PS looks to 80% vaccination rate before lifting of restrictions
Fiji’s Permanent Secretary for Health says he’s looking at an 80% vaccination rate before restrictions on movement, gatherings and workplaces can be further relaxed. Currently 230,000 people have received their
Marshalls vaccinates fishermen in Majuro
The Marshall Islands has launched Covid-19 vaccinations for commercial fishermen temporarily in port Majuro — possibly the first Pacific island to vaccinate foreign fishermen. With the country vaccination programme
We need arrests
Testimony to the PNG Parliamentary Committee on Gender-Based Violence This is the edited testimony of Ms Denga Ilave, Lae Operations Director for Femili PNG, delivered on Monday 24 May to PNG’s Special Parliamentary
Aust gives another F$42.5 million to Fiji for budget support
Australia has supplied Fiji with direct budget support, vaccines, rations for front liners, funds for NGO emergency food distribution, medical supplies including thermal guns and other forms of support in responding to
Brisbane set to host 2032 Olympics
In a move that would prove a big boost to Pacific Islands athletes, Brisbane is set to be awarded the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games next month after clearing the penultimate hurdle in the International Olympic
The Magic of Solomons’ Sky Islands
In 1568 the Spaniard Álavaro de Mendaña first set eyes on the verdant green rolling hills and ridgelines of a South Pacific island chain. He later named this island – part of the northern chain in the double-chained
Media Council condemns attack on the media at University of PNG
The Media Council of Papua New Guinea (MCPNG) has condemned an attack by male students at the University of Papua New Guinea on media representatives who were covering a protest march staged by female students on
PNG vaccine expiring soon
With the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine from the Covax facility expiring next month, Papua New Guinea health officials are concerned that some may waste due to the slow uptake among health workers and the public. Deputy
Wallis and Futuna to return vaccine stocks
Wallis and Futuna plans to return about a third of its Covid-19 vaccine stocks by the end of the month because of resistance to the inoculation programme. France sent 18,000 doses to Wallis in March when a community
Weightlifters Toua and Morea settling in well pre-Olympics: Coffa
Papua New Guinea Olympics hopefuls, weightlifters Dika Toua and Morea Baru have both settled in well in Melbourne, Australia for their preparations for the Tokyo Olympic Games in July. Oceania Weightlifting Federation
Keeping the bank door open for Pacific peoples
Now is the time for New Zealand banks to act with courage to keep providing banking services, including money remittances, to the Pacific Islands open. The scale and complexity of the challenges facing Pacific Island
Vanuatu receives Sinopharm doses
Vanuatu has officially received the 20,000 doses of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine and 22,400 syringes from the Chinese Government Monday. China’s Sinopharm was the second vaccine to arrive in Port Vila, a month after
PNG economy may recover when second LNG project begins, but debt will rise
Ratings agency, S&P Global Ratings expects the Papua New Guinea to recover when the second LNG project commences next year, but has maintained a Negative outlook for the economy. In its latest review of the South
Vanuatu beach volleyballers one step away from history
IOC Media Just one tournament stands between Vanuatu’s women’s beach volleyball team and a historic berth at the Olympic Games this summer at Tokyo 2020. Since Vanuatu’s first appearance on the Olympic stage
USP Council Ethics committee to look at leadership allegations
The University of the South Pacific Council has agreed that allegations levelled against Pro-Chancellor Winston Thompson and the Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee, Mahmood Khan, be referred to an Ethics Committee.
Vanuatu COVID-19 vaccine rollout underway
Vanuatu has finally started rolling out COVID-19 vaccines, after 24,000 doses of the Astra-Zeneca vaccine arrived through the COVAX facility. Health care workers, border and quarantine staff, public transport drivers
Uncertain times for Fiji-listed companies
Fiji’s second COVID-19 wave continues to batter the economy, and a series of market updates released by companies listed on the South Pacific Stock Exchange make for sobering reading. None of the listed companies are
Green shipping boost: China Navigation supports Marshall Islands’ carbon tax proposal
(SPLASH)China Navigation is to sign for a revolutionary sail-assisted newbuild this month as part of a package of green measures announced today. The Swire subsidiary has also come out in favour of the proposal put
Pacific WTO members urged to support vaccine move
Pacific islands members of the World Trade Organisation are being urged to support a proposal designed to make COVID-19 vaccines more available to developing countries. Fiji and Vanuatu have already joined as sponsors
Fiji’s Reserve Bank cuts select interest rates
The Reserve Bank of Fiji has reduced interest rates in a bid to reduce borrowing costs for businesses and households. Commercial banks and licensed credit institutions operating in Fiji can now access funding from the
Fiji GDP down 9.7%: Reserve Bank
The Reserve Bank of Fiji reports that for the first nine months of the current fiscal year, Fiji’s government recorded a net deficit of F$905.0 million (-9.7% of GDP). Government expenditure ($2,256 million) almost
The new diplomacy: Vaccines and soft power
Despite efforts to coordinate coronavirus vaccine delivery on a regional and global basis, Pacific Island governments are increasingly meeting their vaccine needs through bilateral arrangements, a situation which is
Putting Fiji first; a Chiefly sacrifice
By Netani Rika When Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara sailed over the horizon to his chiefly home on Lakeba in May 2000, it was perhaps the most incongruous exit of any Fijian politician. As the patrol boat Kiro carried
