In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — PNG champions Melanesian unity on Ocean Protection
2. VAN — Vanuatu’s cabinet approves new version of Nakamal Agreement with Australia
3. PALAU — Billions promised, but bottlenecks persist: GAO flags Compact delays affecting Palau
4. NZ — New Zealand tightens international adoptions, Sāmoa most affected
6. PNG — PNG continues to face energy infrastructure challenges: Minister
5. NZ — Expert calls for real Pacific power in New Zealand data overhaul
7. UK— King Charles extends sympathy to PNG
8. VAN — Zero tolerance as Vanuatu mounts 60-day crackdown
9. FIJI — “Band-Aids don’t fix bullet holes, says Dr Shankar
10. PACNEWS BIZ — No diplomatic resolution yet in Indonesia-Palau fishing Vessel dispute
11. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji PM Rabuka assures Employment Relations Bill next sitting of Parliament
12. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji Airways warns of disruptions on Tuvalu flights amid fuel crisis
13. PACNEWS BIZ — PNG, Solomon Islands, Germany launch water initiative
14. PACNEWS DIGEST — Niue launches its first national cervical screening programme
15. PACNEWS DIGEST — American Samoa adopts first statistics strategy with Pacific support
PAC – OCEAN SUMMIT: PACNEWS PACNEWS 2: Tue 12 May 2026
PNG champions Melanesian unity on Ocean Protection
By Pita Ligaiula
PORT MORESBY, 12 MAY 2026 (PACNEWS) — Papua New Guinea is positioning the 2026 Melanesian Ocean Summit as a major platform for regional unity, climate action and ocean governance, with leaders calling for stronger cooperation to protect the Pacific’s marine resources and confront growing environmental threats.
Justin Tkatchenko, Papua New Guinea’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, said the summit would reinforce Melanesian solidarity and strengthen the region’s voice on global ocean issues.
“The Melanesian Oceans Summit serves as a definitive testament to our regional solidarity and the vital role of diplomacy in safeguarding our maritime domain.”
“As Melanesian nations, we are united not only by geography but by an enduring responsibility to champion our shared oceanic priorities within the global arena.”
Tkatchenko said the summit would provide a strategic platform for countries to strengthen partnerships and cooperation on ocean governance, climate resilience and sustainable development.
“The Melanesian Ocean Summit 2026 stands as a strategic platform to strengthen partnerships, amplify our collective voice, and catalyze high-level cooperation on ocean governance, climate resilience, and sustainable development.”
Papua New Guinea Fisheries Minister Jelta Wong said Pacific nations must reconnect with traditional knowledge and take urgent action against pollution and environmental decline.
“Our ancestors knew how to preserve our oceans, yet pollution continues to cause havoc and has overtaken their knowledge and practice.”
“The Melanesian Ocean Summit will be our voice. Let us be the generation that makes the change for our future.”
The summit is expected to bring Melanesian nations together around shared priorities on sustainability, marine conservation and ocean stewardship.
PNG Minister for Environment, Conservation and Climate Change Simo Kilepa warned that Melanesian countries remain highly vulnerable to climate change impacts.
“Our oceans are at the frontline of climate change, and the Melanesian region is among the most vulnerable.”
“The Melanesian Oceans Summit offers a critical platform to advance solutions that protect marine ecosystems while strengthening climate resilience.”
Kilepa said regional cooperation would be critical in driving conservation, adaptation and sustainable ocean management.
“Through collaboration, innovation, and shared responsibility, we can drive impactful action on conservation, adaptation, and sustainable ocean management securing a healthier future for our people and our planet.”
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape said the summit must move beyond statements and deliver concrete action for Pacific communities.
“The Melanesian Ocean Summit is a critical opportunity to turn Pacific leadership into practical action.”
“Our ocean sustains our food security, cultures, economies, and climate resilience.”
“By working together, we can protect our marine biodiversity, strengthen sustainable livelihoods, and build an ocean future grounded in partnership, stewardship, and shared prosperity.”
Organisers say the Melanesian Ocean Summit 2026 will serve as a defining moment for Pacific nations to strengthen sustainable ocean governance and reaffirm commitments to protecting the Blue Pacific.
“The Melanesian Ocean Summit 2026 stands as a defining moment for Pacific nations to advance sustainable ocean governance and reaffirm our shared commitment to protecting the Blue Pacific for generations to come, said PM Marape…. PACNEWS
VAN – DIPLOMACY/SECURITY: ABC PACIFIC PACNEWS 2: Tue 12 May 2026
Vanuatu’s cabinet approves new version of Nakamal Agreement with Australia
PORT VILA, 12 MAY 2026 (ABC PACIFIC) — Vanuatu’s cabinet has given the green light to a new version of the landmark Nakamal Agreement with Australia, with the two nations looking increasingly likely to strike a compromise deal after months of sometimes difficult negotiations.
The ABC has been told that Vanuatu’s Council of Ministers signed off on an updated version of the pact last Thursday, with the agreement now just needing final approval from the Albanese government.
Prime Minister Jotham Napat pulled out from signing the major strategic agreement in September, saying some ministers in his governing coalition were worried it would undermine the Pacific nation’s sovereignty.
It comes against the backdrop of a fierce diplomatic arm wrestle between Australia and China, which is pursuing its own pact with Vanuatu called the Namele Agreement.
The exact wording of the new Nakamal Agreement between Australia and Vanuatu is not yet clear.
The ABC has been told the new agreement does not include the same limitations aimed at curbing Chinese investment in critical infrastructure and other sensitive sectors in Vanuatu.
But a source in the Vanuatu government said it still enshrined Australia’s position as the country’s main security partner, without stopping Vanuatu from engaging with other partners, including China.
They also said Napat could travel to Australia to sign the agreement within weeks if it got a final tick off from the Australian government.
A spokesman for Vanuatu’s government did not respond to questions about the Nakamal Agreement.
A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade also would not be drawn, saying “decisions of Vanuatu’s cabinet are a matter for the Vanuatu government”.
“Australia continues to work with Vanuatu to finalise the Nakamal Agreement,” the spokesperson said.
If the two countries do manage to sign the pact, it will end long and sometimes torturous negotiations between Canberra and Port Vila over multiple security and strategic agreements.
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong struck a short-lived security deal with then-prime minister Ishmael Kalsakau only months after Labor took office in 2022, but that agreement quickly foundered, with multiple ministers in Vanuatu complaining their prime minister had pushed ahead without consulting them.
Australian officials were also frustrated when Napat declined to sign the Nakamal pact last year, not long after six ministers from both countries conducted an elaborate signing ceremony on the summit of Mount Yasur, a spiritually charged location on the island of Tanna.
There was yet another flare-up last month, with Napat responding angrily when an Australian official raised concerns in the local press about the Namele Agreement, suggesting Canberra was worried Vanuatu and China were on the brink of signing a security pact.
“Our foreign policy is guided by our national interests, not by external speculation or pressure,” he said at the time.
The exact nature of the Namele agreement with China is not yet clear.
Napat has repeatedly referred to it as an economic agreement, although Climate Change Minister Ralph Regenvanu recently called it a “strategic partnership agreement” which is comparable to Nakamal.
“In our effort to maintain our long-held non-aligned position, it sort of makes it feel balanced if the two people who are competing in the Pacific, if we enter into agreements with both of them,” Regenvanu said.
Under the Nakamal pact signed on Mount Yasur, Australia was originally due to invest about half a billion dollars in Vanuatu over a decade to help the country with its key development and security priorities.
While Australia has never publicly pointed the finger at Beijing, it has repeatedly signalled that it sees China as a strategic adversary in Port Vila.
When Pacific Minister Pat Conroy was asked last week if China was trying to sink the Nakamal Agreement, he reiterated that Australia was in a “permanent contest” in the Pacific.
“Many countries, including China, are seeking to assert influence in the region,” Conroy said.
“We’re working very hard to ensure that we’re the partner of choice for the region, but other countries outside our region obviously have a strong desire to be involved.
“Our view is that’s most appropriately expressed in development relationships with the region.
“But for security, which should be driven and provided by Pacific nations.,” he said…. PACNEWS
PALAU – COMPACT FUNDING: ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS 2: Tue 12 May 2026
Billions promised, but bottlenecks persist: GAO flags Compact delays affecting Palau
KOROR, 11 MAY 2026 (ISLAND TIMES) — A new U.S government watchdog report is raising concerns that delays, and bureaucratic bottlenecks tied to Compact of Free Association funding could undermine Palau’s fragile economic recovery, critical public services and strategic importance in the Pacific.
In its May 2026 review of the compact agreements with the Republic of Palau, Federated States of Micronesia and Republic of the Marshall Islands, the U.S Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that while education and health remain top priorities for compact spending, implementation and oversight continue to fall behind legal requirements.
The report warns that delays in audits, planning documents and coordination among U.S. agencies could weaken the effectiveness of more than US$6 billion in assistance pledged to the freely associated states through 2043.
Among the three nations, Palau was highlighted as particularly vulnerable because of its heavy reliance on U.S. assistance and its exposure to economic and geopolitical pressures.
According to the report, U.S compact grants and other federal programs made up roughly 36 percent of Palau’s government revenue in 2022. Under the amended 2023 compact agreement, Palau is expected to receive an estimated US$889 million in grants, trust fund contributions, infrastructure funding and fiscal support through 2043. Annual grants for health, education and government operations are also scheduled to increase by 2 percent each year.
The funding comes as Palau continues to recover from the devastating economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The report notes that between fiscal years 2019 and 2022, Palau’s gross domestic product declined by more than 18 percent after international tourism collapsed. Visitor arrivals fell from nearly 116,000 tourists in 2018 to only about 3,400 in 2021 during pandemic border restrictions.
The economic downturn also resulted in the loss of more than 1,500 private-sector jobs, even as the country’s population remained relatively stable.
Palau’s 2025 compact spending plans show the extent to which U.S. assistance supports essential government services.
The government plans to allocate about US$10.4 million for health services and US$10 million for education, with most of the funding directed toward salaries for employees within the Ministry of Health and Human Services and the Ministry of Education.
Additional compact infrastructure funding is expected to support school construction and repair projects, including a new nine-classroom facility in Airai and renovations at Palau High School and several elementary schools.
However, the report says some major projects are still facing delays.
Investigators pointed to serious structural problems at Palau’s main hospital, including water damage and exposed rusted reinforcing steel. Although the government appropriated US$2.6 million from a compact-funded maintenance account in 2024 for repairs, procurement delays and limited local capacity have slowed progress.
The report also highlighted ongoing problems with oversight and accountability.
Palau’s annual “single audit” reports covering the use of U.S funds were submitted hundreds of days late between fiscal years 2019 and 2022. Audits for 2023 and 2024 also missed federal deadlines.
While the U.S Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs has provided technical assistance and Palau hired additional accounting staff, the Office of the Public Auditor continues to face a backlog of unfinished audits.
The GAO found similar delays in Washington.
A congressional interagency group established to coordinate U.S policy toward the freely associated states submitted its first report to lawmakers 10 months late.
Meanwhile, plans to establish a dedicated State Department office focused on compact implementation and relations with the freely associated states have been delayed because of hiring freezes and staffing constraints.
The report warns that if compact funding continues to move slowly or cannot be spent efficiently because of limited capacity, Palau could face further delays to critical infrastructure projects, hospital repairs and civil service reforms intended to retain skilled workers in the country.
The GAO also noted the broader strategic implications for the region.
The report states that prolonged U.S administrative delays could weaken efforts to counter growing Chinese economic and criminal influence in Palau, where Chinese sources account for roughly 40 percent of foreign investment and tourism has previously been used as political leverage.
In comments attached to the report, the Palau government described itself as a steadfast ally of the United States and called for stronger and more timely support to ensure the compact agreement fulfills its goals of stabilising the economy and improving living conditions for Palauan citizens…. PACNEWS
NZ – ADOPTION: PMN PACNEWS 2: Tue 12 May 2026
New Zealand tightens international adoptions, Sāmoa most affected
WELLINGTON, 12 MAY 2026 (PMN) — The New Zealand Government is pausing the recognition of some international adoptions, primarily affecting Sāmoa, due to concerns over child abuse in cases involving adoptions from overseas.
Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee says efforts are underway with Sāmoan authorities to address the issues surrounding international adoptions. But she says that until adequate safeguards are established, adoptions will remain on hold.
McKee says 1000 children are adopted internationally each year, and there is uncertainty over how many may suffer abuse.
McKee has been aware of the situation since last November and says the suspension is in response to cases where children adopted overseas have arrived in New Zealand and suffered abuse.
“There are approximately 1000 children per year that come to New Zealand using section 17 of the Adoption Act, but we don’t know how many of these children are being abused,” she said.
The Adoption Amendment Bill was introduced to Parliament with urgency on Tuesday and passed through all legislative stages quickly.
The suspension will take effect this week and remain in place until a date set by the Governor-General or until 01 July 2027, whichever comes first.
Along with the suspension of section 17 of the Adoption Act 1995, which recognises international adoptions by New Zealand citizens, the law will also limit the Family Court’s ability to grant adoption when the adoptive parents or child are located overseas, under section three of the Act.
Currently, 86 countries are exempt from the suspension, with only two Pacific nations, Tonga and Fiji, included in that list. Tokelau, Niue, and the Cook Islands are also exempted as they are Realm countries.
McKee has praised Tonga’s information-sharing agreements with New Zealand police and Oranga Tamariki. Tonga is one of the few countries on the exempt list that has not signed the Hague Convention, which aims to facilitate the swift return of children wrongfully removed across international borders by a parent.
“We feel secure to know that when an adoption takes place in Tonga, the right checks and balances are being done with New Zealand, so that’s why they’re on the exempt list,” McKee says.
She says the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is working with Sāmoan officials to establish information-sharing agreements. While she could not provide a specific timeline for when Sāmoa might be added to the exemption list, McKee says progress in discussions between New Zealand and local authorities has been encouraging.
Around 700 children are internationally adopted through Sāmoa, compared to 500 from other countries. McKee was unable to confirm which countries have the most incidence of abused children being adopted but acknowledged the flawed situation in New Zealand that allows citizens with criminal convictions to adopt overseas.
She points to past cases such as that of Joseph Auga Matamata, who adopted three boys overseas despite having previous convictions for violence.
Matamata was sentenced to 11 years in prison in 2020 after he withdrew one boy from school and treated him as a domestic servant. The other two boys managed to escape by climbing a fence in the middle of the night.
“This case is the tip of the iceberg,” McKee said. “It is completely unacceptable for our international adoption laws to be used in this way.
“This abuse is preventable, and this government is acting decisively to prevent future harm to children adopted overseas into unsafe situations, said McKee said…. PACNEWS
PNG – ENERGY: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS 2: Tue 12 May 2026
PNG continues to face energy infrastructure challenges: Minister
PORT MORESBY, 12 MAY 2026 (THE NATIONAL) — Papua New Guinea still faces challenges in accessing infrastructure and deployment of energy resources, says Energy Minister Peter Isoaimo.
“Our abundant natural resources in hydropower, geothermal, solar, wind and bioenergy offer immense potential, yet the country still faces immense challenges,” he said.
Isoaimo said the country’s energy sector was foundational to economic growth and social development, but only 21 per cent of the population was connected to electricity – mostly in urban areas.
This was revealed through the energy transition assessment report released last week during the Pacific minister’s energy and transport summit held last week in Port Moresby.
The National Energy Authority (NEA) in collaboration with the International Renewable Energy Authority (Irena) took the lead in facilitating its assessment and the processes.
Over 20 ministers and senior officials in attendance participated in high level talks which included expanding access to energy and particularly in rural and remote communities.
The assessment identifies six priority areas:
*Accelerating energy access in rural communities;
* Enhancing energy security and climate benefits through resource assessment;
*Advancing clean cooking solutions;
*Promoting end use efficiency and sustainable practices;
*Decarbonising transportation; and,
*Integrating renewables into key economic sectors like agriculture, tourism, health and education.
From this, the assessment proposes short to long term actions including reviewing rural electrification strategies, establishing dedicated policies for solar, hydro, wind, bioenergy and geo-thermal and fostering public-private partnership to mobilise financing.
“Energy poverty remains a stark reality for the majority living in rural and remote communities,” Isoaimo said.
“The countries reliance on imported fossil fuels not only strains our economy, but also worsens environmental vulnerabilities in a nation richly endowed with biodiversity and situated on the front lines of climate change.
“There is an urgency of accelerating our transition from bio-energy’s dominance in household consumption to the untapped promise of renewables and that could diversify our energy mix, reduce emissions and align with our national determined contributions under the Paris agreement, said Minister Isoaimo…. PACNEWS
NZ – NATIONAL DATA: PMN PACNEWS 2: Tue 12 May 2026
Expert calls for real Pacific power in New Zealand data overhaul
WELLINGTON, 12 MAY 2026 (PMN) — Economist Filipo Katavake-McGrath is questioning whether a new Stats New Zealand advisory group will have real influence in shaping national data or simply act as a voice on the sidelines.
Stats NZ is overhauling how it collects population data, which will replace the traditional five-yearly census with a new system using administrative data and annual surveys.
As part of the change, a Pacific Data Advisory Group is being set up, alongside similar groups for the rainbow and homeless communities.
Katavake-McGrath said lived experience needs to sit at the centre of how data is designed and used.
He says people who understand hardship first-hand can help improve how systems interpret information and make decisions.
“I’ve been the person in health funding discussions that says, ‘a person with psychosis doesn’t think like that, because when I had psychosis, I thought like this’,” he tells Pacific Mornings.
“And I tell you what, when someone cuts through the bureaucracy with something really scary like that, it gets the decisions really crisp.”
He said this kind of insight is especially important for Pacific communities, which have been undercounted or misrepresented in official statistics.
The 2023 Census recorded an estimated 89 per cent national response rate, up from 82 percent in 2018. But participation among Pacific people was lower at 79 percent.
Katavake-McGrath said those gaps reflect long-standing barriers that have not been properly addressed.
“There were people who felt considerable concern that their immigration status would affect their relationship with the census,” he said. “There were also people who said, ‘we live in a garage so we can’t qualify’, and over so many decades we’ve had this handbrake on Pacific participation in the census.”
Stats NZ says the new advisory group will bring together up to 12 members with expertise in statistics, Pacific data governance, research, ethics, policy and community knowledge. It will meet about six times a year and be supported by a Stats NZ secretariat.
Tia Warbrick, Stats NZ Deputy Chief Executive for Strategic Engagement, says collaboration is central. “Working in partnership with communities is essential. We can’t do this alone,” she says in a statement.
“Bringing community voices into the design process helps build trust, understanding, and participation.”
Katavake-McGrath says the shift away from the traditional census is part of a wider move towards using administrative data, information already collected through government systems alongside annual surveys.
He says this approach could make data more accurate and more useful for communities.
“We don’t need a survey to work out where the footpaths are wearing down fastest… we have Google analytics, GPRS and card payment data all on tap 24/7.”
Despite concerns about influence, Katavake-McGrath says representation in the data sector is improving.
“As someone who has sometimes been the only brown person in the room, to now being part of networks where there are Pacific peoples all over the country dealing in data and also overseeing how data warehousing is managed … it’s actually a golden time for many younger Pacific people.”
But he warns the advisory group must not become a ticking-box exercise focused on language or surface-level consultation.
“I think the risk… is that they could be pushed towards just talking about language, and that is box ticking in 2026, whereas actually a Pacific perspective… is much more innovative.”
As the new system takes shape, the key question is whether Pacific communities will help shape how data is built or continue to be consulted without real decision-making power.
Expressions of interest for the Pacific Data Advisory Group close on 31 May 2026…. PACNEWS
UK- DIPLOMACY: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS 2: Tue 12 May 2026
King Charles extends sympathy to PNG
LONDON, 12 MAY 2026 (THE NATIONAL) — King Charles III, has expressed his condolences to the people of Papua New Guinea over the devastation and loss of lives caused by the recent tropical Cyclone Maila in parts of PNG and Solomon Islands.
In a message through Governor General Sir Bob Dadae, King Charles expressed his deep concern to families affected by cyclone Maila in parts of Bougainville and Milne Bay and commended emergency services for their dedication and courage to assist communities affected.
“My wife and I were deeply concerned to learn of the damage and devastation caused by tropical cyclone Maila across both Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands,” King Charles said.
“Our thoughts are with all those who have been so cruelly affected and we send our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who have so tragically lost their lives.
“I commend the dedication and courage shown by the emergency services, defence force, charity workers and community members in the immediate aftermath of the storm and in the days since, especially in the challenging conditions of remote regions.
“In such difficult and hazardous circumstances, it is most heartening to know that the strength of your already formidable resolve has been bolstered further by the collaboration and solidarity demonstrated between your nations, and with your Pacific neighbours, he said…. PACNEWS
VAN – POLICE OPERATIONS: VBTC/IB PACNEWS 2: Tue 12 May 2026
Zero tolerance as Vanuatu mounts 60-day crackdown
PORT VILA, 12 MAY 2026 (VBTC/IB) — Growing concerns over public disorder, youth delinquency, and alcohol-fueled violence, have forced a sweeping 60-day crackdown in Vanuatu.
Police Commissioner Kalshem Bongran said officers reaffirmed their dedication to safeguarding citizens after a recent surge in community incidents, including nighttime loitering by youths and other serious offences.
Following an urgent leadership meeting earlier this week, authorities reactivated “Zero Tolerance Operations” and “Operation Spotlight,” which will run for the next two months.
Under the crackdown, officers will ramp up foot and mobile patrols in high-risk zones, set up checkpoints throughout urban areas like Port Vila, and clamp down on alcohol-related incidents.
Working alongside the Port Vila Municipal Council, police will also inspect alcohol retailers for compliance with licensing hours, and will strictly penalize illegal sales, particularly sales to minors.
Beyond enforcement, the VPF has launched a Youth Rehabilitation Programme targeting vulnerable young people in Port Vila. The initiative offers mentorship, life skills training, and job pathways.
Additionally, a School Cadet Programme is being introduced at Onesua Presbyterian College for students in years none to 11, with the goal of instilling discipline and leadership. If successful, it may be expanded nationwide.
Commissioner Bongran urged parents, community leaders, and business owners to support law enforcement and report any suspicious behaviour.
Authorities have warned that supplying alcohol to underage individuals is a serious crime that will result in prosecution. Residents can expect a heightened police presence across communities as the operation continues…. PACNEWS
FIJI – HEALTH: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS 2: Tue 12 May 2026
“Band-Aids don’t fix bullet holes, says Dr Shankar
SUVA, 12 MAY 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) — At one of Fiji’s busiest emergency departments, the pressures of overcrowding, limited staffing and a growing burden of HIV linked to drug use are colliding, according to a clinical presentation by Dr Shiva Shankar.
Speaking at the Fiji Medical Association (FMA) mini conference about work at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital emergency department, he said the department is operating far beyond safe capacity.
“The very first step of fixing something is to identify that it is broken,” he told the conference participants, before describing a system in which other departments are often told, “we’re currently dead blocked, and please keep the patient there for some time until we sort our cases.”
He said the department’s bed occupancy rate is “actually 146 percent on any given week,” well above the 85 per cent occupancy level generally recommended for emergency care.
Shankar framed the problem as more than overcrowding, and the emergency unit is increasingly seeing young adults with HIV, many of them arriving late and already seriously unwell.
Citing a retrospective emergency department study discussed in the presentation, he said the unit identified 137 new HIV and AIDS cases over 18 months and saw a 34 per cent increase in the final six months.
He said most patients were men and many were between 20 and 29 years old, a pattern he described as alarming because it affects the country’s productive age group.
The clinical picture, he said, is often complex: fever, chronic cough, weight loss, muscle and joint pain, brain abscesses, tuberculosis, skin infections and bloodstream infections.
“The majority of them, about 95 percent of the cases that presented to us, we had to admit,” he said, adding that many require long hospital stays, prolonged antibiotics and care from multiple departments, including intensive care, neurosurgery, internal medicine, tuberculosis and rehabilitation teams.
He also tied the rise in severe cases to injecting drug use and trauma, describing cases of IV site infections, immunocompromised patients with brain abscesses, and violent drug-related injuries that demand major surgical and trauma resources.
In one case, he said, a patient died in theatre after a severe stabbing injury, underscoring how quickly drug-related harm can become fatal.
“There has to be a financial, a social and a political commitment to make things happen. Band-Aids don’t fix bullet holes,” Dr Shankar said…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
PALAU – FISHERIES: ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 12 May 2026
No diplomatic resolution yet in Indonesia-Palau fishing vessel dispute
KOROR, 11 MAY 2026 (ISLAND TIMES) — A diplomatic dispute between Palau and Indonesia over the seizure of an Indonesian fishing vessel has intensified, with no official diplomatic resolution announced even as Palau’s court system moves forward with the sale of approximately 40 tons of fish seized from the vessel.
The Indonesian government formally notified Palau on 11 March 2026, through a diplomatic note asserting that the fishing vessel KM Sinar Arindo 6 was operating within Indonesia’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) when it was intercepted by Palauan authorities.
According to the diplomatic note, Indonesian officials relied on Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) overlay tracking data from KM Sinar Arindo 6 and Automatic Identification System (AIS) data from the patrol vessel PRES REMELIIK II.
Indonesia stated that the vessel was operating within an area reflected in Indonesia’s 2017 EEZ map at the time it was stopped by Palau authorities.
Indonesia also noted that the area remains subject to overlapping maritime claims and ongoing boundary negotiations between the two countries. Citing the “good faith of both countries to manage and settle any maritime border disputes,” Indonesia requested the release of the vessel and its crew.
As of last Wednesday, Palau’s government had not publicly responded to Indonesia’s diplomatic note.
President Surangel Whipps Jr, who returned to office Tuesday following his father’s funeral, said he was unaware of the diplomatic communication. Attempts by this publication to obtain a response from Minister of State Gustav Aitaro were unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, the legal dispute surrounding the vessel continues in Palau’s courts.
The Palau government, represented by the Office of the Attorney General, filed an emergency motion in April seeking authorization to sell the seized fish. Attorneys representing the vessel opposed the request and asked the court for additional time, until 05 May, to file a formal opposition.
Despite the objection, the court on 01 May authorised the sale of the fish aboard the Indonesian fishing vessel, citing 27 PNC 184(f), which states that seized fish “may be sold, subject to the approval and direction of the court.”
The court also cited concerns over inadequate refrigeration aboard the vessel and the continuing decline in the fish’s market value.
Over the weekend, Palau authorities began unloading the fish from the vessel.
Sources aboard the ship alleged that officers arrived armed and directed the fishermen to transfer the fish from the vessel’s hold into trucks. The fish was later transported to freezers at Sure Save Mart.
The legal proceedings took another turn on 06 May when presiding Judge Rudimch recused herself from the case upon returning from off-island travel.
In her recusal order, the judge wrote that “it may appear to a reasonable observer that the undersigned is unable to decide the matter impartially,” while also stating that she disclaimed any bias for or against either party.
Defence attorneys continue to argue that the court lacks jurisdiction to order the sale of the fish while the underlying dispute over the vessel’s seizure remains unresolved.
The case now sits at the intersection of maritime law, diplomatic negotiations and domestic court proceedings.
While Indonesia maintains that the vessel and crew were apprehended in waters claimed by Indonesia and subject to unresolved maritime boundary negotiations, Palau’s government continues to pursue legal action through its courts, including the sale of the seized fish and continued detention of the vessel and crew.
For now, no diplomatic settlement between the two nations has been publicly announced, and the matter remains before the courts…. PACNEWS
FIJI – EMPLOYMENT BILL: FIJI SUN PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 12 May 2026
Fiji PM Rabuka assures Employment Relations Bill next sitting of Parliament
SUVA, 12 MAY 2026 (FIJI SUN) — The Fiji Government is expected to table the Employment Relations Amendment Bill during the next sitting of Parliament later this year, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says.
Rabuka made the announcement during the 51st Biennial Delegates Conference of the Fiji Trades Union Congress in Nadi last Saturday.
He said the Government was committed to strengthening social dialogue, workers’ rights and inclusive economic development.
Rabuka said restoring trust and engagement between the Government, workers and employers had led to significant progress in tripartite cooperation and efforts to align Fiji’s labour standards with international benchmarks.
“For this reason, we have restored social dialogue and strengthened tripartite engagement through key institutions such as the Employment Relations Advisory Board and the National Occupational Health and Safety Board, ensuring that workers once again sit as equal partners alongside employers and Government,” he said.
“This is the Fiji we believe in — a Fiji where engagement replaces exclusion, where dialogue replaces division, and where every stakeholder has a voice in shaping our collective future.”
Rabuka said many workers had lived with uncertainty, frustration and neglect for too long, and the Government recognised those experiences.
“We are determined to establish a modern labour framework that protects rights, promotes fairness, strengthens resilience and aligns Fiji with international labour standards fit for the challenges of today and the future,” he said.
He acknowledged public interest surrounding the Employment Relations Amendment Bill and assured workers the legislation would be tabled without unnecessary delay.
“I assure workers around Fiji that the Bill will be tabled during the next sitting of Parliament later this year,” he said.
Rabuka said the Government intended to honour its commitment to workers and continue reforms aimed at improving labour protections and workplace standards…. PACNEWS
FIJ/TUV – AIRLINE: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 12 May 2026
Fiji Airways warns of disruptions on Tuvalu flights amid fuel crisis
NADI, 12 MAY 2026 (FIJI TIMES) — Fiji Airways has advised passengers travelling to and from Funafuti that flights will operate under restrictions following Tuvalu’s declaration of a State of Emergency over critical fuel shortages.
In a statement the airline said the fuel crisis was linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which has disrupted fuel supply chains globally.
According to Fiji Airways, services operating to Funafuti are now required to carry return fuel on outbound flights to ensure operations can continue safely.
The airline explained that carrying additional fuel meant flights could no longer operate at full seating capacity.
Passengers were advised that some seats may remain empty even when flights are listed as sold out because seating availability has been reduced to accommodate the extra fuel load.
The airline also warned that checked baggage could face delays under the operational restrictions.
“In some cases, checked baggage may be delayed and forwarded on the next available service, subject to these operational restrictions,” the statement noted.
Fiji Airways is urging travellers to pack essential items such as medications, valuables and overnight necessities in their carry-on luggage in accordance with cabin baggage requirements.
The airline thanked passengers for their understanding, saying the temporary measures were necessary to support the safe and efficient operation of services to Tuvalu…. PACNEWS
PNG – WATER INITIATIVE: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 12 May 2026
PNG, Solomon Islands, Germany launch water initiative
PORT MORESBY, 12 MAY 2026 (THE NATIONAL) — Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Germany have launched a five-year initiative to protect freshwater resources from the impacts of climate change.
The Protecting Freshwater Resources for Increased Climate Resilience in the Pacific Islands (PacFresH2O) was launched in Port Moresby. It focuses on enhancing water, sanitation, and hygiene systems and climate adaptation.
In PNG, the programme is focusing on Pomio and Rabaul in East New Britain.
Vice-Minister for National Planning Daniel Tindipu said that the negative impacts of climate change were no longer mere projections but a “lived experience”.
“There is saltwater intrusion into freshwater wells, more violent cyclones and storms damaging rainwater harvesting systems, unpredictable rainfall patterns disrupting agriculture and recharge of springs, and public health emergencies in the wake of every extreme weather event,” Tindipu said.
The initiative is funded by the German government through its International Climate Initiative.
Beate Grzeski, the German ambassador to Australia and the Pacific Island States, said: “Freshwater is fundamental to life, to health, and to economic development.”
“Yet, across the Pacific, water resources are increasingly under pressure. Climate change is already affecting rainfall patterns, increasing the frequency of droughts and floods, and placing growing strain on water, sanitation and hygiene systems,” Grzesk…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Niue launches its first national cervical screening programme
ALOFI, 12 MAY 2026 (SPC) — Niue has taken a significant step forward in women’s health with the launch of its first organised national cervical screening programme, strengthening national and regional efforts to eliminate cervical cancer across the Pacific.
The programme introduces Human Papillomavirus (HPV) testing using self-collection methods, improving access to early detection and supporting timely care for women throughout the country. By moving from opportunistic screening to an organised national programme, Niue is strengthening equity, coverage and long-term health outcomes for women and communities.
Cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer deaths among women in the Pacific despite being largely preventable. The launch of the programme aligns with the World Health Organisation’s global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer and represents an important milestone for Niue’s public health system.
Women aged 25 to 69 will now have access to regular HPV testing using a more accurate and less invasive method than traditional Pap smears. Samples can be self-collected either at home or at the hospital, helping reduce barriers to participation while improving screening coverage and early detection.
The initiative also reflects broader regional efforts to strengthen cervical cancer prevention, screening and care across Pacific Island countries and territories. Across the Pacific, the Pacific Community (SPC) continues to support countries through situational analyses, laboratory and diagnostic strengthening, provision of HPV testing supplies and equipment, and facilitation of technical partnerships and funding support.
These collaborative efforts are helping countries progress toward the global 90:70:90 cervical cancer elimination targets by 2030, while strengthening national health systems and improving access to essential care.
For small island nations, prevention and early detection remain critical to reducing avoidable illness, limiting the need for complex overseas treatment and ensuring more sustainable health outcomes for communities. Niue’s new programme represents an important investment in the health and wellbeing of women while contributing to a healthier and more resilient Pacific region.
This programme is led by the Niue Department of Health, in partnership with Polynesian Health Corridors delivered by the New Zealand Ministry of Health, with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Additional partners include the Kirby Institute, Health New Zealand, the Pacific Community, and the University of Auckland through Te Poutoko Ora a Kiwa – Centre for Pacific and Global Health….PACNEWS
Contacts: Eka Buadromo, Team leader, Pacific Community’s Laboratory Strengthening Programme| ekab@spc.int
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
American Samoa adopts first statistics strategy with Pacific support
PAGOPAGO, 12 MAY 2026 (SPC) — American Samoa has adopted its firstever strategy for official statistics, using a Pacific-developed toolkit endorsed by the region’s leaders.
Looking to 2030, the strategy sets out how the statistical system can be further developed to guide evidence-led policy.
American Samoa has formally adopted its Statistical Strategy and Framework 2025–2030, setting out how official statistics will be better managed and used for decision-making across the territory. Endorsed in February 2026 in Pago Pago, it follows several years of consultation and technical work led by American Samoa’s Government with support from the Pacific Community (SPC) and U.S. Office of Insular Affairs.
The first statistical strategy for a U.S. territory, American Samoa, is also the first SPC member to implement such a strategy under the updated Pacific Guidelines on National Strategies for the Development of Statistics (NSDS)—a toolkit designed to be practical, achievable and suited to small‑island contexts, endorsed by the region’s senior statistics leaders in 2025.
Mine Timoteo, American Samoa’s Chief Statistician with its Department of Commerce, said the strategy gives government agencies an agreed roadmap for priorities over the next five years.
“This strategy builds on our legal mandate, which is the 2003 Statistical Act, and sets out how we want our statistical system to function better in the future,” she said.
“At a practical level, it’s about making sure statistics are useful, trusted and produced in a more coordinated way,” she explains. “That includes how data is shared, how systems work together, and how we invest in people’s skills.”
Timoteo says the strategy was developed through significant stakeholder engagement, overseen by American Samoa’s Statistics Advisory Council, chaired by Lt Governor Pulumataala Ae Ae Jr.
That process included a user–producer dialogue, a series of thematic data forums covering areas such as health, education, economic and environmental statistics, and their governance, and a validation workshop in July 2025, where stakeholders reviewed priorities for the 2025–2030 period.
Evelyn Wareham, Deputy Director of SPC’s Statistics for Development Division, says that this process reflects that official statistics are most valuable when producers and users share a common understanding of priorities, standards and purpose.
“We talk about a participatory and inclusive process, meaning that the people who produce the data and the people who use it are in the room together,” she said.
“In this case, American Samoa has brought together public agencies, data producers, decision-makers, others, to develop a shared plan that will support planning, public accountability and sustainable development over the medium term.”
American Samoa’s work in this space reflects this shift in how Pacific Islands have been working on national or territorial statistical strategies—moving away from long, highly technical documents toward approaches that are written plainly and practical to implement.
As the first implementation of the updated regional guidelines, American Samoa is a reference case for other SPC members considering similar approaches, Wareham says. At the regional level, the pilot demonstrates how Pacific‑led frameworks can be adapted across political and administrative contexts, including in territories and associated states aligned to a larger country.
“As the first U.S territory to adopt a statistical strategy under the Pacific NSDS, American Samoa’s experience offers a case study for other SPC members,” Wareham explains.
“Establishing national or territorial statistical strategies is a key regional priority, and this experience provides a practical model for others. It shows how a Pacific-agreed approach can be applied in very different institutional settings.”
With the strategy endorsed, oversight of progress will be provided by the Statistics Advisory Council, supported by a Statistics Strategy Working Group, with coordination led by the Chief Statistician.
“The strategy, and the work that’s gone into producing it, gives us collective goals,” said Chief Statistician Timoteo. “It helps make sure that statistics are produced and used in a coordinated way across government, with the ultimate goal that data consistently informs decision-making, said Timoteo…. PACNEWS
