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
Open skies: A threat to island economies
THE Fijian government has adopted a cautious approach to entering into Air Services Agreements (ASAs) which could result in local airspace being liberalised and opened to multiple airlines. ASAs are agreements between
Economic growth forecast despite stagnant political climate.
THE Fijian economy is expected to grow this year while the political climate, barring any traumatic upheavals, will remain largely stagnant and unchanged. According to the Asian Development Bank’s Pacific Economic
Open skies: A threat to island economies
THE Fijian government has adopted a cautious approach to entering into Air Services Agreements (ASAs) which could result in local airspace being liberalised and opened to multiple airlines. ASAs are agreements between
WHO’S NEXT: Search for a new leader
THE Anote Tong era will come to an end at the start of 2016, as parliamentary elections in December paves the way for the election of a successor to the I Kiribati leader who has served his maximum 12 years at the helm
Vanuatu – standing above the rest
ONE of the Pacific’s smaller island states, Vanuatu stands taller than the larger nations with its consistent, principled stand on social justice, parliamentary democracy and corruption. Where other countries have
Slow growth expected
NAURU’S economic growth is expected to slow down this year with the country heavily reliant on revenue derived from finite and uncertain sources. The country is largely dependent on revenue from the Australian
A leader’s LEGACY
THERE is a rousing story that still now, inspires me. As with many other Fijians of my generation and older, the narrative of Rusiate Nayacakalou – the first indigenous Fijian to obtain a doctoral degree or Phd – is
Tuna vital to Cook Islands future
EXPECT tuna to be the main focus as the Cook Islands Government of Henry Puna seeks to consolidate support from the electorate half way through its term. But it won’t be an easy ride with Opposition Member of
A tale of SORROW
Letters tell of tropical mission hardships The Mission of Our Lady of Sorrows Collected letters translated by: Father John Crispin Publisher: Star Printery WHEN Catholic missionaries first arrived in Fiji they faced a
Small kingdom, BIG risk
WITH an extremely thin export base, Tonga’s economy is heavily reliant on agriculture and fisheries. Expect little change to the economy in 2016 as Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva struggles to maintain power
Gulf in women, men wages
UN HDI Report reveals status of gender disparities in Pacific PACIFIC island nations still have a lot of work to do in order to bridge the gulf in the disparities in wages between men and women workers, a new United
Development and consolidation crucial for Sopoaga
AFTER the 2015 general elections returned him to power, Enele Sopoaga is expected to spend the year pursuing development strategies and projects. Climate change negotiations and devastations caused by Cyclone Pam last
Focus on tourist arrivals
WITH visitor arrivals up 6.1 per cent in the first three quarters of 2015, Samoa will increase momentum in the tourism industry this year. A series of roadshows in the middle of 2015 to Australia and New Zealand were
Headaches as Aussie rebuilds relations
THE rise and rise of Australia’s new Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has revived relations with the Pacific Islands. While there is continuity with many of the core policies promoted by former conservative leader
SAVING SUGAR
Action for change WHEN the Fijian Prime Minister recently stood up at the recent International Sugar Organisations meeting in London and declared “we do not intend to give up on sugar cane in Fiji,” he was