A Fijian Memoir
Footprints of a Girmitya’s Grandson Quite often prominent people are encouraged by their family and friends to write their book, tell their stories, document their rise or fall. More often than not it is not so
Larry Thomas
Youth our greatest resource
As I contemplated writing this article for International Youth Day this year, I was struck by the number of confident, articulate and passionate young people I have met whilst at SPREP. Many of these young people hold
Tuna access in doubt after talks fail to seal fisheries deal
Fishing for 40 United States-flagged purse seiners is in jeopardy for 2015 after negotiations between the US and Pacific nations last month failed to seal an access treaty. Although agreement was reached two years ago
Global mobile phone giant enters PNG, Solomons partnership
Bmobile Vodafone opened for business in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea on July 16, days after Vodafone announced its expansion to PNG and the Solomon Islands in a non-equity arrangement with local partners. Group
Mobile companies reinforce presence in Fiji
Leading mobile phone companies announced major developments recently with Vodafone Fiji now fully Fijian owned while its rival Digicel rolled out a massive AU$40.4 million expansion of its Fiji operations. Digicel
Fiji engages Solomon Islands in flight fight
FliFlights between Fiji and Solomon Islands by the two countries’ national airlines have remained suspended due to disputes over flight times. Solomon Island authorities say Fiji started the dispute when it banned
Land – source of sustenance
OOn behalf of the Melanesian Indigenous Land Defense Alliance (MILDA), we are writing to provide a different view on a recent editorial promoting land registration for the Pacific. We wonder who authored this letter and
Reaping the whirlwind of terror
An ambitious king in ancient India, so the story goes, prayed fervently to the almighty to give him a soldier so powerful that no weapon could destroy him and whenever he raised his right hand over the head of an
Employment a serious concern for the region
In the last week of this month and the first week of the next, leaders and representatives from nearly 200 countries will gather in Samoa. There will also be a host of experts of all persuasions, scientists,
Whispers
More trouble for the multi-million dollar tuna industrial zone in Madang Province, on the northern shores of Papua New Guinea. Work on the proposed Kina 212 million (AU$90m) project has been put on hold because
Greenpeace
I would like to express condolences on behalf of Greenpeace for the passing of Laisa Taga. Our deepest thoughts are with her colleagues and family in their
Marshall Islands move into commercial fish farming
‘Moi’ fish farms to expand The history of the Marshall Islands is littered with so many failed attempts to turn aquaculture and fish farming ideas into commercially viable businesses that it is a wonder
Japan’s Abe spurs PNG interest
Gas supplies sufficient for 25 years TWO new Japanese-initiated petrochemical plants – one each in Papua New Guinea and West Papua, Indonesia are set to pick up green lights as feasibility studies open new hopes
Pacific islands work on updating their sea charts
SPC starts work in Vanuatu The majority of the Pacific’s underwater charts are outdated with some of them dating back to Captain James Cook’s expeditions to the region in the 18th century. Secretariat of the
PNA day fee hike puts pressure on fishing fleets
States want greater share of income The Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) continue to set the pace in fisheries management in the western Pacific and the group’s latest decisions are upsetting tuna fishing
SPC wins satellite imaging awards
Team covers activity costs with workload Many eyes will be focused on the Pacific Islands Forum and the upcoming Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States. But there are also smaller happenings
The ‘Olympic Games’ for Micronesia
Guam to dominate track and field events Majuro — Twenty years ago, the only way to get a report on a Micronesian Games competition—or even just a baseball or basketball score—was to have someone ring
Australia hails its Samoan World Cup star
Cahill wears his Pacific heritage with pride The only Pacific islander playing in the FIFA World Cup is not only representing Australia and his Samoan heritage. He’s also holding his own against the world’s
Do many hands make light work?
The reality is that, with the greatest goodwill in the world, many of these countries are too small to be viable in the normal understanding of that expression and we really have to develop an approach that I could
21 years of serving the environment and peoples of the Pacific
Pacific history was made twenty one years ago on June 16, 1993. On that day Pacific island countries signed an agreement to establish SPREP – the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme –
NZ reaps rewards from cash cows
Soaring demand for $NZ10 billion New Zealand milk and dairy products from the South Pacific region and parts of Asia has prompted producers to expand plant facilities in Christchurch last month. There are also
Experts warn of good quality kava exports
With a German court ruling last month to lift a ban against Pacific kava exports, one of the region’s experts on the traditional commodity has warned about the need to monitor and maintain product quality.
Goodman Fielder sold
Goldman Fielder’s new owners, Singaporebased Wilmar International and Hong Kong’s First Pacific Company have yet to reveal their plans for their Fiji and Pacific operations. Manufacturer of renowned brands