In this bulletin:
1. NAURU — Nauru Parliament backs move to rename nation as Naoero
2. PACIFIC — PNG aims to expand Marine Protected Areas: Kilepa
3. PACIFIC — Palau’s marine conservation success rooted in tradition
4. SOL — Media urged to lead climate loss and damage reporting
5. TONGA — Tonga media faces new type of challenge, following threat
6. FIJI — Fiji HIV crisis deepens as health workers fear disclosure
7. F/POLY — French Polynesia’s Sports Minister changed again before 2027 Pacific Games
8. CHINA — Senior Chinese legislator meets Tonga delegation
9. UN— Hantavirus-hit ship evacuation completed as quarantines begin
10. PACNEWS BIZ — Freight forwarder to raise fuel surcharge for Guam, CNMI, FSM
11. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji pushes Melanesian Ocean Protection at PNG Summit
12. PACNEWS BIZ — Forum Fisheries Committee officials Meeting sets stage for strategic Pacific Fisheries management
13. PACNEWS BIZ — ADB, Solomon Islands sign agreement for the development of solar power
14. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji PM Rabuka warns state of emergency fears could hurt tourism
15. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — There is no security without development, anything else is a distraction
16. PACNEWS DIGEST — Scam centres in the Blue Pacific: a security threat we cannot ignore
NAURU – COUNTRY NAME CHANGE: PACNEWS PACNEWS 3: Wed 13 May 2026
Nauru Parliament backs move to rename nation as Naoero
YAREN, 13 MAY 2026 (PACNEWS) — The Parliament of Nauru has unanimously approved a constitutional amendment to officially rename the country as Naoero, marking a major step toward recognising the nation’s heritage and identity.
The Constitution (Amendment) (No2) Act 2026 was passed Tuesday after all 16 Members of Parliament present voted in support of the amendment during Parliament sitting.
The bill was first tabled by David Adeang on 29 January 2026 before returning to Parliament following a mandatory 90-day layover period for debate and voting.
In his second reading speech delivered in January, President Adeang said, “while the name Nauru has been recognised internationally since independence, this proposed change seeks to more faithfully honour our nation’s heritage, our language, and our identity”.
Under the amendment, the name change to Naoero will be reflected across official national records, symbols and the country’s international identity, including at the United Nations.
A national referendum will now be held to complete the constitutional process required for the amendment to take effect…. PACNEWS
PAC – OCEAN SUMMIT: POST COURIER PACNEWS 3: Wed 13 May 2026
PNG aims to expand Marine Protected Areas: Kilepa
PORT MORESBY, 13 MAY 2026 (POST COURIER) — The third day of the Melanesian Ocean Summit commenced at the APEC Haus in Port Moresby, with discussions focusing on the future of marine conservation across the Pacific region.
Speaking during the summit, Papua New Guinea’s Minister for Conservation, Environment and Climate Change, Simo Kilepa highlighted the country’s commitment to expanding Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to safeguard the nation’s rich marine biodiversity.
“Papua New Guinea aims to expand Marine Protected Areas,” Minister Kilepa said.
He stressed that the government is working to strengthen protections around marine ecosystems, including increasing security measures against illegal activities occurring within protected waters.
Minister Kilepa also acknowledged the importance of collaboration between government agencies and local communities in preserving marine resources.
“Marine protection cannot be protected by the government alone,” he stated.
He said Papua New Guinea aims to work closely with customary landowners and local communities to ensure the protection and conservation of marine biodiversity through the use of traditional knowledge and community-led stewardship.
Minister Kilepa also emphasised the shared responsibility Pacific nations have towards the ocean.
“The ocean connects all of us as Pacific people,” he said.
Papua New Guinea continues to reaffirm its commitment to marine conservation efforts and sustainable ocean management across the Pacific region.
Fisheries and Marine Resources Minister, Jelta Wong told the conference that ocean protection must strengthen, not undermine, livelihoods and economies.
He backed the global “30 by 30” target and the proposed Melanesian Ocean Corridor of Reserves, saying: “The ocean is our heritage, our identity, and our source of life.”
Wong has called on Melanesian nations to take stronger leadership in protecting the region’s oceans and marine resources.
Speaking on Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), Wong highlighted the growing environmental pressures facing Pacific waters and stressed the need for collective regional action.
Meanwhile, Papua New Guinea’s Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Belden Namah, has promised K1 million (US$229,000) to help protect traditional knowledge and culture.
He said the money will go into a new National Cultural Research Fund, which will support studies on navigation, fishing practices, and another indigenous knowledge…. PACNEWS
PAC – OCEAN SUMMIT: POST COURIER PACNEWS 3: Wed 13 May 2026
Palau’s marine conservation success rooted in tradition
PORT MORESBY, 13 MAY 2026 (POST COURIER) — Steven Victor, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment for Palau, shared insights into the country’s successful implementation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and achievement of its 30×30 conservation target during discussions at the Melanesian Ocean Summit.
Minister Victor explained that the establishment of Marine Protected Areas in Palau was driven by the concerns of local fishermen who recognised the need for stronger regulations to protect marine resources.
According to Victor, without proper laws and management, fishing grounds risked becoming uncontrolled and unsustainable.
“The establishment was rooted in the tradition of Palau, we were protecting the resources for them, not from them,” he said.
He emphasised that community involvement and traditional practices played a central role in the development of Palau’s marine conservation efforts, ensuring that local communities remained part of the decision-making process.
Minister Victor also highlighted the importance of regional and global cooperation in addressing environmental challenges affecting the Pacific.
“We have global threats that we cannot manage on our own and we needed a network to protect our interests,” he stated.
Through these partnerships, the Palau government was able to channel resources and support directly into communities to strengthen conservation and sustainable resource management.
Victor further stressed the need for countries to invest in the management of their own natural resources.
“There needs to be an investment from Palau to manage our resources,” he said, noting that initiatives such as a green fee have contributed towards funding environmental protection and conservation programs.
Palau continues to be recognised internationally for its leadership in marine conservation and sustainable ocean management within the Pacific region…. PACNEWS
SOL- CLIMATE CHANGE REPORTING: ISLAND SUN PACNEWS 3: Wed 13 May 2026
Media urged to lead climate loss and damage reporting
HONIARA, 13 MAY 2026 (ISLAND SUN) — The media has been challenged to take a leading role in elevating stories on climate change loss and damage in Solomon Islands as journalists gather in Honiara for the inaugural Loss and Damage Media Training.
The three-day workshop, held at Rock Haven Inn from May 11-13, 2026, was organised to strengthen reporting on one of the country’s growing challenges — climate-induced loss and damage.
The training was facilitated by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) in partnership with the Media Association of Solomon Islands with funding support from the Government of New Zealand through the Loss and Damage Capability and Capacity (LDCC) Project.
Speaking to Island Sun, Henry Tufah, Deputy Director of the Climate Change Division at the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM), said climate change adaptation and mitigation discussions have existed for years, but progress remains slow.
“Media plays a key role in solving many of these challenges. People may not clearly see how media works, but in today’s world, especially with social media, progress can happen through strong media reporting.”
Tufah said although funding and support for climate-related programs are available internationally, Solomon Islands still faces challenges in accessing those resources due to weak institutional arrangements and limited capacity.
“There is a lot of funding and resources both in terms of economic support, capacity support, training and financial resources.
“Our problem within the country is institutional arrangements and capacity to ensure we tap into these fundings,” he said.
He said taking climate discussions into the media space is critical to push for accountability and encourage stronger action from government and stakeholders.
The workshop will cover key topics including climate adaptation and mitigation, climate finance, the role of climate finance and linkages, the Loss and Damage Funding Mechanism, media ethics, storytelling techniques and the role of traditional knowledge in responding to climate impacts.
The training will conclude with a field visit to Koa Hill and April Valley, where participants will meet with communities affected and put their reporting and storytelling skills into practice.
Sub-Editor of the Solomon Star Newspaper, Eddie Osifelo, said the training helped journalists understand the wider impacts of climate change, particularly the economic cost of loss and damage.
“We now realise the importance of relocation, the impact of climate change and the economic cost of damage and loss.
“Before, we only reported on seawalls being broken or graves being washed away, but now we need to focus on the economic costs and put figures to these issues,” Osifelo said.
He said climate loss and damage is a major national issue that the media must take seriously.
“This is not a small issue. It is a big issue that the media needs to focus on and take the lead in reporting.”
Agnes Menanopo, a television journalist with the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC), said the workshop has given participants a better understanding of climate concepts including mitigation, adaptation and loss and damage.
“For me this is the first time attending such training.
“It is important for the media to be equipped with knowledge so when we report stories on climate change, we report accurately,” Menanopo said.
She said she is looking forward to the field visit to apply the knowledge and skills gained during the workshop.
The training builds on previous regional loss and damage media workshops held in Samoa in 2025, where In-depth Solomons journalist Ednal Palmer represented Solomon Islands during regional climate reporting programmes…. PACNEWS
TONGA – MEDIA FREEDOM: RNZ PACIFIC PACNEWS 3: Wed 13 May 2026
Tonga media faces new type of challenge, following threat
NUKU’ALOFA, 13 MAY 2026 (RNZ PACIFIC) — Previously it was reporting on governments or politics that brought trouble for Tonga’s journalists – now it’s reporting on drugs or gangs.
Tongan journalists are coming to terms with new pressures on media freedom over reporting on the country’s drug crisis, and the role of gangs in it.
This comes after a journalist at Kele’a Publications was threatened at gunpoint in Nuku’alofa, following reporting on drugs issues two weeks ago – the same week as World Press Freedom Day.
While Tonga police are still searching for the suspect who threatened a journalist, the manager of the Kele’a Publications said police should do more to protect the press.
According to Teisa Cokanasiga, journalist freedoms were usually tested by previous governments when reporting on the police; but the current situation is different and represented a new type of challenge for Tonga’s media.
“The threat was regarding reports that we did about drugs and a specific gang member who is currently serving life in prison. So now we are aware that we have that kind of threat.
“In terms of freedom of the press, to report on political issues and controversial issues concerning the leadership in the country. I think we are fine with that.”
Cokanasiga said there needed to be more awareness around this kind of threat as it can happen to any member of Tonga’s media.
“It’s just disheartening. And we are now aware that we can get that kind of challenge or risk, not only, I mean, from the public as well.”
For now, Cokanasiga said her team was supporting the journalist, and also being cautious while continuing daily duties.
“We’ve been trying to be, you know, be encourging of each other and at the same time give them space, especially the concerning journalist, and for her to slowly get back to work.”
The Media Association of Tonga (MAT) said the incident was an assault not only on the safety of an individual journalist but on the constitutional right of every Tongan to receive information without fear or favour.
MAT president Katalina Uili Tohi said a climate of fear and intimidation targeting media personnel undermined democratic principles and silenced the very voices that hold power to account.
She said journalists must be able to work without the threat of violence or death.
Meanwhile, co-chair of the Pacific Freedom Forum (PFF), Lepailetai Tosi Tupua, commended the courage and professionalism of the journalist and her colleagues and their swift reporting to police.
He said they awaited the outcomes of a thorough and impartial police investigation into this incident, ensuring public safety and including safety on the job for all media workers reporting these matters.
Police were yet to arrest anyone, but Cokanasiga said they remained in regular contact with both her and the journalist…. PACNEWS
FIJI – HEALTH: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS 3: Wed 13 May 2026
Fiji HIV crisis deepens as health workers fear disclosure
SUVA, 13 MAY 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) — Fiji faces a deepening HIV crisis as health workers living with the disease refuse to be tested or declare their status.
Many doctors and other health workers who have been affected remain reluctant to seek treatment because of stigma in the workplace.
“We’ve had doctors and healthcare workers dying from HIV because they’re too afraid of going on treatment because they don’t want their colleagues to know that they have HIV,” Dr Jason Mitchell told a Fiji Medical Association mini conference at the weekend.
Mitchell – the National HIV outbreak and Cluster Response Chair – said the country’s HIV response confronted a reality that once sat on the margins of the debate.
Discussion during the FMA conference painted a picture of a system under pressure from several directions at once: weak procurement, limited testing supplies, staff shortages, and a growing number of patients diagnosed late.
That shortage is becoming more expensive as the caseload rises.
Mitchell estimated that if all people who should be diagnosed were on treatment and the country also treated opportunistic infections, sexually transmitted infections, and tuberculosis, Fiji would need about $150 million (US$75 million) a year.
“(The Fiji Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Services) budget alone is less than $48 million (US$24 million),” he said.
The discussion also turned to testing and consent, with the emergency departments already screening patients who appear to be at high risk, but Mitchell warned that Fiji’s HIV law required informed consent.
“It is unlawful to test anyone without informed consent,” he said, adding that the country should move toward “opt-in, opt-out testing” rather than testing without permission.
“That’s a part of the legislation that is problematic, and I think many of the clinicians in the room will share that view. It creates many barriers to diagnostics, and I think most clinicians that I know, and I won’t name them, just test.”
“But there will come a time when somebody will be taken to court for that, and you’ll be found guilty because it’s a clear-cut case. No consent was given. It’s an assault case,” he said.
Mitchell said the old model, in which patients were referred out of the hospital to specialist services, no longer fitted the scale of the outbreak.
“The epidemic is big enough,” he said.
“Everyone should be trained in HIV to be able to put people on treatment themselves.”
“The response now depends not only on treatment and testing, but on keeping patients in care long enough to suppress the virus and prevent the cycle of late diagnosis, opportunistic infection and repeat hospitalisation.”
Clinicians have shared similar sentiments, saying targeted testing would make better use of limited resources, focusing on people at the highest risk, including sex workers, people who inject drugs and people without stable housing.
Dr Priya Kumar added the country recorded 92,773 HIV tests last year and argued that broad, untargeted screening was not the best use of scarce kits and staff.
Staffing emerged as another pressure point. She said the sexual and reproductive health and HIV unit was working at “30 percent capacity,” with only two medical officers seeing about three new cases a day.
“A new case will at least take an hour consult because you need to counsel them, and where will the staff come from? It will be coming from the existing workforce from one location to another, said Dr Kumar…. PACNEWS
r/POLY – CABINET RESHUFLLE: RNZ PACIFIC PACNEWS 3: Wed 13 May 2026
French Polynesia’s Sports Minister changed again before 2027 Pacific Games
PAPE’ETE, 13 MAY 2026 (RNZ PACIFIC) — French Polynesia’s President Moetai Brotherson has made key personnel changes in his cabinet just over a year before the French Pacific territory hosts the 2027 Pacific Games.
Raihei Ansquer has been handed the health portfolio, while Vanina Pommier has been assigned the sports portfolio. They take over from Cédric Mercadal and Kainuu Temauri.
Brotherson announced the changes during a news conference on Monday local time but did not immediately specify the reasons for the reshuffle.
The move has drawn criticism from opposition parties on all sides of the political divide – including those who are pro-autonomy and those against independence.
Opposition figure and Tapura Huiraatira party leader Tepuaraurii Teriitahi said it revealed “failures from the President and his government”.
Pommier’s appointment comes less than one year after her predecessor, Kainuu Temauri, was appointed in early August 2025.
Ansquer, a medical doctor by profession, was also recently a technical advisor at French Polynesia’s health ministry. She said her priorities as a minister will be to strengthen prevention, including in the fields of mental health, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and cancer.
In addition to sports, Pommier will also be in charge of youth, arts and crafts, as well as prevention against delinquency.
Regarding the scheduled hosting of the 2027 Pacific Games in Tahiti, she said the Pacific Games Council (the organising body of the regional event) is this week visiting French Polynesia as part of its follow-up missions.
Pommier is set to meet the council on Friday.
She said the Pacific Games is “an opportunity to show the Pacific and the world what we can do”.
Her main task will be to supervise and coordinate the organisation and preparation for the 2027 Pacific Games. This includes upgrading and building relevant infrastructure to host the key regional event from 24 July to 8 August 2027.
The current estimated cost to organise and host the Pacific Games in French Polynesia is about US$55 million, including about US$26m financed by France.
Competitions will mainly take place on the capital island of Tahiti, but also on outer island locations, including neighbouring Moorea and Raiatea.
Existing infrastructure, such as the iconic Pater Stadium in Papeete, will be used but needed to be renovated.
The first phases of upgrading and building works started in July 2025 and were expected to be completed and delivered in April 2027.
The process of recruiting up to 4500 volunteers is also underway in preparation for the 18th Games scheduled for 24 July – 8 August.
Athletes from 24 Pacific Island countries and territories are expected to compete in 24 disciplines across an estimated 30 sites.
It will be the third time French Polynesia hosts the iconic regional event…. PACNEWS
CHINA – DIPLOMACY: XINHUA PACNEWS 3: Wed 13 May 2026
Senior Chinese legislator meets Tonga delegation
BEIJING, 13 MAY 2026 (XINHUA) — Li Hongzhong, China’s vice chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, met with the Tonga Parliament and Government Joint Delegation led by Lord Vaea, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga, in Beijing on Tuesday.
Li, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China is willing to work with Tonga to continuously enhance political mutual trust, deepen Belt and Road cooperation.
As well as collaboration in other fields, enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples, promote the sustained, healthy and stable development of China-Tonga relations, and jointly build a China-Pacific Island countries community with a shared future.
Vaea said Tonga adheres to the one-China principle and is willing to deepen exchanges and cooperation with China in various fields including legislative bodies…. PACNEWS
UN – HEALTH: UN NEWS CENTRE PACNEWS 3: Wed 13 May 2026
Hantavirus-hit ship evacuation completed as quarantines begin
TENERIFE/GENEVA, 13 MAY 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE) — The passengers and crew have disembarked from the hantavirus-hit cruise ship MV Hondius in Tenerife, and many have returned to their home countries, as the UN World Health Organisation (WHO) said the operation demonstrated a “triumph of solidarity”.
The repatriation effort, coordinated by Spanish authorities with support from WHO, the European Union, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and multiple governments, marked the end of an emergency operation that has gripped global health attention for weeks following an outbreak of Andes hantavirus aboard the vessel.
As of Monday, WHO said there had been nine cases linked to the ship, including seven laboratory-confirmed infections and three deaths. One additional case remained under investigation following an inconclusive test result.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who was in Tenerife leading an emergency response team, praised Spain’s handling of the operation.
He said the disembarkation had been carried out “in style and as planned”.
“This is the triumph of solidarity,” he said, thanking the Spanish Government, European partners, the authorities in Tenerife and the ship’s crew for their coordination and cooperation throughout the crisis.
The final groups of passengers left the Canary Islands aboard specially arranged flights on Monday, while more than 30 crew members and two health workers remained on board as the vessel continued onward to its home port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
WHO officials stressed that none of the passengers travelled on commercial flights and urged countries receiving returning citizens to implement strict monitoring measures.
The agency calls for 42 days of quarantine or isolation from 10 May, either at home or in dedicated facilities, reflecting the virus’s long incubation period and the possibility of delayed symptoms.
“What I believe is countries will do everything to protect their citizens,” Tedros said.
“The guidance is clear. It’s 42 days of isolation.”
Health experts explained that the prolonged monitoring period is intended to prevent any further spread of the virus, which can become infectious at the very start of symptoms.
Tedros said the operation had now entered a longer monitoring phase, with WHO requesting countries involved to provide weekly updates through the International Health Regulations (IHR) platform on the health and wellbeing of passengers and crew.
“Continued international coordination is essential to protect everyone’s health,” he said.
Olivier Le Polain, WHO’s head of epidemiology and analytics, said the outbreak remained “well confined for now”, but warned that additional cases could still emerge in the coming days or weeks.
“We know the incubation period for hantavirus and Andes virus is very long,” he said during a WHO media briefing. “People can still develop symptoms much later on.”
WHO officials also noted the strain placed on passengers and crew during weeks at sea, saying repatriation was intended both to reduce transmission risks and ensure people received appropriate care and support.
“This is not another COVID,” Tedros said, urging countries to “continue to show your compassion and solidarity to your citizens…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
PAC – FUEL SURCHARGE: PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 13 May 2026
Freight forwarder to raise fuel surcharge for Guam, CNMI, FSM
HAGATNA, 13 MAY 206 (PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES) — Consumer prices in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands are expected to surge amid soaring shipping costs and freight charges due to supply chain disruptions.
Triple B Forwarders will raise its fuel-related surcharge for Guam and CNMI customers to 32 percent, effective 07 June.
Based on the latest U.S Department of Energy diesel price data and major carrier fuel surcharge tables, the current fuel surcharge rate for Triple B is approximately 27.5 percent.
The surcharge for Hawaii will also increase to 31.5 percent, effective 07 June. For the Federated States of Micronesia, the surcharge will go up to 34.5 percent starting 12 July.
“These surcharges are strictly passed through from the carriers and are not adjusted or increased by Triple B Forwarders,” the company said in a notice sent to customers.
A fuel surcharge is an extra charge applied on top of the base freight rate to account for changes in fuel prices. It helps carriers manage fuel cost volatility without constantly adjusting base shipping rates.
Trip B said the ongoing volatility in global energy markets and continued increases in fuel costs driven by the war in Iran have prompted carriers to adjust their fuel surcharge levels “beyond prior expectations.”
According to Bloomberg, U.S oil product exports surged to a record 8.2 million barrels per day last week as countries scrambled to replace fuel supplies disrupted by the Hormuz crisis.
The crisis was triggered by the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime artery that carries about one-fifth of global crude oil and significant volumes of liquefied natural gas.
Experts said the removal of millions of barrels of oil per day from the global supply chain has radically pushed the repricing of Brent crude, which surged past the US$90 threshold and peaked in the US$100 to US$120 range within weeks of the conflict’s onset.
“We understand how disruptive this type of mid-cycle adjustment can be, and we share in the concern of having to pass along another revision so quickly after our last communication,” Triple B said.
“We recognise that these changes may impact your planning and budgeting. While we strive to provide advance notice whenever possible, the pace of recent fuel cost increases has resulted in more frequent adjustments by the carriers,” the company said.
Due to their reliance on imported goods, the Pacific islands are acutely vulnerable to disruptions in shipping and freight markets, as well as to global price shocks.
Triple B is a provider of freight forwarding and logistics services between the U.S. mainland and Hawaii, Guam, Micronesia and the South Pacific…. PACNEWS
PAC – FISHERIES: FIJI FISHERIES MINISTRY PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 13 May 2026
Fiji pushes Melanesian Ocean Protection at PNG Summit
PORT MORESBY, 13 MAY 2026 (FIJI FISHERIES MINISTRY) — Fiji’s Fisheries Minister Alitia Bainivalu is in Papua New Guinea as part of the official delegation led by Sitiveni Rabuka for the inaugural Melanesian Ocean Summit.
The summit has brought together Melanesian leaders, regional organisations and international ocean experts to develop a united Pacific strategy focused on protecting and sustainably managing the region’s ocean resources.
Also, part of the Fiji delegation is Sakiasi Ditoka, with the delegation expected to take part in a series of high-level discussions on the future of the Blue Pacific.
Key issues on the summit agenda include marine protection, sustainable fisheries management, climate adaptation and the integration of traditional knowledge into modern conservation efforts.
Discussions are also focused on strengthening biodiversity protection, ensuring long-term food security through sustainable fisheries practices and developing stronger responses to the impacts of climate change on coastal communities.
The summit is being seen as a major step for Melanesian nations to strengthen their role in protecting Pacific Ocean resources for future generations.
Fiji’s participation also reinforces its commitment to regional solidarity and environmental diplomacy in the Pacific…. PACNEWS
PAC – FISHERIES: FIJI FISHERIES MINISTRY PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 13 May 2026
Forum Fisheries Committee officials Meeting sets stage for strategic Pacific Fisheries management
WELLINGTON, 13 MAY 2026 (FIJI FISHERIES MINISTRY) — The 142nd Meeting of the Forum Fisheries Committee (FFC 142) Officials formally commenced this week at Te Papa Tongarewa, New Zealand’s national museum in Wellington.
Gathering senior fisheries officials and delegates from across the Pacific region, the week-long meeting serves as a crucial preparatory session ahead of the upcoming FFC Ministers Meeting in June.
The event opened with a powerful and warm traditional Māori pōwhiri rendered by the traditional owners of the whenua (land). The ceremony, rich with traditional speeches and waiata (songs), beautifully showcased the vibrant culture and deep manaakitanga (hospitality) of Aotearoa New Zealand.
The welcoming gesture set a profound tone of regional solidarity, mutual respect, and shared stewardship over the region’s shared oceanic resources.
Significantly, this session marks a major leadership transition for the committee, concluding Niue’s successful tenure as Chair under the steady guidance of outgoing FFC Officials Chair Poi Okesene.
Following an official handover ceremony, New Zealand has formally assumed the Chairmanship of the Forum Fisheries Committee for the next 12 months, pledging to build upon the momentum of regional cooperation.
Fiji is prominently represented at FFC 142 by the Acting Permanent Secretary for Fisheries alongside senior fisheries officials.
As a key player in regional maritime affairs, the meeting provides Fiji with a vital platform to advocate for its national and regional priorities, particularly the sustainable long-term management of regional tuna stocks.
Throughout the session, delegates from the 17 Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) member countries will engage in high-level deliberations on central strategic issues. Key focus areas on the agenda include:
*Sustainable Funding: Ensuring adequate, practical, and long-term financial frameworks to support regional fisheries management without adding a disproportionate burden to small island developing states.
*Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Priorities: Aligning regional strategies to advocate effectively at the broader WCPFC level, including navigating complex harvest controls for key tropical tuna stocks like bigeye.
*U.S Tuna Treaty Arrangements: Progressing the administrative and operational implementation of the pivotal treaty between Pacific Island Parties and the United States.
*South Pacific Albacore Discussions: Building on recent milestones to advance binding arrangements for in-zone allocations and establish a unified, science-based harvest strategy.
*The East New Britain Initiative (ENBI): Progressing regional frameworks designed to maximize economic returns and retain more of the tuna value chain directly within Pacific Island communities.
As FFC 142 progresses in Wellington, the outcomes of these discussions will directly shape the policy recommendations tabled for the Fisheries Ministers next month, reinforcing a unified Pacific voice in global oceans governance…. PACNEWS
PAC – SOLAR ENERGY: ADB PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 13 May 2026
ADB, Solomon Islands sign agreement for the development of solar power
HONIARA, 13 MAY 2026 (ADB) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Solomon Islands Electricity Authority (SIEA) today signed a Transaction Advisory Services Agreement which will support SIEA in mobilising the first solar independent power producer in the Solomon Islands.
The grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) power project in Honiara will be developed by mobilising private sector investment.
The Chief Executive Officer of SIEA, Delia Homelo, and ADB Country Director of ADB’s Solomon Islands Resident Mission, Anthony Gill signed the agreement.
“ADB helps bring in private investors for important projects such as this grid-connected solar PV project in Solomon Islands,” said Gill.
“This project will unlock investment through public-private partnerships and reduce risks so that businesses feel confident to invest, at the same time reducing the country’s reliance on imported diesel and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”
Diesel currently accounts for 98 percent of total powergeneration in the Honiara grid, exposing SIEA to fuel supply disruptions and international price volatility. Renewable energy projects help to stabilise power supply and keep downward pressure on tariffs.
ADB through their Office of Markets Development and Public-Private Partnership will act as the transaction advisor and conduct project preparation, tendering and support SIEA in awarding the contract to supply electricity. The need for battery energy storage system will also be assessed as part of the technical assessments.
The project is part of Solomon Islands government efforts to attract investment in renewable energy generation…. PACNEWS
FIJI – STATE OF EMERGENCY: FIJI SUN PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 13 May 2026
Fiji PM Rabuka warns state of emergency fears could hurt tourism
SUVA, 13 MAY 2026 (FIJI SUN) — Growing fears over a possible State of Emergency in Fiji are threatening to shake confidence in the country’s tourism industry.
Government has warned that increasing international attention on drug-related security concerns could discourage tourists from visiting Fiji.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said Government remained cautious about the situation, especially with tourism continuing to serve as one of Fiji’s biggest economic drivers.
He made the comments during the Fiji Government’s Radio Programme Voqa ni Davui programme earlier this week.
Rabuka acknowledged that any declaration of a State of Emergency could create fear among international visitors and overseas travel markets, potentially affecting visitor arrivals, tourism businesses, and local jobs that rely heavily on the industry.
The concerns come amid increasing pressure on authorities to respond to the country’s growing illicit drug problem and the threat posed by organised criminal networks.
Rabuka recently met with Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu and Republic of Fiji Military Forces Commander Ro Jone Kalouniwai for a national security briefing.
He said both had confirmed they were still capable of carrying out their responsibilities under normal conditions.
“If there is to be any escalation, they will make the recommendation,” Rabuka said.
At the national talanoa session on responding to illicit drugs in Fiji held earlier this year, the Republic of Fiji Military Forces warned that drug cartels were becoming increasingly bold and were now posing threats to national security.
Meanwhile, under Chapter 9 of Fiji’s Constitution, the Prime Minister may declare a State of Emergency if advised by the Police Commissioner and the RFMF Commander that Fiji’s security and safety are under threat and emergency powers are needed to respond effectively.
Such a declaration would also allow certain rights under the Bill of Rights to be temporarily limited, but only to the extent necessary to deal with the emergency situation…. 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
There is no security without development, anything else is a distraction
By Anna Naupa
CANBERRA, 13 MAY 2026 (PACIFIC SECURITY COLLEGE) — The region’s evolving discussions about a proposed ‘Ocean of Peace’ should not dilute or distract from existing commitments under the Pacific Islands Forum’s 2018 Boe Declaration on Regional Security.
Advancing Pacific human security has seen slow progress in over a decade, compounded by a deepening climate crisis. The region cannot afford protracted diversions brought about by strategic competition or reactions to partner geopolitics. Instead, amplified focus on implementation of existing Pacific commitments is needed to regain momentum on sustainable development.
Persistent human insecurities destabilise prospects for Pacific peace
Development and security are two sides of the same coin. This point was underscored by Niue’s Prime Minister Dalton Tagelagi in July 2025 at the Pacific Regional and National Security Conference. “Security is holistic. It is the whole person. It is a whole community. It is a whole country, and it is a whole region. Security is leaving no one behind,” Tagelagi said.
But unfortunately, our region is leaving many of our people behind.
The most recent Quadrennial Pacific Sustainable Development Report (2022) estimates that one in four Pacific islanders live below their respective national basic needs poverty line. Poverty of opportunity is worsening and deepening socio-economic inequalities are real concerns for all countries. Gender equality remains significantly underfunded. Climate change impacts multiplier effects on a range of human security areas, such as food, water and health security post-disasters.
A tug of war to dominate Pacific security narratives
It is particularly concerning when regional partners are willing to invest significantly in traditional security activities yet support for Pacific islands’ most pressing development needs is nominal. The 2025 cuts to the USAID budget, both bilaterally and via multilateral bodies, for example, will approximately cost the region upward of US$249 million annually. In contrast, U.S military expenditure and security cooperation in the Pacific remains healthy, with a bilateral PNG-U.S defence deal valued at US$864 million over 10 years.
The Boe Declaration is an important step in closing the distance between Pacific Island countries’ development needs and prospects for peaceful and secure region. It provides an important regional compass during an era of marked strategic competition and heightened geopolitical interest in the Pacific Ocean. The Boe helps maintain focus on a Blue Pacific strategic security narrative.
In 2025, this focus is needed to maintain control over a comprehensive Pacific security agenda that leaves no one behind. This means being selective about where to invest valued political energy on regional security priorities and not becoming “a chessboard for global competition”.
Retaining Pacific control of the regional security agenda also means saying ‘no’ to, or pausing, partner geopolitics or new initiatives that distract from consolidating efforts on existing regional commitments through Boe, and a plethora of other regional strategies and roadmaps.
The recent, increased frequency of new security-related announcements and proposals in the region is no coincidence. Whether a Pacific Policing Initiative to support multi-country response capability, a mass donation of police patrol boats or a possible ‘Ocean of Peace’ to mediate growing geopolitical tensions in the region, these all ostensibly contribute to the overarching objectives of the Boe Declaration and its peace and security pillar companion in the Pacific 2050 Strategy.
But they can also contribute to the crowded complexity of Pacific security, at the expense of Pacific peoples’ more pressing existential, livelihood and social protection needs.
This raises the question: how can there be a peaceful and prosperous Pacific region if our people’s insecurities are not addressed?
Closing the development-security gap – can the Ocean of Peace concept assist?
It’s time to shift the dial from declarations of policy commitments to more concrete, appropriately resourced actions that address persistent human insecurities throughout the Pacific region.
Securitising climate action and human development is one way to pragmatically leverage the strategic competition in the region to spotlight areas of much-needed development finance. For example, Solomon Islands successfully leveraged geopolitical duels between Australia and China to secure internet cabling finance.
However, the paradox of securitising elements of Pacific Island life – as Pacific scholars Romitesh Kant, Vehia Wheeler and Mereoni Chung argue – is that sustainable peace must be found through people-centric, and people-driven approaches, not through the hard, militarised power of surveillance technology, weapons or soldiers and border police.
The allure of the Ocean of Peace’s evolving concept is its potential to strike the right balance between development and security attention. While the concept itself has produced polarising debates about de/militarisation and justice for unaddressed legacies of colonialism and nuclear testing, for example, some see opportunity to define a new regional rules-based order and to re-assert Pacific partnership principles.
These perspectives all have merit, but raise new questions: why are these long-standing issues still unresolved and will an Ocean of Peace catalyse overdue action or divert policy attention?
This dialogue comes at a time when the Pacific is also being crowded by introducing additional bureaucratic processes of its own making. Some participants at the July 2025 Pacific Regional and National Security Conference called for more action on implementing existing regional initiatives rather than chasing new, potentially duplicative, proposals.
Achieving sustainable peace through human development requires a refocus on consolidating regional resource mobilisation and addressing structural drivers of Pacific insecurities.
The Ocean of Peace provides a welcome spotlight that returns attention to Pacific values and understandings of peacefulness.
But beyond that it is a political distraction from the genuine, urgent calls to fully implement the commitments of national and regional security strategies and action plans, themselves aligned closely to the region’s sustainable development priorities.
The Pacific Island region’s population will double by 2050. More than half this population will be under the age of 24. The human and economic development needs of present and future generations, the food, water and land security needed to nourish and sustain populations, and the protection of our environment – this is where our regional focus must remain.
The Boe Declaration already serves to close the development-security gap and assists the region to navigate an uncertain future while leaving no one behind. Why would we want further distraction from resourcing this important task? …PACNEWS
Anna Naupa is a Pacific policy and development specialist. She is currently completing a PhD at the Australian National University.
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Scam centres in the Blue Pacific: a security threat we cannot ignore
By Ayanna Ramarui
KOROR/CANBERRA, 13 MAY 2026 (PACIFIC SECURITY COLLEGE) — A real and pressing security concern is emerging in the Pacific. There has been an increase in online scamming, a complex and evolving threat that is relatively new to the region.
This shift seems to be part of the expansion of transnational crimes into vulnerable small island states.
What are online scam centres?
Online scam centres are large-scale and highly organised criminal operations that rely on forced labour to carry out global cyber fraud. Victims of human trafficking are forced to conduct ‘pig butchering’ and romance scams while being held inside heavily guarded compounds. Individuals are often lured with fake job offers, made to surrender their passports upon arrival, and subjected to threats, violence, and other forms of coercion. These operations are commonly found in Southeast Asia, in countries such as Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos.
Operators behind these scam centres typically use social media platforms, dating applications, and messaging services to target and manipulate victims around the world. Some of the most common scams include pig butchering, cryptocurrency fraud, romance scams, and digital arrest scams.
One of the most notorious cyber scam hubs, KK Park in Myanmar, was raided in 2025. The compound was associated with online fraud, money laundering, and human trafficking. During the raid, more than 2,000 workers were released and 30 Starlink satellite terminals were confiscated. Reports indicate that thousands of people had been lured to the compound with promises of well-paid employment but were instead forced to run elaborate scams, stealing billions of dollars from victims.
Online scam centres in the Pacific
Operations that were previously concentrated in Southeast Asian countries are now attempting to establish themselves in Pacific Island countries. Palau, Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu, Timor-Leste, and Papua New Guinea have encountered elements of this evolving threat. According to the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), a scam centre uncovered in Palau had connections to Chinese criminal syndicates. Individuals involved operated from abandoned or enclosed buildings, having entered Palau as tourists before applying for work permits.
Palau faces significant challenges in responding to online scams. With no cybercrime laws or regulations in place and limited technical resources and investigative capacity, it is difficult for law enforcement to effectively detect, prosecute, and dismantle these networks. Many people working within these operations are believed to be victims of human trafficking, further complicating enforcement efforts.
In a report on the Pacific’s evolving threat landscape, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime highlights the growing risks posed by transnational organised crime in the region. Drug trafficking, money laundering and the proliferation of cyber-enabled fraud – including large-scale scam centres where workers are trafficked and abused – are emerging and interconnected threats.
In 2025, a raid was carried out in the Oecusse region of Timor-Leste, where a ‘digital centre’ was discovered. The centre was making use of Starlink satellite devices and multiple SIM cards to operate large-scale online scams. The fact that this kind of activity was uncovered in Timor-Leste suggests that scammers are spreading out across the region. Such operations are no longer isolated incidents, but part of a broader shift.
With limited expertise, legislative gaps and constrained enforcement capacity, Pacific Island states face significant obstacles in addressing this threat. As transnational criminal networks recognise the vulnerabilities of small developing island states, the Pacific is increasingly becoming an attractive target for exploitation.
What can we do?
Regional initiatives such as Cyber Safety Pasifika have played a significant role in strengthening cyber awareness and investigation capabilities across the Pacific. But these programs appear to focus mainly on cyber awareness and general investigative training rather than specifically addressing the emerging threat of organised online scam centres.
Amid growing evidence that such scam centres are beginning to relocate to the Pacific, a more targeted regional response is needed. Some recommendations we can consider include:
Strengthening national legislation: Pacific Island countries should review and strengthen their existing cybercrime legislation to specifically address cyber-enabled fraud operations. Islands that do not yet have the necessary legal frameworks in place should seek assistance from countries in the region that already have such legislation and learn from their experiences and best practices.
Integrating a scam centre focus into regional cyber programs: Regional initiatives such as Cyber Safety Pasifika could include a dedicated focus on the detection, prevention, and disruption of organised scam centres. This could include specialised training on identifying scam centre indicators, cryptocurrency tracing, digital financial investigations, and intelligence-led policing approaches.
Enhancing regional intelligence sharing: Through mechanisms such as the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police network, Pacific countries should strengthen intelligence sharing and joint investigations related to transnational cyber fraud syndicates. Establishing early warning systems and coordinated regional responses will help prevent these criminal networks from exploiting vulnerabilities within smaller jurisdictions.
Given the vulnerabilities of small island states, a collective and proactive regional response is essential…. PACNEWS
Ayanna Ramarui is a policy analyst within Palau’s National Security Coordination Office, where she supports national initiatives related to security and foreign affairs.
