2018 January
Happy New Year
IT’s our first edition again for yet another new year and to say that the days are just flying by is fast becoming an understatement. First things first, vinaka, thank you all our avid readers for your trust and your
Happy New Year
IT’s our first edition again for yet another new year and to say that the days are just flying by is fast becoming an understatement. First things first, vinaka, thank you all our avid readers for your trust and your
Whispers
Rich and famous IS Majuro in the northern Pacific the new playground for the world’s rich and famous? This was the scene at the international airport of the capital of the Marshall Islands one morning in December
Turnbull reshuffles Cabinet
Canberra, Australia – Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull revealed a new cabinet line-up on the eve of 2018 by announcing a reshuffle that saw five new cabinet members and the axing of infrastructure minister, Darren
Challenging year for O’Neill
PETER O’Neill starts 2018 on a high note with the country’s supreme court removing the threat of court action that has been hovering over his head since 2014. With his arrest warrant for official corruption quashed,
Stage set for 2018 Fiji vote
Personalities will clash as Fijians prepare to go to the ballot THE personality of Fiji’s Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama ensured that his Fiji First party won an outright majority in the 2014 polls, but that could
Former banker aims to unite Fiji
ONE of Fiji’s newest political parties has not ruled out contesting Fiji’s general elections due to be held in 2018 in coalition with other parties that are opposed to the ruling Fiji First Party of Prime Minister
VKB goes digital
117-year-old register of indigenous Fijians enters electronic age AFTER more than 100 years of physically recording and maintaining a book register of men and women who were fathered by an indigenous Fijian and born in
Pohiva storms back
Tongan Parliament votes VETERAN politician and long-time democracy fighter Samiuela ‘Akilisi Pohiva has his job cut out for him after he was re-elected as Tonga’s Prime Minister with a 14-12 vote in the Tongan
Fraud claims in Ambae
A MORE consistent and co-ordinated effort is required as an estimated 1000 people affected by continuous acid rain on Ambae Island have moved to Santo and Port Vila, a spokesperson for the Ambae disaster committee has
Race for FFA top job
Pacific lawyers to replace fisheries boss THERE are two definite frontrunners in the race for the position of Director-General of the Forum Fisheries Agency. Marshall Islands Attorney-General, Dr Filimon Manoni, and
Bullies control tuna
Small countries lose out AFTER 14 meetings of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, one thing is obvious. The Distant Water Fishing Nations – China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and the United States –
Make land more accessible: IMF
Fiji urged to reopen credit bureau THE Fijian Government will need to improve its land lease processes if it has to create a business friendly environment for the private sector, says the International Monetary Fund.
E-ticketing or e-misery
Outcry over electronic bus fare card in Fiji THE issue of pilferage in the bus industry in Fiji was not a problem that should be passed down to commuters to deal with, says a former Governor of the Reserve Bank of Fiji
Shake up for Radio Australia
New voices for Pacific broadcasters THE Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is once again making changes that will affect broadcasting into the Pacific. From 22 January, ABC’s Radio Australia (RA) will introduce
An unforgettable World Cup story
TO say that Tonga has soared up the Rugby League International Federation (RFIL) rankings list after a stunning World Cup run is an understatement to the manner in which it achieved the feat. The South Sea islanders
Mixed outcomes for PNA from WCPFC14
THE CEO of the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) sees the outcomes of the recent 14th meeting in Manila of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) as mixed. PNA CEO Ludwig Kumoru said there were
Fiji’s bittersweet sugar industry
THERE is a new crew onboard which will try to sail Fiji’s sugar industry to better days. But with the same age-old equipment and archaic farming methods, will the industry be saved by the millions of dollars now being
Rugger stranded chasing a dream
A TONGAN rugby player who chased his dream to play professionally in Europe and was left stranded there with kidney failure got the best gift for Christmas – a second chance at life. Sione Vaiomounga, a back rower
Mini Games ‘success’
Pressure on rugby union to review eligibility rules THE stage has been set for the 2019 Pacific Games in Samoa after a successful 2017 Pacific Mini Games in Vanuatu last month. French-trained New Caledonia set the pace
Our wish list for the New Year
“Instead of a spirit of revenge there will be forgiveness, in place of hatred there will be love, compassion over vindictiveness, honesty over corruption, humility over tyranny, faith over cynicism, geniality over
Fiji airport disruptions
Nadi, Fiji – Ground-handling of aircraft at Fiji’s largest airport Nadi were disrupted a week before Christmas (and disruptions continued as we went to press) following a dispute between workers and the
