Forum SG ‘remains confident’ in Fiji’s electoral process
Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General, Henry Puna says he remains confident in Fiji’s constitutional processes to ensure a peaceful transition towards the formation of a new government. The Secretary-General
Kiribati government looking to get flights back in the air
Kiribati’s transport boss says his ministry aims to re-establish air service connections in the Line Islands. The Minister of Information, Communication and Transport, Tekeeua Tarati, said part of the work is to
Seven Vanuatu Opposition MPs defect to Govt side
Vanuatu leader of Opposition, Bob Loughman, has confirmed that the President of the Rural Development Party (RDP), Jay Ngwele, and six Party members are no longer members of the Opposition bloc. This follows on their
While West Papua faces an ‘existential threat’, PNG plans defence pact with Jakarta: Kogoya
“We are part of them and they are part of us,” declared politician Augustine Rapa, founder and president of the PNG Liberal Democratic Party, on the 61st anniversary of the struggle for West Papuan independence
‘No faith’ in vote count after glitch in elections results app: Rabuka
Fiji’s main opposition leader Sitiveni Rabuka says he doesn’t have faith in the vote count underway from Wednesday’s general election, and will complain to the Fijian Elections Office (FEO). Provisional
Be wary of outsiders, says FSM President Panuelo
One of the Pacific’s top leaders has endorsed Australia’s newly inked security treaty with Vanuatu, warning that the Pacific “family” has to make sure outside forces do not come in and disrupt the peace and
France rules out New Caledonia referendums for five years
The French government says it won’t organise another referendum in New Caledonia during the president’s current five-year term. A year ago, then-overseas minister Sebastien Lecornu said he planned to have a
Observers Group urges Fijians to vote tomorrow
The Multinational Observer Group (MOG) says it has not observed any irregularities in the electoral steps or significant issues that would prevent registered voters from casting their ballot tomorrow. In a pre-election
Australian delegation visits the Pacific amid security concerns
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong is this week leading a bi-partisan parliamentary delegation to the Pacific to demonstrate Australia’s unwavering commitment to the region amid growing strategic competition.
Extension of contracts disallowed: Vanuatu Labour Commissioner
Vanuatu’s Department of Labour and Employment Services, through Commissioner Murielle Meltenoven has announced this week their decision to disallow the extension of contracts for Ni-Vanuatu seasonal workers
Honolulu-Rarotonga flight to commence in May 2023
Tourism operators now have the North American market in their sights, with the first airfares of the Honolulu-Rarotonga flight going online this week. The flights, in partnership with Hawaiian Airlines, will cost
Samoa and NZ reign in South Africa 7s
After three days of HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series action in Cape Town, Samoa’s men and New Zealand’s women ended the event – and 2022 – in style. Samoa’s men put in a brilliant performance to defeat
U.S. aims for ‘top line’ deal on aid to three Pacific nations
The United States hopes to reach agreement on “top line” numbers for assistance to three Pacific Island countries by the year end, a State Department official told Reuters on Thursday, part of negotiations
Global battle for skilled workers
There is an increasingly global battle for skilled workers, said Sara Elder, International Labour Organisation’s Senior Economist. She made the comments at a press conference on the margins of the ILO’s 17th
An update on the “good governance coup”: political will and corruption in Fiji
In 2006 Fiji’s current prime minister, Frank Bainimarama, seized power from a government that had been elected only seven months earlier. Named the “good governance coup”, the takeover was justified by concerns
USP saga focus of campaign rally
People’s Alliance Party Leader (PAP) Sitiveni Rabuka said the USP saga, which has seen the Fiji government withhold funds from the university and deport its vice chancellor, has brought shame to Fiji. Rabuka said
EU adding tax-haven blacklist unfair: Chikoti
The European Union (EU) blacklisting member states of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific (OACPS) has been described as a “fig leaf” exercise. OACPS Secretary General, Georges Rebelo Chikoti told
Palau businesses likely to participate in military tourism
For the first time, the U.S. MWR (Military Morale Welfare & Recreational Centre) has reached out to Palau businesses to discuss opportunities to participate in military tourism. The Joint Region Marianas Warfighter
PNG targets K200 billion economy by 2032
Prime Minister James Marape says Papua New Guinea has been working on five major projects in the last three years to reach a K200 billion (US$56.8 billion) economy. “The projects are the Papua LNG, Pogera Gold Mine,
Cyber attack risks will remain, says Vanuatu PM
The risks of cyber-attacks on the Government network will remain. Hacking the system is “bread and butter” for hackers around the world. But hopefully, a new system is in place to build security mechanisms to detect
Independent assessment of former Bougainville mine due to open
An independent environmental and human rights legacy impact assessment of Rio Tinto’s former Panguna mine in the autonomous Papua New Guinea region Bougainville is due to begin this week. Last year, Rio Tinto
Negative economic growth on Pacific countries due to COVID-19
The Pacific Islands experienced negative economic growth of -2.3 percent in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, stated the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Director General, Gilbert F. Houngbo in a report tabled
OACPS to support Vanuatu draft resolution on climate justice
The 76 member states of the Organisation of the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) have indicated that it will support Vanuatu’s climate campaign to seek an advisory opinion from the International Court of
