In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — Benny Wenda calls for Indonesia’s expulsion from MSG and Pacific Islands Forum
2. UN — Right to strike protected under key labour treaty, says UN World Court
3. MARSH — ‘Marshallese couldn’t escape the horrors of nuclear explosions’
4. PACIFIC — Traditional wind sails and village funding: Pacific approaches for climate solutions
5. PACIFIC — Following cultural protocols vital to success of Indigenous research partnerships in Pacific communities
6. PACNEWS BIZ — PNG Airport security seizes gold and silver from Australian Passenger
7. PACNEWS BIZ — Tourism resilient, but air access still a challenge: SPTO
8. PACNEWS BIZ — Former Fiji Minister of Economy says government ignored fuel crisis warnings
9. PACNEWS BIZ — PM Marape invites French firms to invest in PNG
10. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — Acting Locally, Inspiring Globally: Pacific Invasive Species Battlers
11. PACNEWS DIGEST — Australia supports Fiji-led IAEA RCA project to strengthen food security
12. PACNEWS DIGEST — Enabling last-mile health service delivery during an emergency, WHO responds to Super Typhoon Sinlaku
13. PACNEWS DIGEST — Sokehs Municipal Government in Pohnpei State secures a USD375,020 grant from GCF to strengthen coastal protection and climate resilience
PACIFIC – DIPLOMACY: PACNEWS PACNEWS 2: Fri 22 May 2026
Benny Wenda calls for Indonesia’s expulsion from MSG and Pacific Islands Forum
JAYAPURA, 22 MAY 2026 (PACNEWS) — Interim President of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), Benny Wenda, has called for Indonesia to be stripped of its Associate Membership in the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) and Dialogue Partner status in the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) following recent killings in West Papua.
Wenda accused Indonesian security forces of escalating violence and intimidation against West Papuans.
“On behalf of the ULMWP and West Papuan people, I demand that Indonesia’s Associate Membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) and Dialogue Partner status in the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) are immediately revoked,” Wenda said in a statement.
He alleged that recent incidents in Timika and Intan Jaya involved explosives being placed on the bodies of West Papuans killed by Indonesian military forces.
“Following the massacres last week, the latest examples of the TNI’s colonial brutality took place in Timika and Intan Jaya, where soldiers planted bombs on the bodies of West Papuans killed in Tembagapura by the military.”
“In Timika, when the victim’s family went to collect their dead kin, the bombs exploded, injuring a number of elders. Neither the police nor army informed the family that the body had been booby trapped.”
“A similar situation occurred in Intan Jaya, where family members also suffered injuries.”
Wenda claimed the Indonesian military had previously used similar tactics.
“Indonesia has a history of hiding explosives on murdered Papuans: the TNI used this method after killing Hetina Mirip in June 2025, in an attempt to injure her family upon discovering her shallow grave.”
He urged Pacific leaders to take stronger action against Indonesia over the situation in West Papua.
“Pacific leaders must ask themselves how much bloodshed they are prepared to tolerate. How many Papuans must die? How much humiliation must our elders suffer?”
“Over the past fifteen years, I have raised our issue in countless meetings with Pacific leaders, but the only change has been for the worse,” he said.
Wenda said West Papua was facing growing militarisation and suppression.
“No element of West Papuan life is safe from Indonesian militarisation. Massacres occur on a weekly basis, our people are displaced every day, our churches and schools are forcibly emptied and then occupied as military posts.”
He also accused Indonesian authorities of suppressing freedom of expression outside West Papua.
“Indonesia’s suppression of the West Papuan voice is now even spreading to Java and Sumatra.”
“Screenings of Pesta Babi, a documentary about the displacement of indigenous Papuans by the rice and sugarcane corporate mega-project in Merauke, are currently being violently broken up by police authorities across Indonesia,” said Wenda.
He further claimed restrictions remained on reporting and publications relating to West Papua.
“No journalists are allowed to report from West Papua; books about West Papuan history are strictly forbidden; even the ULMWP and Free West Papua websites are completely banned.”
“Indonesia has turned West Papua into the Pacific North Korea,” he said.
Wenda also renewed calls for the ULMWP to be granted full membership in the MSG.
“The ULMWP needs full membership of the MSG in order for West Papuans to have an assurance of safety.”
“Without a voice, we will never be able to defend ourselves from the coloniser seeking to wipe us out.”
“Above all, they must take a stand and expel Indonesia from PIF and the MSG. Anything less will increase Indonesia’s sense of impunity and continue the current violence,” he said…. PACNEWS
UN- RIGHT TO STRIKE: UN NEWS CENTRE PACNEWS 2: Fri 22 May 2026
Right to strike protected under key labour treaty, says UN World Court
THE HAGUE, 22 MAY 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE) — The UN International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Thursday ruled that the right to strike is protected under a core International Labour Organisation (ILO) convention, in a landmark advisory opinion settling a long-running dispute between workers and employers worldwide.
By 10 votes to four, the UN World Court ruled “the right to strike of workers and their organisations is protected” under the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87).
The Court, however, stressed that its opinion did not define the exact scope of the right to strike. Its conclusion, the judges said, “does not entail any determination on the precise content, scope or conditions for the exercise of that right.”
The case was referred to the Court by the ILO’s Governing Body in November 2023, after years of disagreement among the agency’s core constituents – governments, employers and workers – over whether Convention No. 87 protects the right to strike, even though the treaty does not explicitly mention strikes.
At the heart of the dispute was whether the right to organise under Convention No. 87 includes the right of workers and their organisations to take strike action.
Employers’ groups stress that the convention contains no provision whose ordinary meaning implies such a right, and that the treaty’s drafting history showed no intention to include strike action.
Workers’ representatives, by contrast, argue that the right to strike is inherent in freedom of association and has long been recognised by ILO supervisory bodies.
The ILO said its Governing Body is expected to consider the matter at its November session, including any follow-up.
The Court acknowledged that Convention No. 87 “does not contain an explicit reference to the right to strike,” but said the absence of such a provision “does not necessarily mean that the issue is excluded” from the treaty.
The judges found that strike action could fall within the ordinary meaning of workers’ organiaations’ “activities” under the Convention, alongside provisions protecting the right of workers and employers to form organisations and defend their interests.
While the Court was unanimous that it had jurisdiction and should answer the ILO’s request, four judges dissented from the central conclusion.
Judge Peter Tomka argued the majority had stretched the convention beyond what States had agreed, saying it protects the “formation, autonomy and internal administration” of workers’ and employers’ organisations, but not specific forms of collective economic action such as strikes.
Judge Xue Hanqin criticised the ruling as reflecting “an exercise of human rights advocacy rather than treaty interpretation”, arguing the Court should have focused on the convention’s text and drafting history.
The case was only the second time in ILO history that a question concerning interpretation of an international labour convention had been referred, and the first such request to the ICJ since its creation in 1945.
ICJ advisory opinions are not binding judgments, but they carry significant legal and political weight, shaping debates and national and international law.
Based in The Hague, the ICJ is the United Nations’ principal judicial organ and is composed of 15 judges elected by the UN General Assembly and Security Council…. PACNEWS
MARSH – NUKE LEGACY: PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS 2: Thu 21 May 2026
‘Marshallese couldn’t escape the horrors of nuclear explosions’
SPRINGDALE/MAJURO, 21 MAY 2026 (PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES) — For Pacific nations still living with the consequences of nuclear testing, the legacy is not confined to history books or memorial dates. It remains a daily issue of health, displacement, environmental risk and political accountability.
Benetick Kabua Maddison pushes this reminder as Marshallese communities continue to confront the lingering effects of U.S nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands.
Maddison is the executive director of the Marshallese Educational Initiative, a nonprofit based in Springdale, Arkansas, which has the highest concentration of Marshallese diaspora. His work at MEI includes leading efforts to raise awareness of the biological, ecological, and cultural consequences of the nuclear testing legacy on the Marshallese homeland, as well as the impact of climate change.
Born on Majuro Atoll, Maddison migrated with his family to the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas in 2001. He is pursuing a degree in political science at Arkansas State University.
He frames the Marshall Islands’ nuclear history as an ongoing Pacific issue, not merely a chapter in U.S military history. “The Marshall Islands became a huge laboratory, and my people were treated like lab animals,” he said.
According to Maddison, the Marshall Islands’ geography and small population helped make the country a target for U.S nuclear testing after World War II.
The islands, located in the north-central Pacific and averaging about two metres above sea level, were already under U.S military control when President Harry Truman selected Bikini and Enewetak atolls as test sites in 1946.
Bikini residents were told to leave “for the good of mankind” and were promised they could one day return.
Instead, many families remain displaced generations later, with descendants spread across the Marshall Islands and the United States.
The damage went far beyond wartime strategy, becoming a regional human rights crisis with lasting consequences for land, food systems, culture and public health.
On 01 March 1954, the United States detonated Castle Bravo, its largest nuclear device, in the Marshall Islands.
“It vaporised three islands, turning them into nuclear ashes that people thought were snow,” Maddison said.
He said nearby communities suffered hair loss, skin burns, eye damage and long-term illnesses after exposure to the fallout. Maddison added that the United States then used affected Marshallese as subjects in medical studies, rather than fully protecting them from the aftermath.
“Marshallese couldn’t escape the horrors of nuclear explosions,” he said.
Maddison also linked the nuclear era to broader social and health problems still affecting Marshallese families. Forced displacement and contamination, he said, disrupted traditional food systems and increased dependence on imported processed foods, contributing to diabetes, heart disease and other chronic illnesses.
One of the clearest examples of the unfinished legacy is Runit Dome, the concrete structure in Enewetak Atoll that holds radioactive waste. The site was built in the late 1970s as a temporary storage solution and now faces additional pressure from age and sea-level rise.
“The Runit Dome is cracked and has been leaking radioactive materials,” Maddison said. “It will collapse within our lifetimes.”
He said the threat is not local in a narrow sense. Any worsening contamination would become a Pacific-wide problem because of the Marshall Islands’ ocean environment and the region’s shared ecological ties.
He argued that the Compact of Free Association, which allows Marshallese citizens to live and work in the United States without a visa, has not resolved the deeper injustice.
“The compact really is an obstacle to justice for the Marshallese people,” Maddison said.
He noted that Section 177 of the compact restricts the Marshall Islands from seeking additional nuclear compensation, even though later records showed fallout reached far beyond the four places the United States officially recognises as nuclear affected.
“Only US$150 million was provided under the Compact for anywhere in these four areas that the U.S only recognises as nuclear affected,” Maddison said, adding that the assistance was inadequate compared with the scale of loss…. PACNEWS
PAC – SHIPPING: PMN PACNEWS 2: Fri 22 May 2026
Traditional wind sails and village funding: Pacific approaches for climate solutions
MAJURO/LONDON, 22 MAY 2026 (PMN) — The Pacific is emerging as a key voice in global climate talks and technical advisers say Pasifika delegates are not distant political actors but direct representatives of communities facing the impacts of maritime shipping.
The comments come as debate continues at the United Nations International Maritime Organisation (IMO), which regulates global shipping.
The sector involves over a million vessels and accounts for roughly three percent of global emissions.
According to a 2025 environmental analysis by Earth.Org, a deep divide has emerged between climate-vulnerable island states and major industrialised economies over proposals for a universal carbon levy.
A briefing by the European Parliament says Pacific nations are pushing for a transition aligned with a 1.5°C temperature limit through a universal emissions levy.
The official UN frameworks also show that major industrialised and fossil fuel-linked economies have instead supported a market-based system focused on emissions intensity targets and tiered compliance fees.
The European Parliament report warns this gridlock risks sowing global emissions cuts.
Speaking on Island Time, John Taukave, a technical researcher supporting Pacific delegations through the Micronesian Centre for Sustainable Transport, says oceanic negotiators carry the expectations of their communities into global talks.
“We’re not just negotiators, not just representatives of our countries, we’re representatives of our people and our communities that face the brunt of maritime shipping,” Taukave, who hails from Rotuma in Fiji, says.
“The main thing is providing that cultural support and cultural protocols while we’re in those negotiation spaces, [which] has been a big part of my journey and my research.”
Taukave, who is also a PhD candidate at the University of Amsterdam, studies the concept of “story living”, which he describes as the ideao that oceanic people “don’t only tell our stories, we live our stories, and it’s an ever-existing living knowledge”.
Taukave said traditional practices including talanoa and Kava ceremonies are used to build respect and strengthen relationships, known as vā (the space between), within international negotiations.
Earth.Orgreports that Pacific delegations have pushed for a universal levy of US$150 per tonne of emissions, a measure research shows would help “minimise the economic impact of decarbonising the shipping industry”.
But analysts say the compromise package instead limits revenue use within the shipping industry than directing funds towards climate adaptation for vulnerable nations.
To show how traditional knowledge can link to modern solutions, Taukave points to the Marshall Islands project, SV Juren Ae, a low-carbon cargo vessel powered by wind sails and is designed to be around 80 percent more carbon efficient.
Speaking with Faama Viliamu on PMN Niue, Brendon Pasisi, coordinator of the Niue Oceanwide Project, said marine resources have declined significantly.
Pasisi said this has occurred over three to four decades due to over-exploitation, climate change, and technological pressures such as refrigeration and freezing technologies.
“Unfortunately, over a long period of time, we have pushed some of the species that we have to extinction and that’s been exacerbated by climate change now,” Pasisi says.
“It makes us vulnerable. We have to build up the resource again so that we have that added level of resilience. That’s the reality that we live in now.”
Pasisi said village Resource Management Advisory Committees are essential for co-managing coastal areas alongside government agencies.
This grassroots model is backed by long-term funding of at least 20 years through the Niue Oceanwide Trust, designed to strengthen local capacity.
Pasisi says alternative funding mechanisms like the Ocean Conservation Commitment can allow external supporters to directly fund the protection of specific areas of ocean.
“If 10 percent of the 36,000 descendants [in New Zealand] were all able to contribute to sponsoring one OCC, which represents the management of one square kilometre of ocean, then we would be two thirds of the way in fully capitalising the trust.”
Taukave said the diplomatic debates taking place today are laying the foundation for future generations of Pacific children, seafarers, and negotiators…. PACNEWS
PAC – INDEGENEOUS RESEARCH: PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS 2: Fri 22 May 2026
Following cultural protocols vital to success of Indigenous research partnerships in Pacific communities
SUVA/CANBERRA, 22 MAY 2026 (PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES) — Indigenous Pacific leaders and scientists are reshaping how climate and environmental research is conducted across Oceania by prioritising trust, reciprocity and long-term relationships over short-term data collection efforts.
That message emerged from a recent regional discussion hosted by the ITD Alliance Oceania Regional Network, where Indigenous iTaukei Fijian peacebuilding practitioner Adi Vasulevu Merewalesi Levu and Australian-based Brazilian marine scientist Dr Leo Dutra reflected on nearly a decade of collaboration across Pacific Island communities.
The conversation centred on how Indigenous knowledge systems and scientific research can work together in Pacific communities facing climate change, marine resource pressures and development challenges.
Levu said meaningful partnerships in Oceania require researchers and institutions to move at the pace of communities themselves.
Levu said one of the most important lessons from years of community engagement work in Fiji and the broader Pacific is that outside organisations cannot simply enter communities expecting immediate participation.
“Our people would commit to the engagement if visiting leaders and those coming in for external activities followed the proper cultural protocols,” she said. “That was one thing I felt was very important.”
Levu is a co-founder of the Pacific Centre for Peacebuilding and Transcend Oceania, organisations focused on justice, nonviolence and community-led development in the Pacific. Her work has included mediation, trauma-informed healing and restorative justice initiatives across Fiji, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
Dutra, a senior research scientist with CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere in Australia, said his own approach to science shifted after years of working alongside Indigenous and local communities in Australia and the Pacific.
Originally trained as a biophysical marine scientist studying coral reefs, Dutra later moved into ecological economics and community-centred research.
“I wanted to do a little bit more than just detecting changes and trying to attribute those changes to humans and then figuring out what to do with that information,” Dutra said.
Their partnership began in Fiji in 2016 after a mutual colleague connected them while Dutra was preparing to work with communities near the University of the South Pacific.
Levu recalled that one of Dutra’s first questions was how peacebuilding could relate to marine science and research.
“I responded from the perspective of peacebuilding and as a peacebuilder,” she said. “Wherever potential conflicts exist, peacebuilding is relevant.”
She explained that environmental and marine research projects can quickly intersect with resource conflicts, power relations and community tensions if researchers fail to understand local governance structures or cultural expectations.
That understanding became central to several collaborative projects they later carried out in Fiji, including work involving coral reef mapping, blue carbon ecosystems and climate adaptation.
Levu and Dutra said the success of any partnership depends on whether the institution view Pacific communities as equal partners rather than research sites.
Dutra said communities often have their own calendars, priorities and responsibilities that outside organisations must respect.
“It’s not about us pushing because we have a set agenda and our funding body requests a report by a particular day,” Dutra said. “We need to be flexible.”
He added that researchers should be able to clearly explain, in practical terms, why their work matters to communities.
“‘How does that fit in?’” Dutra said Levu often asks him when discussing potential projects. “If I cannot articulate that, then it’s not necessary because I cannot explain in plain language why that is important for them.”
One example discussed concerned a Fijian coastal community dealing with waste and plastics washing into local waters from nearby urban areas.
Levu said women in the community eventually became deeply involved in recycling and reusing plastics after researchers took time to engage properly with village leadership and local groups.
Throughout the discussion, Levu repeatedly emphasised that consent in Pacific communities is not a one-time signature on a form, but an ongoing process built through dialogue and trust.
She described how entering a village in Fiji often requires formal cultural protocols before discussions about research can even begin.
“I cannot say yes right now or next week or next month,” Levu said, recalling early discussions about a blue carbon project in Fiji. “We need to build the trust first.”
The speakers also discussed growing conversations around Indigenous data sovereignty and ownership of cultural and environmental knowledge.
Levu said many Indigenous Pacific communities already possess generations of ecological knowledge rooted in lived experience.
“The Indigenous users of the resources have information that is qualitative references, and which is in their blueprint of indigeneity,” she said.
Dutra said researchers must clearly explain how information will be used and ensure communities approve findings before they are shared publicly.
“Whatever you are taking, we need to come back first and ask them to make sure that’s what they want us to communicate externally,” Dutra said.
Levu also stressed that Pacific communities should not be viewed as passive recipients of outside expertise.
Instead, she said, communities themselves often drive engagement once trust is established.
“When we engage in the right way for them, they also give their full commitment,” Levu said. “Their leaders take on the leading role to inform them that, ‘Hey, this is important for us,’” she said…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
PNG – GOLD SMUGGLING: PACNEWS PACNEWS BIZ: Fri 22 May 2026
PNG Airport security seizes gold and silver from Australian Passenger
PORT MORESBY, 22 MAY 2026 (PACNEWS) — Aviation security officers at Jacksons International Airport in Papua New Guinea have confiscated gold and silver from an Australian passenger in what authorities say is the sixth attempted gold smuggling case detected at the airport this year.
The National Airports Corporation (NAC) said the detection was made on Thursday, 14 May, during screening for a Qantas flight from Port Moresby to Brisbane.
Security officers first identified “two containers of raw gold particles and one silver bar” during checked baggage screening.
A second detection was later made at the international departure screening point where “three gold nuggets were found in the passenger’s carry-on bag.”
According to NAC, the passenger told authorities he worked for Rippa Holding Ltd in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville and that the company specialised in heavy equipment for mining operations.
“He further stated that he was not aware of the process in place and had no intention of smuggling the items out of the country but had taken them for the purpose of testing and raising funds for the community back in Buka,” the NAC statement said.
The passenger was referred to PNG Customs Service, which confirmed the items were gold and silver.
“The items were then confiscated by PNG Customs, and the passenger was issued a Customs Custody Receipt before being permitted to continue his travel.”
NAC said the matter had been referred to the Customs Investigation Unit and the passenger would be required to provide documentation upon returning to Papua New Guinea.
“This latest detection is the sixth case of attempted gold smuggling at Jacksons International Airport this year, highlighting critical intervention and action by all concerned organisations in safeguarding Papua New Guinea’s resources.”
The corporation warned that illegal gold exports threatened the country’s economy and national interests.
“Illegal attempts to smuggle gold out of the country undermine national wealth and development, and economic sovereignty.”
NAC also issued a warning to travellers attempting to move undeclared valuables through the country’s airports.
“NAC warns that any attempt to smuggle gold or other undeclared valuables will be detected, confiscated, and referred directly to PNG Customs for further action.”
The corporation called on the public to report suspicious activity at airports.
“We also call on the traveling public to play their part. If you observe or suspect any unusual or suspicious behavior at our airports, report it immediately to Aviation Security or Customs officers. Together, we can protect Papua New Guinea’s wealth and keep our airport safe, said NCA…. PACNEWS
PAC – TOURISM INDUSTRY: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS BIZ: Fri 22 May 2026
Tourism resilient, but air access still a challenge: SPTO
RAROTONGA, 22 MAY 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) — Resilient is how Chris Crocker of the Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) described the industry, citing data that shows tourism earnings surging to USD$3.9 billion in 2025—a 36.7 percent increase from pre-pandemic levels—even as total arrivals have yet to fully bounce back.
Speaking at the Association of South Pacific Airlines 81st General Session in Rarotonga, Cocker said the Cook Islands—where tourism contributes more than 70 percent of GDP—remains a founding member close to his heart, almost as important to him as his ancestral ties to Manihiki.
“Tourism is the major contributor to our Pacific GDP, employment, our MSME growth, and foreign exchange earnings,” Cocker said.
“In many of our Pacific Island economies, tourism contributes as much as or more than agriculture and fisheries.”
Australia remains the region’s top source market at 36 percent, followed by New Zealand (25 percent) and the U.S(15 percent). However, European arrivals have halved from 10 percent in 2019 to just five percent in 2025. Cruise arrivals have also declined sharply, dropping 24 percent from 748,000 to 571,000.
The Middle East crisis hasn’t helped things, adding pressure, with rising travel costs, airline capacity adjustments, and reduced travel confidence. A survey conducted in April showed “the outlook suggests a period of continuing monitoring and cautious optimism,” Cocker said.
Regionally, Fiji leads in terms of tourism revenue contribution at 71 percent, followed by Samoa (17 percent) and Papua New Guinea (six percent).
Cocker identified limited and expensive air access as the top challenge.
“We are working as silos, and we should work more strongly together,” he said, calling for closer cooperation and integration between the tourism and aviation sectors.
Looking ahead, SPTO has developed a five-year strategy focused on connecting tourism and aviation, supported by the Australian–Pacific Partnership.
“COVID was a disaster for our Pacific tourism industry, but it gave us time to sit back, rethink, and rebuild,” Cocker said.
He issued a call to action for development partners: “Invest in order to empower expertise, connectivity, and measurable impact by 2030…. PACNEWS
FIJI – FUEL CRISIS: FIJI SUN PACNEWS BIZ: Fri 22 May 2026
Former Fiji Minister of Economy says Government ignored fuel crisis warnings
SUVA, 22 MAY 2026 (FIJI SUN) — Former Fiji Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum claims Government ignored warnings about a possible fuel crisis and failed to put contingency measures in place despite concerns being raised as early as October 2024.
Sayed-Khaiyum said tensions in the Middle East had already pointed to the likelihood of fuel price increases and supply disruptions.
“Within this context we had highlighted that when developing budgets and economic policies those in charge of the economy need to be also acutely cognisant of global dynamics,” he said.
Sayed-Khaiyum said Government should have implemented measures to cushion the impact of rising fuel prices on low-income and vulnerable Fijians.
“But more importantly we had highlighted that the government needed to put in place contingencies to mitigate against, the now fuel crisis.
“The Government could have then put in place whole of raft of contingencies which would have not only mitigated directly against the fuel crisis, buffering our low income and vulnerable Fijians but overall put in place policies to have a robust and resilient economy.”
He claimed the advice and suggestions made “19 months ago” were ignored.
“However, unfortunately this advice given 19 months ago, like a number of other observations and suggestions, purely in the interest of the economic wellbeing of Fiji and all its citizens especially those on the lower end of the socio-economic scale and the growing poor went unheeded.”
Sayed-Khaiyum said his comments were not intended as political point-scoring.
“These observations and suggestions then and it’s highlighting now were and are not about ‘We told you so’ or political point scoring or one upmanship.
“It is about reminding the government that it should recalibrate and correct its economic and social policy mistakes.”
He also criticised what he described as “regressive and disastrous economic policies” during the tenure of former Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Professor Biman Prasad.
Sayed-Khaiyum said Government could have introduced a mini budget after Professor Prasad’s departure.
“A mini budget could have been easily and quickly put in place after Biman Prasad’s departure.
“There was no need to change the financial year, as it appears to be mistakenly believed by some in the government, to deliver a mini budget.”
He said Government was now “in a bind” ahead of the 2026-2027 national budget because of inaction and the current fuel crisis.
“No doubt this has been further precipitated by the fuel crisis and its consequences (such as escalated inflation and slow down of the economy) that we had forewarned of.”
Despite the challenges, Sayed-Khaiyum said opportunities remained for Government to correct its course.
“This however will require substantial thinking out of the current box. It will require a clinical reconfiguration of the current misplaced priorities.”
He urged Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka to take the lead in reshaping Government policy.
“Prime Minister Rabuka should lead the charge in this respect. He must realign the economic and other relevant policies to ensure the well being of all Fijians, in particular the working class and the vulnerable, who should always be the centre of all decision making.”
Sayed-Khaiyum warned that failure to act could result in long-term damage to Fiji’s economy and further hardship for vulnerable communities.
“Prime Minister Rabuka must do the above to avert an irreversible damage to the fundamental structure of the Fijian economy and to ensure that the working class and vulnerable Fijians do not get further marginalised,” he said…. PACNEWS
FRANCE – INVESTORS: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS BIZ: Fri 22 May 2026
PM Marape invites French firms to invest in PNG
PARIS, 22 MAY 2026 (THE NATIONAL) — Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has invited French investors, financiers, infrastructure companies, and technology firms to invest in Papua New Guinea in support of its development.
Marape is in Paris for the MEDEF (Mouvement des Entreprises de France) international business meeting this week.
It brought together representatives of French companies and investors operating in the energy, finance, infrastructure, utilities, telecommunications, aviation, healthcare, and industrial sectors.
The companies include Global Sovereign Advisory, Matière, Veolia, BPCE, Flying Whales and the international telecommunications company iBASIS.
Marape told investors that PNG was positioning itself for the next phase of national economic transformation and international partnerships.
“The next 20 years for Papua New Guinea will be about building roads, roads, roads and bridges,” he said.
“We have major rivers, difficult terrain, and enormous infrastructure needs.
“We are open to innovative financing and strong private-sector partnerships.”
Marape also said that the country would return to a balanced budget next year for the first time since 2010, positioning the country for stronger investor confidence and disciplined long-term economic management.
During the discussions on the Papua LNG (liquefied natural gas) project, Marape said that the project represented one of the largest investment opportunities in PNG’s history.
He said that the Papua LNG project was expected to generate tens of billions of US dollars in investment and economic activity over its lifetime.
The Government and national stakeholders will finance participation in the project, and are exploring options for raising funds, either independently or through partnerships.
Marape said that the lessons learnt from the PNG LNG project was that when it started in 2008, the State held no equity participation.
Today, PNG collectively holds around 19.57 percent state equity.
“The PNG LNG project is now stable and no longer carries major loan obligations. It is becoming a premium project for us,” Marape said.
“At the back of that balance sheet, I am confident the State has the ability to participate, especially if financing (for Papua LNG Project) can be secured at near-concessional rates,” he said…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS In Focus
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Acting Locally, Inspiring Globally: Pacific Invasive Species Battlers
KOROR, 22 MAY 2026 (SPREP) — As the world celebrates International Biodiversity Day on 22 May, the Pacific story stands as a powerful reminder that acting locally through coordinated and sustainable community-led invasive species management creates ripples of global impact, strengthening the collective effort to halt biodiversity loss and safeguard our shared future.
The 7th Pacific Invasive Learning Network (PILN) meeting held in Palau concluded with a significant milestone in further strengthening regional collaboration against invasive species. Country representatives came together to share experiences, tools and strategies that are helping them better manage invasive species on the ground, from rat eradication on offshore islands, war on weeds, to community-led awareness campaigns.
The meeting provided the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) led Pacific Regional Invasive Species Management Support Service (PRISMSS) team with invaluable insights into the challenges countries face, such as limited technical staff, resource constraints, the need for continuous capacity building and highlighted the types of support required to translate strategies into effective action.
This exchange of knowledge and peer-to-peer learning reaffirmed the importance of local partnerships and community-driven initiatives. It demonstrated that small-scale changes, when multiplied across the Pacific, contribute directly to global biodiversity goals.
The PILN meeting aligns closely with the 2026 International Day for Biological Diversity theme, “Acting locally for global impact.” This theme underscores that halting and reversing biodiversity loss depends on community engagement and the Pacific’s efforts embody this principle by connecting local realities to the broader Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The Pacific’s achievements demonstrate how the Pacific Invasive Species Battlers are vital contributors to biodiversity conservation.
Discussions in Palau emphasised a whole-of-society approach, involving local communities, women, youth, governments and NGOs in conservation. By embedding Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) and Traditional Knowledge into invasive species management, Pacific nations are ensuring that conservation is not only effective but also inclusive and culturally grounded.
Huggard Tongtule a Senior Biodiversity Officer with the Niue Department of Environment Protection and Conservation reflected that, “Niue’s ecosystems are small and fragile, which makes us especially vulnerable to invasive species, biodiversity loss and climate change impact.”
“Attending the PILN meeting gave us the chance to learn from others and strengthen our capacity to protect the biodiversity that is central to our island’s identity.
“This meeting was a reminder that even the smallest islands have a voice in protecting the Pacific and by sharing our experiences and learning from others, Niue contributes to a collective effort to safeguard biodiversity across the region.”
The Invasive Species Coordinator with the Federated States of Micronesia, Yap State Division of Agriculture and Forestry, Francis Liyeng, shared that, “for Yap, and for the Pacific as a whole, invasive species management is about protecting our biodiversity and our way of life.”
“Being here in Palau for the 7th PILN meeting is deeply meaningful for me as I was present at the very first gathering 20 years ago here and seeing how far invasive species management has progressed across the Pacific is inspiring.”
“But we also know the work is far from finished and we must continue to coordinate better, ensure the right resources and sustainable solutions are available to protect our islands and build our community’s resilience.”
The Samoa Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Senior Terrestrial Biodiversity Conservation Officer, Vatapuia Maiava commented, “invasive species management is not just about protecting nature, it is about protecting communities and livelihoods.”
“The PILN network helps us connect science with action, ensuring that our efforts are both effective and sustainable. Networking with colleagues from across the Pacific has shown us that while our challenges may differ in scale, our solutions can be shared.”
Christian Perez a Senior Environment Officer with the Tokelau Economic Development, Natural Resources and Environment (EDNRE) Department reflected that, “for small island communities like Tokelau, partnerships are essential.”
“The PILN network ensures that we are not isolated but connected to a wider Pacific family that shares expertise and supports our efforts to protect biodiversity.”
“Our islands are vulnerable, but through this learning network we have access to regional resources and the exchange of knowledge empowers us to take stronger action against invasive species and ensure the resilience of our communities.”
The Biodiversity and Conservation Officer with the Kiribati Ministry of Environmental Lands and Agricultural Development, Taunaari Tamango, reflected, “for us in Kiribati, invasive species can quickly overwhelm our fragile ecosystems.”
“This PILN meeting gives us the chance to learn from others and strengthen our capacity to protect the biodiversity that sustains our people.”
“Being part of PILN reinforces the idea that no island is alone in this fight and together, we can exchange knowledge, celebrate successes, and accelerate action to safeguard the Pacific’s ecosystems for future generations.”
Lei Rengulbai, National Invasive Species Committee (NISC) Coordinator with the Koror Bureau of Environment-Palau Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Environment commented, “the opportunity to share experiences and learn from others is invaluable and we here in Palau have faced our own challenges with invasive species.”
“Hearing how other islands have overcome similar issues inspires us to strengthen our own management approaches.
“Networking through PILN allowed us to connect technical expertise with local realities and this collaboration ensures that best practices are not just discussed but applied in ways that protect our biodiversity and cultural heritage.”
Tohei Theophilus, Deputy Director of the Direction de la Biosécurité de Polynésie française reflected, “attending this workshop in Palau has given me new insights into how other island countries are tackling invasive species.”
“These lessons will help us improve our own strategies while also contributing to a stronger Pacific-wide approach.
“The PILN network is more than just a meeting, it is a platform for building resilience and by sharing technical expertise and success stories, we are ensuring that our islands remain vibrant, our biodiversity protected and our communities secure.”
The return of PILN to Palau, two decades after its inaugural meeting, symbolises resilience and continuity in the Pacific’s battle against invasive species. It also highlights how regional collaboration can amplify local action, ensuring that the Pacific’s contributions resonate globally.
Over 50 invasive species professionals and practitioners from across the Pacific region had converged to share successes, identify sustainable solutions, address critical issues and discuss ways to invigorate future networking and collaboration between Pacific Island Countries and Territories.
The PILN meeting was hosted by the government of Palau from 18 to 22 May 2026 and made possible with funding support from the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the United Kingdom International Development, SPREP and PRISMSS….PACNEWS
For additional information please contact Dominic Sadler, PRISMSS Manager on dominics@sprep.org or Nitish Narayan, PRISMSS Communications & Liaison Officer on nitishn@sprep.org
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Australia supports Fiji-led IAEA RCA project to strengthen food security
CANBERRA/SUVA, 22 MAY 2026 (ANSTO) — Australia is supporting a new regional initiative led by Fiji in partnership with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) under the Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research, Development and Training Related to Nuclear Science and Technology for Asia and the Pacific (RCA) to strengthen food security across Asia and the Pacific using nuclear science and technology.
The project, Enhancing Disease Tolerance in Vegetatively Propagated Crops through Mutation Breeding and Associated Biotechnologies, was officially launched at its first coordination meeting held from 9–13 March 2026, bringing together experts from across the region to align on objectives, implementation plans, and national contributions.
The launch comes at a significant moment for Fiji, which is currently serving as Chair of the RCA for the first time. Fiji is also leading the project as the Lead Country Coordinator, highlighting its growing leadership in regional technical cooperation and its active role in driving collaboration on shared agricultural challenges. Fiji played the lead role in developing the project and is now guiding its implementation, helping to facilitate cooperation and knowledge exchange among participating countries.
Running from 2026 to 2029, the project aims to strengthen the resilience of key crops by improving their resistance to diseases through mutation breeding and related biotechnologies. Vegetatively propagated crops—including banana, cassava, taro, ginger, and yams—are essential to livelihoods and food security across the region yet are highly vulnerable to the spread of diseases through infected planting material. Through the application os nuclear techniques, such as irradiation-induced mutation breeding, the project will support the development of improved crop varieties that are more resistant to disease and better adapted to environmental pressures.
A key focus of the initiative is supporting RCA countries to build technical capacity in mutation breeding and plant disease management. Through regional training courses, expert missions, scientific exchanges and coordinated research activities, participating countries will strengthen their ability to sustainably improve crop productivity and resilience.
Australia is supporting the project through its engagement in the RCA, contributing to regional cooperation, knowledge exchange and capacity building in the peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology.
Natascha Spark, ANSTO’s Senior Manager International Affairs (left), who attended the coordination meeting virtually as Australia’s National Representative to the RCA, highlighted the importance of the initiative and Fiji’s leadership.
“Australia is pleased to support Fiji in leading this important RCA project, particularly as it marks Fiji’s first time serving as Chair of the RCA. This initiative demonstrates the strength of regional cooperation, with countries working together to apply nuclear science and technology to address shared challenges in food security and sustainable agriculture,” Ms Spark said.
With 16 countries participating, the project reflects strong regional commitment to tackling agricultural challenges through science, innovation and collaboration, contributing to the IAEA’s Atoms4Food initiative and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger…. PACNEWS
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The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Enabling last-mile health service delivery during an emergency, WHO responds to Super Typhoon Sinlaku
CHUUK, 22 MAY 2026 (WHO) — “We have lost five community members to typhoon Sinlaku — including a newborn who died during childbirth when the mother’s transfer to the hospital was hampered on account of a roadblock,” recalls Dr Dorina Fred, Chief of Public Health, Department of Health Services, Chuuk State in the Federated States of Micronesia.
“We sought WHO technical assistance to support our emergency response. WHO-deployed staff enabled us to activate our emergency operations centre and establish systems for health assessments and reporting. Working alongside the health team, WHO supported health facility assessments and analysis of the data that we were recording through our outreach services,” she added.
Super Typhoon Sinlaku, one of the strongest typhoons recorded since the start of 2026, left a trail of destruction across several islands of Chuuk State, in the Federated States of Micronesia, from 09-12 April 2026.
Tens of thousands of residents were displaced, as the typhoon damaged homes, downed power lines, and destroyed food crops and water sources.
Dr Roderico Ofrin, WHO Representative for the Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau, joined Chuuk’s Department of Health Services team in assessing health needs and providing essential health services including catchup immunization, diagnosis, treatment and referrals.
He noted: “The health dispensary in Polle Sapou, Faichuuk region that our team visited was destroyed by the typhoon. In Sapou, we recorded damaged health equipment, destroyed medicines — illustrative of urgent public health requirements — that we see mirrored across other villages as well.”
WHO also delivered essential medicines and supplies, to meet urgent health needs and prevent potential disease outbreaks in affected areas across Chuuk State and continues to support the Department of Health Services in enabling the continuity of essential health services for affected communities.
Supporting health assessments and essential service delivery in hard-hit communities
Mofina Lewis, the health assistant in Polle Sapou village, reiterated the increase in health challenges brought on by the super typhoon. “I’ve seen an increase in illnesses in our community on account of contaminated water sources, destroyed sewage systems, and broken pipelines. We’re noting a lot of cases of waterborne diseases, influenza and pink eye.
Unfortunately, our dispensary and medical supplies were destroyed during the typhoon, and we now must refer people to the main hospital in Chuuk, which is over an hour away by boat.”
Reiterating Mofina’s observations, Dr Sebastian Defang, a physician for public health services with Chuuk State, who is leading health assessments, noted: “I’ve been interviewing the health assistants to assess the impact of the typhoon, damage to the health dispensaries, contamination of water sources, garbage build-up etc.
We’ve noted that most of the health dispensaries are destroyed; medical supplies are damaged; and health assistants have been left with very basic medical equipment. We now need to work to ensure that they are re-equipped and able to re-establish health service delivery in their communities.”
Shyree Johnny, a practical nurse in the immunization programme within Chuuk’s Department of Health, has visited over 12 typhoon-affected villages since the onset of the typhoon to deliver vaccination catch-up services. “I have served over 300 community members in the last three weeks — providing routine immunization, influenza vaccines and Vitamin A,” she said.
“When Typhoon Sinlaku hit, our power lines were totally damaged and we had no power in Chuuk for over two weeks,” recalls Justin Fritz, Director, Chuuk Disaster and Emergency Operations Centre.
“WHO, in partnership with the Australian Government, provided a backup generator, early during the response. This resource will power our Disaster and Emergency Centre and radio station during an emergency. So that we can activate our task force team, share live-saving information and deliver services to the public during any future emergency.”
From response to recovery
In the coming months, the response for health will require an evidence-based risk approach, informed by all the assessments undertaken. The ability to project and prepare for certain health risks — vector borne diseases, outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases, and disruption in the continuity of NCD treatment — is vital. In this continuum, timely preventative actions will help save lives and prevent deaths and diseases.
As the health system recovers from this disaster, rebuilding a resilient health system is key. These events will keep happening, and interventions geared in reducing risks will require substantial investments. Typhoon-proofing dispensaries, training health staff to work with communities in early warning and rapid action and building a supply chain that covers for the population at any time will make the health sector resilient but also ready for any similar event in the future.
As climate-related disasters and extreme weather events accelerate across the Western Pacific Region, WHO has prioritised strengthening national emergency preparedness and response, including climate-resilient health systems.
This response effort was enabled through support from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)/Australian Aid…. PACNEWS
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The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Sokehs Municipal Government in Pohnpei State secures a USD375,020 grant from GCF to strengthen coastal protection and climate resilience
POHNPEI, 22 MAY 2026 (SPC) — The Sokehs Municipal Government, in partnership with the Pacific Community (SPC), has launched a Sokehs National Park Coastal Monitoring and Baseline Survey Project, marking a key step toward strengthening climate resilience.
Stanley Ernest, the Mayor of Sokehs Municipality, called this the beginning of a transformation whereby “the Municipal Government is able to directly access climate funding to implement an adaptation priority”. Through this initiative, the Municipality will “develop a model for coastal circulation and address vulnerability in Sokehs Bay. This knowledge will guide “climate-resilient planning and also support our vision for a Sokehs National Park”.
The project is funded through a USD$357,020 grant secured by Sokehs Municipality under the Federated States of Micronesia Enhancing Direct Access (EDA) Programme, supported by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) – highlighting the growing capacity of the Municipal Government to play leading roles in accessing climate finance. The Project will be implemented until January 2028.
Stanley Ernest emphasised that “Resilience building and the ability of our people to make wise decisions should be based on scientific data and monitoring”. In addition, this initiative supports implementation of the Pohnpei Joint State Action Plan (JSAP) for Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change as it protects livelihoods and builds resilience”.
The Pacific Community’s Micronesian Regional Office Director, William Kostka, in congratulating the Sokehs Municipality, explained that “the coastal environment plays a significant role in people’s culture and identity. Therefore, one cannot overemphasise the importance of this project as it will assist the community of Sokehs to make sound decisions based on scientific evidence”.
As a fundamental objective of the EDA Programme is to build the capacities of municipalities, he called on Sokehs Municipality to “leverage this project as an opportunity to strengthen its project management and financial capacities for the implementation of future initiatives”.
Aligned with the Pacific Community Strategic Plan 2022 – 2031, the project will promote resilience by providing scientific information that empowers Sokeshs Municipality to make informed decisions on coastal management and resilience. Through a community outreach programme, this project will engage men, women and youth of Sokehs. Partners, including the College of Micronesia FSM and the University of Hawaii, will provide technical support for the project.
SPC will continue to provide technical support during the implementation of this project. Director Kostka acknowledged the leadership of the FSM Government through the Green Climate Fund National Designated Authority, the Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration.
The FSM Enhancing Direct Access Programme is implemented by the SPC Micronesian Regional Office in partnership with National Government of Federated States of Micronesia.
Media Contacts: Nabil El Halwani, Strategic Communications Coordinator, Pacific Community (SPC), Strategic Communications, Outreach, Publications and Engagement office (SCOPE)| nabilh@spc.int
