Skilled workers shortage worry
A growing shortage of skilled workers in Fiji is causing concern among members of the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation (FCEF), and they want Government to increase the number of countries covered under its
Dionisia Tabureguci
No justice for West Papua at PIF
The plight of West Papuans received little focus at the Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting this year, however independence leader, Benny Wenda remains confident their time will come. London-based Wenda recently
PICTA in the slow lane
My article published in this magazine in June 2021 was entitled ‘Fast-tracking PICTA’. This was a reference to the Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement, a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) intended for the Pacific
Courage and impact
Lagipoiva honoured for climate coverage The editor of Pacific Environment Weekly in Samoa, Dr. Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson, became the first Pacific Island journalist to receive a ‘Journalists of Courage and
Commonwealth Games chances
South Pacific islands will be proudly represented at this month’s Commonwealth Games in the city of Birmingham. Yes, we have the usual rugby stars from Fiji who are still targeting their first Commonwealth Games gold
Precise Digital signs big Pacific names
New Zealand based company Precise Digital - a digital and online music distribution and publishing company - is concentrating on helping Polynesian and international artists to get full value from digital distribution
Movers and Shakers
Pacific health expert and Niue national Dr Collin Tukuitonga has been recognised with the Knight Companion of the New Zealand order of Merit in this year’s Queen’s Birthday honours. Dr Tukuitonga said: “It’s
“I thought there was a war happening”
A tsunami that swept over the Lauan island of Moce following a volcanic eruption in Tonga in January left villagers in wonder. As Nasau villager Cama Uluilakeba said: "At first I thought there was a war happening when I
Grace Road expands while police investigation remains open
(OCCRP) Grace Road Church believes a nuclear-tinged Judgment Day is rapidly approaching — and that Fiji is the post-apocalyptic promised land from which they’ll feed humanity. But despite repeated accusations of
Early voting in Cook Islands
With nine days left until the General Election on Monday, 1 August, 174 people have already exercised their right to vote, says Cook Islands chief electoral officer Taggy Tangimetua. Tangimetua said a lot of the votes
PNG price rises
The prices of goods and services in Papua New Guinea have continued to increase since the second quarter of 2021, according to the Bank South Pacific (BSP) Financial Group Ltd. The consumer price index (CPI) rating is
Porgera massacre shocks PNG
The district hospital in Porgera, Enga remains closed after a brutal massacre in Porgera town Tuesday afternoon in which 18 people were killed. The massacre has rocked Enga province and shocked Papua New Guinea.
Fiji is fully booked until October
Fiji’s 13,000 hotel room- inventory is fully booked until October, signalling a strong post-COVID comeback for the tourism sector. Speaking at a Reserve Bank of Fiji-organised post-budget discussion, Fiji Hotel
Samoa at PIF2022: on gender and geopolitics
Samoa’s Fiame Naomi Mata’afa is attending her first Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting as Prime Minister in Suva this week. As leaders gather for their retreat today, Islands Business contributor, Sera
Cook Islands: “Uphold the decision making process of our Forum leaders”
The Cook Islands representative to the Pacific Islands Forum, Tepaeru Herrmann says they respect Kiribati’s decision to withdraw from the Forum, but that upholding the decision to appoint former Henry Puna to the
Historic deals on maritime boundaries at the Forum
Many Pacific island states are really large ocean states, with vast Exclusive Economic Zones. As local enterprises and overseas corporations seek to exploit the region’s vast ocean resources – from fisheries to deep
USP “students are hurting” says Pro Chancellor
As Pacific leaders meet in Suva to discuss deepening regionalism through the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, USP, the region’s university continues to suffer the impacts of continued funding
Legal jostling over Marshall Islands’ Forum status derailing unity efforts
Marshall Islands President David Kabua will not be in Suva for the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting this week because members of his own government have “derailed” an effort to reverse the country’s
“We absolutely must preserve the unity of the Forum”
French Polynesia at the regional summit For Jean-Christophe Bouissou, Vice President of French Polynesia, the 51st Pacific Islands Forum is an opportunity to highlight the ongoing challenge of climate change for the
Forum leaders meet to consolidate Blue Pacific agenda
For the first time since 2019, presidents and prime ministers from around the region will gather face-to-face in Suva this week, to continue the 51st Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting. The centrepiece of the summit
Forum mission questions credibility of New Caledonia referendum
Last December, the Pacific Islands Forum sent a ministerial mission to New Caledonia, to monitor the conduct of the third referendum on self-determination under the Noumea Accord. Their report, obtained by Islands
Cop that! Preparing for climate talks in Egypt – and the Pacific?
As leaders gather in Suva for the 51st Pacific Islands Forum, island nations are also gearing up for the next round of global climate negotiations, to be held in November in Egypt. This week’s Forum summit in Fiji
PIF: Women leaders seek to breathe new life into old commitments
The message from the first ever Pacific Islands Forum Women Leaders meeting last month was clear, commitments they made a decade ago to gender equality need revitalisation. In the decade since the signing the Pacific
