Making a Pacific mark
IN December we highlighted the achievements of Fiji’s national rugby sevens coach and named him Pacific Person of the Year. A few weeks later Ryan was honoured with the Rugby Union Writers’ Club award in England.
2017 February
Whispers
Tietjens faces the heat THE sevens coach everyone loves to hate – Sir Gordon Tietjens – has come under fire in Samoa after less than four months in the job. After dismal performances on the HSBC World Sevens
Rabuka ready for big race
Loyalty pledge by MPs WITH around 12 months before the next election in Fiji, former prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka has consolidated the support of the current parliamentarians of the main Social Democratic Liberal
SPC, 70 years on
THIS year marks the 70th Anniversary of the Pacific Community – SPC, and we are excited at the timely opportunity to reflect and celebrate the shared progress we have made with our members and partners over the
Melanesia’s new single market economy
THE Melanesian countries in the Pacific dominate the economic landscape in the region and with that vantage point; they are on the verge of formalising a new free trade agreement to operate in a single market economy
Kava ban
Suspect exports under scrutiny as Fiji prepares to stop two-day kava FIJI will soon ban the importation of the suspect two-day kava variety from Vanuatu to safeguard the quality of its kava exports to the global
Bad kava ‘not good for sex’
Uproar over kava-drinking women WOMEN’s advocates have lashed out at criticism against kava-drinking women who beat men at their own past-time. The Deputy Secretary of iTaukei Affairs Board, Saimoni Waibuta, was
Tuvalu steps up climate action
TUVALU Prime Minister Enele Sosene Sopoaga has not rested. Barely settled at home after the 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 22) in Morocco in November, Sopoaga plunged straight into laying the
Women to the fore
Bank governor calls for greater effort FIJI’s central bank wants to see more women on the boards of companies listed on the South Pacific Stock Exchange. Reserve Bank of Fiji Governor, Barry Whiteside, said there
Papy John – a life well lived
THE Pacific lost one of its greats on Christmas Day 2016, with the death in Tahiti of John Taroanui Doom, at age 80. From across the political spectrum, Tahitians mourned the loss of the scholar, religious leader and
Donald’s Trump card Time will tell
HAS the new US President played his “trump card” too early in his presidency? Only time will tell. In late January, President Donald Trump signed an executive order which suspended all refugee admissions
Entrepreneur defies the odds to survive
SIX years ago, a physically challenged woman in a wheelchair ventured out into the streets to sell her home-made meals and pastries. At the time, she met with disapproval from people she knew. The local authorities
Movers & Shakers
KIRIBATI’S partially state-owned fisheries company Kiribati Fish Ltd, which is controlled by Shanghai Fisheries General Corporation (Group), announced late last year it will supply fish certified as sustainable by
India deal for Fiji hospital
THEFIJIANS could expect an upgrade to their medical health services, in light of the new private hospital partnership between the MIOT International arm, one of India’s top hospitals and the BSP Life. Under this
Slip, slipping away-Indon losing Melanesia
LAST month, New Zealand-based analyst Jose Sousa-Santos commented on Twitter that “Indonesia’s attempt at buying support from the Pacific region seems to have little to no impact on Melanesia’s stance