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
2015
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