In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — Pacific, U.S to boost Police cooperation against drugs and transnational crime
2. FIJI — Sevuloni Valenitabua appointed Fiji’s new Attorney- General
3. PACIFIC — Fiji police deputy commissioner appointed first PACPOL Hub executive diretor
4. FIJI — Banaban groups demand compulsory Rabi elections
5. CNMI — U.S suspends streamlined CNMI entry programme for Chinese visitors
6. NZ — New Zealand election remains too close to call: poll
7. PNG — PNG Defence alliance a worry: Former PNGDF commander
8. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji urges global shief from harmful subsidies to biodiversity incentives
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Cash must remain an option as Fiji goes digital
10. PACNEWS BIZ — WatchGuard deepens Fiji tie-up with Datec after gold status
11. PACNEWS BIZ — Backpacker visa cuts spark fears of rotting crops
12. PACNEWS DIGEST — Tonga Coastal Resilience Project elevates Pacific Ocean Voices and Community-led Climate Action ahead of COP31
13. PACNEWS DIGEST — WHO Western Pacific Member States agree to urgently accelerate progress on key health priorities
14. PACNEWS DIGEST — Samoa strengthens used oil management to prevent pollution
PAC – TRANSNATIONAL CRIME: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Wed 28 Oct 2026
Pacific, U.S to boost Police cooperation against drugs and transnational crime
LOS ANGELES, 28 OCTOBER 2026 (PACNEWS)—Pacific countries and the United States have agreed to strengthen maritime security, intelligence sharing and law enforcement cooperation to combat drug trafficking, cyber-enabled crime and illicit financial flows across the region.
The commitment was outlined in a joint communiqué following the inaugural U.S–Pacific Islands Conference of Police Ministers, hosted by the United States and Palau in Los Angeles on 21–22 October.
The communiqué identifies transnational criminal networks, including those trafficking methamphetamine, cocaine and other synthetic drugs, as a growing threat to Pacific communities and regional security.
Participants said narcotics trafficked through the Pacific by Western Hemisphere cartels had surpassed those originating from Asia since 2024. They also noted that semi-submersible vessels used by cartels had been recovered in the waters of Fiji, the Marshall Islands and Solomon Islands.
The meeting brought together police ministers and senior law enforcement officials from Pacific countries and territories, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines and Ecuador, as well as France and its Pacific territories. The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and Pacific Police Chiefs Conference (PACPOL) Secretariat also participated.
Under the communiqué, participants committed to strengthening maritime and border enforcement capabilities, improving information sharing on trafficking routes and criminal networks, and tightening port security.
Cooperation with the United States could include maritime law enforcement agreements, foreign assistance arrangements and Shiprider programmes, subject to national laws, capacities and consent.
The participants also pledged to strengthen efforts to detect and stop illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, particularly where transnational criminal groups are involved.
The communiqué calls for a coordinated response to drug-related harm, including community-based prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration services. It highlights the need to reach people in remote and outer island communities.
Cyber-enabled crime was another priority, with participants identifying large-scale online scams, human trafficking linked to scam operations and the movement of criminal proceeds through formal and informal financial channels as major concerns.
They agreed to increase information sharing on scam operations, criminal infrastructure and cryptocurrency laundering, while building the capacity of national cyber authorities, police and financial intelligence units.
The communiqué also calls for stronger anti-money laundering and cybercrime frameworks and action against corrupt officials who enable criminal networks to operate.
Participants welcomed a United States initiative to develop a cross-regional information-sharing mechanism linking the Pacific with the Americas and maritime Southeast Asia. The mechanism will be developed in consultation with participating countries and coordinated with existing regional arrangements.
They also welcomed the U.S announcement of investments to strengthen law enforcement cooperation, counter drug trafficking and combat transnational crime, in consultation with recipient governments.
The communiqué reaffirmed the central role of the Pacific Islands Forum in setting regional peace and security priorities and said the work would align with the Forum’s Pacific Regional Peace and Security Action Plan 2026–2030.
Participants said cooperation must respect national sovereignty and comply with domestic laws and agreed regional priorities.
The communiqué is a statement of shared intent and is not legally binding. Forum members will report the outcomes of the conference through existing regional security processes.
The participants committed to identifying resources to sustain cooperation and strengthen efforts to protect Pacific communities from evolving security threats…..PACNEWS
FIJI – AG: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Wed 28 Oct 2026
Sevuloni Valenitabua appointed Fiji’s new Attorney- General
SUVA, 28 OCTOBER 2026 (PACNEWS)— Fiji’s new Attorney-General, Sevuloni Ratumaiyale Valenitabua was sworn into office by President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu at State House on Tuesday, bringing nearly 30 years of legal experience across Fiji and the Pacific.
President Lalabalavu congratulated Valenitabua on his appointment and wished him well as he assumes responsibility for the Government’s principal legal advisory office.
The Attorney-General serves as the Government’s principal legal adviser and chief law officer, providing legal guidance and helping ensure government decisions and actions comply with Fiji’s laws and constitutional framework.
Valenitabua’s career spans approximately 29 years, including senior legal roles in Fiji, the Solomon Islands and Nauru.
He served as Commissioner and Proceedings Commissioner of the Fiji Human Rights Commission, Legal Adviser at the Public Solicitor’s Office in the Solomon Islands, and Director of the Public Defenders’ Office in Nauru. He also briefly served as Acting Secretary for Justice in Nauru.
Admitted to practice law in Fiji and New South Wales in 1996, Valenitabua has experience in criminal and civil litigation, constitutional law and representation before superior courts.
He holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from Bond University on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia.
Before entering the legal profession, Valenitabua spent 16 years as a secondary school teacher in Fiji.
His appointment comes with extensive legal and regional experience as the Office of the Attorney-General carries out its responsibilities in supporting constitutional governance, the rule of law and public administration.
The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Permanent Secretary for the Office of the Prime Minister Dr Lesikimacuata Korovavala, Solicitor-General Robert Green and members of Valenitabua’s family…..PACNEWS
PACIFIC – POLICE: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Wed 28 Oct 2026
Fiji police deputy commissioner appointed first PACPOL Hub executive diretor
SUVA, 28 OCTOBER 2026 (PACNEWS)— Fiji Police deputy Commissioner Mesake Waqa Tikomainiusiladi has been appointed the inaugural Executive Director of the Pacific Community of Policing (PACPOL) Hub, based in Brisbane, Australia.
His appointment comes as Pacific police leaders move to strengthen regional cooperation under a unified, Pacific-led policing framework aimed at improving coordination, capability development and operational delivery.
The PACPOL Hub will serve as the primary mechanism for coordinating the development and implementation of regional policing priorities, ensuring programmes respond to the needs of Pacific communities.
The initiative brings together the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police (PICP) and the Pacific Policing Initiative (PPI) under a single Pacific-led identity, PACPOL, reflecting a commitment to greater regional ownership and coordination.
Fiji Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu said Tikomainiusiladi’s appointment was a proud achievement for Fiji and the Fiji Police Force.
He said the appointment continued Fiji’s longstanding contribution to regional policing efforts and supported the collective commitment of Pacific police chiefs to strengthen the region’s policing architecture.
Tikomainiusiladi will lead the PACPOL Hub’s operations, coordinating the development and delivery of capability priorities agreed by Pacific police leaders.
Tudravu said the appointment would complement efforts to align regional policing structures and improve collaboration, capability building and operational effectiveness.
Tikomainiusiladi, who hails from Burebasaga Village in Rewa, has held senior leadership positions within the Fiji Police Force and has international peacekeeping experience.
He holds a Master of Criminology from Macquarie University in Australia, along with certificates in the Global Leadership Programme, Critical Thinking Analysis and Methodologies, and the Introductory Academic Programme in English Studies.
Tudravu, on behalf of the Fiji Police Force, wished Tikomainiusiladi well in his new role, which places him at the centre of efforts to advance a more coordinated and Pacific-owned approach to regional policing….PACNEWS
FIJI – CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 1: Wed 28 Oct 2026
Banaban groups demand compulsory Rabi elections
RABI, 28 OCTOBER 2026 (FIJI SUN)—The Banaban Human Rights Defenders’ Network, Pacific Youth Platform and Rabi District Council of Social Services have asked Parliament’s Special Committee on the Constitution Amendment Bill 2026 to make Rabi Council of Leaders elections compulsory, with penalties if deadlines are missed.
The submission, signed by Itinterunga Rae Bainteiti, wants “clear legal requirements for holding elections within prescribed periods, with enforceable obligations and consequences for non-compliance”.
It also seeks “strict limits on the duration, functions, and powers of interim administrations”.
Rabi has had no elected council since Administrator Iakoba Karutake became sole administrator in 2023. The Government pays his salary.
Karutake told this masthead last year that elections would not proceed until the Banaban Settlement Act was amended.
“Without that, we cannot go for elections,” he said. He said the timing was up to the Office of the Prime Minister.
The groups said the promised review of the Settlement Act and the Banaban Lands Act 1965 was not complete. They said no clear timetable had been given to the community.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka told this masthead last year the review was “ongoing”, without giving a date.
The submission also raised concerns about the Constitution Review Commission’s consultation. It said only 0.05 percent of Banabans took part.
The groups said materials should have been translated into the Banaban language. They said the documents did not reach Rabi in time for the 22 May 2026 consultation.
They warned that going ahead with the amendments without fixing these issues “risks leaving longstanding Banaban grievances unresolved”.
Other demands include public access to budgets and audited accounts, stronger protection of Rabi land and trust assets, and fair representation for all four villages.
Bainteiti has previously said the administrator’s role continues only because elections have not been held…. PACNEWS
CNMI – VISA ENTRTY: PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS 1: Wed 28 Oct 2026
U.S suspends streamlined CNMI entry programme for Chinese visitors
SAIPAN, 28 OCTOBER 2026 (PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES) —–The U.S federal government will suspend the visa-free travel programme for Chinese visitors to the Northern Mariana Islands on 30 October, saying the initiative poses national security, immigration and law enforcement risks to the United States.
The U.S Department of Homeland Security announced Tuesday that it is suspending the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorisation Programme, or EVS-TAP, effective 30 October.
The action applies to new applicants as well as Chinese nationals who currently hold active travel authorisations under the programme.
Chinese nationals already admitted under EVS-TAP and legally present in the CNMI on the effective date may remain through their authorized period of stay. However, future visits will require a U.S nonimmigrant visa unless another lawful exception applies.
The suspension was announced in a Federal Register notice on 27 October.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin determined there was ‘good cause” to suspend the programme while DHS, in consultation with the departments of State and Interior, evaluates its future.
EVS-TAP took effect in February 2025 and allowed pre-screened nationals of the People’s Republic of China to travel directly to the CNMI without first obtaining a U.S visa.
The programme replaced a parole policy and was intended to support the CNMI’s tourism industry while imposing additional safeguards on travel. Visitors were generally limited to stays of up to 14 days and prohibited from traveling beyond the CNMI to Guam or other parts of the United States.
According to DHS, more than 3,000 Chinese nationals used EVS-TAP to enter the CNMI during fiscal year 2025. The agency said the volume of visa-exempt travel, combined with evolving threats facing the United States, presents unacceptable risks to national security and law enforcement interests.
Federal officials argued the programme remains vulnerable to exploitation by individuals seeking unauthorized access to Guam and other U.S jurisdictions.
The notice cites prior criminal cases involving Chinese nationals convicted of smuggling other Chinese citizens from the CNMI to Guam, where some were later encountered near sensitive military installations.
DHS also raised concerns that visa-free access could facilitate espionage and intelligence gathering targeting military infrastructure in the Mariana Islands. The agency cited the restoration of Tinian Air Base and the strategic military importance of Guam and the CNMI in the Indo-Pacific region.
The department further identified birth tourism, immigration violations and organised criminal activity as concerns.
Officials pointed to the CNMI’s past experience with money laundering, labor violations and corruption cases involving Chinese-linked casino operations as examples of risks associated with streamlined travel programmes.
While acknowledging that some CNMI businesses may have developed plans around Chinese tourism under EVS-TAP and the previous parole programme, DHS said economic interests do not outweigh what it characterized as acute national security, immigration enforcement and law enforcement concerns.
The agency emphasised that legitimate travelers from China remain eligible to visit the CNMI through the standard U.S visa process.
CNMI Delegate Kimberlyn King-Hinds said she immediately contacted federal officials following the announcement and was assured the action is a suspension rather than a permanent termination of the programme.
In a statement Tuesday, King-Hinds said she spoke directly with the White House, Mullin and House leadership regarding the suspension and its potential consequences for the commonwealth.
She said the Homeland Security secretary personally assured her that DHS would work directly with the CNMI to better understand and address the issues that led to the action.
“I want to emphasise that EVS-TAP has been suspended, not terminated,” King-Hinds said.
“We have experienced interruptions to travel programmes serving the commonwealth before, and we will work through this together with our federal partners to address the concerns that have been raised and find a path forward, just as we have done before.”
King-Hinds said EVS-TAP was established with safeguards allowing DHS to suspend the programme when security or law enforcement concerns arise. She said her office will work with federal agencies to address those concerns and support the programme’s resumption as quickly as possible.
The congresswoman also warned that a lengthy suspension could further strain the commonwealth’s already fragile tourism sector.
“Our tourism industry is already facing tremendous challenges, and a prolonged disruption would have serious consequences for our businesses, workers, and families,” King-Hinds said.
“We must also consider the immediate effects on airlines, travel arrangements, and the businesses that depend on visitor arrivals.”
Some tourism operators said the decision was not unexpected but cautioned that the loss of another visitor market could worsen conditions for local businesses.
“Not surprising. The CNMI has done absolutely zero to control abuse of this programme,” said Jay Wolfe, owner of Axe Murderer Tours, which provides diving and sightseeing tours in the CNMI.
“But of course this will not be good for any businesses in Saipan,” Wolfe said.
“Right now tourism is extremely low already. Taking away further customer bases is sure to have an impact on the ability of tourism-based businesses to remain viable.”
Wolfe said tourism-dependent businesses are already struggling with low visitor arrivals and that eliminating another source market could further burden operators attempting to stay afloat.
King-Hinds said her immediate priority is securing the resumption of EVS-TAP as quickly as the outstanding concerns can be resolved.
Beginning 30 October, Chinese nationals seeking to visit the CNMI for business or tourism generally must obtain a U.S visa before traveling to the territory…..PACNEWS
NZ – ELECTION/POLITICS: AAP PACNEWS 1: Wed 28 Oct 2026
New Zealand election remains too close to call: poll
WELLINGTON, 28 OCTOBER 2206 (AAP)—New Zealand’s election remains finely balanced after Prime Minister Chris Luxon’s National party fell back to earth in the latest TVNZ poll.
Opportunity, the teal-inspired centrist force, remains in the kingmaker role based on the poll released on Tuesday, but only by the skin of its teeth.
The results reinforced the 07 November election as the closest and most complex in memory, with voters increasingly likely to back minor parties.
The centre-right National party, which enjoyed a four-point bump in last week’s poll, fell three points to 29 percent.
That’s bad news for National after a week with law-and-order issues in the headlines that failed to produce a poll bump.
The right grouping remains ahead of the Labour-led left bloc, courtesy of coalition partners ACT, up one to 12, and NZ First, up two to 10.
Labour stayed steady on 27, the Greens dropped one to be on 15, with the Maori Party crashing to just 0.1 percent.
The result is the right bloc ahead of the left, but both are short of a parliamentary majority should Opportunity cross the five percent threshold to guarantee parliamentary representation.
Opportunity was polling at eight percent in September, but registered six in the TVNZ poll, and is lower in other surveys.
Luxon is arguing for another three years to bed down reforms and realise long-promised economic growth that is yet to materialise.
“The only poll that matters is 07 November, and the message is very simple to New Zealanders: don’t put it at risk,” he told TVNZ.
Luxon did receive a bump in personal support, backed as preferred prime minister by 24 percent, up four, ahead of Labour leader Chris Hipkins on 18 percent, up one.
National was expected to fare well in this poll given a week of headlines around Labour, Greens and Maori Party MPs and candidates campaigning for votes among gang members, including some at the Mongrel Mob’s headquarters.
Luxon campaigned successfully in 2023, when law and order was a top-level issue, on targeting gangs.
The issue peaked on Friday when Mr Hipkins forced the resignation of one of his candidates for her involvement.
If Labour was bracing itself for a whack from voters for the episode, they will be relieved it did not materialise.
“This is going to be a very close election … it’s all going to come down to turnout,” Hipkins told TVNZ, claiming a “groundswell of support” on the ground.
While turnout is an issue, the biggest question remains whether Opportunity make it into parliament.
If they fall short of five percent, the coalition looks set to be returned.
If they pass the threshold, it’s an open question, with Qiulae Wong’s party open-minded to which side of politics it supports.
That will depend on policy concessions her party can extract, with a look at the party’s platform suggesting it is much likely to side with the left.
Wong dismissed her party’s poll dip, which shows them close to the precipice.
“The big question is how many of our amazing MPs we’ll be able to have representing Opportunity in parliament,” she told TVNZ….PACNEWS
PNG – DEFENCE: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS 1: Wed 28 Oct 2026
PNG Defence alliance a worry: Former PNGDF commander
PORT MORESBY, 28 OCTOBER 2026 (THE NATIONAL) — Papua New Guinea’s growing defence cooperation with Australia and the United States should not undermine the country’s sovereignty, strategic independence and long-term national interests, says retired Major-General Jerry Singirok.
Singirok, a former army commander, said while defence partnerships offered benefits in training, equipment, infrastructure and military capability, they also raised important questions about whose strategic interests ultimately influenced PNG’s defence and foreign policies.
He said there was a risk that military cooperation could gradually develop into strategic dependency if the country failed to carefully assess the long-term implications of its agreements with major powers.
“When young Papua New Guineans are trained, socialised and integrated into the doctrines, operational concepts and strategic outlook of larger powers, there is always a risk that the defence establishment begins to view security through the lens of those powers rather than through PNG’s national interests,” Singirok said.
“I am concerned about the constitutional, strategic, and nationhood long-term implications with the emergence of an accelerated and overbearing alliance with Australia and USA.”
Singirok said defence agreements were often presented in terms of training opportunities, capacity building and equipment support.
“However, beneath those practical advantages lies a deeper question: Whose interests ultimately shape the military, foreign policy and strategic direction of any nation?” he said….PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
PAC – FISHERIES/BIODIVERSITY: PACNEWS PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 28 Oct 2026
Fiji urges global shief from harmful subsidies to biodiversity incentives
YEREVAN, 28 OCTOBER 2026 (PACNEWS)— Fiji has called for urgent international action to redirect public funding away from activities that damage nature and towards incentives that protect biodiversity and support local communities.
Minister for Fisheries and Forestry Alitia Bainivalu made the call at the Target 18 Ministerial Dialogue in Yerevan, Armenia, where she represented the Fiji Government and Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS).
The meeting focused on the Yerevan Call on Positive Incentives for Biodiversity and efforts to implement Target 18 of the Global Biodiversity Framework, which aims to reduce harmful incentives by at least US$500 billion annually by 2030.
Bainivalu said increasing conservation funding would not be enough unless governments also reformed existing public spending that contributed to environmental damage.
“Around the world, money that harms nature outpaces money that protects it by about thirty to one. No amount of new conservation finance can win that race unless we also change the direction of the money we already spend,” she said.
Bainivalu said harmful financial incentives contributed to unsustainable land clearing, overfishing and pollution, threatening coral reefs, native forests and the livelihoods of Pacific communities dependent on natural resources.
She outlined Fiji’s ongoing efforts to align public expenditure and national policies with biodiversity protection.
These include reviewing public spending and policy frameworks to identify funding flows that harm or support ecosystems, implementing the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2026–2030, and developing a Biodiversity Finance Plan to mobilise resources for conservation.
Bainivalu identified three priorities for implementing Target 18: reforming harmful incentives, expanding positive incentives for conservation, and integrating biodiversity objectives into national budgets.
She said reforms must identify and phase out incentives that encourage unsustainable resource use while protecting livelihoods and ensuring communities were not disadvantaged.
Fiji also wants to expand mechanisms that recognise and reward traditional resource owners and local communities for protecting fishing grounds, forests and mangroves.
Bainivalu said biodiversity considerations must be incorporated into national fiscal planning, with conservation measures properly budgeted and monitored alongside other government priorities.
She emphasised that achieving Target 18 would require coordinated action across government, including finance, fisheries, agriculture, forestry and tourism, rather than leaving biodiversity protection solely to environment agencies.
Fiji also acknowledged the need for technical assistance and better data to help small island developing states implement reforms and track financial flows affecting nature.
Bainivalu welcomed the Yerevan Call, the Friends of Target 18 and the Yerevan Biodiversity Finance Challenge, saying Fiji was ready to work with international partners to ensure public and private finance contributed to protecting natural ecosystems.
The call comes as Pacific island countries face growing pressure to safeguard marine and terrestrial ecosystems that underpin food security, livelihoods and economic development….PACNEWS
FIJI – CASH: FIJI SUN PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 28 Oct 2026
Cash must remain an option as Fiji goes digital
SUVA, 28 OCTOBER 2026 (FIJI SUN)—Cash must remain an essential payment option in Fiji as the country moves towards a digital economy, particularly for people in rural and remote communities.
Minister for Industries, Commerce, Business Development and Public Enterprises Manoa Kamikamica said unreliable internet connections, natural disasters and limited access to digital services could leave communities unable to make electronic payments.
Speaking at the inaugural Island Nations Currency and Payments Summit, organised by Currency Research in partnership with the Reserve Bank of Fiji in Nadi, Kamikamica stressed the importance of giving Fijians a choice between cash and digital payments.
“In Fiji, while digital payments have expanded significantly, cash remains a trusted and resilient payment instrument. It works without electricity, telecommunications networks or digital devices,” he said.
“The future is unlikely to be exclusively cash-based or exclusively digital. It will be shaped by coexistence, choice and adaptability.”
Kamikamica said Fiji needed payment systems that were secure, affordable and accessible to everyone, regardless of where they lived.
While digital payments offered opportunities to reduce transaction costs, improve business efficiency and support trade and investment, he said the transition must not come at the expense of those who continued to rely on cash.
He said financial inclusion in Fiji had reached nearly 90 percent of the population over the past five years.
The focus was now shifting towards improving people’s ability to manage their finances and use financial services effectively, he added.
The Government’s National Digital Strategy 2025–2030, launched in April 2025, aims to position Fiji as a leading digital economy in the Asia-Pacific region.
Kamikamica also highlighted the Fiji Innovation Hub’s support for nine start-ups, including initiatives involving peer-to-peer lending, savings and investment opportunities.
However, he warned that greater reliance on digital payments also exposed consumers to cybersecurity threats and increasingly sophisticated scams.
He said stronger infrastructure, better governance and consumer protection measures were needed to maintain public confidence in digital payment systems.
Kamikamica called for closer cooperation between governments, central banks, financial institutions and technology providers to build secure and reliable payment systems.
“Our future is hybrid. By embracing both the enduring value of cash and the transformative potential of digital systems, we can build financial ecosystems that are not only modern but also inclusive, resilient and sustainable,” he said…..PACNEWS
FIJI – CYBER SECURITY: SECURITY BRIEF PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 28 Oct 2026
WatchGuard deepens Fiji tie-up with Datec after gold status
SUVA, 28 OCTOBER 2026 (SECURITY BRIEF)—WatchGuard Technologies has expanded its partnership with Datec Fiji after Datec reached WatchGuardONE Gold Partner status, strengthening WatchGuard’s presence in Fiji.
Datec’s new status reflects technical certifications held by its team across endpoint, network and identity security, as well as secure Wi-Fi. It is also adding certifications and training for pre-sales, account management and engineering staff to support deployments and ongoing service delivery in Fiji and elsewhere in the Pacific.
WatchGuard and Datec have worked together for more than three years. Their joint customer base in Fiji spans insurance, government, legal and professional services, information and communications technology, and financial services.
The partnership comes as cyber security suppliers seek deeper local ties in Pacific markets, where businesses and public sector bodies face rising digital risks while often lacking in-country specialist resources. In Fiji, the arrangement combines WatchGuard’s security products with Datec’s local presence and support network.
Anthony Daniel, Managing Director, Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands at WatchGuard Technologies, said, “Fiji and the wider Pacific represent an important growth opportunity for WatchGuard, and strong local partnerships are central to how we support that market. Datec achieving Gold Partner status reflects its investment in technical expertise and its commitment to delivering better cybersecurity outcomes for customers. We’re excited to continue building on this partnership while supporting more local IT providers to expand their security capabilities and managed services offerings.”
Datec has operated in Fiji and the Pacific for more than 40 years, giving it a long-established role in the local technology market. That experience has helped it support organisations in sectors with strict operational and data protection requirements.
A key focus of the partnership is managed security services for small and medium-sized enterprises. Datec sees scope to expand its Managed Security Services Provider model in Fiji’s SME market, where many companies lack the internal staff or budgets to run cyber security operations themselves.
This approach allows businesses to buy security technology, expertise and ongoing support as a service rather than build in-house teams for monitoring, deployment and maintenance. For suppliers, managed services can also provide steadier recurring revenue than one-off product sales.
For Fiji’s smaller businesses, this strategy may prove especially important. SMEs often face the same broad categories of cyber threat as larger organisations, but usually have fewer technical staff and less room for error when systems are disrupted.
Vinit Vishaal Nand, Chief Executive Officer of Datec Fiji, said, “Achieving WatchGuardONE Gold Partner status is an important milestone for Datec, but more importantly, it demonstrates the capability we are continuing to build here in Fiji. For our customers, it provides greater confidence that they can access globally recognised cybersecurity solutions backed by qualified local expertise. With more than 40 years of experience in Fiji and the Pacific, our focus has always been on evolving with our customers and the technology they depend on.”
The Fiji partnership also fits a broader effort by international cyber security vendors to grow through channel partners rather than direct operations in smaller markets. Local resellers and service providers often play a central role because they already have customer relationships, on-the-ground staff and a clearer understanding of regulatory and business conditions.
Gold status within partner programmes typically signals a higher level of sales and technical accreditation. For customers, it can serve as a proxy for implementation experience and access to vendor support, although service quality still depends on local execution.
In this case, Datec’s certifications cover several areas of security that many organisations now see as interconnected, including endpoint protection, network controls, identity management and wireless access. This reflects a market shift away from buying isolated security tools and toward combining them under a single provider or managed service arrangement.
The latest step also underlines the growing commercial importance of the Pacific Islands for technology suppliers looking beyond Australia and New Zealand. While these markets are smaller in absolute size, demand is rising from governments, financial institutions and private businesses expanding digital services and facing tighter expectations around resilience and security.
WatchGuard views Fiji and the wider Pacific as an important growth opportunity, with local partnerships central to that strategy….PACNEWS
AUST – BACKPACKER: AAP PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 28 Oct 2026
Backpacker visa cuts spark fears of rotting crops
CANBERRA, 28 OCTOBER 2026 (AAP)—Backpacker visa cuts may be ushered in without calculating the effect on harvests, with fears Australia’s produce will rot on the ground without key seasonal workers.
The federal agriculture department was consulted on changes to working holiday maker visas, but there has been no modelling on how the reforms will impact harvest volumes, a Senate estimates hearing was told.
“We haven’t done any modelling and we ordinarily wouldn’t … on a matter that is led by another agency,” deputy secretary Matt Lowe told the hearing in Canberra on Tuesday.
Limited workforce data from the horticulture sector was a central challenge in modelling, Mr Lowe said.
Greens Senator Vanessa Bleyer asked whether the visa cuts could be compared to workforce shortages during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when produce was “rotting in the ground”.
The NT government has said the changes would leave the Top End mango harvest without 1000 workers and 70 percent of the crop would be left to rot on trees.
The WA premier has also written to the federal government, expressing concern about how the changes will effect the state’s remote communities and its tourism and hospitality sectors.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced changes to be rolled out over the next year, reducing the cap on second-year visas from 57,000 to 45,000 and cutting third-year visas from 31,000 to 5000.
Backpackers will enter a ballot for the chance to remain in Australia for more than a year, meaning there will be about 38,000 fewer second and third-year backpackers than in 2026.
Labor Senator Anthony Chisholm said the COVID-19 comparison was not fair, with the government’s projections still sitting above pre-pandemic levels.
The Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, which allows businesses to hire workers from Pacific countries and Timor-Leste, successfully boosted the sector, Senator Chisholm said.
“We are in ongoing discussion with Minister Burke’s office, and so is industry, about how these changes are implemented to ensure we can manage this as best as possible,” he told the hearing.
The National Farmers Federation has called on the government to revert to regular visa processing, with the PALM scheme not suitable for every business.
“Backpackers provide a mobile workforce for short and intensive seasonal windows,” president Hamish McIntyre said in early October.
“Farmers cannot be told simply to switch programmes when those programmes have different purposes, requirements and operating models.”
The coalition has promised to scrap the caps on working holiday maker visas, but fees would be increased for those looking to stay longer than one year in Australia.
Exemptions would apply for those who carry out work in regional areas…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Tonga Coastal Resilience Project elevates Pacific Ocean Voices and Community-led Climate Action Ahead of COP31
NUKU’ALOFA, 28 OCTOBER 2026 (UNDP)—– As Pacific Island nations prepare to take a strong and united voice to COP31, Tonga is advancing a powerful message shared across the Blue Pacific: protecting people, livelihoods, and cultures begins with protecting the ocean that sustains them.
This commitment is taking shape through the Tonga Coastal Resilience Project, with proposed coastal protection designs for the Nukuleka–Talafo’ou and Manuka–Kolonga areas endorsed by Tonga’s Joint National Action Plan (JNAP) Taskforce on 16 October 2026, following community consultations.
The endorsement marks an important step towards strengthening coastal protection for communities facing rising seas, coastal erosion and extreme weather, while ensuring that local priorities help shape the solutions being developed.
The Tonga Coastal Resilience Project is funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Government of Tonga through the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC).
For families living along Tonga’s coastlines, protecting the shore is about more than infrastructure. It is about safeguarding homes, livelihoods, access to the ocean and the places that have supported communities for generations.
On 13 and 14 October 2026, the Project convened consultations in Kolonga and Manuka to give feedback on proposed coastal protection design for the Manuka-Kolonga coastline, engaging representatives from the six beneficiary communities of Kolonga, Manuka, Navutoka, Makaunga, Talafo’ou, and Nukuleka.
“The consultations and coordination meetings highlight how Pacific communities are leading climate adaptation efforts by giving their feedback on the coastal protection designs, that will protect the ecosystems that underpin life in Tonga,” said Director of the Department of Climate Change (DCC) under MEIDECC, Lu’isa Tu‘i‘afitu Malolo.
Pacific Communities Leading Solutions from the Ocean’s Frontlines
For Tonga and many Pacific Small Island Developing States, coastlines are far more than physical boundaries. They support fisheries, cultural heritage, biodiversity, transportation, recreation, and community well-being. As sea-level rise, coastal erosion, storm surges, and extreme weather events intensify, safeguarding coastal areas has become essential for protecting both people and the ocean-dependent livelihoods upon which communities rely.
Using existing data to understand flood risks, the proposed coastal construction involves constructing a revetment along the existing vegetation line while maintaining current road elevations. The design will also preserve coastal trees, protect adjacent land allotments and create a natural vegetated buffer between the shoreline and the road.
Community representatives expressed strong support for the design, demonstrating the importance of locally informed adaptation measures that protect both infrastructure and the natural coastal ecosystems that serve as the first line of defence against climate impacts.
Talanoa Hala‘api‘api of Kolonga emphasised the importance of maintaining and improving access to the shoreline, particularly for fishers who depend on the coast for their daily livelihoods.
The discussions also addressed coastal ecosystem protection, construction management, and environmental and social safeguards. Feedback from communities will continue to inform detailed engineering designs and environmental assessment processes as the Project progresses, and new data is being prepared to further inform the project’s progress.
Strengthening National Coordination for a Climate-Resilient and Ocean-Resilient Tonga
The week’s engagements concluded on with the Joint National Action Plan (JNAP) Taskforce Meeting, convened by the Department of Climate Change under MEIDECC and chaired byLuisa Tu’i’afitu Malolo, Director of Climate Change.
The meeting brought together government ministries, civil society organisations, community representatives, and development partners to review progress and strengthen coordination across the Project’s outputs.
“A key outcome of these engagements is the Taskforce’s endorsement of the proposed coastal infrastructure designs for both the Nukuleka-Talafo’ou and Manuka-Kolonga sites,” Malolo added.
“These are important milestone toward implementation, subject to detailed design and the completion of environmental and social safeguard requirements.”
The Taskforce also reviewed the draft concept note for a National Dialogue on Climate-Resilient Land Use and Long-Term Adaptation, recognising that sustainable management of land, coastlines, and marine resources is essential for building resilience in the face of growing climate risks. The Ministry of Lands, Survey, Planning and Natural Resources (MLSPNR) was designated to coordinate preparations for the dialogue.
Bringing the Blue Pacific Voice to COP31
For Pacific Island countries, climate change is not only an environmental challenge but also an ocean challenge. Healthy coastlines and marine ecosystems are central to food security, livelihoods, cultural identity and economic resilience.
Tonga’s progress reflects the importance of community-led adaptation, where local knowledge and technical solutions help shape investments that respond to people’s needs.
As the Pacific prepares for COP31, the project offers an example of how climate finance can support practical action on the ground, protecting communities and the ocean on which they depend.
The project will now advance detailed engineering designs, environmental and social safeguard assessments, and continued engagement with communities ahead of implementation….PACNEWS
For more information, please contact: Afuafu Kautoke, TCRP National Project Manager, Project Management Unit – Department of Climate, MEIDECC, e: afuafu.kautoke@undp.org
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The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
WHO Western Pacific Member States agree to urgently accelerate progress on key health priorities
MANILA, 28 OCTOBER 2026 (WHO)—Health leaders from across the World Health Organisation (WHO) Western Pacific region concluded their annual meeting last week after endorsing action plans to address lagging progress on hypertension, tobacco control and immunisation, and adopting guidelines for the safe and effective use of artificial intelligence in health care.
Health ministers and more than 200 other participants – representing 2.2 billion people, over a quarter of the world population– gathered for the seventy-seventh session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific to address those four urgent issues and other pressing public health concerns.
Tackling artificial intelligence, or AI, WHO Member States acknowledged that its significant potential to transform and strengthen health systems also carries risks.
After careful consideration, the Regional Committee – WHO’s governing body in the Western Pacific – endorsed an action plan, Guidance for Responsible AI in Health in the Western Pacific region, that countries can use in designing and rolling out AI safely and effectively in health systems according to specific country needs and capacities.
Hypertension, which impacts one in three adults in the region, is a silent killer, its symptoms often masked until severe complications arise, including cardiovascular disease, stroke, disability and premature death. But detection, treatment and blood pressure control remain unacceptably low in many parts of the Western Pacific.
The Regional Committee endorsed the Regional Plan for Accelerating Hypertension Control in the Western Pacific, which calls for integrating hypertension prevention and control as core functions of people-centred primary health care, with particular attention to equity and underserved populations.
At a time when measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases are making a comeback, the Western Pacific Region is off track to achieve its immunisation targets, particularly among children and underserved populations.
Member States endorsed the Regional Plan to Accelerate Immunisation Progress in the Western Pacific, which calls for countries to strengthen national immunisation systems and services, with a view to identifying and addressing barriers to vaccination and ensuring equitable access to immunisation for all – a particular challenge at a time of constrained national budgets and declining donor support.
Turning to the final priority on the agenda, Member States endorsed Accelerating Progress towards the 2030 Tobacco Control Target in the Western Pacific region, a plan to combat one of the leading public health challenges in the region, which causes an estimated 3 million deaths annually.
The acceleration plan addresses recent challenges including tobacco industry interference in policy-making and aggressive campaigns to market new products, including e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches, to young people. Most countries in the Region are not on track to achieve the regional target of a 30 percent relative reduction in the prevalence of tobacco use by 2030.
“While all these steps outlined across the four priority areas build on existing WHO frameworks, our Member States have recognised the urgency in addressing significant gaps and challenges undermining health and well-being,” said Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific.
“Not only have countries pledged to swiftly tackle these issues, but they have also committed to genuine collaboration regionwide, sharing experiences and lessons learnt through the convening power of WHO, a role we take very seriously,” he added.
Besides the four main agenda items, Member States also participated in a ministerial roundtable on exploring voluntary regional collaboration mechanisms to improve access to safe, effective, quality-assured and affordable health products.
On the sidelines of the Regional Committee, the Institute of Philanthropy and the Regional Office for the Western Pacific announced a new four-year healthy ageing initiative involving WHO and The Chinese University of Hong Kong to advance approaches that enable older people to maintain functional ability and live well in their communities. Supported by the Institute and The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust through a contribution of approximately US$7 million, the initiative forms part of a wider programme of work tied to the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021–2030)
“Over the past four days at the seventy-seventh Regional Committee, Member States have consistently underscored WHO’s role in supporting governments and other health partners, recognition for which we are truly grateful,” said Dr Piukala.
“This reiterates WHO’s value-add to countries in our Region and indeed globally, in advancing multilateralism in health – so crucial to our vision and mandate of Health for All,” he said…..PACNEWS
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The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Samoa strengthens used oil management to prevent pollution
APIA, 28 OCTOBER 2026 (SPREP)—Samoa is taking the lead in the Pacific to strengthen its used oil management system through practical training aimed at preventing environmental pollution, protecting human health and preventing the risk of further accumulation of used oil stockpiles.
Approximately 60,000 litres of used oil are currently stockpiled at the Tafaigata waste disposal site, with work underway to arrange its export and safe management, according to Fuimaono Katenia Rasch, Assistant Chief Executive Officer of the Waste Management and Pollution Control Division at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE).
“While addressing this existing stockpile is important, we must also strengthen our long-term management arrangements to prevent further accumulation,” Rasch said.
Held at the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) campus in Apia from 26- 29 October, the training brings together stakeholders involved in used oil generation, collection, storage, transport and environmental management.
Participants and facilitators of the SWAP2 Used Oil Management Training Programme at the SPREP campus in Apia, Samoa, from 26–29 October 2026.
Funded by the Agence française de développement (AFD), the programme is implemented by SPREP in collaboration with MNRE and delivered by Upskills Consultants.
The training marks the launch of the Sustainable Waste Actions in the Pacific – Phase 2 (SWAP2) Used Oil Management Training Programme, which will subsequently be delivered in other participating Pacific Island countries, including Fiji, Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
Participants are learning about the safe management of used oil throughout its lifecycle, from generation and collection to storage, transport, export and recovery. The training also covers spill prevention and response, fire safety, occupational health and safety, personal protective equipment, record-keeping and reporting.
Rasch highlighted the challenges faced by businesses in managing used oil, including limited facilities, collection arrangements and recovery options. She stressed that willingness to participate must be supported by practical, accessible systems, clear responsibilities and an appropriate regulatory framework.
Fuimaono Katenia Rasch, Assistant Chief Executive Officer of the Waste Management and Pollution Control Division at Samoa’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, highlights the importance of strengthening used oil management systems to prevent future stockpiles.
The training provides an opportunity for government agencies, private sector representatives and other stakeholders to discuss these challenges and identify practical approaches suited to Samoa.
Susana Telakau, SPREP’s Solid Waste Management Adviser, said that addressing the existing stockpile through export overseas was only part of the solution.
“The longer-term challenge is to establish a system that can manage the used oil generated every year, without allowing another stockpile to develop,” Telakau said.
By strengthening participants’ knowledge and practical skills, the training aims to improve used oil management in the workplaces, helping prevent contamination and reduce risks to workers, communities and the environment.
Susana Telakau, SPREP’s Solid Waste Management Adviser, emphasises the need for long-term solutions to manage used oil and prevent the accumulation of future stockpiles.
Solomona Junior Solomona from the Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure’s (MWTI) Maritime Division highlighted the benefits of the training in improving his understanding of safe used oil management and its importance in the workplace.
“The training has helped me understand the importance of handling and storing used oil correctly, as well as ensuring it is collected and disposed of safely. I have also gained a better understanding of the risks that improper management can pose to workers, communities and the marine environment. This knowledge will help us make better decisions and improve our practices at work,” he said.
Strengthening used oil management requires continued co-operation between government, businesses and development partners. Reliable collection and storage arrangements, safe transport, appropriate recovery options and clear regulatory responsibilities are important to preventing future stockpiles.
Through the SWAP2 project, SPREP and its partners are supporting efforts to strengthen national waste management capacity and promote safer, more sustainable used oil management across Samoa and the Pacific….PACNEWS
