Pacific community sharpens focus to meet islands development needs
AT the Conference of the Pacific Community last week, our country and territory members set the direction of our development organisation for the next five years. The Pacific Community (SPC) has been providing
Safe no more
ON Oct. 11, Palau was shocked after a 37-year old government employee was found dead on the street in the capital of Koror. Kenneth Koshiba was shot with a gas-powered air rifle. This kind of violence is not a usual
WEST PAPUA Activists fight on
ONE year from now the People of Papua will mark the 50th anniversary of their independence from the Dutch and the raising for the first time of the Morning Star flag. Today, the raising of that flag is considered a
A bull in the China shop
Spain and China: Rising threats to regional tuna stocks THE harbour in Suva’s capital is dotted with boats – long line fishing vessels flying the Chinese flag – tied up for months, waiting for the
What the Pacific means to China
TUNA is not China’s only interest in the region. With mining and timber resources in Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Fiji, the Asian Dragon has its sights firmly set on the Pacific. There is also the
Activist: Don’t let them in
WITH Pacific eyes watching every move made by China in its slow, systemic advance into the region and its tightening grip on fisheries stocks, the latest threat has been largely overlooked. Coming out of the Indian
Renewed momentum at tuna talks
AS the world heads into the end of year festive season, Pacific families across the region will be sending travellers off to two key negotiation events of global significance: the COP 21 climate change talks in Paris
PNA expands control of tuna industry
WHILE New Zealand promotes a new plan for tuna management in the region, the Forum Fisheries Agency pushes a fisheries road map, the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) waffles on action to control
Corrupted trade routes in the Pacific
Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Solomons and Samoa top global trade estimates for illicit financial flows THREE of the world’s top ten most corrupted trade routes involve Pacific Islands countries. In the Pacific,
Pacific countries lose US $12.1billion in illicit financial flows
EIGHT Pacific countries suffered losses of US$12.1 billion over 10 years in what global finance reformers describe as “illicit financial flows.” Papua New Guinea ($4.3b) and Fiji ($2.7b) recorded the most
Tough times for nickel
ON the London Metals Exchange, the price of nickel has been on a rollercoaster. With slowing demand from China, the LME price has nearly halved since 2011. This poses major challenges for New Caledonia, which holds more
Kiribati celebrates new chapter in education
THE recent opening of a new campus in Kiribati by The University of the South Pacific (USP) has been described as the beginning of a new chapter in higher education in the country. President of Kiribati, His Excellency
BEST OF 2015
The Rugby World Cup, Netball World Champs, World Sevens Series and the 15th Pacific Games dominated the sporting landscape this year, but Pacific athletes and teams made their mark in so many other arenas outside of
PNG BUBBLE bursts
AFTER years of unassailable sustainable growth, the Papua New Guinea economy is in trouble. The once hailed as the Pacific’s tiger economy is struggling to stay afloat because of a spiraling
Battle for the Pacific
Phone provider pushes into content market LESS than a decade after entering the Pacific market, Digicel is poised to become the biggest player in the region. Founded in the Caribbean in 2001,
No sign of digital TV
Carrier scurries to make tower deal FIJI’S $16million national digital television platform was announced with much fanfare in 2014 and was to have been launched in July this year. That date later
Fiber optic bill signed into law
THE path to bring increased Internet speed in Palau is well on its way following the signing into law of the fiber optic bill on September 20. President Remengesau signed
Act to ensure participation for prevention
THE annual UN Security Council Open Debate on UN Security Council Resolution 1325 hosted by Spain recalled the active mobilisation of women’s groups globally after the 1995 Fourth
WE Say
Vanuatu teaches region lesson in governance WHILE October was a tumultuous month for the people of Vanuatu, events in the former condominium taught the region valuable lessons in governance. Across the Pacific,
Pulpit platform for battle
Anglican primate tackles island issue head on WHEN the Archbishop of York passed through the Pacific in August, his visit went relatively unnoticed by the world. Even the local media confined Reverend Dr
STOP THE PLUNDER!
On the high seas, a fight to save our fish stocks FOR the past few months, Greenpeace’s famous Rainbow Warrior ship has been in Pacific waters to monitor the illegal fishing that is destroying jobs and
The world’s eyes turn to bountiful atolls full of guts and promise
Palau lures tourist dollars with its treasured riches SEVERAL countries are now picking up what Palau has started. AS early as 2013, Palau President Tommy Remengesau Jr. has proposed
Haven in the Pacific
Lost millions from restricted fishing return with tourists THE Senate passed the Palau National Marine Sanctuary (PNMS) legislation on third and final reading on Oct. 15 with amendments from the House version of the