COVID closures and Fiji schools
By Epeli Krishan Sen Vakalalabure and Lotarakuita Anand Sen Saurara Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster of Hogwarts in the Harry Potter series notes that time is a mysterious thing and, when meddled with, could have severe
Colin Philp: Conservationist, businessman, sailor
By Netani Rika Just before Christmas, 20 Fijian children spent a week of the school holidays learning how to sail in the waters of Laucala Bay. Under the watchful eyes of the Uto Ni Yalo Trust volunteers, they learned
US labels Pacific Islands a climate ‘region of concern’
By Nic Maclellan A major assessment by US intelligence agencies lists the Pacific islands as one of two “regions of great concern” in the world, because of the adverse effects of climate change. The assessment of
Pacific Islands in the wake of AUKUS
By Kaliopate Tavola Australia also needs to temper its geopolitics under Indo-Pacific/AUKUS to allow breathing space for PICs to determine their respective China, et al, policies. This would necessarily mean a
Hashing for fun, well-being and harmony
By Jason Jett “…You don’t know where you’re going, and where this adventure will lead you.” “There is no racism in hash,” said David Jamieson, owner of Yacht Help Fiji, while welcoming into the fold this
Stan and the Earth Force talk Vanuatu music
By Rowena Singh Stan Antas, founder and lead singer of Vanuatu’s Stan & the Earth Force, says music has always been part of his life, and part of Vanuatu’s culture. “We're big on reggae here and our local
Movers and Shakers
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has reshuffled his cabinet with the return of Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce and Industry Minister Sam Basil and Defence Minister Solan Mirisim to full office. Basil
Opinion: Promoting kava exports, ignoring sustainability
On 1 December 2021, Australia launched a pilot program for the commercial importation of kava from the Pacific islands, joining a modest global boom in trade in this iconic Pacific product. As Pacific Trade Invest
Opinion: Europe’s efforts to vilify Vanuatu’s Citizenship Program are tone deaf, protectionist and foolish
In a press call on 12 January, the European Union announced that it may look to suspend its bilateral agreement with Vanuatu, which allows citizens of the Pacific nation to enter, visa free. This obstruction—which
Temesia Tuicaumia: Marketer, fashion designer, educationalist
Temesia Tuicaumia is a humble individual with an upbeat personality and an entrepreneur who owns his own consultancy firm, the founder of an educational institution, an influencer, and a marketing specialist. His
From Aspirations to Inspirations: The Marshall Islands Fishing Story
The story of how the Marshall Islands went from being a bystander in commercial fishing in the Pacific to operating the world’s busiest tuna transshipment port, two fish processing facilities, a purse seine vessel net
Opinion: Guam, a prime military target for the Chinese
Guam remains a key target for the Chinese military. During the Cold War Guam was a target of the Soviet military in part because Sumay was home to Navy submarines that carried intercontinental ballistic missiles
Political leadership in PNG: women parliamentarians in the 2017 election
The three women parliamentarians who were elected in the 2012 Papua New Guinea (PNG) election failed to win re-election in the 2017 general election. Their electoral defeats only deepen the concern for gender
Tonga volcanic eruption: Update
The confirmed death toll as a result of the Tonga volcanic eruption stands at two, although there may be other, yet unconfirmed casualties. There are concerns that there are growing fuel shortages, and panic
Tonga volcanic eruption: Lau update
A government vessel is expected to depart for Lau today taking Fiji government officials to survey the extent of the damage wrought as a result of the Tonga volcanic eruption over the weekend. And one casualty has been
Pacific Person of the Year 2021
It was not until well into our deliberations over the Islands Business Pacific Person of the Year that a definite theme emerged: the representation of powerful Pacific women in our final list. This year we couldn’t
Whispers
MSG boss shuffling After months of uncertainties, the sub-regional bloc of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) may be moving to announce its new Director General early in the New Year, more than a year after the office
Pacific Person of the Year: Fiame Naomi Mata’afa’s long line of firsts
Fiame Naomi Mata’afa needed no coaxing as to who should be credited for preventing her island nation from descending into chaos the moment Samoa’s Court of Appeal ruled that her Fa’atuatua I le Atua Samoa ua Tasi
Pacific Person of the Year: Unaisi Vuniwaqa
“As I look back on my life, I realise that every time I thought I was being rejected from something good, I was actually being re-directed to something better,” Unaisi Bolatolu Vuniwaqa posted on her LinkedIn
Honourable mention: Our young climate activists
While our leading political regional agency named a series of climate champions ahead of COP26 in Glasgow this year (controversially all of them men), the region’s young climate champions are honourable mentions in
Honourable mention: The Fijiana Sevens team
Fiji’s Women’s National Sevens team, the Fijiana, brought joy to a COVID-ravaged nation this year with their bronze-medal performance at the Olympic Games. They have gone on to finish the season strongly, with
What comes next in New Caledonia?
By Nic Maclellan New Caledonia’s third referendum on self-determination under the Noumea Accord has returned an overwhelming majority against independence: 96.5% of people who went to the polls voted No to