerned about the arbitrary nature of this bill in labelling someone a vagrant and then having them prosecuted and sent back to their home province.”
Nomane said there were reasons why people moved to other parts of the country.
“Under the constitution, they have every right to movement and freedom of choice.
“On top of that, the constitution safeguards a person’s rights to move and to live anywhere in the country.”
He told the House: “The laws are already in place; the Criminal Code is already there. All we have to do is enforce the Criminal Code and make sure everybody adheres to the laws of the land.
“They’ll be no need for an additional bill or the vagrancy act to start labelling and discriminating people as vagrants and non-vagrants and telling them to go back their provinces.”
Nomane added that the bill would negate the concept of “our country”.
“What criteria are we applying to make these sorts of decisions? We are going to divide the country,” he said…. PACNEWS
PAC – CLIMATE CHANGE: PTI PACNEWS 2: Mon 23 Mar 2026
Australia aims to ensure COP31 works in everyone’s interest: Australian Envoy Green
CANBERRA/NEW DELHI, 23 MARCH 2026 (PRESS TRUST OF INDIA) — Australia is “deliberately leaning forward” to support its Pacific neighbours while also engaging key players like India, to ensure the UN Conference of the Parties (COP) works in the interests of everyone, Australian envoy Philip Green said.
The 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 31) is to be held in Antalya, Türkiye, with Australia taking on the role of President of Negotiations.
In an interview with PTI, Australian High Commissioner to India, Green, highlighted that the UN climate talks are important to Australia both domestically and in its near abroad, which has driven their effort to involve countries like India in the next pre-COP meetings hosted in Pacific countries (Fiji and Tuvalu) and the subsequent summit in Türkiye…. PACNEWS
VAN – DRUGS FIGHT: VANUATU DAILY POST PACNEWS 2: Mon 23 Mar 2026
Seized cocaine in Vanuatu confirmed as pure
PORT VILA, 23 MARCH 2026 (VANUATU DAILY POST) — The 1.6 tonnes of cocaine seized recently at Vanuatu’s Havannah Harbour on board of a yacht, Inner Smile, has been confirmed to be pure cocaine.
An Australian Federal Police (AFP) source said it will be nonsense for the traffickers to risk their life with second grade of cocaine.
The source confirmed all drugs that originated from South America are always pure drugs.
The source said that AFP had been monitoring the boat and they were expected to arrest the boat and its crew on its arrival in Australia but unfortunately the boat was washed ashore during a storm in Vanuatu.
According to the information received from border control, Inner Smile arrived at Havanah on 01 March2026 without their knowledge.
The Minister of Internal Affairs responsible for police, Andrew Napuat told a press conference that the boat illegally entering Vanuatu waters.
Sources from North Efate said it was a local that informed authorities about the boat and its suspicious cargo.
The source said one of the locals was approached by the skippers to help dig the sand during the night in attempt to re-float Inner Smile at high tide.
The local contacted the police.
The Commissioner of the Police, Kalshem Bongran said the cocaine is now under tight security.
Meanwhile, the two skippers, a Lithuanian and a British national are still in police custody…. PACNEWS
USA – IRAN CRISIS: THE GUARDIAN PACNEWS 2: Mon 23 Mar 2026
5m tonnes of CO2 emitted in just 14 days of U.S war on Iran, analysis finds
SAN FRANCISCO, 23 MARCH 2026 (THE GUARDIAN) — The U.S-Israel war on Iran is a disaster for the climate, according to an analysis that finds it is draining the global carbon budget faster than 84 countries combined.
As warplanes, drones and missiles kill thousands of people, level infrastructure and turn the Middle East into a gigantic environmental sacrifice zone, the first analysis of the climate cost has found the conflict led to 5m tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in its first 14 days.
The analysis, shared exclusively with the Guardian, adds another layer on to reporting of the catastrophic environmental harm being caused by attacks on fossil fuel infrastructure, military bases, civilian areas and ships at sea.
“Every missile strike is another downpayment on a hotter, more unstable planet, and none of it makes anyone safer,” said Patrick Bigger, a research director at the Climate and Community Institute and a co-author of the analysis.
“Every refinery fire and tanker strike is a reminder that fossil‑fuelled geopolitics is incompatible with a livable planet. This war shows, yet again, that the fastest way to supercharge the climate crisis is to let fossil fuel interests dictate foreign policy.”
The U.S-Israeli axis claims to have bombed thousands of targets inside Iran, and Israel has hit hundreds more targets in Lebanon. Reports from inside both countries show extensive destruction of infrastructure.
Destroyed buildings constitute the largest element of the estimated carbon cost. Based on reports by the Iranian Red Crescent humanitarian organisation that about 20,000 civilian buildings have been damaged by the conflict, the analysis estimates the total emissions from this sector to be 2.4m tonnes of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e).
Fuel is the second biggest element, with U.S heavy bombers flying from as far away as the west of England to carry out raids over Iran. The analysis estimates between 150m and 270m litres of fuel were consumed by aircraft and support vessels and vehicles in the first 14 days, producing a total emission of 529,000 tCO2e.
One of the most shocking images of the war has been the dark clouds and black rain that fell over Tehran after Israel bombed four major fuel storage depots surrounding the city, setting millions of litres of fuel ablaze. The analysis estimates that between 2.5m and 5.9m barrels of oil have been burned in that attack and similar strikes – including Iranian retaliations on its Gulf neighbours – emitting an estimated 1.88m tCO2e.
In the first 14 days, the US lost four aircraft, while Iran lost 28 aircraft, 21 naval vessels and about 300 missile launchers. This destroyed military hardware is estimated to account for embodied carbon emissions of 172,000 tCO2e.
There are also the bombs, missiles and drones themselves, the use of which has been extensive on all sides. Based on claims that in the first 14 days the US and Israel had bombed more than 6,000 targets inside Iran, while Iran had fired back about 1,000 missiles and 2,000 drones, plus an estimated 1,900 interceptors fired to defend against them, the analysis estimated that munitions contributed about 55,000 tCO2e in emissions.
In total, the first two weeks of the conflict led to emissions of 5,055,016 tCO2e, equivalent to 131,430,416 tCO2e in a year – roughly the same as a medium-size, fossil fuel-intensive economy such as Kuwait. But it is also the same as the 84 lowest emitting countries combined.
Fred Otu-Larbi, the study’s lead author, from the University of Energy and Natural Resources in Ghana, said: “We expect emissions to increase rapidly as the conflict proceeds, mainly due to the speed [at] which oil facilities are being targeted at an alarming rate.”
He added: “We all need to live with the climate aftermaths. Just what are the costs, no one really knows, that is why studies like this are so vital. Burning up the annual emissions of Iceland in two weeks is something we really cannot afford.”
As of June, last year, climate scientists estimated humans could emit greenhouse gases equivalent to 130bn tonnes of CO2 to leave us with a 50% chance of stopping the climate from heating beyond 1.5C. At the present rate of 40bn tCO2e that budget will be exhausted by 2028.
Bigger said the disruption to fossil fuel supplies caused by the war would probably lead to more drilling.
“Historically, every U.S‑driven energy shock has been followed by a surge in new drilling, new LNG terminals and new fossil‑fuel infrastructure. This war risks hard‑wiring another generation of carbon dependence.
“This is not a war for security. It’s a war for the political economy of fossil fuels – and the people paying the price are Iranian civilians and working‑class communities around the world…. PACNEWS
PACIFIC – DEFENCE: NZDF PACNEWS 2: Mon 23 Mar 2026
Pacific partners welcomed ahead of first NZ Brigade Skill at Arms
AUCKLAND, 23 MARCH 2026 (NZDF) — Soldiers from Tonga, Fiji, and Australia were formally welcomed by 1st (NZ) Brigade at Linton Military Camp before moving to Waiouru for final competition preparations.
The international teams will compete alongside ten New Zealand teams, in what is regarded as one of the Army’s most demanding and respected competitions.
Over three days, Skill at Arms is designed to push soldiers to their limits, testing endurance, teamwork, and leadership under pressure. Competitors navigate 13 challenging skill stands, covering approximately 20 kilometres on foot carrying 30 kilogrammes of equipment, with minimal rest and limited rations.
Captain Mikaele Feao of Tonga emphasised that taking part is about more than just the competition, it builds relationships amongst South Pacific partners both now and for the future.
Lance Corporal Timothy MacPherson of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces reinforced this sentiment, highlighting the concept of ‘matavuvale’ (family) and strengthening relationships between Fiji, NZ, Australia and Tonga.
“I was pleased at how helpful and transparent New Zealand was in helping us prepare for the competition. They took us through each of the stands, so we know what to expect. They’ve really looked after us and shared their skills with us.”
Colonel Mike van Welie, Commander 1st (NZ) Brigade said in his welcome that forging deeper relationships in the region is vital as we continue to face a challenging and deteriorating strategic environment.
“The threats to our nations are too much to weather alone, but together we can harness our individual strengths and secure our region,” he said…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
PACIFIC – IRAN CRISIS/FUEL PRICE: AFP/THE GUARDIAN PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 23 Mar 2026
Reliant on imported fuel, Pacific islands appeal for help as oil prices surge
PORT MORESBY, 23 MARCH 2026 (AFP/THE GUARDAIAN) — The leaders of some Pacific countries have appealed for help with oil supplies while others urge against “panic buying” as the import-reliant nations grapple with fears over possible fuel shortages and escalating costs caused by war in the Middle East.
Oil prices have surged to nearly US$110 a barrel after strikes against energy infrastructure in Iran and the Gulf states.
“Pacific island nations are especially vulnerable to fuel supply disruptions and rising costs because [most countries] rely almost entirely on imported fuel,” Paul Barker, executive director at the Institute of National Affairs in Papua New Guinea, said.
“Many of these economies are relatively weak, with limited purchasing power and strong reliance on remittances and foreign aid, leaving them exposed to global price shocks,” Barker said.
He added that higher fuel costs threaten key industries such as tourism and “make delivering basic government services to remote islands increasingly difficult”.
In Samoa, about two-thirds of the country’s energy generation comes from imported diesel fuel.
Speaking after a meeting with the New Zealand leader, Christopher Luxon, the Samoan prime minister, La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt, said he had asked if it was possible to divert fuel to his country in case of crisis.
“We don’t know what’s going to happen next,” La’aulialemalietoa said.
He said Samoa secured its fuel supply from Singapore and other nations but had asked Luxon to help “cover us in case something happened”.
And in Tonga, where 80 percent of its energy generation comes from imported diesel fuel, the prime minister, Lord Fakafanua, said New Zealand and Australia were “sharing intelligence” with his country to help them best prepare for shortages.
“What we can do is prepare as best we can, and part of that is the sharing of intelligence with our partners such as Australia and New Zealand. My concern is about ensuring that we have enough energy for the country,” he said, adding that “for now we seem to be OK”.
Tourism makes up 25 percent of Samoa’s GDP and 11 percent in Tonga, raising concern for countries heavily reliant on airlines that are facing huge cost pressures due to the price of jet fuel.
In Papua New Guinea, petrol, diesel and kerosene prices have increased. The country, with a population of about 10 million, is a liquefied natural gas exporter but it still imports refined fuel, leaving domestic prices exposed to the global oil shock.
The petroleum minister, Jimmy Maladina, said the government was working with suppliers to ensure fuel keeps flowing in the coming months.
“Our biggest concern in PNG is storage capacity,” Maladina said this week, adding the government is monitoring the situation and will act if needed.
In the capital Port Moresby, businesses have felt the impact of higher fuel prices.
Janet Sios, part owner of Paradise Private hospital, said rising fuel costs have driven up the price of food and services and the situation is expected to worsen in the coming weeks.
“There is less fuel available, and that is increasing costs across the board. Another price increase is expected in April [by authorities in PNG] so people need to start factoring in higher transportation costs,” she said.
Sios said the cost of medicines has risen due to higher freight and supply costs. She said business owners in the country “must be prepared for conditions to worsen over the next few months”.
In Fiji, the government said in a statement last Tuesday there was “no need for panic buying or stockpiling”. It said the country has sufficient fuel stocks, with reserves ranging between 20 and 45 days depending on the product.
Fiji has a population of just under 1 million. The government called on people to “avoid unnecessary stockpiling” of fuel as it warned of supply impacts.
“Panic buying can place pressure on supply systems and may lead to temporary shortages at service stations,” it said.
In its most recent update, the Solomon Islands government reassured residents on 8 March that current fuel shipments to the country remained on schedule.
The prime minister said in a press conference the country had about 20 to 30 days of fuel supply available, and the situation was being closely monitored…. PACNEWS
PACIFIC – FISHERIES: MAUI NEWS PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 23 Mar 2026
WPRFMC to consider restoring fishing in Pacific Marine Monuments
HONOLULU, 23 MARCH 2026 (MAUI NEWS) — The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (WPRFMC) will deliberate on two major actions at its 206th meeting this week allowing U.S fishermen to fish in US Pacific marine national monuments.
The first action concerns the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument expansion area around Wake and Jarvis Islands, and Johnston Atoll.
The Council will take final action on managing commercial fishing from 50-to-200 nm following Presidential Proclamation 10918 (17 April 2025). The Proclamation directed the Secretary of Commerce to revise regulations to allow appropriately managed US commercial fishing in those waters.
U.S longline and purse seine vessels would be allowed to fish in these areas following strict federal fishery requirements. These include permits, catch limits, gear restrictions, logbooks and observer coverage for monitoring catch and protected species interactions, and vessel monitoring systems for enforcing closed areas.
The second action involves the Papahānaumokuākea, Rose Atoll and Marianas Trench Marine National Monuments.
Executive Order (EO) 14276 (17 April 2025) directed federal agencies to review monument fishing restrictions and recommend changes to support sustainable U.S seafood production, while maintaining conservation objectives. The Council will also consider recommendations restoring regulated commercial fishing access under existing Magnuson-Stevens Act authorities as requested by the EO.
In making its decisions, the Council will determine the impacts of the alternatives on the affected environment, and consider recommendations from industry and science advisory bodies, and comments from the public.
The meeting is expected to draw broad interest because the decisions sit at the intersection of fishing access, seafood security and marine conservation. In Hawaiʻi, for example, the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands fishery once provided nearly half of the bottomfish sold in the Hawaiʻi market before its closure in 2011.
The Council meeting provides the public an opportunity to learn about proposed fishery actions, hear reports from around the region and provide input on decisions affecting fishing communities, local seafood supply and marine resource management across the U.S Pacific Islands…. PACNEWS
PNG – SHIPPING: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 23 Mar 2026
Shipping costs affect prices: Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Industry
PORT MORESBY, 23 MARCH 2026 (THE NATIONAL) — Shipping costs directly affect the price of food, construction materials, medical supplies, and consumer goods, according to Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Industry vice-president Chey Scovell.
“Decisions taken by major carriers, therefore, have real and immediate consequences for the broader community,” he said.
“Swire Shipping this week announced the introduction of emergency bunker surcharges that are substantially higher than those imposed by other shipping lines operating on the same routes and facing the same global fuel conditions (US$485 or about K2,016 by Swire; Costco and ANL US$75 or about K311).
“At a time when inflation remains high and households and businesses are under intense cost-of-living pressure, these charges raise serious questions.
“Fuel price volatility is a shared challenge across the shipping industry, yet Swire’s response appears markedly disproportionate when compared with its competitors.
“Business have also reported that Consort has raised their price by K1,000(US$231) on the Lae-POM route.”
Scovell said that the disparity warranted closer scrutiny by customers, policymakers, and regulators.
“The key issue is not whether fuel costs have risen, but why one operator is seeking to recover far more from customers than others in comparable circumstances,” he said.
“There is also an important historical context. During the Coronavirus pandemic, many importers and exporters experienced what they regarded as excessive and opportunistic surcharges from Swire at a time of global disruption and limited shipping
alternatives.
“The re-emergence of sharply higher charges today risks reinforcing concerns about pricing behaviour in markets where competition is constrained.”
Scovell said Swire Shipping should clearly explain:
*How these emergency charges have been calculated;
*Why they are materially higher than those of other carriers; and,
*Why customers should accept costs that appear out of step with prevailing market practice.
Scovell said: “In an environment where affordability, fairness, and economic resilience matter more than ever, pricing power must be exercised responsibly and explained openly.
“The public, industry, and government decision-makers are entitled to that transparency.
“When one shipping line is charging far more than its competitors for the same fuel conditions, the question is simple: what justifies the difference, and who is really paying for it?…. PACNEWS
FIJI – AIRLINE: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 23 Mar 2026
Airline stays the course
NADI, 23 MARCH 2026 (FIJI TIMES) — National airline Fiji Airways intends to operate scheduled flights amid increasing jet fuel prices ignited by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Speaking at the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Fiji Airways and Tourism Fiji in Nadi, the airline’s managing director and CEO Paul Scurrah said they were doing everything they could to maintain seat capacity.
“Right now, we’ve had a global impact happening within our industry,” said Scurrah.
“That is (there are) two impacts for us, and that is the significant increase in the cost of fuel, which puts a lot of pressure on our ability to operate in the markets we operate.
“What I have said to my team is we need to do everything that we possibly can to make sure that seat capacity that is coming and going to Fiji is maintained, and in order to do that we need to make sure that we are covering the increase in fuel costs that could scare people from coming to Fiji.
“So, we are walking that fine line and finding that delicate balance.”
Scurrah said there was also an opportunity for the industry to welcome new visitors.
“On the flip side to that, our reputation as a safe and family-friendly destination is playing into our hands at the moment, and we are seeing increased interest in coming either to Fiji or through Fiji from people who would not have contemplated to do so.
“That is an opportunity for us. An opportunity for people who have not seen Fiji to learn about the beautiful country and to make sure that we can get them back again the next time they want to go on holiday.
“That increased demand is certainly helping us mitigate the impact of the cost of fuel.”
He added the airline continued to monitor global developments, including the evolving situation in the Middle East, while remaining focused on maintaining reliable operations and supporting Fiji’s tourism growth.
“While we continue to monitor global developments that may affect the aviation sector, Fiji’s geographic location, relative isolation, and reputation as a safe, family-friendly destination continue to support strong travel interest.
“We intend to operate our full schedule as planned while continuing to support tourism, trade and connectivity for Fiji and the wider Pacific,” he said…. PACNEWS
Weather Ready for All: GEDSI Strategy launched for inclusive disaster preparedness
APIA, 23 MARCH 2026 (SPREP) — In a landmark moment for Pacific climate resilience, the Pacific Leaders Weather Ready Pacific (WRP) Programme being implemented by SPREP has launched its Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) Strategy 2025–2033.
The new strategy, launched on Friday 13 March 2026, is a comprehensive framework designed to ensure that early warning systems, weather forecasts, and disaster preparedness services reach every person across the Pacific, especially the most vulnerable.
At the heart of the WRP GEDSI Strategy is a simple but powerful truth: the people most at risk from extreme weather events are women, girls, persons with disabilities, youth, and other marginalised groups. They are also often those least reached by the services designed to protect them. The strategy is WRP’s formal commitment to changing that.
“Our commitment is to the vision of building a resilient and inclusive Pacific where everyone, and in particular Pacific women and girls in all their diversity, are empowered to anticipate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from all disasters and hazards,” said Salesa Nihmei, Director of the Climate Science and Information Programme at the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).
The strategy recognises that Pacific Island communities face escalating threats from tropical cyclones, tsunamis, droughts, storm surges, and flash floods, and that these events do not affect all people equally. Persons with disabilities, for example, are up to four times more likely to die in a disaster than those without disabilities. Women with disabilities face compounded disadvantages across education, employment, and health, and are more vulnerable to violence, particularly in the chaos immediately before or following a disaster.
The GEDSI Strategy directly shapes how WRP supports National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) across the Pacific region. While these services play a critical role in delivering life-saving forecasts and warnings, assessments already conducted across some of the Pacific Islands of Cook Islands, Niue, Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Tuvalu have revealed a consistent pattern: gender and inclusion considerations remain poorly integrated into institutional operations, hindered by insufficient resources, male-dominated workforces, and a troubling tendency to offload responsibility for inclusive outreach onto community-level women’s groups rather than embedding it in institutional policy.
Under its Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Building priority area, WRP commits to providing mandatory, ongoing GEDSI training across all NMHS staff and partners; integrating GEDSI into core operational policies and strategic planning; and actively promoting gender balance, including in leadership and technical roles where women currently represent fewer than 20 percent of positions globally.
A dedicated programme to support Pacific Women in Weather and Water will foster professional development for Pacific women in meteorology, hydrology, and related sciences, both within formal NMHSs and through recognition of the vital informal roles played by community networks such as Fiji’s Women’s Weather Watch (WWW) and Vanuatu’s Women Weta Weta.
Crucially, the strategy outlines how WRP will also invests in the “last mile”, the hardest-to-reach communities where the gap between warning issued and warning received can mean the difference between life and death. WRP-funded satellite internet services in underserved areas will support information dissemination, while community leaders and traditional communication networks will be leveraged to ensure warnings are understood and acted upon by all.
During the launch, Pacific Met Services heard about the strategy’s “transformative twin-track approach”: simultaneously mainstreaming GEDSI across all WRP programming while delivering targeted interventions to address the specific barriers faced by marginalised groups.
The approach is built on the understanding that neither track alone is sufficient for lasting change.
Additionally, there are five Key Priority Areas that structure the approach: Inclusive Risk Understanding and Early Warning Systems for All; Gender Transformative Approaches; Holistic Disability Inclusion; Deepening Social Inclusion and Community Engagement; and Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Building. These are underpinned by dedicated monitoring and evaluation frameworks that collect disaggregated data, by gender, age, disability, location, and socioeconomic status, to track progress and continuously improve.
The WRP GEDSI Strategy 2025–2033 is more than a policy document, it is a transformation agenda for how Pacific meteorological and disaster preparedness institutions operate, who they serve, and who they employ. Its vision is clear: a resilient and inclusive Pacific where Pacific women and girls in all their diversity, persons with disabilities, and marginalised groups are empowered not merely to survive disasters, but to anticipate them, prepare for them, and recover from them with dignity…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
Amplifying Her Story: Media Drives Equality in PNG
PORT MORESBY, 23 MARCH 2026 (ABC PACIFIC NEWS) — In Papua New Guinea (PNG), women’s representation in leadership remains limited, and being heard is still a struggle. Here, the power of the word is undeniable. Across newsrooms, female journalists are working to ensure women’s stories are told with dignity, accuracy, and impact.
Reporting on women’s issues has evolved. Once confined to feature pages or highlighted mainly around International Women’s Day, stories about gender-based violence, sorcery accusation–related violence, and women’s political participation were often underreported or framed as “women’s problems”. Today, newsrooms increasingly treat these issues as serious national development and public policy concerns.
Cynthia Maku, a reporter for PNG’s public broadcaster National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) in the West Sepik region, says women in PNG face daily challenges — at home, in communities, at work, and in school. “From gender-based violence to barriers in politics and decision-making and issues affecting health and wellbeing, the realities are complex and deeply rooted,” she says.
The media has played a critical role in bringing these issues to light. Newsrooms report on violence against women to hold perpetrators accountable, highlight women’s struggles in leadership, and expose the challenges mothers face when giving birth in remote areas. They also promote gender equality by celebrating achievements and amplifying voices that might otherwise go unheard.
“But there is still a long way to go,” Cynthia says. “We need more consistent coverage, not just reactive reporting when tragedy strikes. We must intentionally platform women in leadership, business, and decision-making. And importantly, we must continue challenging harmful language, stereotypes, and cultural biases that subtly shape narratives.”
She adds that stories should lead to solutions. “Reporting domestic violence shouldn’t end the incident. It should follow through until perpetrators are held accountable, and communities stand against abuse. Stories about women entering politics should show the journey to leadership. And when we report on a woman forced to give birth in the bush, the story should point to better services, like a hospital being built so no woman faces that again.”
As reporting on women’s issues has matured, journalists now carry the responsibility to shape national perception, highlighting women as leaders in politics, business, and community life, central to PNG’s future.
Amanda Ila’itia, the News & Current Affairs Manager at PNG television network EMTV, emphasises this responsibility, saying, “One of our core duties is to inform people accurately. We must continue covering issues affecting women today, like sorcery accusation related violence and domestic violence. Although these topics are sensitive, they are realities that must be exposed. Media plays a key role in prompting authorities to take action.”
Storytelling becomes powerful when it moves beyond reporting and begins to shape awareness and action, according to Grace Salmang, a reporter with PNG newspaper Post-Courier, who says, “The media doesn’t just report events. It shapes how people understand them, and that influence comes with responsibility.”
Grace highlights a shift in perspective: “For a long time, many stories about women and girls centred only on suffering and hardship. While these realities must be reported, we also have a duty to show the full picture. Women in PNG are leaders, innovators, business owners, community builders, and decision-makers. Telling these stories consistently challenges assumptions about what women can or cannot do.”
She adds, “Media can challenge stereotypes through language and framing. The way we describe female politicians compared to male politicians matters. The questions we ask women in leadership matter. The voices we include matter. Intentional reporting can reshape public perception.”
Media also plays a role in justice. “Reporting on gender-based violence, discrimination, or inequality documents truth. Documentation creates accountability. Even when change is slow, consistent reporting ensures these issues are not ignored or normalised. Journalism is not just about informing; it is about giving space. When women see themselves represented fairly, it affirms that their stories matter,” Grace said.
NBC’s Milne Bay reporter Priscilla Waikaidi reflects on her 20 years of reporting. “While women are often labelled weaker or quieter, the stories I’ve covered show resilience, strength and determination.
“A single mother raised four children on her own. One of her sons became the first of two in the family to attend university. I was privileged to tell her story and help rally nationwide support so she could attend her son’s graduation, leaving her small island for the first time, traveling on a plane, and visiting Port Moresby.
“In another case, a mother was taking her son to the hospital from her rural mountain home when their public motor vehicle was delayed. Her son, startled by gunshots, jumped off to save himself but was tragically run over and died along the highway. Despite her grief, she shared her story with me and expressed her disappointment that highways remain unsafe after 50 years. We were able to support her in taking her son home for a proper burial,” Priscilla said.
Vanessa Ripa of NBC Western Highlands shares how she ensures women are represented. “In male-dominated spaces, women can be shy or overlooked. I approach them directly, make them feel comfortable, use respectful language, and report their words accurately. Covering women’s achievements shows they are leaders and decision-makers, not just supporters.”
This commitment is echoed across other newsrooms. At Post-Courier, journalists actively seek women’s voices in all stories, not just those about women. “Representation doesn’t happen by accident,” Grace said. “I actively look for female experts, frontline workers, and community leaders. This shifts the narrative from women as subjects to women as authorities.”
Grace explains how the newsroom covers gender-based violence in a systemic way. “We explore issues like access to justice, availability of support services, and gaps in policy. That approach changes the conversation from ‘what happened’ to ‘why is this happening, and what needs to change?”
For her, being a female reporter is about understanding the weight of visibility. “When young girls see women asking questions, leading interviews, and shaping national conversations, it expands what they believe is possible for themselves.”
At EMTV, young reporters are encouraged to integrate principles of rights, justice, and action for women and girls into their everyday work.
Amanda Ila’itia explains, “We assign journalists to cover stories related to women and girls. Every day there are events or programs that include women and girls. Our goal is to give them a voice, whether they are corporate leaders or mothers working tirelessly to support their families. They have a right to share opinions on matters that affect their lives.”
The power of storytelling is clear. It not only informs but also inspires awareness and action. Every story told, every voice amplified, helps PNG move closer to justice and equality. “The journey continues,” they say, “but with each story, each spotlight on women’s leadership, the path toward equality in PNG becomes clearer.” …PACNEWS
The Media Development Initiative (MDI) is funded by the Australian Government through the PNG-Aus Partnership and implemented by ABC International Development.MDI provides media training and capacity-building, enhancing professional skills and supplying news gathering equipment.
PACNEWS DIGEST
Measuring the impact of Sustainable Ocean Governance for Solomon Islands
HONIARA, 23 MARCH 2027 (SPREP) — “Our Ocean is central to the identity, culture and livelihoods of Solomon Islanders. It supports our fisheries, our food security, our transport networks, our economic development, and the wellbeing of our communities. Therefore, improving how we coordinate and manage our ocean resources is a national priority.”
Those words from Brian Akwasia, Desk Officer, Ocean and Climate Change Desk, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, set the tone for a national workshop held recently in the Solomon Islands to monitor the effectiveness and impact of the marine spatial planning (MSP) process in the country. The main objective of the two-day workshop for Solomon Islands was to consult with key stakeholders and actively co-develop a suite of climate and biodiversity-aligned MSP indicators, tailored to the national context, for monitoring and assessing the how effective island-scale MSP processes have been.
“Marine Spatial Planning is one of the tools we are using to support this goal. It has helped us plan for how our ocean space is used and provides a framework to bring together different sectors, strengthen coordination across ministries, and support better decision-making for the future of our ocean,” added Akwasia.
The workshop was the culmination of a partnership between the Government of the Solomon Islands, the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)and the Government of New Zealand. It is supported by the New Zealand-funded Climate and Biodiversity-Smart Marine Spatial Planning (CaB-Smart MSP) Programme, implemented by SPREP.
Solomon Islands Exclusive Economic Zone covers approximately 1.5 million square kilometres representing one of the largest ocean areas in the region. Situated in Melanesia, this expansive EEZ is vital for the nation’s fisheries and biodiversity, encompassing over 900 islands and significant coral reefs.
Over the two-day period, participants actively engaged in confirming national marine spatial planning priorities and acquired a shared understanding of MSP indicators – their purpose and role in tracking progress and their value in supporting improved governance, transparency, and enabling evidence-based decision-making. The gathering empowered the open sharing of ideas, interactive discussion and practical group work, where participants evaluated potential indicators against a set of prioritisation criteria to determine whether they were relevant, realistic and fit-for-purpose.
“Relevant and realistic Indicators are an essential means of evaluating the effectiveness of the marine spatial planning process and tracking whether expected outcomes are being achieved for Solomon Islands,” said Mr. Sylvester Diake, national CaB-Smart MSP Coordinator, Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources.
“The integrated nature of marine spatial planning requires indicators that link directly to national policy themes such as biodiversity health, community livelihoods, climate resilience, cultural integrity and sustainable economic growth. Thus, I am pleased that we are taking steps towards determining impact of our MSP process and ensuring that it is effective and adaptable to changing circumstances, needs and priorities.”
The workshop engaged a total of 21 participants from across key national agencies and NGOs including the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Solomon Islands National University, University of the South Pacific and the Wildlife Conservation Society, Solomon Islands.
The co-developed indicators will align with Solomon Islands’ MSP objectives and policy frameworks, specifically the Solomon Islands’ National Ocean Policy, the Solomon Islands MSP plan and as well as broader national priorities around marine conservation and ocean management. These indicators will contribute to relevant national reporting obligations, including the national State of Environment reporting process for Solomon Islands.
The national Climate and Biodiversity Smart MSP Indicators Co-Development Workshop for Solomon Islands was held from 11-13 March 2026, facilitated by BMT Commercial Australia Pty Ltd, under contract to SPREP and was made possible through the Climate and Biodiversity-Smart Marine Spatial Planning Programme (CaB-Smart MSP), funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The CaB-Smart MSP Programme underscores New Zealand’s commitment to assist Pacific Island nations in addressing and adapting to the challenges posed by climate change, it is part of New Zealand’s broader International Climate Finance Strategy and aims to bolster the capabilities and capacities of Pacific Island countries to lead tailored approaches to marine spatial planning and marine protection. These approaches are designed to enhance marine conservation efforts, balance economic and conservation objectives, and fortify resilience against the adverse impacts of climate change.
SPREP leads on two multi-country components of the programme, which have a specific focus on strengthening understanding of how Traditional Knowledge and customary practice work alongside marine spatial planning and developing country-specific climate and biodiversity-relevant marine spatial planning indicators. Implementation of the Programme is being closely coordinated with regional partners including The Pacific Community (SPC) and aligns with and contributes to key regional frameworks such as the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, the Framework for a Pacific Oceanscape and the Pacific Islands Regional Ocean Policy…. PACNEWS
For more information on the CaB-Smart MSP Programme, please contact Vainuupo Jungblut Environmental Monitoring and Reporting Adviser vainuupoj@sprep.org and/or Patea Setefano, CaB Smart MSP Programme Coordinator patea.ext@sprep.org
PACNEWS DIGEST
The Pacific century needs its own kind of university system
The region is not catching up. In many ways, it is already leading, writes Professor Jemaima Tiatia-Siau.
AUCKLAND, 23 MARCH 2026 (PMN) — The Pacific, often described as the Blue Pacific Continent, is a vast ocean region defined by shared cultures, kinship, history, and responsibility.
Across the Blue Pacific, a quiet but important shift is unfolding. For example, Pacific universities, in many respects, are already exhibiting the qualities of what is now being described across higher education globally, as a ‘fourth-generation university’.
Institutions defined not only by teaching and research, but by real engagement and partnership with communities, governments and students; institutions that are globally networked, culturally grounded and rooted in social transformation.
Our region stands at the intersection of demographic change, with intensifying environmental pressures and rapid technological headway that will impact the next 50 years.
More than half of the Pacific’s population is under the age of 30. Climate change is altering our coastlines and economies. Digital technologies are transforming how knowledge is created, shared and applied.
In the midst of these changes, one question stands out: what kind of universities does the Pacific century require? For much of the past half-century, the priority for higher education in the region has been
understandably around access.
Expanding opportunities for Pacific students to attend university has been a critical focal point and has helped produce generations of leaders in government, business, justice, health and education. But access alone is no longer enough.
The scale of the challenges facing our region now requires that universities do more than just educate individuals. They must become institutions that actively shape Pacific futures.
Universities are not purely bastions of knowledge transmission; they are anchors of our societies. They deliver the research that informs public policy, the innovation that guides economic development, and the leaders who navigate complex regional challenges.
With this in mind, universities must play a key role in strengthening this collective future. Several priorities will define the next generation of higher education across the Pacific.
Universities must invest in Pacific youth
It is well-known that the Pacific’s greatest strength is its young people. In 2025, those aged 15 to 24 made up around 19 percent of the population, making the Pacific one of the youngest regions in the world.
This is not a challenge but an opportunity. Global analyses have long pointed to the Pacific’s youthful population as a long-term source of growth – but only if education and skills systems can adapt quickly.
As the region’s population continues to swell, higher education institutions must grow opportunities for leadership development, innovation, entrepreneurship and professional skills. Universities must equip Pacific youth, not only with access to education, but also with confidence as innovators, problem-solvers, and decision-makers in their communities and beyond.
Pacific universities must lead research on issues that matter most
Climate resilience, ocean governance, health equity, indigenous knowledge systems and sustainable futures are not academic theories, they are the lived realities for Pacific communities.
Universities are uniquely positioned to generate knowledge that responds to these challenges.
By growing and strengthening transdisciplinary research and collaborations across nations, institutions and communities, Pacific universities can become global leaders in the study of oceanic and island futures.
Future of higher education in the Pacific will be digital as well as physical
Geography has always shaped the region’s educational landscape. Students are spread across thousands of islands in the region, often far from major campuses.
Advances in digital learning technologies spawn opportunities to reimagine how education can be delivered.
Hybrid learning, online programmes and flexible pathways can diversify access while maintaining the cultural, relational and community connections that define Pacific education.
Pacific universities must strengthen global partnerships while staying grounded in Pacific values
International partnerships are vital for bolstering scholarship, creativity and transformation. At the same time, the Pacific has its own rich intellectual and scientific traditions, ways of knowing, doing and being, and approaches of understanding community environments and wellbeing that have guided our peoples for generations.
Universities must ensure these are not peripheral but central to research that is both globally relevant and locally grounded.
For Pacific peoples, universities have served as spaces where communities imagine their futures and breathe life into what once seemed beyond reach.
Walking across the graduation stage has been the long-held dream of our parents and ancestors, and in tribute and in honour of their legacies and endurance.
Universities foster the thinkers, teachers, creatives, doctors, engineers, scientists and leaders who mould our region, particularly through times of uncertainty.
They also carry a deep responsibility – to elevate the indigenous knowledge systems and ensure Pacific peoples lead the research, design, and solutions that affect their lives.
As the Pacific navigates the decades ahead, our universities must evolve to step up to the call.
They must be bold in their vision, inclusive in their mission, and deeply connected to the communities they serve.
If the Pacific century is to be defined by resilience, creativity, and leadership, our universities must stand at the centre of that journey – not only as places of learning but as institutions that help chart the course for the Blue Pacific Continent where their role will matter more than ever….. PACNEWS Professor Jemaima Tiatia-Siau is Pro Vice-Chancellor (Pacific) at the University of Auckland, a Sāmoan scholar specialising in Pacific health, mental health and wellbeing, suicide prevention, health inequities, climate change, and youth development, with extensive academic and governance experience.