In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — Israel’s UN votes against Pacific decolonisation – then claims welcome into Pacific family
2. PACIFIC — Pacific support for Israel runs deep, says expert, as Forum move divides Wellington
3. PACIFIC — Pacific conservation finance needs patient capital, not another pilot
4. W|PAPUA — West Papuan groups urge Indonesia to allow UN human rights access
5. PACIFIC — High blood pressure a silent killer, Solomon Islands calls for stronger action
6. FIJI — Fiji deputy PM Kamikamica defends Constitution changes
7. FIJI — FNU graduate Lusiana Tuimaisala takes her Journalism experience into Communications
8. PACNEWS BIZ — Nadi set to become Fiji’s newest city in December
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji Government approves $20m guarantee for PAFCO
10. PACNEWS BIZ — Nacanieli Waqa appointed new Biosecurity Authority CEO
11. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — Journalist safety in the Pacific: A Solomon Islands perspective
12. PACNEWS DIGEST — Australia must stand in partnership with the Pacific – not above it
13. PACNEWS DIGEST — Samoa assesses readiness to participate in global carbon markets
PAC – DIPLOMACY: PACNEWS PACNEWS 2: Fri 23 Oct 2026
Israel voted against Pacific decolonisation — then claims welcome into Pacific family
NEW YORK/SUVA, 23 OCTOBER 2026 (PACNEWS)— Israel voted against all United Nations resolutions concerning decolonisation of six Pacific territories, yet its foreign minister says Pacific leaders have welcomed the country into the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) family as a Dialogue Partner.
The contrast raises questions about the Pacific’s commitment to self-determination and the criteria governing admission to the regional organisation.
At the UN General Assembly’s Fourth Committee on 15 October, Israel and the United States were the only countries to oppose all resolutions considered on decolonisation, including measures covering reporting obligations for administering powers, dissemination of decolonisation information, economic activities affecting territorial peoples, education and training opportunities, and implementation of the UN Declaration on decolonisation.
The United States explicitly called for the abolition of the UN Special Committee on Decolonisation’s mandate, while Israel did not address the committee.
Five days later, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said on social media that PIF Secretary-General Baron Waqa had informed him that Pacific leaders accepted Israel as a Forum Partner during the 55th PIF Leaders Meeting in Palau.
The claim places Israel’s reported acceptance against the background of its voting record on an issue central to Pacific regional policy.
Decolonisation has been a founding principle of the PIF since its establishment in 1971, with Pacific leaders repeatedly affirming the right of peoples in non-self-governing territories to determine their political future.
However, the 55th PIF Leaders Meeting communique did not name Israel or any other country as having been admitted as a partner.
The PIF Secretariat has also made no subsequent public statement confirming Israel’s status.
The communique said leaders had agreed that the Secretary-General would communicate decisions on the review of the regional architecture and partner status to partners in line with an endorsed communication approach.
The Forum’s last public update specifically concerning Israel was a meeting with ambassadors and Israel’s international development cooperation agency, Mashav, on 18 October. It made no reference to Israel’s partner status.
Under the PIF’s published criteria, Dialogue Partners must demonstrate a commitment to advancing Pacific leaders’ vision and priorities, maintain a long-term commitment to the region, and share common interests and positions on international issues.
They are also expected to be transparent about their economic, political and strategic interests in the Pacific and use their international networks to support Forum priorities.
Six of the 17 territories on the UN list of Non-Self-Governing Territories are in the Pacific: American Samoa, French Polynesia (Mā’ohi Nui), Guam, New Caledonia (Kanaky), Pitcairn and Tokelau.
At their 1981 meeting, Forum leaders reaffirmed their support for self-determination and independence for non-self-governing Pacific territories, including the French territories.
In 1991, leaders again affirmed the importance of the universal right of peoples to self-determination in accordance with the UN Charter and the principles and practices of the United Nations.
The UN addresses the six Pacific territories under its decolonisation framework. The Occupied Palestinian Territory, comprising the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, is addressed under the framework of belligerent occupation and international humanitarian law rather than through the UN Special Committee on Decolonisation.
While Sa’ar’s statement presents Israel’s reported acceptance as a sign of closer engagement with Pacific leaders, the absence of public confirmation from the PIF Secretariat leaves the country’s formal partner status unclear.
The question remains whether Israel’s reported welcome into the Pacific family is consistent with the region’s long-standing commitment to decolonisation and self-determination…. PACNEWS
PAC – DIPLOMACY: PMN PACNEWS 2: Fri 23 Oct 2026
Pacific support for Israel runs deep, says expert, as Forum move divides Wellington
AUCKLAND, 23 OCTOBER 2026 (PMN)—Pacific support for Israel is strong “whether you like that or not”, a former senior Pacific regional official says, as Israel’s new partner status splits New Zealand’s political parties two weeks out from the election.
As Pacific leaders agreed at last month’s Forum meeting in Palau to accept Israel as a partner. Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs made the decision public on 20 October.
Sione Tekiteki, a Senior Lecturer in Law at Auckland University of Technology and former senior regional official, told William Tureti on Pacific Mornings the move would be viewed differently depending on where people stood.
Israel says the partnership will focus on water management, desalination, agriculture, climate change adaptation, innovation and sustainable development. Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Naoero have opened embassies in Jerusalem.
The decision however, has divided political parties in Wellington.
Labour’s foreign affairs spokesperson Vanushi Walters says a Labour government would have opposed Israel’s inclusion. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon attended the Palau meeting where the decision was made.
“Christopher Luxon has said that he would arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he came to New Zealand,” Walters told RNZ.
Asked whether it risked undermining the Forum’s credibility, given sanctions on Israeli ministers and an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Tekiteki says it is possible.
“I think there’s probably different perspectives on that. One side is to say that it definitely sheds some light on the Forum in a negative sense,” he says.
“But I would say generally from a Pacific perspective, there’s strong support for Israel, whether you like that or not. That’s a general public sentiment.”
Luxon said that Israel had a “deep-standing relationship” with many Pacific nations and the decision was one for the Forum. He says Israel’s engagement would be at “an officials level, rather than a leader level”.
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick told media the move was “concerning at first glance” with ACT leader David Seymour extending “a warm Pacific welcome” to Israel.
“Another democratic country in the Pacific Islands Forum is a good thing, possibly a bit geographically challenged. But then we’ve had Britain try and join the Trans-Pacific Partnership, so it seems geography is no barrier these days,” Seymour says.
Tekiteki further explains, that Israel joins under the Forum’s new partnership system, which splits partners into two tiers.
“There’s the strategic partners, which is the partners that have direct access to dialoguing with leaders,” he says.
“And then there are the sectoral partners, which is everyone else’s classification, which Israel fits into. In that context, they are recognised as a partner, but that tends to be where you put all partners who are interested in partnering with the Forum, unless they demonstrate a strategic relationship with the Pacific.”
He highlights that the Forum formally has 21 development partners, possibly more since the Palau meeting, and about 10 or 11 of those are strategic partners.
“Those are your big players in the region, for example the U.S, China, Japan, Korea and others.”
Asked why Israel is making a bigger push into the Pacific now, Tekiteki says the move “probably makes sense” diplomatically, given Israel’s global profile.
“Israel has always had a strong relationship with the Pacific, and it’s strengthening its bilateral relations. But through the PIF, it’s also strengthening its multilateral, or should I say, its governmental relationship in the region,” he says.
He says the main gain for Israel is a formal relationship at Forum level.
Asked whether the ICC arrest warrant for Netanyahu complicates the relationship, Tekiteki says “practically speaking, probably not”. He says many Pacific countries are not members of the court.
Seven of the Forum’s 18 members, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Palau, Tuvalu, Solomon Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia and Niue, have not joined the ICC. Naoero announced its withdrawal from the court at the United Nations General Assembly in September.
With New Zealand to host the Forum leaders’ meeting next year, Tekiteki says Israel’s status would only become a diplomatic headache for Wellington “if those who have been issued an arrest warrant actually come to New Zealand, practically speaking. But I don’t think that would happen.”………PACNEWS
PAC – CONSERVATION FINANCE: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS 2: Fri 23 Oct 2026
Pacific conservation finance needs patient capital, not another pilot
NADI, 23 OCTOBER 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS)—PACIFIC conservation leaders called for long-term funding to flow through trusted local institutions and be shaped around communities, saying short-term projects and complex financing requirements risk leaving the people responsible for protecting land and ocean without the support to act.
“The Pacific does not need another pilot,” Filimone Waqabaca, chief executive of the Fiji Development Bank, said during the PreCop31 side event in Nadi, describing a conservation-finance partnership that he said began with consultation before lending was considered.
He said Conservation International consulted 72 villages and chiefs in Fiji’s Lau Province across 13 districts as partners to build a locally owned financing system.
The model puts communities and customary leaders in charge, with Conservation International providing community engagement, conservation science, and enterprise support, and the bank handling local origination, credit assessment, and finance, Waqabaca said.
He said about 90 per cent of small businesses in Lau were informal, so preparing loan proposals included financial literacy in local languages and business registration.
“We design finance around community systems rather than asking communities to fit around our finance,” he said.
Waqabaca said the Fiji Development Bank had established a maritime ocean stewardship facility for maritime communities across Fiji and a blended-finance platform that other Pacific development banks could replicate.
The funding model must pay for readiness before lending and support institutions that can prepare and finance projects over time, he said.
“What they need is some patient catalytic capital delivered through institutions that they already trust,” he said, arguing that community enterprises, climate resilience and conservation take time to mature.
Pacific strategy consultant Taholo Kami said ocean conservation finance should align different funding sources so support remains consistent.
He described a conservation-credit programme in Niue, rendered “New Way”, in which a proposed 40 per cent fully protected area was costed against impacts on fisheries and other stakeholders, with stakeholders deciding activities.
Kami said the programme had passed halfway to its funding target.
Acting British High Commissioner to Fiji Steph Lysaght urged funders to replace jargon with practical questions about where money goes and whether it reaches people addressing problems on the ground.
“We need to listen,” he said…..PACNEWS
W|PAPUA – HUMAN RIGHTS/WEST PAPUA: PACNEWS PACNEWS 2: Fri 23 Oct 2026
West Papuan groups urge Indonesia to allow UN human rights access
JAYAPURA, 23 OCTOBER 2026 (PACNEWS)— West Papuan civil society organisations and Indigenous groups are urging Indonesia to allow immediate access to United Nations human rights officials and Pacific regional delegations, warning that ongoing conflict and displacement have left more than 127,000 people in a humanitarian crisis.
In a joint statement, human rights organisations, churches, women’s groups, youth movements and families of victims called on Jakarta to facilitate visits by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), UN Special Rapporteurs, international monitors and independent media to West Papua.
The groups said Indonesia must also honour regional calls for access following decisions by the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Caucus in Palau on 31 August and the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting.
They welcomed support expressed by the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and the Marshall Islands at the 2026 United Nations General Assembly for addressing the human rights and humanitarian situation in West Papua.
The statement said Indonesia, as an associate member of the MSG and a dialogue partner of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), had a responsibility to respond constructively to regional decisions calling for access for UN human rights officials and participation by the MSG in a PIF envoy mission to West Papua.
The organisations estimated that more than 127,031 civilians had been internally displaced since the escalation of armed conflict in 2018, with continuing military operations forcing people from their homes and ancestral lands.
They said displaced communities faced inadequate access to healthcare, food, education and proper housing.
The groups also raised concerns about militarisation, restrictions on civic space and the impact of Indonesia’s National Strategic Projects and large-scale extractive investments on Indigenous land rights, local livelihoods and the environment.
They called on Indonesia to provide a formal response to the MSG and PIF decisions and guarantee visits by the UN human rights office and a joint PIF-MSG mission in 2026.
The statement urged the government to provide emergency assistance to displaced people, protect human rights defenders, journalists, customary leaders, religious figures and community organisations, and investigate alleged human rights violations through independent and transparent processes.
The groups also called for inclusive political dialogue involving Indigenous communities, political representatives, churches, women, youth and civil society to address the underlying causes of the conflict.
They rejected what they described as superficial or public relations-driven responses to the crisis, calling instead for an end to military operations and the withdrawal of non-organic troops from civilian areas.
They also called for the suspension of National Strategic Projects and major extractive developments that threaten customary land and Indigenous livelihoods, alongside justice and redress for victims.
The statement said West Papuan civil society networks, church leaders, customary organisations and victims’ groups were ready to assist visiting international delegations by providing evidence, testimonies and documentation.
“West Papua must no longer remain isolated from the world,” the statement said, calling on the United Nations, its member states, the MSG and the PIF to ensure international visits were not delayed further.
The organisations said Indonesia’s commitments as a member of the UN Human Rights Council for 2024–2026 should be demonstrated through concrete action on the ground.
The joint statement was issued in Jayapura and endorsed by human rights groups, women’s organisations, churches, environmental advocates and other civil society networks in West Papua…..PACNE
PAC – HEALTH: PMN PACNEWS 2: Fri 23 Oct 2026
High blood pressure a silent killer, Solomon Islands calls for stronger action
MANILA, 23 OCTOBER 2026 (PMN)—High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a silent killer, and the Solomon Islands is calling for stronger action to address the growing health issue.
Without early detection and proper treatment, high blood pressure can lead to heart disease, stroke and premature death.
Dr George Malefoasi, Solomon Islands National Referral Hospital Chief Executive Officer, made the call for more action during the 77th World Health Organisation Regional Committee meeting for the Western Pacific, held in Manila, Philippines.
He said their draft regional plan during the meeting provides an opportunity to move beyond small-scale community initiatives towards a more coordinated national response.
“Solomon Islands welcomes and supports the regional plan.
“We know that hypertension is a major public health concern and a significant contributor to heart disease, stroke, disability and premature death.”
Dr Malefoasi said tackling high blood pressure remains challenging in the Solomon Islands.
He said remote communities, limited resources and shortages in the health workforce continue to affect access to screening, treatment and long-term care.
“The Solomon Islands has implemented several measures involving communities, the Ministry, and the World Health Organisation to prevent and control non-communicable diseases.”
These include community health initiatives such as the 10,000 Toes Campaign.
The 10,000 toes programme involves checking people with their health statuses.
There’s also another program called Solomon Islands Package of Essential Noncommunicable Disease Interventions (SolPEN).
Dr Malefoasi said they conduct workplace screenings and promote healthy lifestyles through inter-ministry sporting events and physical activity programmes, as well.
He added that the Solomon Islands Prime Minister Mathew Wale has called on the Ministry to strengthen prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and recovery services.
“Our priority is to expand community-based prevention and screening activities and integrate them into mainstream health services.”
“Volunteers will be trained, supervised and equipped with the necessary tools.
“The draft plan provides an opportunity to move beyond small-scale community interventions towards a more coordinated national response.”
Meanwhile, former Solomon Islands Chief Surgeon and Regional Ambassador for the 10,000 Toes Campaign Dr Chester Kuma said changing diets across the Pacific have contributed significantly to the rise of diseases.
Speaking in an interview with Adventist Hope Radio, Dr Kuma said lifestyle-related diseases had become a major public health concern across the region.
“Since our diet has changed right across the Pacific, lifestyle diseases have become a major killer.”
However, he says Pacific people have an alternative through healthier eating habits, particularly eating more plant-based foods.
“I am talking about taro, sweet potatoes and green vegetables because these foods can protect us from many of the lifestyle diseases that we see in the South Pacific today.”
The Regional Committee is WHO’s annual governing body meeting for the Western Pacific Region. It brings together health ministers and senior officials from 30 countries and areas to review progress, set regional health priorities, and make decisions that guide WHO’s work in supporting countries to improve people’s health….PACNEWS
FIJI – CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 2: Fri 23 Oct 2026
Fiji deputy PM Kamikamica defends Constitution changes
SUVA, 23 OCTOBER 2026 (FIJI SUN)—Fiji deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica has defended the proposed constitutional amendments, describing them as balanced and inclusive and insisting they contain nothing racist.
Kamikamica said the amendments sought to address the concerns of different communities while bringing the people of Fiji together.
He said the proposed changes reflected public views expressed during the Constitution Review Commission (CRC) process, with the Government contributing to the document later tabled in Parliament.
“The 2013 Constitution was an imposed Constitution,” Kamikamica said, adding that after 12 years, people had differing views on what needed to change.
He said the amendments sought to address issues surrounding national identity, equal citizenry, the Bill of Rights and land, while restoring some mechanisms that had existed under the 1997 Constitution.
Kamikamica said the document attempted to balance different concerns and urged the public to read the proposed amendments before judging them.
He acknowledged concerns about references to Christianity but said the proposed changes did not compel anyone to practise the religion.
“The legislation clearly says religious liberty is protected,” he said, adding that the country needed to respect every community.
Kamikamica said the Bill of Rights reflected the need to respect all communities in Fiji.
He also acknowledged concerns about the number of representatives, saying he hoped the committee would be able to address those issues.
He maintained that the proposed amendments were intended to unite the people of Fiji and challenged critics to identify provisions they considered racist.
“As far as I’m concerned, we have really tried our best to balance all the concerns in this country,” he said.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Pio Tikoduadua says he is “covered in the immunity” when asked about calls to remove immunity clauses from the Constitution.
He said the draft Constitution Amendment Bill retained the provision in the 2013 Constitution and that the matter remained part of the “national conversation”.
The question followed calls during public consultations on the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2026.
“The draft is clear,” he said, adding that Fijians should “exhaust that process” and that some people were trying to “jump the gun”.
The Republic of Fiji Military Forces had told the Constitution Review Commission it wanted the immunity provisions removed and was prepared to give up its own legal protection.
Asked whether there was division within the coalition over the Bill, Tikoduadua rejected the suggestion.
“It is not a division, because Government is committed to producing the best constitution for Fiji and its people,” he said.
He said the three-party coalition was united and that differing views were healthy.
“If we differ, we differ, because that is healthy.”
On National Federation Party leader Professor Biman Prasad’s position on fast-tracking the process, Tikoduadua said it was “a matter of opinion”.
He said the matter remained a conversation until Parliament made a decision.
Speaking at the launch of the Maritime Security Strategy, Tikoduadua said Fiji was in “an important national conversation about the future of our constitutional order”.
“Our constitution protects the rights and freedoms of every Fijian,” he said….PACNEWS
FIJI – MEDIA: FNU PACNEWS 2: Fri 23 Oct 2026
FNU graduate Lusiana Tuimaisala takes her Journalism experience into Communications
SUVA, 23 OCTOBER 2026 (FNU)—Lusiana Tuimaisala reporting on the ground during Tropical Cyclone Winston as a journalist, capturing the stories and experiences of communities affected by the devastating cyclone.
After 11 years in journalism, Lusiana Tuimaisala decided it was time to strengthen her knowledge and prepare for new opportunities in her career. In April 2024, she graduated from the Fiji National University (FNU) with a Bachelor of Media and Communication while still working in the newsroom.
Originally from Narukunibua Village in the Province of Namosi, Lusiana is now a Communication Officer at the Social Empowerment and Education Program (SEEP). Her work involves sharing stories about development, communicating research and policy work, and helping bring community experiences to a wider audience.
“I chose FNU because I wanted to pursue a recognised qualification in media and communication that would strengthen my knowledge and support my professional development,” she said.
Studying while working and managing family responsibilities was not always easy. However, FNU’s flexible learning arrangements, including online classes, recorded lectures and resources on Moodle, helped her keep up with her studies without putting her career on hold.
She also appreciated the support she received from her lecturers.
“Their understanding, patience and willingness to support me, made a real difference in my learning journey,” Lusiana added.
Interestingly, journalism was not Lusiana’s first career choice. She had hoped to become a teacher but changed direction after coming across a vacancy at Fiji Sun News Limited.
“When I was younger, my dream was to become a teacher. I was still pursuing a teaching course at university, when I saw a vacancy at Fiji Sun and decided to give it a try,” she said.
That decision led to an 11-year career in journalism. She worked her way up from Cadet Reporter to Senior Journalist and took on several editorial roles, including Deputy Managing Editor – Publications, Deputy Managing Editor – Business and Editor of Siga Rarama, the newspaper’s vernacular publication. Her final role was at the Sub-Editing Desk.
Over the years, she gained experience in reporting, interviewing, research, writing, editing and publication planning. The work taught her the importance of checking facts, meeting editorial standards and making sure information is reported responsibly.
Her career also gave her opportunities to learn beyond Fiji. In 2018, she was selected for a year-long Asia-Pacific programme of studies coordinated by the China Asia Pacific Press Centre, becoming the first Pacific Islander, to receive the opportunity.
During her time in Beijing, she studied Chinese, attended classes at Renmin University, covered major events, including the Belt and Road trade and development initiative, and completed a work attachment at an English-language financial magazine. The experience gave her a chance to see how journalism was practised in a different setting and broadened her professional outlook.
When Lusiana later decided to pursue her degree at FNU, she already had years of practical experience behind her. Her studies gave her the opportunity to build on that experience, knowledge she now draws on in her communications role at SEEP.
Her responsibilities include, preparing media releases, coordinating media engagement, developing social media content and documenting the organisation’s programmes, research, policy work and community activities.
She is also involved in developing the draft SEEP Communications and Media Strategy 2027, which is currently under management review. The proposed strategy aims to strengthen media relationships, improve digital visibility and provide a more coordinated approach to sharing the organisation’s work.
Lusiana has also supported communications for World Rivers Day, helping raise awareness of the importance of rivers, forests and water to communities and the environment.
For Lusiana, good communication is about sharing information, understanding the people behind the stories and ensuring their experiences are represented accurately.
“Meaningful communication is clear, accurate, relevant and connected to people’s experiences.”
“For me, communication is most impactful when it goes beyond sharing information and helps build understanding between organisations and the communities they serve,” she reiterated.
These are lessons she carries with her from journalism, where listening, asking questions and getting the facts right were part of her everyday work.
Looking back, Lusiana sees her graduation as an important milestone and a reminder that, it is never too late to keep learning.
“Completing my degree in April 2024 was an important milestone and a reminder that learning can continue at every stage of a career,” Lusiana said.
Her advice to students interested in journalism and communications is to make the most of their time at university, look for opportunities to gain practical experience and be willing to learn from others.
“Do not be afraid to ask questions or learn from mistakes. Most importantly, remember that communication is not only about speaking or writing well, but also about listening, understanding people and sharing information responsibly,” she added.
Lusiana hopes to continue building her skills in strategic communications, media engagement, digital storytelling and content production.
From an unexpected start in journalism, to her current role in community communications, her journey reflects the value of being open to new opportunities and continuing to learn along the way. Her experience also shows how further study can help working professionals build on what they already know and prepare for the next step in their careers….PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
FIJI – CITY: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Fri 23 Oct 2026
Nadi set to become Fiji’s newest city in December
SUVA, 23 OCTOBER 2026 (FIJI TIMES)—Nadi is expected to be officially declared a city in December this year following Fiji Cabinet’s endorsement of a proposal to upgrade its municipal status.
The decision recognises Nadi’s rapid development and its significant contribution to Fiji’s economy as the country’s international gateway and a major tourism and commercial centre.
According to the Cabinet decision, the formal declaration and community celebrations are anticipated for December 2026, marking a major milestone in the town’s development.
The proposed upgrade follows substantial investment in Nadi over the past four years.
Between 2022 and 2025, Nadi recorded 1,106 approved development applications with a combined value of approximately $1.23 billion (US$615 million).
These investments covered residential, commercial and tourism developments, reflecting continued growth and investor interest in the area.
The proposed city status is expected to encourage further investment, improve municipal services and strengthen urban planning and governance.
It is also intended to help address longstanding urban challenges, including traffic congestion and flooding, which have become increasingly important as Nadi continues to expand.
As Fiji’s main international gateway and a key tourism destination, Nadi plays a significant role in supporting economic activity, employment and commercial development.
The planned declaration in December will formally recognise the town’s growing importance to the national economy and its continued urban development.
Cabinet’s endorsement paves the way for preparations for the formal declaration and community celebrations later this year. …PACNEWS
FIJI – PAFCO: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Fri 23 Oct 2026
Fiji Government approves $20m guarantee for PAFCO
SUVA, 23 OCTOBER 2026 (FIJI TIMES)—The Fiji Government has endorsed an additional $20 million(US$10 million) guarantee for the Pacific Fishing Company Limited (PAFCO) as the Levuka-based fish processor restructures its operations following the departure of its major customer, Bumble Bee, in July this year.
Cabinet’s decision will bring the total Government guarantee ceiling for PAFCO to approximately $31.3 million (US$15.65 million), including an existing $11.3 million (US$5.65 million) guarantee.
The additional financial backing is intended to strengthen the company’s working capital, increase production capacity and support planned upgrades to its fish-processing plant and equipment.
It will also help PAFCO improve compliance with international food safety and quality standards as the company seeks to establish new markets.
PAFCO, which is 99.6 percent Government-owned, operates its main processing facility in Levuka, Ovalau.
The company employs between approximately 870 and more than 1,000 workers, depending on operational requirements, with women accounting for more than 70 per cent of its workforce.
The departure of Bumble Bee in July 2026 has prompted PAFCO to pursue a more diversified business model to reduce its dependence on a single major customer.
As part of this transition, the company is shifting its focus towards canned seafood production while continuing its tuna-loining operations.
The strategy is aimed at expanding its product range and securing new customers in both domestic and international markets.
The planned upgrades are also expected to strengthen PAFCO’s ability to meet international processing and food safety requirements, which are essential for accessing export markets.
The company’s continued operations are particularly important to Levuka and the wider Ovalau economy, where PAFCO provides employment for hundreds of workers.
The additional Government guarantee is intended to support PAFCO’s financial and operational transition as it works to strengthen production and establish a more sustainable business model.
A Government guarantee provides financial backing for the company’s borrowing obligations rather than an immediate direct cash payment.
The Cabinet endorsement comes as PAFCO seeks to reposition itself in the seafood processing industry following the loss of its major customer earlier this year….PACNEWS
PAC – BIOSECURITY CHIEF: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Fri 23 Oct 2026
Nacanieli Waqa appointed new Biosecurity Authority CEO
SUVA, 23 OCTOBER 2026 (FIJI TIMES)—Nacanieli Waqa has been appointed the new chief executive officer of the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (BAF), effective 21 October 2026.
The appointment was announced by the BAF Board of Directors following its formal publication in the Fiji Government Gazette, in accordance with Section 10 of the Biosecurity Act 2008.
The Board said Waqa was selected following a structured and competitive recruitment process based on transparency, merit, fairness and good corporate governance.
Waqa brings more than 34 years of experience in biosecurity, regulatory systems and international trade facilitation.
He has previously held senior technical and advisory positions with New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries, the Pacific Community (SPC) and the Fiji Quarantine and Inspection Service.
The Board expressed confidence that his extensive regional and international experience would help strengthen the Authority’s performance and advance its strategic priorities.
In accepting the appointment, Waqa emphasised the importance of biosecurity in protecting Fiji’s economy, agriculture and natural resources.
“Biosecurity protects more than our borders, it safeguards the livelihoods of our farmers, the food on our tables and the natural resources our communities depend on,” Waqa said.
He said he looked forward to working closely with staff, stakeholders and the wider public to strengthen Fiji’s biosecurity systems.
“I look forward to leading a team committed to strengthening these protections and working with our stakeholders and the public to build a safer, more resilient Fiji,” he said.
The Board said Waqa’s experience in strategic leadership, governance and stakeholder engagement would be valuable in ensuring BAF remained a trusted and high-performing regulatory authority.
The appointment comes as BAF continues its responsibility for protecting Fiji against biosecurity threats while facilitating international trade and safeguarding the country’s agricultural and natural resources…..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
Journalist safety in the Pacific: A Solomon Islands perspective
By Lloyd Loji
HONIARA, 23 OCTOBER 2026 (INDEPTH SOLOMONS)–Journalists play an important role in every democracy, whether in the Pacific or abroad. They report on government decisions, elections, public spending, development projects and issues affecting ordinary people. They also give communities a voice and help people understand what is happening around them.
For small Pacific countries such as Solomon Islands, this work is especially important. Our communities are spread across many islands, distance makes information hard to gather and share, and journalists often work with limited resources.
In July 2025, the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted Resolution 59/15 on the Safety of Journalists. The resolution calls on governments to protect journalists from violence, threats, intimidation, arbitrary detention and other forms of interference. It also raises concerns about the misuse of legal action, including defamation laws, to pressure or silence journalists.
The risks journalists face are changing. Safety is no longer only a matter of physical attacks. Journalists can face online harassment, surveillance, legal pressure and attempts to identify confidential sources, as happened recently to a journalist with In-depth Solomons. Women journalists can face additional online and gender-based abuse.
Guidance from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on National Frameworks for the Safety of Journalists offers a useful approach for countries such as Solomon Islands. It encourages governments to build systems that prevent attacks, protect journalists who are threatened and ensure accountability when violations occur.
That approach is consistent with the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists, an international framework for improving journalist safety and addressing impunity.
The Pacific is not a region of war or of high levels of violence and deaths among journalists. But that does not mean Pacific journalists work without pressure.
In Pacific Island countries, journalists usually know the people they report on. A reporter may question a politician, senior official or business leader and later meet that same person at church, at a community event or through family connections. Journalism in small societies is personal.
There are also financial pressures. Pacific newsrooms operate in small advertising markets. Individual journalists and small media companies often cannot afford to defend lengthy legal cases, and a single case can force an outlet to close.
In 2025, the Pacific Freedom Forum warned that Pacific media were facing increasing legal and financial pressures. Reporting by The Guardian on Pacific press freedom also highlighted legal action against journalists and media organisations in countries including Palau, Samoa and Papua New Guinea.
Further pressure comes from the digital environment. Social media moves information quickly, but it has also created new avenues for misinformation, harassment and threats.
The Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) has therefore called for stronger protection of journalists as artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technology are used more widely. Its call raised online harassment, surveillance and censorship, and the need for stronger media and AI literacy in the region.
Solomon Islands has a long history of independent media. But we should not wait for a serious incident before deciding how journalists are to be protected.
Recent events have already raised questions. In September 2026, the Media Association of Solomon Islands (MASI) raised concerns about a police search of a journalist’s office that sought to identify sources. MASI pointed to due process, press freedom and the protection of confidential journalistic material.
One practical step would be a Solomon Islands National Framework for the Safety of Journalists. Formal journalist-safety mechanisms are not yet common among Pacific Island countries, but there are international examples, collected by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in its Global Repository of National Safety Mechanisms.
Several are useful here. The Philippines Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists brings together media, civil society, universities and government institutions, and gives journalists ways to report threats and seek assistance.
Kenya’s National Mechanism for the Safety and Protection of Journalists involves journalists, police, prosecutors, human rights institutions and civil society in monitoring and responding to threats. Denmark’s National Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists promotes cooperation between government, law enforcement and the media. Solomon Islands could draw on all three while building something simpler and suited to our own circumstances.
Such a framework could set out clear procedures for how police and other authorities deal with journalists and journalistic material. It could cover the protection of confidential sources, online threats, digital security, safety during elections and civil unrest, protection for women journalists, and emergency assistance for journalists who receive serious threats.
It should not be developed by government alone. It should involve MASI, journalists, media organisations, the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force, government agencies, the judiciary, civil society, women’s organisations and other relevant groups.
We can also learn from our own experience. On World Press Freedom Day 2024, MASI reflected on journalists’ experiences covering the 2021 riots, COVID-19, elections and the 2023 Pacific Games. That record can help Solomon Islands design a system that fits local conditions rather than copying a model built elsewhere.
Journalists do much more than report political news. They report on schools without teachers, clinics without medicines, roads and bridges, climate change, fisheries, forestry, mining, corruption, gender issues and development projects across every Pacific Island country.
In rural and remote communities, journalists bring to the attention of national decision-makers issues that would otherwise go unseen. That is why journalist safety should also matter to development partners working in the Pacific.
UNESCO’s work on the Safety of Journalists links journalist safety to Sustainable Development Goal 16, in particular public access to information and the protection of fundamental freedoms.
A young journalist should be able to investigate public spending, question a minister, report on state-owned enterprises and large companies, protect a confidential source and expose wrongdoing without fearing violence, intimidation, surveillance or legal pressure for doing the job.
The Pacific has an opportunity to deal with these matters before they become larger problems. In Solomon Islands, opening a national discussion on a journalists’ safety framework would be a practical first step, drawing on Resolution 59/15 and the OHCHR guidance while being designed around the realities of Solomon Islands and other small Pacific countries.
For Solomon Islands and the wider Pacific, protecting journalists means protecting democracy and supporting better national and community development….PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Australia must stand in partnership with the Pacific – not above it
Australia should back Pacific-led electrification with affordable finance, local skills and measurable benefits. But clean-energy partnerships cannot substitute for a credible plan to move away from coal, oil and gas. True friendship means listening to our neighbours, acting on shared responsibilities and matching clean-energy partnerships with a credible transition away from fossil fuels. This is a big opportunity to show a real partnership in the Transition.
Opinion by Ray Wills & Peter Newman
CANBERRA, 23 OCTOBER 2026 (THE POINT)–Pacific leaders are not waiting for Australia to explain the energy transition.
They are asking whether we will act alongside them.
Following the Pre-COP meetings in Fiji and Tuvalu, Palau’s President Surangel Whipps Jr offered a practical test: “Projects prepared. Finance committed. Systems commissioned. Diesel displaced. Benefits reaching communities.” (remarks at his Canberra address on 14 October via Louise Morris in The Point).
That is a better starting point than another diplomatic declaration.
The same day, Tuvalu’s climate minister Maina Talia called for decisive action against fossil-fuel dependence. At the National Press Club, Australia’s Resources Minister Madeleine King said “we must keep developing gas for export for our regional partners” and continue exporting coal and gas “while our export markets still need them”.
The latest debate over gas reservation sharpens the distinction. Securing affordable supply during the transition is not the same as planning to reduce dependence. A credible policy must do both: protect consumers now while making efficient electric alternatives easier to adopt.
These positions expose a contradiction. Australia cannot claim solidarity with Pacific neighbours while making decisions that prolong the fossil-fuel dependence threatening their futures.
Talia describes this responsibility through the Tuvaluan concept of tuākoi: neighbourliness grounded in sharing, reciprocity and care. Australia’s task is not to prescribe the Pacific’s pathway, but to support it and accept responsibility for its own decisions.
Our neighbours are defining the pathway
At Pre-COP, ministers discussed a regional roadmap away from fossil fuels, connecting renewable energy, economic security and changing energy trade – a path we have already described for Australia as the most economically sensible path. Pacific leaders’ agenda addresses fossil-fuel supply as well as demand – not renewable electricity deployment alone.
Pacific civil society’s demands go further: end new extraction, phase out existing production and subsidies, and reject measures that endorse continuing pollution.
A practical development alongside Pre-COP was the intention to develop a Pacific regional roadmap to transition away from fossil fuels. It builds on Pacific leaders’ approval of a Renewable Energy Commissioner and their vision for a 100% renewable-energy future. Australia should support this Pacific-led process with finance, technical capability and a credible transition plan of its own.
Australia should engage seriously with the agreed roadmap.
Electrification matters – but measure its benefits
The proposed COP31 “35 by 35” goal would lift electricity to 35% of global final energy consumption by 2035. It gives electrification welcome prominence, but cannot establish whether communities receive cleaner, cheaper or more reliable services.
Electrification is not a one-for-one fuel swap. Electric vehicles waste less energy than combustion engines. Heat pumps provide more heating per unit of electricity than resistance heaters. Efficient motors and controls reduce the electricity needed for pumping and machinery.
Electricity consumed therefore does not equal useful services delivered. An inefficient appliance can contribute more to a consumption-share target than an efficient one doing the same job. Electrification can significantly reduce fossil fuels and the cost savings can enable a more just outcome. Electricity consumed is not the same as useful services delivered. An inefficient appliance can contribute more to a consumption-share target than an efficient one doing the same job. Electrification policy should therefore reward lower fossil-fuel use, better services and lower costs—not electricity consumption for its own sake. Importantly, 2026 brings the fastest energy transition in history – this opportunity should be embraced.
How can we measure this?
We propose Electrified Economy Outcomes: a public dashboard tracking fossil fuels displaced, emissions reduced, affordable and reliable services, efficient equipment, local capability, and benefits reaching lower-income and remote communities on a path of energy sovereignty.
Governments should also report whether investment and approvals reduce or extend fossil-fuel dependence. Clean-energy deployment must displace fossil fuels, not simply grow alongside them.
This would be embracing the transition in a way that business, civil society and governments coming to COP31 would recognise as a partnership.
Friendship requires practical commitments
This week’s Global Citizen NOW summit in Perth offered another test of delivery. Its declaration called for Pacific nations to be recognised as equal partners. A proposed climate-investment pipeline developed with 14 Pacific countries could mobilise US$1 billion, including US$250 million in Green Climate Fund grants, subject to Board approval. The opportunity is welcome; the measure remains finance delivered and benefits reaching communities.
Australia’s role as COP31 President of Negotiations creates an opportunity to work with Pacific countries as equal partners, bringing different resources and responsibilities to a shared task.
Marshall Islands representative Jess Gasper Jr explained at Pre-COP that fossil-fuel prices are set beyond island shores, while their impacts fall directly on island communities. This is the reality of the developing world everywhere.
Locally generated renewable electricity, storage and efficient equipment offer greater energy sovereignty: control over essential services and less exposure to imported-fuel shocks. It is the key to survival and to a liveable economic future.
Supporting the proposed Pacific roadmap would demonstrate what partnership means: different national circumstances and responsibilities, but a shared direction away from fossil-fuel dependence. That means financing locally chosen projects, training and retaining local technicians, supporting maintenance over the full life of equipment, and publishing progress on diesel displaced, costs reduced and reliability improved.
Australia must act at home too
The same principles should guide our domestic transition: affordable electric transport and practical pathways beyond diesel for regional agriculture, freight, mining and industry – the next big agenda for us.
For fossil-fuel regions, friendship abroad must be matched by fairness at home. Workers and communities need replacement industries, infrastructure, training and investment before employment disappears.
We advocate a time-bound Australian fossil-fuel transition roadmap: stop approving new coal and gas projects, progressively redirect fossil-fuel support towards alternatives, and plan the export transition with workers, communities and trading partners.
Speaking in Canberra on 14 October, Palau’s President Surangel Whipps Jr offered a practical test for COP31: Projects prepared. Finance committed. Systems commissioned. Diesel displaced. Benefits reaching communities. Whipps explicitly excluded switching fossil fuels off overnight.
Australia lives in this neighbourhood and belongs to this neighbourhood. We should not stand above it, simply offering assistance while discounting the evidence-based warnings.
True friends act on what they know and hear.
Australia should back Pacific-led electrification with affordable finance, local skills and measurable benefits. But clean-energy partnerships cannot substitute for a credible transition away from coal, oil and gas.
True partnership means listening to our neighbours, sharing responsibility and delivering….PACNEWS
Professor Ray Wills, Managing Director, Future Smart Strategies; Adjunct Professor, The University of Western Australia
Professor Peter Newman AO, John Curtin Distinguished Professor of Sustainability, Curtin University; advisor-at-large, Future Smart Strategies
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Samoa assesses readiness to participate in global carbon markets
APIA, 23 OCTOBER 2026 (SPREP)—- Samoa is assessing its readiness to participate in global carbon markets, with a focus on identifying existing capacities, addressing gaps and determining the practical steps needed before making decisions about participation.
The assessment is the focus of an inception consultation held at the Pacific Climate Change Centre in Apia on 22 October, bringing together government agencies and other stakeholders to discuss Samoa’s readiness to engage in carbon markets, particularly under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
Article 6 provides a framework for countries to cooperate on climate action. Article 6.2 covers cooperative approaches that involve the transfer of emissions-reduction outcomes between countries and the accounting and reporting requirements involved. Article 6.4 establishes the United Nation’s (UN) Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism, which enables eligible activities to generate carbon credits under agreed rules. These mechanisms require appropriate systems and safeguards to protect the integrity of climate action.
Moafanua Tolusina Pouli, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Samoa’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), emphasised that the country must understand its readiness before making decisions about participation.
“Our priority at this stage is to understand our readiness before making decisions about participation,” Pouli said.
He further added, “At the conclusion of this assignment, we expect to have a practical and evidence-based roadmap to guide the Government’s consideration of potential carbon market engagement. This should provide clarity on the necessary governance arrangements, policy requirements, accounting and tracking systems, safeguards, and priority actions, rather than prematurely committing Samoa to any particular mechanism or transaction.”
Tagaloa Cooper, Director of Climate Change Resilience at the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), during her address highlighted the potential of carbon markets to support Samoa’s climate priorities.
“For Small Island Developing States (SIDS) like Samoa, carbon markets offer a powerful avenue to mobilize critical climate finance while advancing our national emission-reduction goals. However, to unlock these opportunities, we must build robust institutional arrangements, sound policy frameworks, strong technical capacity, and rigorous environmental safeguards that align with our international climate commitments,” Cooper said.
She also encouraged participants, saying, “Do not be intimidated by carbon markets,” and urged them to use the consultation to understand how global requirements could be translated into practical national action.
The consultation examines the global carbon market landscape, including compliance and voluntary markets, results-based climate finance, and the requirements of Articles 6.2 and 6.4. Discussions cover internationally transferred mitigation outcomes, corresponding adjustments, reporting and the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism.
The assessment is a high priority for the Government of Samoa and is facilitated by SPREP through its Tomai Pacifique platform, which enables carbon market consultant MJ Mace to support the evaluation of the country’s readiness.
“The assessment aims to establish a baseline of Samoa’s institutional, policy and technical capacities and identify the practical measures needed to strengthen national readiness. Its expected outcome is an evidence-based roadmap to guide the Government’s consideration of potential carbon market participation, so Samoa is well-prepared before committing itself to particular mechanisms or transactions,” stated Mace.
For more information, contact Vanda Faasoa-Chan Ting on email at vandac@sprep.org or telephone number 21929 ext 237.
