Rising to the moral challenge of CLIMATE CHANGE
Pacific people, of all faiths, are deeply grateful for the leadership shown by Pope Francis on climate change. We must respond by pressing for an ambitious, and just, global agreement at climate negotiations in Paris in
Lots more goodwill need to flow into trade talks
BOTH parties seeking a comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) – the European Union on one side of the table and Pacific members of the African, Caribbean and the Pacific bloc on the other – need
CFL: A Pacific ‘homegrown’ media success story
ON July 5, 2015, Fiji and the Pacific’s largest commercial radio broadcast company, Communications Fiji Limited (CFL), achieved a milestone, marking 30 years of “homegrown” success. The company has
PNG dethrones French-trained New Caledonia
WHEN the curtains came down on the 2015 Pacific Games in Port Moresby, there was more to celebrate than just Papua New Guinea’s landslide victory on the medal table. The host country dethroned New Caledonia,
Forum discord as concerns mount over Nauru situation
THERE appears to be some discord within the Pacific Forum over the mounting international and regional concerns about what some Pacific Forum member countries view as a breakdown in democracy in Nauru. Apart from
Sparks fly as islanders step up the ante for Rugby World Cup
IF Fiji’s performance in the Pacific Nations Cup is anything to go by, then the world is in for a treat come September. The Fijians reminded their Rugby World Cup pool A rivals – England, Australia, Wales
CSOs respond to Pacific Forum Inclusivity Initiative
THE Pacific Forum Secretariat’s Specialist Sub-Committee on Regionalism has received a total of 68 proposals for regional initiatives from a wide crosssection of Pacific communities including Non Governmental
Right royal challenge for Tupou VI
ON the road from Fua’amotu International Airport to Tonga’s capital, Nuku’alofa, the red and white bunting has gathered dust and is starting to look tired. The miniature flags hang limply on the fences
Less hui, lot more tui
Kiwi envoy speaks his mind about fishery and more TALKS are into advanced stages about getting skilled fishermen from Kiribati and Tuvalu to work in New Zealand’s fishing industry. Ambassador Shane Jones, New
Cyanide risk
Closed Gold Ridge mine triggers concern UNTIL April 2014, Gold Ridge was the sole operating mine in the Solomon Islands and contributing approximately 20 per cent to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product. But not
Winds of change
WITHOUT much fanfare, our new look www.islandsbusiness.com went online early last month. It’s the first of at least three phases of re-development that we have planned, and it compliments rather nicely the new
Former Fiji army chief allays fears of rift
THE former Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, BrigadierGeneral Mosese Tikoitoga, has poured cold water on any suggestion of a rift between the military and Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama’s Fiji
Canoe run for chocolate factory
The Uto Ni Yalo sails from Fiji to Vanuatu and then to Bougainville where it will load cocoa beans for New Zealand. ORGANICALLY-grown cocoa beans from Bougainville will be shipped to New Zealand using ancient Pacific
‘Powerful Men of Solomon Islands’
I am actually emailing to flag my serious concerns with the way the July IB whispers column had again put up a piece about my work here and some alleged altercations with Fiji and Solomon Islands Government authorities
Whispers
A WHISPER in the Solomon Star says Solomon taxpayers are being forced to pay $3.7 million for the hire of a speed-boat which members of the current government used last December during lobbying for the election of Prime
NRL rights stall TV deal
PNG company wants change to $25m venture A MULTI-MILLION dollar deal for the sale of Media New Guinea Limited hangs in the balance over a botched arrangement over National Rugby League Rights. Telikom PNG wants
Fiji TV strips to bare minimum
DIGICEL has emerged as a front-runner for the purchase of Fiji Television’s 23 channels under the Sky Pacific platform. Fiji TV chairman and CEO of Fijian Holdings Limited, Nouzab Fareed, said a non-disclosure
Marshalls goes for top dollar
Tourism, airports key to island plan Marshall Islands’ revived investment agency is in search for new money aimed at boosting the island economy, its ailing aviation and tourism industries in particular. Chief
SPC Fiji base to be gifted with US$28m Pacific Village
By the first quarter of 2015, the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) hopes the construction of its new base in Fiji would have started. Green light for this has been granted by the host government, and in
We need to do more in disaster risk: Tuvalu PM
A national building code is required for Tuvalu to be better prepared for disasters, says the island’s Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga. Such a code would lead to the construction of stronger buildings on Tuvalu,
Roads, water, education clear winners in Fiji’s US$1.7b Budget
Fiji’s government of Frank Bainimarama is continuing with its expansionary economic policy in the $3.3 billion (US$1.69 billion) budget for 2015 it handed down in Fiji’s Parliament on November 21st. Its
Private sector plays key role in disaster risk reductions
Fiji Water, Digicel, ANZ take the lead Businesses are among those hardest hit when storms, floods, tsunamis, cyclones and other hazards occur. Every year, cyclones hit the Pacific Islands and because of climate change
Study demonstrates value of sustainable forestry
Training, acceptance to boost profits Conventional logging delivers a body blow to forests by stripping 80 to 90 per cent of target tree species. This shock erodes biodiversity, damages ecological function and
