Elusive Olympic gold within reach
THERE’s an air of excitement and anticipation as Brazil gets set to host the 31st Olympic Games from 5-21 August. Never before has an Olympic gold medal been so close a reality for the tiny island nations of the
2015
Stuck in the slum
Corruption investigation into NGO activities WHEN Fijian Prime Minister, RearAdmiral Frank Bainimarama, handed out keys to the residents of Lagilagi Housing Estate in November 2013, he was giving homes to 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
A time for regional solidarity
IF ever there was a time for Pacific countries to work together for the common good, it is now, with their very survival at risk. Two critical global events this month have highlighted the absolute need for the region
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
Whispers
FAST taking shape in what was once a thriving pine plantation not far from Fiji’s international airport is what the signboard declares as a giant biomass plant. What the signboard says is basically what all most
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,
El Nino It’sNot Over
FROM the highlands of Papua New Guinea in the western Pacific to the salad bowl on the southern coast of Fiji’s main island in the central Pacific, the long spell of dry weather is taking its toll. Cash crops and
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
Deaths and no water
TWO small children have died of malnutrition in Tanna, there are seven deaths of children under 12 in Santo that may be linked to the drought and no water is available during the day in Luganville. Those are some of the
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
Expecting the worst from El Nino
SOLOMON Islanders will be feeling the worst brunt of the current El Niño period this month (December) and through to early next year. The long drought has affected the country following three months without rain
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
Cost of farming increases as dry spell drags on
“I THINK climate change is causing this,” Sigatoka Valley grower Its 4pm daylight saving time on the so-called salad bowl of Fiji and Anand Prasad, assisted by his son is watering his watermelon plants. The
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
Top cop’s departure sparks controversy
FIJI’S former Police Commissioner, South African Major General Ben Groenewald, has scoffed at any notion that there are no police officers capable of replacing him as head of Fiji’s Police Force. “I
Scrap bride price, PNG urged
A HUMAN rights group has urged the Papua New Guinea government to abolish the cultural practice of bride price to safeguard women against violence. In a report released last month, the Human Rights Watch group said
Vote for change
MAJURO — The lead up to the 2015 national election in the Marshall Islands on November 16 featured few political party rallies and low-key campaigning. But voters were anything but low key in the result they produced
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