In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — China urges openness after Solomon Islands announces U.S Coast Guard patrol deal
2. SOL — PM Wale wraps up Washington visit with focus on investment and development
3. FIJI — 2006 Militarisation left Fiji’s civil service fearful and broken
4. PNG — PNG, Australia reaffirms commitment to strengthen law and justice sector
5. FIJI — Fiji Military Commander warns RFMF leaders against silence
6. NZ — Employment Leave Bill moves ahead as Pacific expert warns workers could be left behind
7. FIJI — Children as young as seven exploited in drug trade in Fiji
8. PACNEWS BIZ — Tokelau fisheries row: NZ rejects claim of increased control
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Cook Islands government extends energy relief package for three months
10. PACNEWS BIZ — Security key to tourism growth, says Fiji Police Commissioner
11. PACNEWS BIZ — Guam gubernatorial candidates outline competing plans to rebuild tourism
12. PACNEWS DIGEST — Building climate resilience in the sports sector across the Commonwealth
13. PACNEWS DIGEST — New report finds global security hinges on Climate Action, Health Investment and Peacebuilding
PACIFIC – DIPLOMACY: PACNEWS PACNEWS 2: Thu 23 Jul 2026
China urges openness after Solomon Islands announces U.S Coast Guard patrol deal
BEIJING, 23 JULY 2026 (PACNEWS) — China says it is ready to deepen cooperation with the Solomon Islands while calling on all countries engaging with Pacific Island nations to respect their independence and ensure cooperation is not directed at any third party.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks after being asked about Solomon Islands’’ decision to sign a ship rider agreement with the United States that will allow the U.S Coast Guard to patrol the country’s waters with Solomon Islands police officers on board.
“China and the Solomon Islands are comprehensive strategic partners featuring mutual respect and common development for a new era.
“We stand ready to work with the new government of the Solomon Islands to expand practical cooperation in various fields and better benefit the people of both countries,” he said.
Lin said China supported international efforts to assist Pacific Island countries.
“China supports efforts by the international community to help Pacific Island countries realise sustainable development.
“At the same time, in developing relations with Pacific Island countries, all parties should respect their independence, put development first, and uphold openness and inclusiveness. Relevant cooperation should not be targeted at any third party,” he said.
The comments follow an announcement by Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale during a visit to Washington that his government will sign a ship rider agreement with the U.S Coast Guard next week.
According to a Solomon Islands government statement, the agreement will strengthen joint maritime enforcement and surveillance.
The statement said Wale highlighted “the urgent need to enhance security across the Pacific region,” citing increasing threats from drug trafficking, human trafficking, and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
The Solomon Islands became China’s closest security partner in the Pacific after signing a security agreement with Beijing in 2022……PACNEWS
SOL – DIPLOMACY: SOL GOVT PACNEWS 2: Thu 23 Jul 2026
PM Wale wraps up Washington visit with focus on investment and development
WASHINGTON, 23 JULY (PACNEWS) — Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale has concluded a series of high-level meetings in Washington, aimed at strengthening partnerships and attracting investment to support the country’s development priorities.
During the visit, Wale and his delegation met with the U.S Development Finance Corporation (DFC), the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and the U.S Chamber of Commerce.
The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral partnerships and exploring new development opportunities for Solomon Islands.
Talks with the DFC and MCC centred on strategic investment opportunities, with a particular focus on projects that could deliver long-term economic benefits. The Bina Harbour Project featured prominently, along with opportunities in the energy and tourism sectors.
Prime Minister Wale also took part in a private sector roundtable hosted by the U.S Chamber of Commerce, which brought together representatives from major global companies including Google, Caterpillar, Walmart, Boeing, United Airlines and Organon.
During the roundtable, Wale outlined the challenges and opportunities facing Solomon Islands and highlighted areas for potential collaboration and investment.
According to the government, the discussions generated strong interest from participating companies, indicating potential opportunities for future partnerships.
Prime Minister Wale described the engagements as productive and forward-looking, saying they represented shared opportunities that could make a significant contribution to Solomon Islands’ development goals.
The Prime Minister also held discussions with Department of War Under Secretary Colby Eldridge at the Pentagon.
The government said the visit underscored its commitment to strengthening international partnerships and attracting investment to support sustainable economic growth.
Prime Minister Wale is scheduled to depart for Tokyo to meet Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi…. PACNEWS
FIJI – COUP IMPACT: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS 2: Thu 23 Jul 2026
2006 Militarisation left Fiji’s civil service fearful and broken
SUVA, 23 JULY 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) — Fiji’s 2006 military takeover did more than topple a government.
It hollowed out the public service, replaced senior civil servants with military officers and, in the words of former senior official Emele Duituturaga, left institutions fearful, politicised and stripped of memory.
Duituturaga, who was the Chief Executive Officer of Fiji’s Ministry for Women, Social Welfare and Housing during the Qarase Government—a position equivalent to the Permanent Secretary role today—before being removed following the coup, said the upheaval was not simply about politics.
“It was about militarisation,” she said, describing how “three levels of leadership in the public service were replaced by military officers.”
“For those forced out, the cost was personal and professional,” she said during the recent Fiji Truth and Reconciliation Commission Expert Roundtable Discussion.
“There was a lot of vindication. There was a lot of fabrication,” she said.
“For those of us who were kicked out, pushed out, there was a lot of pain.”
Beyond the dismissals, she said the coup tore out the technical expertise that keeps a state functioning.
“They left with technical skills,” she said of departing civil servants, warning that the loss of experienced staff weakened institutional memory and slowed services across the country.
Duituturaga said the purge did not just hit the bureaucracy; it changed the social fabric of the service.
Lowering the retirement age to 60, she argued, helped push out “a whole middle class of Fiji,” draining ministries of mid-career experience and leaving younger staff to absorb responsibilities they were not ready for.
“Mentorship went out, the burden got heavier, delays got longer.”
The atmosphere inside the civil service, she said, was marked by fear. “Before they opened their mouth, they had to look you up and down and look around,” she recalled.
“People were frozen.” Civil servants, she said, were unsure who could be trusted, while many stayed only because they had families to support and no alternative income.
The consequences, she said, fell hardest on ordinary people who depended on public services.
“The real cost is service to the people,” Duituturaga said.
“The people are the heart of the service. When the service is intimidated or politicised, programmes stall, projects die, and communities pay the price in delayed assistance, broken systems and weaker delivery.”
She also described a distinctly gendered fallout.
“The military men who took charge are not trained in democratic practice or human rights.
“If you’re learning to go to war, the priorities are different,” she said.
For many women in the service, the result was insecurity and retreat. “Women left. Women felt unsafe. Women felt insecure,” she said, adding that the coup “took it right back” after years of progress bringing women into leadership.
Duituturaga said she still believes Fiji’s public servants want to serve their country, but that the damage caused by repeated political upheaval remains visible.
“Every time there’s an upheaval, every time there’s a coup, the real losers are the people in the community.
“Those services don’t get rolled out,” she said…. PACNEWS
PNG – JUSTICE/LAW SECTOR: NBC PNG NEWS PACNEWS 2: Thu 23 Jul 2026
PNG, Australia reaffirms commitment to strengthen law and justice sector
PORT MORESBY, 23 JULY 2026 (NBC PNG NEWS) — Senior law and justice leaders from Papua New Guinea have reaffirmed their commitment to work together to improve community safety, strengthen access to justice and deliver better services for citizens.
The commitment was made during the recent Australia–Papua New Guinea Law and Justice Partnership (APLJ) Strategic Programme Governance Meeting, where leaders reviewed progress made under the partnership over the past year.
The meeting heard that the APLJ programme has supported 227 activities across national agencies, provincial governments and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, directly benefiting more than 9,500 people in the last 12 months.
Deputy Secretary for the Department of Justice and Attorney General and Co-Chair of the meeting, Stanley Raka, said the discussions reinforced the sector’s commitment to delivering priorities agreed through the National Coordinating Mechanism.
“The progress we have seen over the past year demonstrates the strength of the partnership in the law and justice sector. As we move into the next phase of implementation, it is important that we continue to focus on initiatives that deliver lasting improvements for our institutions and for the communities we serve,” Raka said.
A major outcome of the meeting was the decision to strengthen sector performance, accountability and evidence-based decision-making through a shared research and reporting agenda.
For the first time since 2014, the law and justice sector is restoring its annual performance reporting, with agencies now providing baseline data for a new Annual Performance Report that will combine information from 16 law and justice agencies.
Director of the Law and Justice Sector Secretariat, Joe Saferius, said collaboration among agencies remained essential to achieving meaningful and lasting results.
“No individual agency can deliver this on its own. These meetings help ensure that our activities are aligned and focused on achieving our shared objectives, outcomes and vision,” Saferius said.
The meeting also endorsed the Australia–PNG Law and Justice Partnership’s activity plan for the coming year, with more than K50 million (US$11 million) committed to support infrastructure, technical assistance, strategy development and implementation.
The Australia–PNG Law and Justice Partnership is a PNG-led initiative that delivers programmes identified through the National Coordinating Mechanism, with support from Australia to strengthen coordination and improve law and justice outcomes across the country…. PACNEWS
FIJI – DEFENCE: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 2: Thu 23 Jul 2026
Fiji Military Commander warns RFMF leaders against silence
SUVA, 23 JULY 2026 (FIJI SUN) — Republic of Fiji Military Forces Commander Major General Ro Jone Kalouniwai has challenged the military’s most senior officers to speak openly about weaknesses within the Force.
He warned that poor communication among leaders has caused more military failures than shortages of personnel or equipment.
Opening the RFMF Veiliutaki Framework Lead Organisation Group Workshop on Tuesday, Major General Kalouniwai told senior leaders they must have frank discussions on issues affecting the military before they escalate.
Welcoming members of the Lead Organisation Group, he said the group’s decisions would shape every unit across the Force and influence public confidence in the RFMF.
He said effective communication remained one of the foundations of a successful military.
“No army has ever failed for want of equipment or numbers half as often as it has failed for want of communication among its leaders,” Major General Kalouniwai said.
He urged senior officers to openly discuss operational readiness, logistics, training, discipline and troop morale, saying problems should be addressed before they become bigger challenges.
Major General Kalouniwai also assured officers they would not face retribution for raising genuine concerns in good faith.
He said the RFMF was operating in a changing national environment marked by constitutional debate, fiscal constraints and increased public scrutiny.
The commander said the Force must respond by becoming “the professional and modern force that the nation deserves.”
“If we model integrity, forthrightness, and the courage to be corrected, we will build a Force capable of adapting to whatever this decade in Fiji’s history asks of it,” he said.
He concluded by urging the Lead Organisation Group to embrace honest dialogue, respectful disagreement and collective responsibility as it shapes the future direction of the military.
The workshop, facilitated by the New Zealand Defence Force’s Institute for Leader Development and the RFMF Veiliutaki Framework team, brings together the Force’s senior leadership to review strategic priorities, strengthen institutional coordination and ensure the RFMF remains prepared to carry out its constitutional responsibilities…. PACNEWS
NZ – EMPLOYMENT LEAVE BILL: PMN PACNEWS 2: Thu 23 Jul 2026
Employment Leave Bill moves ahead as Pacific expert warns workers could be left behind
WELLINGTON, 23 JULY 2026 (PMN) — A Pacific human rights advocate warns the Government’s Employment Leave Bill could do more harm than good for Pacific workers, leaving the most with fewer protections.
The proposed legislation to replace the Holidays Act 2003 passed its second reading in Parliament on Tuesday.
Under the proposed changes, leave would be earned in hours based on an employee’s contracted hours, while additional or casual hours would instead receive a 12.5 percent leave compensation payment.
Speaking on Pacific Mornings, Saunoamaali’i Dr Karanina Sumeo, former Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner at the New Zealand Human Rights Commission, says the proposed changes could create more challenges for Pacific workers, particularly those in casual, part-time and insecure jobs.
She says many Pasifika families already face financial pressures and changing how leave is calculated could make it harder for workers to access important entitlements when they need them.
“I can understand wanting to support businesses, these are tough times. Businesses may be less inclined to offer full-time jobs because of the uncertainty,” Saunoamali’i says.
“But fundamentally, work has to be fair, and it has to be decent. So, we have to balance those two things, especially thinking about our Pacific people,” she says.
“We have the highest unemployment rate, highest underutilisation rate. This will just make things really difficult for our people.”
Under the current system, casual workers who meet eligibility requirements can receive 10 days of sick leave after six months of employment.
Saunoamaali’i says the proposed changes could remove that clearer pathway and make entitlements harder for some workers to understand.
During the second reading debate, Green Party MP Teanau Tuiono also raised concerns about the impact on workers in insecure employment.
Tuiono says many Pacific workers, alongside Māori, women, young people and migrant workers, are more likely to be in part-time or variable-hour jobs. x
“This bill will leave many workers worse off, particularly those on lower incomes, and will disproportionately affect workers who are employed part-time, have variable hours, work multiple jobs, or face insecure employment conditions,” Tuiono says.
Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety, Brooke van Velden has defended the bill, saying it will create a clearer and simpler system for both employers and employees.
In a statement to PMN News, she says workers will earn annual and sick leave from their first day of employment while casual workers will receive a 12.5 per cent payment for additional hours worked.
“All parties will benefit from legislation that is simpler and more straightforward to comply with – employers will have confidence in their payments and employees of all ethnicities can be assured they are paid correctly,” Velden said.
The minister says the changes will reduce compliance costs for businesses and encourage more employers to offer part-time work.
Saunoamaali’i says Pacific communities should continue paying attention to how workplace policies affect families and workers, especially as Aotearoa heads towards the 2026 general election.
The election will be held on Saturday, 7 November, with advance voting opening on Monday, 26 October. For more information, visit the Electoral Commission’s website.
The Employment Leave Bill will now continue through the parliamentary process, with a two-year implementation period planned if it becomes law…. PACNEWS
FIJI – DRUGS FIGHT: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 2: Thu 23 Jul 2026
Children as young as seven exploited in drug trade in Fiji
SUVA, 23 JULY 2026 (FIJI SUN) — Children as young as seven are being exploited by drug traffickers and exposed to hard drugs, with the Salvation Army warning that Fiji’s drug crisis is reaching some of the country’s most vulnerable children.
Salvation Army Fiji Division Commander Major Phillipa Serevi said the organisation had encountered street children who were already using drugs, with some being recruited to sell or transport drugs.
She said one boy, who first came to their attention at the age of seven, had already been exposed to drugs and is now about nine or 10 years old.
“If a seven-year-old can access drugs and become hooked, then how many more children are out there that we do not know about?” she said.
Major Serevi said many children living on the streets lacked family support, making them easy targets for drug traffickers.
“They are being used by drug lords to sell drugs, carry drugs or for other purposes. It is everywhere,” she said.
She said Salvation Army workers initially believed many street children were only sniffing glue after finding soft drink bottles in their bags. However, they became alarmed when they later discovered needles.
“When we questioned them, they innocently explained how they prepared the drug known as batu, how they injected it and how they shared needles with others. That was a shock to us.”
The warning comes as the Salvation Army prepares to open Fiji’s first residential Drug and Alcohol Recovery Programme in September.
Major Serevi said an experienced addiction specialist from Australia had been seconded to Fiji for six months to train local staff and lead the programme.
She said the rehabilitation facility would undergo renovations before opening, while a New Zealand-based recovery model would be adapted to suit Fiji’s culture and needs.
Clients will undergo a 12 to 15-week residential programme combining classroom learning with counselling, family involvement, home visits, and workshops on anger management, violent behaviour and withdrawal.
Major Serevi said recovery would continue well beyond the residential programme.
“We cannot expect someone who has lived with addiction for years to attend classes for 15 weeks and be completely rehabilitated. Many will return to the same environment and may relapse, but we will continue to support them.”
She said experience in New Zealand, Tonga and Samoa showed that significantly more men than women sought treatment, a trend she expected would also be reflected in Fiji…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
TOKELAU – FISHERIES: PMN PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 23 Jul 2026
Tokelau fisheries row: NZ rejects claim of increased control
WELLINGTON, 23 JULY 2026 (PMN) — Tokelau’s future access to a major Pacific fisheries revenue scheme is at the centre of a growing dispute after leaked documents raised questions about fisheries oversight and New Zealand’s role.
Aotearoa has rejected suggestions it has taken greater control over Tokelau’s fishing arrangements, saying the territory remains responsible for managing its offshore fisheries.
Tokelau, one of New Zealand’s Realm countries alongside the Cook Islands and Niue, was removed from the PNA Vessel Day Scheme (VDS) earlier this year.
The scheme allows Pacific countries and territories to sell fishing days to international vessels operating in their waters.
While Tokelau manages many of its own affairs, Aotearoa remains responsible for areas including international relations and defence.
The loss of access has created financial uncertainty for Tokelau, which has relied on fisheries revenue as an important source of government income.
Questions over Tokelau’s fisheries arrangements emerged after leaked correspondence from Tokelau officials to the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) raised concerns about changes to fisheries oversight and the territory’s ability to continue operating under the Vessel Day Scheme.
The PNA is a regional fisheries group made up of Pacific countries that manage access to some of the world’s largest tuna fisheries.
PMN News followed up with the PNA seeking answers to questions around the decision, the role of governance concerns, and the pathway for Tokelau’s possible return to the scheme but had not received a further response by publication time.
In a letter dated 13 November 2025 to then-PNA Chair Ribanataake Tiwau, Tokelau’s then-Fisheries Minister Otinielu Tuumuli raised concerns that increased New Zealand oversight of fisheries management and operations within Tokelau’s exclusive economic zone had limited what Tokelau described as its ability to make independent decisions about its fisheries.
The letter stated that the changes meant Tokelau could “no longer operate as it used to” and raised concerns about the impact on its continued participation in the VDS.
Responding to questions from PMN News, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) rejected suggestions that New Zealand had taken greater control of Tokelau’s fisheries operations.
An MFAT spokesperson said there had been no material change to the management of Tokelau’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and offshore fisheries, and that Tokelau remained responsible for the day-to-day operation of its offshore fisheries.
“There has been no material change to the management of Tokelau’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and offshore fisheries.
“While New Zealand remains responsible for Tokelau’s EEZ under international law, Tokelau has consistently managed the day-to-day operation of its offshore fisheries within the EEZ. This has not changed.”
The ministry also rejected suggestions that New Zealand officials had sought access to the PNA Vessel Day Scheme or related fisheries management systems.
“New Zealand officials have never sought access to the PNA Vessel Day Scheme or related fisheries management systems.”
MFAT said Tokelau’s removal from the scheme was a matter between Tokelau and the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA), adding that New Zealand supports Tokelau’s efforts to regain access.
“Tokelau’s access to the Vessel Day Scheme is a matter between Tokelau and PNA. New Zealand would welcome Tokelau’s readmission into the VDS.”
The ministry said it was actively supporting Tokelau’s efforts to return to the scheme and stressed that New Zealand was not seeking access to Tokelau’s waters for New Zealand fishing companies or to PNA data and systems.
“Tokelau is seeking readmission to the PNA VDS as a priority. New Zealand is actively supporting these efforts.”
Dr Transform Aqorau, Pacific fisheries expert and founding chief executive of the PNA Office, has previously said Tokelau’s participation in the VDS depended on the territory maintaining enough operational autonomy over its fisheries.
“Tokelau’s participation in the PNA arrangements had been premised on its ability to exercise a sufficient degree of operational autonomy over the management of fisheries within its Exclusive Economic Zone,” the vice-chancellor of the Solomon Islands National University said.
Aqorau said that autonomy had allowed Tokelau to participate directly in the VDS while supporting its efforts for greater economic independence.
PMN News sought fresh comment from Aqorau but had not received a reply by publication time.
Tokelau’s government has not responded to PMN News’ questions about the issue.
The VDS has long been seen as one of the Pacific’s most successful examples of countries working together to increase the value of their tuna resources and strengthen local economies.
As Tokelau seeks to regain access to the scheme, questions remain over what led to its removal and what it could mean for the territory’s fisheries income and long-term economic future…. PACNEWS
COOKS – ENERGY RELIEF: COOK ISLANDS NEWS PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 23 Jul 2026
Cook Islands government extends energy relief package for three months
RAROTONGA, 23 JULY 2026 (COOK ISLANDS NEWS) — The relief package to counter rising fuel costs and global energy pressures has been extended for three months following the re-escalation of conflict in the Middle East.
This was confirmed by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management (MFEM) following queries from Cook Islands News.
Households on welfare benefits received temporary financial support and free bus transport under a government relief package which was initially approved in April this year.
“The government has approved a three-month extension of the Public Transport Assistance Programme and the Temporary Household Support Payment,” MFEM told the newspaper last week.
“The recent re-escalation of conflict in the Middle East has renewed uncertainty and volatility in international energy markets. The continuation of these temporary programmes will provide timely support to households and maintain access to public transport over the next three months.”
MFEM said implementation arrangements for both programmes are currently being finalised. Further information, including eligibility and commencement details, will be provided once these arrangements are confirmed.
“Both programmes will be funded through the existing Energy Response Support Fund.”
In the 2026/27 Budget, the government introduced the Energy Response Support Fund – a $7.5 million (US$4.36 million) initiative to protect families and communities from the impacts of global fuel price pressures.
MFEM also clarified that the Temporary Household Support Payment is a continuation of the previous initiative “intended as a short-term cost-of-living relief for eligible households most exposed to ‘higher’ transport and utility costs”.
In an earlier report, the government stated the package will include $20 (US$11.63) per month for three months for eligible recipients, including old age pensioners, destitute and infirm persons, and those receiving the carer’s allowance or child benefit.
The Public Transport Assistance Programme, a three-month free public transport initiative, was introduced in partnership with Cooks’ Island Bus Passenger Transport Ltd.
Under the initiative, eligible residents, workers and students can access up to four government-subsidised free bus rides daily using a valid bus card.
Students must apply online, while residents and workers can purchase cards directly from the driver for $15(US$8.72).
Existing cardholders require no action – the subsidy applies automatically. Once the daily limit is reached, discounted fares of $2.50 (US$1.45) for residents (adults) and $2 (US$1.16) for students apply.
Visitors are also entitled to discounted price on the 10 ride concession tickets – $25 (US$14.53) for adults and $15 (US$8.72) for children and can be purchased on the bus from the driver.
Danny Cook, general manager at Cooks’ Island Bus Passenger Transport Ltd, said they had previously advised passengers the initiative would end last week based on information available at the time.
However, they have since been informed that Cabinet approved a three-month extension, and they are now working with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management to finalise the details.
“Overall, the initiative has been a great success and the results speak for themselves,” Cook told the newspaper.
“We’ve seen a strong increase in passenger numbers across the board, especially among school students, workers, and families. Many residents who had never used the bus before are now regular users, which shows just how valuable and accessible the service has become.”
Cook said the initiative has helped reduce transport costs for households, eased congestion around schools and peak times, and provided a reliable option for getting around the island.
“This is exactly why we believe it’s something the community should continue to get behind and support. The more people who use the service, the stronger and more sustainable it becomes for everyone,” he said.
“Whether you’re a long-time resident or new to the island, we encourage you to give the bus a try. It’s convenient, cost-effective, and a great way to support a service that benefits the whole community.”
Cook said they are very pleased to see the extension approved, adding it “gives families certainty and allows us to keep building on the positive momentum we’ve created”.
“We also support the move towards a more targeted approach to ensure the funding reaches those who need it most, while maintaining a reliable and sustainable public transport system for the future,” he said…. PACNEWS
FIJI – SECURITY/TOURISM: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 23 Jul 2026
Security key to tourism growth, says Fiji Police Commissioner
NADI, 23 JULY 2026 (FIJI TIMES) — Fiji Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu says maintaining a safe and secure environment is critical to sustaining Fiji’s tourism industry and attracting investment, as a new police post was officially opened at Port Denarau Marina.
The new Port Denarau Marina Police Post was commissioned Wednesday, through a partnership between the Fiji Police Force, Port Denarau Marina Pte Limited and Flame Tree Ltd. The facility was made possible after Flame Tree Ltd purchased and refurbished a container, while Port Denarau Marina provided the land.
Speaking at the opening, Commissioner Tudravu said the collaboration reflected the growing commitment of the private sector to supporting law enforcement.
He said the police-private partnership supports his strategic vision of “Stability and Growth”, noting that security underpins confidence in Fiji’s economy.
“The private sectors’ support towards law enforcement is sure to create stability leading to growth. Stability in security leads to investor confidence, growth in tourism sector, healthy visitor arrivals and more employment opportunities.”
The Commissioner said Denarau remains one of Fiji’s busiest tourism hubs, serving as a gateway to many of the country’s island destinations, making a strong police presence essential.
He also pointed to Fiji’s tourism performance, saying visitor numbers demonstrated continued confidence in the country’s safety.
“Contrary to things being said about the safety and security of our nation, Fiji’s visitor arrivals say otherwise as the month of June 2026, holidaymakers dominated visitor arrivals, accounting for 81 percent of all visitors.”
“Security is an important criterion in choosing a holiday destination, and it takes collaboration such as this to create that conducive environment for visitors to come and enjoy our Fijian hospitality.”
Port Denarau Marina General Manager Cynthia Rasch echoed the importance of security to the tourism industry, saying it supports visitor confidence and business growth.
The event also marked the opening of a new jetty at the marina, increasing berth capacity for vessels.
Rasch said the expansion would create greater demand across the tourism sector and generate more employment opportunities.
The Fiji Police Force thanked the business community for its continued support in strengthening law enforcement capabilities and enhancing public safety…. PACNEWS
GUAM – TOURISM INDUSTRY: PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 23 Jul 2026
Guam gubernatorial candidates outline competing plans to rebuild tourism
HAGATNA, 23 JULY 2206 (PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES) — Five gubernatorial teams presented competing plans to rebuild Guam tourism, but they converged on one central point: The island cannot market its way out of the industry’s prolonged weakness without first improving the destination visitors encounter.
During a tourism forum attended by nearly 500 people, the teams addressed four areas: governance, airline capacity and visitor demand, workforce and infrastructure, and market diversification.
Their proposals ranged from new tourism councils and Cabinet-level leadership to airline incentives, village investment, sports facilities, apprenticeships and expanded visitor markets.
The forum, hosted July 20 by the Guam Travel and Tourism Association at Rihga Royal Laguna Guam, placed the condition of Guam’s tourism product at the centre of the 2026 gubernatorial campaign. Candidates repeatedly cited aging infrastructure, limited air service, labor shortages and declining market share in Japan and South Korea as interconnected problems requiring coordinated government and private-sector action.
Vice Speaker Tony Ada and running mate E.J. Calvo offered the most specific arrival targets.
Their “Tourism First” plan would create a chief of tourism and economic development reporting directly to the governor and coordinating agencies involved in roads, parks, taxation, economic development and aviation.
Calvo said the administration would seek to restore 1 million annual arrivals as an immediate priority, return to at least 1.5 million within four to five years and pursue 2 million arrivals over eight to 10 years. The team also proposed a comprehensive recovery plan with timelines, milestones and public reporting.
“Marketing alone isn’t enough. We have to improve the product we’re selling,” Calvo said.
The Republican Ada-Calvo team proposed cleaner parks and beaches, improved roads and sidewalks, upgraded historic sites, new sports facilities, family attractions, a revitalised Hagåtña and a Guam Cultural Centre. It also called for hotel and attraction incentives tied to local hiring, training, beautification and visitor spending.
The rival Republican team, Speaker Frank Blas Jr and Mary Okada, emphasised a whole-community approach built around communication and measurable agency plans.
Okada said every agency touching tourism should operate under a strategic plan with goals and key performance indicators.
Blas said government, businesses and residents must jointly shape the visitor experience rather than treat tourism as the responsibility of one agency. He also argued that improvements made for residents would strengthen Guam’s appeal to visitors.
“Let’s create that Guam experience together because, you know, the Guam experience is just as important for visitors, but more important for our families. It starts there,” Blas said.
Okada highlighted village partnerships, nonprofit management of community facilities, apprenticeships and Guam Community College programmes.
She said businesses could use apprenticeship tax benefits while the government works to simplify burdensome application processes. She also suggested identifying excess revenues for a public-private investment fund guided by a tourism strategy.
Lieutenant Governor Josh Tenorio and Senator Tina Muña Barnes focused on flexibility, federal partnerships and established tourism programmes.
Tenorio said Guam must adapt to travel patterns that differ sharply from those of 10 or 20 years ago, including fewer Japanese passport holders and growing wealth in parts of Southeast Asia.
The team supported efforts to add the Philippines to the Guam-CNMI visa waiver programme, improve electronic travel authorization processing and use airport leases of up to 50 years to strengthen airline partnerships and attract new service.
Muña Barnes called for development of cruise tourism, film, sports tourism and village attractions. She also pointed to apprenticeship expansion and legislation for a tourism charter school.
Tenorio proposed either a hospitality magnet school or charter school in Tumon to establish a direct employment pipeline. He also linked tourism recovery to broader investments in utilities, health care and public safety, including underground transmission lines and a new hospital.
Senators Joe San Agustin and Dwayne San Nicolas proposed a “Unified Tourism Command” to coordinate agencies and private-sector partners.
San Agustin said the structure would bring government entities together regularly and move the private sector from consultation into policy design.
Their team supported airline incentives tied to high-potential routes, modernisation of the qualifying certificate programme and targeted development of medical tourism, meetings, conferences and exhibitions.
San Nicolas also argued that Guam should better connect military families with the local visitor economy while traditional Asian markets recover.
San Nicolas said military personnel and their visiting relatives could help sustain flights, businesses and attractions. He also called for long-term planning that looks beyond one election cycle.
Senators Therese Terlaje and Sabina Perez centred their plan on data, environmental protection and measurable public accountability.
Terlaje proposed a governor’s tourism and stewardship council that would set goals, publish results online and direct agencies to address safety, cleanliness and transportation.
“This has to be led, and it’s going to be led by a governor’s tourism and stewardship council,” Terlaje said. “And it’s not an advisory council. It’s a council to measure progress, report on the progress and set the goals.”
The team proposed establishing foundational infrastructure priorities within the first 100 days and moving agencies toward those goals within 180 days. Terlaje also listed wastewater, stormwater, solid waste, erosion control, beach protection and the aquifer as tourism infrastructure.
Perez called for a permanent route-development team involving the Guam Visitors Bureau, airport, governor’s office and private businesses. She said airline incentives should support new or meaningfully expanded service with a realistic path toward commercial sustainability.
On market development, the teams generally agreed Guam should protect Japan and South Korea while expanding elsewhere. The Philippines, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand surfaced repeatedly. Candidates also discussed targeting U.S citizens living in Asia and promoting Guam’s status as a U.S destination.
Tenorio said Guam should pursue higher-spending travelers within existing markets. Ada and Calvo argued that Guam’s declining share of Japanese and Korean outbound travel showed the island had stopped competing effectively, not that those travelers had disappeared.
“Our problem isn’t that Japan and Korea stopped traveling,” Ada said. “The problem is that Guam stopped winning as a destination.”
Beyond geography, the forum highlighted diversification by purpose. Proposals included sports tournaments, education, culture, wellness, weddings, reunions, ecotourism, agrotourism, medical travel and meetings and conventions.
Perez said businesses must be easier to find and book online and proposed “tourism with a purpose,” including village festivals, outdoor heritage exhibits and experiences that encourage longer stays and local spending.
Calvo proposed a national baseball stadium, rugby pitch, public pools, beach volleyball and pickleball courts, a skate park and the return of motorsports. He said modern facilities would serve residents while creating opportunities for competitions and training groups.
Funding beyond the Tourist Attraction Fund also drew broad support, though teams proposed different safeguards. San Agustin favored performance-based matching tied to verified arrival growth. Perez listed cooperative airline and tour marketing, private matching contributions, federal grants, sponsorships and visitor-generated revenue dedicated to defined improvements.
Blas and Okada said existing agency spending could be aligned with tourism priorities, with excess revenue potentially supporting public-private projects…. PACNEWS
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Building climate resilience in the sports sector across the Commonwealth
Blog by Dr Laila Shahzad and Mxolisi Sibanda, Climate Change Section at the Commonwealth Secretariat
GLASGOW, 23 JULY 2026 (COMSEC) — Across the 56 nations of Commonwealth, sport promotes health, strengthens communities, inspires young people and contributes to social cohesion. But climate change is increasingly reshaping where, when and how people participate in it.
From rising temperatures and heatwaves to floods, storms and droughts, climate impacts are affecting athletes, sporting facilities, spectators and local communities. Extreme weather damages recreational infrastructure and disrupts sporting events, while prolonged heat and water scarcity challenge safe participation in outdoor activities.
When climate meets health
Consequently, climate change is becoming a key public health issue. In sport, it has gained particular attention due to rising heat risks. Recent examples of this, include the FIFA World Cup where hydration breaks have been put in place. Similarly in elite tennis, the three Grand Slams – Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open – have seen measures such as cooling breaks, shaded areas and heat monitoring protocols. This is important for both the elite athletes and spectators.
While efforts at the elite level highlight some progress albeit slow, the wider sporting fraternity needs to consider how climate resilience can be mainstreamed for all sports from the grass roots. This consideration is even more glaringly needed in places where climate impacts are most felt such as Small Island developing States (SIDS) and other vulnerable countries. This is also where the worst indicators of the social factors of health such as malnutrition and poverty also occur and sport plays an important aspect to promoting health.
Building climate-resilient sport
It is therefore important that sports federations and governments take actions to build climate resilience into sport. As a forerunner to the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, ministers, sports leaders and development partners will gather at the 12th Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting to consider such. We offer here three ideas that must be included to achieve this.
Prioritising inclusive adaptive actions
The Commonwealth Games, and recent elite events offer some interesting examples in this regard. During Wimbledon wheel-chair players were offered 15 minutes cooling breaks compared to able bodied players. In Glasgow, for the first time, para-athletes and non-para-athletes will compete simultaneously and hopefully considerations will be made to make the environment suitable for all.
These actions underline the importance of considering social factors, age, access and other vulnerabilities in sports events. The true measure of progress is not whether resilience is built, but whether it is built for everyone.
Adopting holistic thinking
Sports involve land, infrastructure, water use, food consumption, travel, cooling and income-generating activities, all of which contribute to carbon emissions. Therefore, mainstreaming climate resilience must also address emission sources. This includes promoting nature-based solutions (NbS), such as planting trees for shade around sports facilities and conserving nearby wetlands to help protect infrastructure from climate risks like flooding.
Such holistic thinking should make use of traditional knowledge systems from indigenous people and local communities who have managed to adapt over centuries. At the Commonwealth, this approach is being promoted through the Commonwealth Living Lands Charter which promotes integrated solutions for climate change, biodiversity loss and land degradation.
Investing more now for the future
It is evident that the impacts of climate change will increase into the future. According to the IPCC, it is likely that the world will breach the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5ºC by 2030. This means that sports authorities around the world and more-so in the most climate impacted countries must urgently invest in climate resilience.
This must be reflected through greater budgetary allocations among national government, sports ministries, sports associations, bilateral and multilateral funding arrangements. Innovations such as lower insurance premiums for well adapted infrastructure should incentivise such actions. Funders such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF) must also increase investment in climate resilience in sports.
At the Commonwealth, we are supporting investment for climate resilient infrastructure through the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub (CCFAH). Established a decade ago, CCFAH has supported member countries to access close to USD600 million from multilateral and other funding sources for mitigating and adapting to climate change.
As the city of Glasgow comes abuzz with another feast of sporting talent amidst soaring temperatures in the UK, it gives us an opportunity to rethink how we make sports climate resilient. This must be done in an inclusive and holistic manner – leaving no one behind and making sure we invest the much-needed resources.
We cannot afford to lose this race – may we all win!. PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
New report finds global security hinges on Climate Action, Health Investment and Peacebuilding
BERKLEY, 23 JULY 202 (GLOBAL CLIMATE AND HEALTH ALLIANCE) — Following July’s NATO summit, and with hostilities resuming in the U.S-Iran war after a 60-day ceasefire, a new report from the Global Climate and Health Alliance highlights the deep interlinkages between climate change and armed conflict, and how the intersection of these issues become mutually reinforcing drivers of harm to human health.
The report, Climate Change, Armed Conflict, and Global Public Health: A Reinforcing Cycle of Harm presents current evidence on the relationship between climate change and armed conflict, and its implications for global public health. The report finds that each such crisis does not occur in isolation but rather they converge in a polycrisis, a condition in which multiple global crises such as climate change, armed conflict, economic instability, under-resourced health systems, and an evolving digital landscape interact and amplify one another, generating a significant threat to global public health.
“This report shows that from wildfires to wars, trying to address each of the elements of the polycrisis in isolation will impact the health of everyone, with the world’s most vulnerable people worst affected”, said Dr Courtney Howard, Board Chair of the Global Climate and Health Alliance, a consortium of more than 200 health professional and health civil society organisations and networks from around the world addressing climate change.
“Increasing instability in Earth’s climate, oceans and biodiversity will continue to act as a threat multiplier, threatening human security worldwide”, continued Howard. “To pull out of this worsening climate-conflict spiral, humanity must shift from reacting to individual crises to systematically investing in strengthening the ecological, social, and institutional foundations of wellbeing. This can create reinforcing feedback that improves health, resilience, and peace together, as envisioned in the Paris Agreement and the Pact for the Future.”
“The report shows us that governments and international financial actors must respond to climate change with increased investment in climate adaptation, the building of resilient health systems – including renewable-powered healthcare facilities – and by ensuring capabilities for strong humanitarian responses”, said Dr Howard.
“The Global Climate and Health Alliance is calling on governments to recognise that redirecting investments away from climate change and health and into the military will not in itself deliver security – it is essential they make greater sustainable investment in climate-resilient communities and health systems, universal access to clean energy, stronger multilateral cooperation, and adherence to international humanitarian law,” added Jeni Miller, Executive Director of the Global Climate and Health Alliance.
“By investing in climate mitigation and adaptation we can reduce the stressors that exacerbate conflict, build resilient health systems, communities and economies, and ensure that robust humanitarian responses are part and parcel of securing a peaceful future”.
Climate change is a threat multiplier that threatens people’s access to life essentials including food, water, livelihood, and energy. It causes migration and forced displacement, creating tensions that can exacerbate armed conflict. Armed conflict in turn drives people from their homes and disrupts or destroys life necessities, while doing major environmental harm – a devastating cycle that has severe implications for global public health.
The report highlights that the intersecting and compounding interplay between climate change and armed conflict have devastating effects in conflict zones themselves, while often also having repercussions across neighboring countries, whole regions, or even internationally. These range from the effects of conflict- and climate change-driven migration, to impacts on the availability of resources as acutely demonstrated by the current U.S-Iran war and its global effects on fuel prices, food prices, and more. For populations already in vulnerable circumstances, those vulnerabilities are severely worsened, with refugees and asylum seekers, women and girls, children, older adults, remote and rural communities, and Indigenous communities bearing a disproportionate burden of this convergence.
“Healthcare professionals provide on-the-ground care in conflict and humanitarian settings, where their safety should be sacrosanct”, said Dr Omnia El Omrani, Global Climate and Health Alliance Vice Chair and former UNFCCC Youth Envoy.
“They are also well positioned to speak to the health impacts of climate change, violence and human rights violations, through education, evidence-based advocacy, and engaging with decisionmakers and policy processes. Doctors know firsthand the strain that climate change puts on communities, how climate change compounds other threats, and the myriad direct and indirect ways that armed conflict devastates communities’ health and safety.”
“Every government must ensure the protection of healthcare personnel, and health and critical infrastructure in every conflict setting, and it is unacceptable that these protections are increasingly being violated’, added Howard. “In addition, governments must provide greater accountability for greenhouse gas emissions from military activities, so that we know the extent to which military action is putting both our present and our future at risk”.
“World leaders and policymakers should heed the warnings in this report – only an integrated approach that continues to advance climate action, invests in people’s health and well being, and pursues peacebuilding over aggression will deliver true security”, concluded Miller…. PACNEWS
Contact: Dave Walsh, Communications Advisor, Global Climate and Health Alliance, press@climateandhealthalliance.org, +34 691 826 764 (Available from 0630 CET)
