Putting Samoa on the global tourist map

Global event revolves around local show Samoa Tourism Authority (STA) Chief Executive Officer Matatamali’i Sonja Hunter says the SIDS event is an opportunity to showcase Samoa not only to the visiting 3000

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Security stays tight after win

Despite a landslide election win and claims of nationwide popularity, the security cordon around Fiji’s Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has not weakened. In fact, once it became obvious that he had won the

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More US immigration woes for the Northern Marianas

Russians, Chinese target visa loop-holes the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands has received a five-year extension of a critical programme allowing it continued access to some 10,000 foreign workers up to 2019

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Straight-shooting PM ready to take on the world

Samoa willing to say no to China Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has been Samoa’s Prime Minister for 17 years. The frank and outspoken leader has had a long career in politics, diplomacy and public administration.

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Air Niugini wary of flying into Qantas path

National carrier to sell shares As leading regional airline operators announced a disastrous past 12 months in profit trading, Papua New Guinea’s Air Niugini declared it will sell its ownership in an attempt to

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Farm to table – Chef’s passion is infectious

Oliver joins growing new food movement Award winning chef and author Robert Oliver is not one to rest on his laurels. The two-time winner of the world’s most prestigious cookbook awards for his Pacificthemed

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Vocational education boosts hospitality and fashion jobs

Without formal qualifications, Pacific Island workers can find themselves stalled on the career ladder. When work demands make it near impossible to study and attain qualifications – and the costs and

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Showcasing small islands enterprise

Traditional artisans to display products Several local, regional and global agencies are coming together to showcase a wide range of small islands enterprises – not just from Samoa but also from the Pacific

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Regional food and beverage exhibition creates growth possibilities for growers and manufacturers

Fine Food Australia is the region’s biggest annual food and beverage trade show. Featuring hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of visitors and buyers from around the world, potentially millions of dollars worth

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‘Samoa arrives on world cuisine stage’

“I didn’t win the award. Samoa won the award,” Oliver said when his second book based on the cuisines of the Pacific islands, ‘Mea’ai Samoa: Recipes from the Heart of Polynesia’, won

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Coca Cola suffers but PNG, Fiji shine

Coca Cola Amatil reported a 15 per cent decline in profits this year to A$182 million (US$158m)but the figure could have been worse if its outlets in Fiji and Papua New Guinea had not performed exceptionally. Its

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Prime Minister’s signature is expensive

The decision of Samoa’s Prime Minister to sign a letter in support of two convicted rapists has raised serious questions from the country’s Opposition Party Tautua Samoa. According to the Party, the Prime

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A premium offering from Samoa

Project offers land for sale to foreigners One of Samoa’s long established and reputable boutique accommodation providers, who built and run the popular Sinalei Resorts, has embarked on an ambitious firstof-a-kind

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PNG: Happy birthday to the land of unexpected

Future depends on ability to fight crime Papua New Guinea, the largest of the economies within the island-Pacific in terms of population and gross domestic product, reaches the milestone of being 39 years since

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Tokelau conference on rogue fishing

Experts to review strategy on MCS, IUU Officials for the Pacific’s leading forum for high-level fisheries dialogue, the Forum Fisheries Committee head to Tokelau this month for an in-depth look at current and

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PNA decisions painful but necessary

Several issues to iron out in Honiara We should be so lucky to have the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) having such problems like this—what to do with US$93 million and how to distribute this pot of money

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Using footy stars to lure islands kids to stay in school

Trial model hailed a success in NSW What should teachers do with students when suspension and poor report cards fail? Reporting problem kids to their parents may not work because often they are as clueless as the high

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Major fraud investigation moves into high gear

Local pharmacy, govt ministries under probe New Year’s Eve is normally the time for popping champagne bottles and partying into the wee hours. There was plenty of that in the Marshall Islands. But in an

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Modi’s bold move

India strengthens ties to Pacific When Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (pictured) left Fiji after a 15-hour visit last month, he had boldly ventured where none of his predecessors had been before. For with one stop

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China hands out goodies to Pacific allies

November’s historic Fiji meeting between China’s President Xi Jinping and eight Pacific leaders served to further solidify China-Pacific cooperation and project the superpower as one of the Pacific’s

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Hollande says France will remain a Pacific power

French President pledges climate action Sometimes in politics, it’s the little things that matter. On his first official visit to New Caledonia, French President Francois Hollande stood in front of two flags on

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PNG aims for balance budget

Papua New Guinea Government has handed down yet again another historic budget – a record K16.2 billion (US$6.19b) in comparison with three previous biggest budgets of US$5.7b in 2014, US$4.9b in 2013, and US$4.01b

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Fiji’s tourist numbers soar

Strong growth in China, India markets Strong growth in the emerging source markets of China and India should see increases in tourist numbers in Fiji in the new year. That’s the prediction of Tourism Fiji’s

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High hopes for Pacific but hard work still required

Light at the end of climate change tunnel Monday 19 November saw a Pacific High-Level Dialogue on climate change take place at the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) headquarters in Noumea, New Caledonia. The

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