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
American Hospital CEO defends recruiting nurses from Fiji
Hiring nurses from Fiji and the Philippines, instead of neighboring Samoa has raised a lot of eyebrows. During a press conference at the ceremony to welcome nurses from Fiji, LBJ Hospital CEO, Moefaauo Bll Emmsley
Samoa in cartel competition discussions
Samoan competition law enforcement officials will be among others from across the Pacific in Auckland with support from the Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative (PSDI) for a roundtable discussion ahead of the
Fraud case against ex-French Polynesia president dismissed
The French judiciary has thrown out an alleged forgery and fraud case against the former French Polynesian president Gaston Flosse, relating to a property transaction in Paris. In 2018, Flosse and his son Reginald had
PNG 2023 budget passed unanimously
Papua New Guinea’s 2023 National Budget presented by the Minister for Treasury Ian Ling-Stuckey was finally passed by the Parliament very late on Friday afternoon with an absolute majority of 86 votes – Nil
Impact of Japan’s wastewater plan will be ‘devastating’: Moss-Christian
The newly appointed executive director of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) tasked to take on the cause of protecting the world’s tuna stocks has raised alarm by Japan’s plan to release
PNG flights cancelled over ongoing dispute
An ongoing dispute between Puma Energy and the Bank of PNG has restricted the supply of fuel, causing domestic flights in Papua New Guinea to be cancelled. In a statement, Puma Energy has decided to restrict the supply
Tonga wins bid for SPC’s first Polynesian Sub-Regional Office
Tonga has won the bid to host the Pacific Community’s first-ever Polynesian Sub-regional Office. The decision was made by the Pacific Community’s Committee of Representatives of Governments and
Men’s World Rugby 7s series reduced in size
There will be an equal number of men’s and women’s teams in the World Rugby Sevens Series from December 2023 and a reimagination of the competition format, under changes adopted by the world governing body.
We Say: Disunity, fear and personal attacks
When Fiji emerges from the December 14 elections, the nation will have a government it truly deserves. The new parliament will be a house which mirrors the Fijian people, their hopes and aspirations. It will also
Fiji Votes: A case of youth apathy or activism?
Young voters again have the opportunity to determine the result of Fiji’s election and the direction of the country in December, but many feel that political parties and candidates have failed to address the issues
