Vale mine in New Caledonia
After months of political dispute, the Brazilian corporation Vale has finally sold its Goro nickel smelter and other assets in New Caledonia’s Southern Province. The new owners Prony Resources and Trafigura have
2021
Vale finally sells nickel assets in New Caledonia
By Nic Maclellan After months of political dispute, the Brazilian corporation Vale has finally sold its Goro nickel smelter and other assets in New Caledonia’s Southern Province. The new owners Prony Resources and
Saving for a rainy (cyclonic, drought-stricken, storm-surge) day
It is well understood that the Pacific Islands is one of the least insured regions in the world, with some estimates putting the penetration rate at just 3.6%. These figures are particularly sobering given our
Saving for a rainy day
It is well understood that the Pacific Islands is one of the least insured regions in the world, with some estimates putting the penetration rate at just 3.6%. These figures are particularly sobering given our
Palau travel bubble hits a snag
The travel bubble between Taiwan and Palau is in danger of popping following low interest from Taiwanese tourists to take a holiday from a year of COVID-19 border restrictions. In an effort to revitalise
Training Coalition faces a reckoning
A multimillion-dollar program aimed at supporting “a more prosperous Pacific driven by a skilled, competitive and productive workforce” is undergoing controversial changes which could have significant impacts on the
Near horizons: Vunilagi’s community literacy efforts
Our children are valuable and we have the responsibility to ensure that they are educated; that they have the basic needs to go through school.” That’s the firmly-held belief of Vunilagi Book Club founder
Tuvalu’s ‘Mother of all information’
On any given weekday afternoon, the small Tuvalu National Library and Archive building on Funafuti is a hive of activity. Under the leadership of Chief Librarian and Archivist, Noa Petueli Tapumanaia, the library offers
Tuvalu’s ‘Mother of all information’
On any given weekday afternoon, the small Tuvalu National Library and Archive building on Funafuti is a hive of activity. Under the leadership of Chief Librarian and Archivist, Noa Petueli Tapumanaia, the library
Opinion: Forum’s moral failure for Melanesians
During the recent crisis over the appointment of Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat’s new Secretary General (former Cook Islands Prime Minister Henry Puna), much public debate occurred over the supposed
The Low-down on USP
In drawing to conclude ‘What Is to Become of USP?’ (see Islands Business August 2020), I acquiesced to the prospect that the University may already be undergoing transition from a ‘public good’ to a ‘club
Water woes
By Samantha Magick Earlier this month the world learnt of the plight of Banabans, who had been living without fresh water for a year according to residents. A social media post from an overseas-based Banaban gave a
Tuvalu’s digital ambitions
By Dionisia Tabureguci Tuvalu has become the first country in the world to choose Bitcoin Satoshi Vision (BSV) blockchain to help it migrate to a fully digital economy, a move that may see it also adopt Bitcoin
Mountains of hydro trouble
By Samisoni Pareti Mountain tribes in Fiji are thwarting plans by the country’s power monopoly to build a multi-million hydro power plant. The people of Nubu and Cawanisa say Energy Fiji Limited (EFL) only has itself
Farmers have their say
BUT ARE THEY BEING HEARD? By Samantha Magick Were you one of the many Pacific Islanders who spent the first few weeks of the coronavirus pandemic with soil under your nails? The introduction of lockdowns plus border
Can mining dig Fiji out of COVID hole?
By Dionisia Tabureguci Fiji's minerals sector is tipped to lead its post-COVID economic recovery, with gold production expected to strengthen later this year and interest in gold prospecting on the rise. "The
Opinion: What is to become of Pacific regionalism?
By Ambassador Kaliopate Tavola In the September/October 2019 issue of this magazine, I reflected on the ‘Death of Pacific Regionalism?’ (also known as Pacific Islands Forum). It was a leading question in my mind at
Things fall apart
I was only two years old when Nigerian author Chinua Achebe published his novel, Things Fall Apart, in 1958. Achebe’s novel focused on the struggles, chaos and bewilderment which are the consequences of a culture on
The art of listening
At the celebration of Sir Michael Somare’s life at Suva’s Sacred Heart cathedral this month, Archbishop Peter Loy Chong spoke about the willingness to listen as one of the Grand Chief’s defining characteristics.
Farewell to the Chief
After three weeks of mourning, Papua New Guinea’ founding father, Sir Michael Somare, was laid to rest at Kreer Heights in Wewak, East Sepik Province on March 16. In Port Moresby, a national Haus Krai saw thousands of
Tuvalu’s digital ambitions
Tuvalu has become the first country in the world to choose Bitcoin Satoshi Vision (BSV) blockchain to help it migrate to a fully digital economy, a move that may see it also adopt Bitcoin SV, the cryptocurrency