Movers & Shakers
Bishops speak on Papua CATHOLIC bishops from across the Pacific region have declared support for West Papua to have a greater international voice. Dignity for West Papuans was a focus issue for the executive committee
2016 October
Proceed with caution
THE inclusion of New Caledonia and French Polynesia in the Pacific Islands Forum raises some interesting questions for regional relationships and independence. These French territories have autonomous legislative
North Pacific opens
New Guinea’s bird spreads its wings TRAVEL to the Northern Pacific has opened further with new schedules released by Air Niugini. Beginning in December, Papua New Guinea’s national carrier will fly to Chuuk
Beyond a culture of silence
THE apparent absence of debate, particularly among the Taukei, is attributed by commentators to ‘a culture of silence’. Open, vigorous public discourse is not yet a feature of Taukei or Fijian society at
Lessons learnt from Winston
“THE fluttering of the tent in the wind just takes me back to that night,” said Eta Tuvuki, 37-year-old single mum. Her story is just one reminder that the recovery following Tropical Cyclone (TC) Winston is
Detentions widen political gulf
RECENT events in Fiji point to a widening gulf that has developed between Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama’s Fiji First Party- led government and the country’s Opposition political parties. Six prominent
Former Tuvalu PM a ‘free man’
Judge questions handling of case by PM and his deputy A LANDMARK court case last May in Tuvalu which saw the jailing of a former prime minister who is a sitting opposition MP has ended abruptly when the island’s high
Turf wars
SPC may need to absorb SPREP, says study REDIFINING and differentiating mandates could be the way out to resolving overlapping and the so called ‘turf wars’ that exist among the many regional
Kava legacy tested
AS a country with many more cultivars of what the region generally knows as kava, Vanuatu is pleased to have scientists of the WHO / FAO Codex Alimentarius studying in country the large number of noble kavas produced
Long way to go for Pacer Plus
Forum leaders fail to resolve trade dispute THE Forum leaders meeting in Pohnpei could not resolve ongoing disputes over the PACER-Plus trade agreement. Since 2009, Forum member countries have been negotiating
Mining madness
Namosi gold and copper mine exploration with a flawed plan THE same mine plan and the flaws in it that prompted the halt of mining in early 2012 is currently being used for copper and gold exploration by the Namosi
Leaders agree to disagree on West Papua
THE issue of West Papua remains a headache for the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). Member countries like Australia, Papua New Guinea and Fiji are reluctant to grant full membership to the United Liberation Movement of West
And now there are 18
New Caledonia and French Polynesia join forum BURIED in the communiqué of the 47th Pacific Islands Forum, at item 30, is a single sentence: “Leaders accepted French Polynesia and New Caledonia as full
Rags of riches
Hard work and innovation clothe business success THE Fijian coup of 2006 and subsequent currency valuation forced small businesses to take drastic measures. Some folded and went out of business. For the Chute
Whispers
School flip flops FIRST Fiji’s Education Ministry pushed out a memo to all teachers stating they must not speak in public without the permission of the Permanent Secretary. By the way, that includes all gatherings