Doubts over PACER Plus
Trade adviser defends agreement “THERE is no reason to doubt the sincerity of Australia and New Zealand in relation to the commitments they have undertaken” PACER Plus, when it comes into force, does not
2016
Reviving the coffee industry on Tanna Island
Coffee is one of the main sources of livelihood for the people of Tanna Island. Home to one of the Pacific’s few active volcanoes, Yasur, its rich soils, abundant sunshine and rainfall, makes Tanna one of the best
MINING High risk, controversial business
On Viti Levu, the areas marked with shaded red are all prospective mining areas where 55 companies are currently carrying out works to see what minerals or metals can be found. The major player in the Namosi area is
Scars of Bougainville
WITH the looming referendum and the future of the Bougainville copper mine hanging in the loop, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill’s recent appointment of himself as Minister for Bougainville Affairs in a recent
TREATY CRISIS
Boats, payments in limbo THE U.S. government officially announced in mid-January that it is pulling out of the U.S. Pacific islands fisheries treaty, a move that starts a 12-month clock ticking to terminate the nearly
De Brum’s coalition a ‘show’
TWO months after the Pacific joined the world in adopting a new agreement on climate change, news are just emerging that all was not well within the Pacific Island Counties. Finally responding to questions submitted to
Vunibobo: A man of many seasons
A TREASURED document amongst war and modern history aficionados is an old sepia programme entitled “Official Programme of the VICTORY CELEBRATIONS 8th June 1946,” commemorating victory in Europe Day in
Time for regional fuel plans
LAST month the price of crude fell below the $USD30 a barrel mark for the first time since the beginning of the global economic recession. It took but a few days for petrol prices to fall by up to 21 cents in Tonga. But
BACK IN TIME
Former Fiji politician KC Ramrakha, ran foul of the Indian-dominated National Federation Party during the faction fighting of 1977. He speaks to Islands Business about politics, sugar and life. AS a student from Fiji
Whispers
FOR all they do and say about good governance and transparency among state players in our part of the ocean, non-governmental organisations or civil society agencies or non-state actors, however you want to call them,
Poll twists and turns
THE election of the Marshall Islands’ — and the independent Pacific’s first — head of state in late January followed a rollercoaster series of leadership twists and turns in this north Pacific
Battle for top job
IN what may be a record in the Pacific islands for speed of a no confidence motion following election, just three days after Casten Nemra’s inauguration as the new President of the Marshall Islands on January 11,
New players, old lessons
VANUATU saw out 2015 on a high note as a model of the Westminster system. The separation of powers worked well and the checks and balances were all in place. Fourteen Members of Parliament out of a total of 52 were in
Political horse-trading
VOTERS in Kiribati went to the polls on January 7th 2015 and gave the country’s more prominent political parties more than a wake-up call. For the first time in their political history, the i-Kiribati are more
Another term for Tuilaepa?
HOW can one predict the result for next month’s general elections in Samoa, now? Smartphones, that’s how. Similar to other island states, Samoa has embraced mobile phones with almost alarming ease. Blank
Bank weighs in on PNG economy concerns
THE economy continues to be a worry for Papua New Guinea. Despite reassurances from the government and positive projections by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), severe revenue shortfalls and expending budget
Whispers
HALF a loaf is better than none seem to be how Pacific Island Countries received news of a world agreement on climate change in Paris last December. Different islands responded differently to the pressure and intensity
New smoke, old mirrors
IN Paris last month, Australian Prime Minister Turnbull announced that “Australia will contribute at least $1 billion over the next five years from our existing aid budget, both to build climate resilience and
What’s ahead : O’Neill’s to-do list
PETER O’Neill as Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea should expect a full on year in 2016, having starved off for now attempts to haul him before the country’s leadership tribunal, or force him out of office
PARIS AGREEMENT: What it means for the Pacific
“I SEE the room. I see the reaction is positive, I hear no objection. The Paris Climate Accord is adopted.” As the French Foreign Minister and President of COP21, Laurent Fabius, gaveled the decision, the
Manasseh Sogavare still head of the pack
WITH a party revolt and threats of confidence motion keeping him occupied for the best of 2015, it looks like Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare will spend 2016 doing the same thing, keeping ahead of the rest and
Stop the bias
Shameem: Comprehensive training will assist judges, magistrates to eliminate or minimise male bias A PACIFIC-WIDE robust policy was necessary to eliminate or minimise not only gender prejudice but all forms of
Time’s up for Kilman?
FOURTEEN prime ministers in 15 years of independence, with no government serving for more than 13 months since 2012, the only predictable thing about Vanuatu politics is that no government or PM lasts. Some observers
